Your favorite player when ...

[RyanLeaf16]

Making the all-star game is nice, but what was his UZR rating?

Kind of a weird career. Maybe he was batting against "war-time pitching", but he had a great year in 1945. But then he retired. Do you know why?

Don't know his UZR lol...I don't like using UZR or UZR/150 though. I don't think it accurately reflects actual fielding ability. I prefer James' relative range factor.

I know that the White Sox just released him after the 1945 season. At that time he was 37 and he had played through a couple of injury-plagued seasons prior to that. I'm assuming the White Sox wanted to move forward with some younger players. My Grandfather just retired from playing and got into coaching. His best friend was Al Lopez so he was usually went with Al wherever he managed and was a bench coach, third base coach, etc.

For example, he was a member of the 1954 Indians coaching staff when they went 111-43 and the Giants swept 'em in the series. He was with Mayo Smith in 1968 as a third base coach for the Detroit Tigers when they won the World Series.

Growing up around baseball was great. I can tell you some stories. Every year my dad and grandfather would play in the Temple Terrace Golf & CC Italian Invitational and I would ride with my dad on the last day of the tourney. It was cool because his group consisted of Robin Roberts Joe DiMaggio (a couple times), Al and his dad. It was funny b/c people would wait on the side of the course and try to get autographs and stuff and I was just some dumb-shit kid haning around these hall-of-famers. I bullshit you not when I tell you that those HOFers knew my name and it was fucking cool. I still remember Joe DiMaggio knowing me by name and signing things for me (this was at a time when he didn't sign autographs for anyone anymore), but, he would always personalize it and it was nice b/c I never had to remind him who I was or anything. I would just say:

"Mr. DiMaggio, would you mind signing this ball?"

He would smile and sign "To Matt, Best Wishes - Joe DiMaggio."

In 1998, I went with my parents to Cooperstown for the induction ceremonies. And I still remember the HOF dinner that we were able to attend as guests of Al. I went into the bathroom and bumped into Robin Roberts. Know, Robin lived in Temple Terrace, so I saw him all the time and he played golf with my dad all the time, but, it's still a really cool feeling when they stop to talk to you. He stopped me and asked me how I was doing and said he didn't know I was here with my family. I told him Al brought us as his guests that year and as we were talking he then stops to introduce me to Rollie Fingers! Just crazy shit growing up around all that. The saddest part about it, is that all those guys are gone: my grandfather, father, Robin, Al and Joe.

Sorry to go on and on. I usually am pretty private about all of it, but, It's nice to share the stories sometimes.

I'd like an answer for the huge spike in OPS towards the end of his career between 1944 and 1945. What kind of old school PEDs was your grandpappy on?


No but seriously, that's awesome. I have a love for the Brooklyn Dodgers and their history, thank you for posting that. If you ever want to see the garish apartment building that used to be Ebbets Field it's a few blocks from my apt. Sometimes if I listen real close, I can still hear Jonny Podres coughing up a lung.

I'd actually love to see what is there now. His career OPS+ is actually higher than the average. You can see the dramatic dips in his numbers tend to come from shortened seasons due to injury.

As for any PED's it was likely a lot of pasta and Grand Marnier lol

[shag773]

Hayes was a pretty good player. A good batting eye with decent pop.

Looking back Von was what he was, it wasn't his fault he was involved in the infamous "five for one" deal. Although in 30+ years of watching baseball, he is the only player I can remember watching who got picked off from third twice while he played here lol.

Parrish wasn't the best, and there was huge hype when the Phillies were able to sign him. The Phillies had decent enough position players, IMO, and they had a great bullpen with Tekulve, Hume, etc. But their starting pitching was always atrocious. The "Shane Rawley" experiment lasted for years, and I remember when Kevin Gross was their 'ace'. Ick.

Schmitty was stiil putting up huge numbers until '88. I thought Bo Diaz and Ozzie Virgil were above average catchers during that timeframe.

Steve Jeltz, while a good fielder was the epitome of the light hitting SS. Samuel developed into a good ballplayer.

But you hit the nail on the head with that starting pitching. I still have nightmares of Joe Cowley **EDIT** trotting out to the mound.

[Tailback U]

Thoroughly enjoying this thread.

Reading the stories and posts about players well before my time is always fun to me. I don't even know 90% of the players you guys are talking about but I still enjoy reading about them.

[Senser81]

Schmitty was stiil putting up huge numbers until '88. I thought Bo Diaz and Ozzie Virgil were above average catchers during that timeframe.

Steve Jeltz, while a good fielder was the epitome of the light hitting SS. Samuel developed into a good ballplayer.

But you hit the nail on the head with that starting pitching. I still have nightmares of Joe Crowley trotting out to the mound.

Schmidt was one of my favorite players ever, and it was remarkable that he was still putting up MVP numbers that late into his career. I always thought Samuel was a guy who would put up good stats but was a guy you lost with. He always struck out or made a bad fielding play at key times.

[Pills]

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[shag773]

Hey Pills, one of my favorite baseball memeories as a kid was when Mattingly and Winfield were neck and neck for the batting title in 84.

We just got 11 WPIX on our cable system and I don't think I missed one Yankee game that entire summer. I liked both of those guys, but was pulling for Winfield.

