Hits and Runs XIII

Apr 29, 2024

“May the sun never set on American baseball.” ~ Harry S. Truman, 33^rd President of the United States

If you’re a long-time reader of “Comments” you are familiar with the theme of this titled post. But if you are a new subscriber (welcome) or reader, it’s little snippets of baseball “stuff” and quotes that I took note of but didn’t feel I could use for a full article which I eventually put into a compilation like this. Sit back and enjoy the read.

The Los Angeles Dodgers again this year renewed the contract of Andrew Toles, who hasn’t played since the 2018 season. They do this so Toles can continue to receive health insurance. Toles has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and it affords him the needed treatment. The Dodger Organization gets it right!

“The highlight of my career? In ’67 with St. Louis, I walked with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run in an intersquad game in spring training.” ~ Bob Uecker

“Gene Mauch’s stare can put you on the disabled list.” ~ Tim McCarver on the former manager.

Hall of Fame second baseman Charlie Gehringer struck out once in 90 career World Series appearances.

“Whoever has not experienced the pleasure of taking a young lady to her first game of ball should seize the opportunity to do so.” ~ John Mongomery Ward

“I can never understand why anybody leaves a game early to beat the traffic. The purpose of baseball is to keep you from caring if you beat the traffic.” ~ Bill Vaughan, Columnist.

In 1943 Stan Musial produced more triples, with 20 than strikeouts, only 18.

“Every time I sign a ball, and there have been thousands, I thank my luck that I wasn’t born (Stan) Coveleski or (Roger) Peckinpaugh.” ~ Mel Ott

“I never took the game home with me. I always left it in some bar.” ~ Bob Lemon

Ted Williams is in the Red Sox Hall of Fame, the Padres Hall of Fame, the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, the International Game and Fish Association Hall of Fame, and the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame.

“As he told me, Words are easy, deeds are hard. Words can be empty, deeds speak the loudest, and sometimes they echo forever.” ~ Harold Baines, from his HoF Induction speech, something he learned from his father.

“There is no room in baseball for discrimination. It is our national pastime and a game for all.” ~ Lou Gehrig

“Los Angeles” in Spanish means “The Angels”. So as the Los Angeles Angels they are literally, “The The Angels Angels”.

“We wept; Brooklyn was a lovely place to hit. If you got a ball in the air, you had a chance to get it out. When they tore down Ebbets Field, they tore down a little piece of me.” ~ Duke Snider

“He could certainly throw, but who knew where? He broke four ribs and two wrists (on batters) before we decided as an act of public safety to make him spend all his time in the outfield.” ~ Fresco Thompson on Carl Furillo.

Yogi Berra, while coaching with the New York Mets in 1965, came out of retirement, catching four games. In one of the games, he caught an aging Warren Spahn. He remarked to reports after the game, “I don’t think we’re the oldest battery, but we’re certainly the ugliest.”

“I can tell you Billy has a great heart, but I can’t vouch for his liver.” ~ Whitey Ford speaking about Billy Martin.

“Pitch me outside, I will hit .400. Pitch me inside, and you will not find the ball.” ~ Roberto Clemente

Ron Polk was thrown out of a game at Arkansas for arguing balls and strikes. When the umpire ejected him, he told Polk to go “where he could not see me.” So, Polk when out and stood on home plate.

“As much as players today want to pretend, they are better than the past. Understand this, Ricky could run in any era and hit in any era. Always remember that.” ~ Ricky Henderson

“Bill Buckner had a 19-game hitting streak going and always wore the same underwear. Of course, he didn’t have any friends.” ~ Lenny Randal

Ty Cobb once hit .400 over a span of 800 games. No one has hit .400 over a span of 200 games in the last 90 years.

“I’ve had pretty good success with Stan (Musial) by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third base.” ~ Carl Erskine

“If the Dodgers go to the expense of putting my name on the back of a uniform, I know darn well they aren’t going to trade me.” ~ Billy Grabarkewitz

The record for the most All-Star games played is 24. It is held by Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Stan Musial.

“There’s something about the 9/9/9 challenge. 9 beers, 9 hotdogs, 9 innings. You have to want it. You can’t walk into the stadium thinking it’s gonna be a breeze. It will be tough. But those who want it, get it. You have to be strong and fight mentally. This is the 9/9/9 challenge.” ~ A tweet from Matt Molson Canadian Lager @MMCL69

“It was all I lived for, to play baseball.” ~ Mickey Mantle

The oldest MLB pitcher to get a win was Jamie Moyer who was 49 ½ when he beat Arizona in 2012 while pitching for Colorado.

“Pop me a beer in the clubhouse. I’ll be right in.” ~ Dick Radatz, to starting pitcher Earl Wilson as he relieved him in the 9^th inning with the Red Sox leading 2-1, the bases loaded, no outs with Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Elston Howard due up. Radatz struck out those three on 10 pitches. (I assume the beer was waiting for him).

Willie Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility on January 23, 1979. He received 409 votes of the 432 possible for 94.68%. The New York Daily News columnist Dick Young wrote, referring to the 23 that didn’t vote for Mays, “If Jesus Christ were to show up with his old baseball glove, some guys wouldn’t vote for him. He dropped the cross three times, didn’t he?”

“Catching Phil Niekro’s knuckleball was great. I got to meet a lot of important people. They all sit behind home plate.” ~ Bob Uecker

After making his MLB debut on March 29, 2024, Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers is the first 2004-born player in the majors. He also hit his first home run off Daniel Duarte of the Minnesota Twins on April 3, 2024.

“Baseball is one of the arts.” ~ Ted Williams

“Nobody in the neighborhood messed with me because if they got me mad, I was deadly from a block away with a rock.” ~ Marty Pattin, pitcher.

Vin Scully called 19 No-Hitters in his broadcasting career, three of which were Perfect Games. Amazing.

“When they knock you down, you not only have to get up, but you have to make it clear that you won’t be knocked down a second time.” ~ Carl Yastrzemski

“No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball.” Connie Mack (I can relate).

Cal Ripken Jr’s consecutive games played record is 2,632 in a row. Putting this into perspective, there’s less than 40 players who have played that many games.

If you are new to “Comments” feel free to browse the Archives for past articles. If you enjoyed this one, please click on the previous posts of this theme, “Hits and Runs”, “Hits and Runs II”, “Hits and Runs III”, “Hits and Runs IV” “Hits and Runs V”. “Hits and Runs VI”, “Hits and Runs VII”, “Hits and Runs VIII”, “Hits and Runs IX”, “Hits and Runs X”, “Hits and Runs XI”, and “Hits and Runs XII”.

Thanks for your support,

~ Coach Mike

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