[NAHSTE]

Having never seen Von Hayes before I assumed he was a black guy. A cursory google image search reveals that he was in fact a lanky white dude. Weird.

[deathdealer]

5 Dennis Eckersley / Nolan Ryan


10 Nolan Ryan / Dwight Gooden

15 Pudge Rodriguez / Juan Gonzales

20 Pudge

now Josh Hamilton / Michael Young / Miggy Cabrera

[manchild24]

Hey Pills, one of my favorite baseball memeories as a kid was when Mattingly and Winfield were neck and neck for the batting title in 84.

We just got 11 WPIX on our cable system and I don't think I missed one Yankee game that entire summer. I liked both of those guys, but was pulling for Winfield.

Remember that shit when the people would call in and play the game over the phone. They would be flying a spaceshipa and have to say PIX to shoot. I also remember Basketball one but I dont remember how that went.

[Senser81]

Having never seen Von Hayes before I assumed he was a black guy. A cursory google image search reveals that he was in fact a lanky white dude. Weird.

"Hey there! How many black guys do you know named Von?"

[Warner2BruceTD]

Having never seen Von Hayes before I assumed he was a black guy. A cursory google image search reveals that he was in fact a lanky white dude. Weird.

He must post at VSN.

[mcstl25]

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20/Now:

Dude... this would be mine pretty much exactly. Only difference, McGwire was my favorite at 10 and 15, then Edmonds at 20. The 10 year old me was a fan of the Oakland A's McGwire. He was my favorite player from his '87 season until his later years with the Cardinals. I can't even begin to explain how excited I was when he got traded to St. Louis. Even though the '98 season is tainted with steroid use, nobody can ever take away the memories from that season.

[mcstl25]

Don't know his UZR lol...I don't like using UZR or UZR/150 though. I don't think it accurately reflects actual fielding ability. I prefer James' relative range factor.

I know that the White Sox just released him after the 1945 season. At that time he was 37 and he had played through a couple of injury-plagued seasons prior to that. I'm assuming the White Sox wanted to move forward with some younger players. My Grandfather just retired from playing and got into coaching. His best friend was Al Lopez so he was usually went with Al wherever he managed and was a bench coach, third base coach, etc.

For example, he was a member of the 1954 Indians coaching staff when they went 111-43 and the Giants swept 'em in the series. He was with Mayo Smith in 1968 as a third base coach for the Detroit Tigers when they won the World Series.

Growing up around baseball was great. I can tell you some stories. Every year my dad and grandfather would play in the Temple Terrace Golf & CC Italian Invitational and I would ride with my dad on the last day of the tourney. It was cool because his group consisted of Robin Roberts Joe DiMaggio (a couple times), Al and his dad. It was funny b/c people would wait on the side of the course and try to get autographs and stuff and I was just some dumb-shit kid haning around these hall-of-famers. I bullshit you not when I tell you that those HOFers knew my name and it was fucking cool. I still remember Joe DiMaggio knowing me by name and signing things for me (this was at a time when he didn't sign autographs for anyone anymore), but, he would always personalize it and it was nice b/c I never had to remind him who I was or anything. I would just say:

"Mr. DiMaggio, would you mind signing this ball?"

He would smile and sign "To Matt, Best Wishes - Joe DiMaggio."

In 1998, I went with my parents to Cooperstown for the induction ceremonies. And I still remember the HOF dinner that we were able to attend as guests of Al. I went into the bathroom and bumped into Robin Roberts. Know, Robin lived in Temple Terrace, so I saw him all the time and he played golf with my dad all the time, but, it's still a really cool feeling when they stop to talk to you. He stopped me and asked me how I was doing and said he didn't know I was here with my family. I told him Al brought us as his guests that year and as we were talking he then stops to introduce me to Rollie Fingers! Just crazy shit growing up around all that. The saddest part about it, is that all those guys are gone: my grandfather, father, Robin, Al and Joe.

Sorry to go on and on. I usually am pretty private about all of it, but, It's nice to share the stories sometimes.




I'd actually love to see what is there now. His career OPS+ is actually higher than the average. You can see the dramatic dips in his numbers tend to come from shortened seasons due to injury.

As for any PED's it was likely a lot of pasta and Grand Marnier lol

Very cool story. Thanks for sharing. Just curious, with those great baseball genes, did you play in high school/college/pros?

One thing is for certain, old time baseball players have the best stories. I've been around the game of baseball all my life, and some of my favorite memories are of hanging out and listening to stories from old coaches and long time players. I can only imagine how cool it would be to be able to hang around with old-time hall of famers.

[RyanLeaf16]

Very cool story. Thanks for sharing. Just curious, with those great baseball genes, did you play in high school/college/pros?

One thing is for certain, old time baseball players have the best stories. I've been around the game of baseball all my life, and some of my favorite memories are of hanging out and listening to stories from old coaches and long time players. I can only imagine how cool it would be to be able to hang around with old-time hall of famers.

Never got near that level of accomplishment, but, I did play in HS. I was a pitcher and was a solid player. Nothing special. I knew my limitations though lol.

[Senser81]

Never got near that level of accomplishment, but, I did play in HS. I was a pitcher and was a solid player. Nothing special. I knew my limitations though lol.

"Red, he used to play in high school. Isn't that nice."