The Squibber

THE DAVIDS CHAPTER E-NEWSLETTER

Summer 2008

This newsletter is produced by the Bob Davids Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), which serves SABR members in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware. Visit the chapter’s website now is www.sabrdc.org, but there are big changes coming.

This quarterly newsletter is distributed electronically to members. The deadline for material for the next newsletter is December 10, 2008. Submissions can be sent to Squibber editor Walt Cherniak at wcherniakjr@aol.com. Keep sending us those squibs, and those ideas for squibs!

CONTENTS – Summer 2008

1. From the BioProject: Maryland Natives Added to the Record

1. The Newest Knuckleballer: Zink Part of a Rare Breed, by Walt Cherniak

1. Talkin’ Baseball: Baseball Authors Scheduled to Speak. by David

Paulson

1. Report From Bethesda: Big Train Finishes Successful Season, by Bill Hickman

5. A Fond Memory of Herb Plews: Recalling a Promising Start, by Jeff Stuart

6. Tracking Down Marathon Games: Still Missing 20 States, by Phil Lowry

1. FROM THE BIOPROJECT: Maryland Natives Added to the Record

What do Al Burris, Vic Keen, and Bob Unglaub have in common?

Well, they’re downright obscure. They’re all Marylanders. Finally, and most important, Marty Payne has written their biographies for the BioProject.

Biography isn’t Marty’s only strong suit. He’s written widely on the history, economics, and business of baseball on the Eastern Shore.

Marty does extensive research in the newspapers of Eastern Shore towns, uncovering rare nuggets along the way. He presents his encyclopedic knowledge in clear, fluid prose.

As if all that’s not enough, Marty is currently serving as editor of the Davids Chapter’s publication for the 2009 SABR national convention, which will be held in Washington, D.C.

The publication for the National Convention held in Washington in 2009 will need a name. For example, the Cleveland version was "Batting Four Thousand; Baseball on the Western Reserve.”

Marty is hoping local membership can come up with plenty of creative choices for the publication. Suggestions can be e-mailed to him under the subject of "name" at martyp4@verizon.net.

2. THE NEWEST KNUCKLEBALLER: Zink Part of a Rare Breed – By Walt Cherniak

Charlie Zink was two weeks shy of his 29^th birthday when he made his major-league debut for the Red Sox, the oldest rookie starter the franchise has used in 18 years. That’s a fairly advanced age for a rookie pitcher, and it suggests terms like “journeyman” or “minor-league lifer.”

But Zink belongs to an exclusive baseball fraternity, the only one in which a 29-year-old can be considered young. Provided he pitches well and stays healthy – requirements shared by every pitcher trying to break into the majors – Zink has a reasonable chance at pitching effectively for 15 more years.

Zink is a knuckleball pitcher, one of just a handful in the major leagues. The pitcher he replaced in the Boston rotation was Tim Wakefield, baseball’s most successful knuckleballer, and one of the very few remaining in the majors.

But those who make it tend to stick around for a long time. Brothers Phil and Joe Niekro pitched until they were 48 and 43, respectively. Charlie Hough was 46 when he retired. Hoyt Wilhelm was 29 when his career began and 49 when it ended. Wakefield turned 42 earlier this month and is still going strong in his 16^th season.

Baseball is a story that lends itself to compelling personal narratives. And few of these stories are better than those of knuckleballers, who often turn to the fluttering pitch out of desperation after failing to make the grade as a “normal” pitcher. It’s usually a last-gasp effort before being released.

The process of identifying and developing baseball players has become more systematic over the years, and pitching prospects often seem to have been created with a cookie cutter. But in the midst of all this boring sameness, knuckleball pitchers stand as the quirky exceptions to baseball’s scouting rules.

Every knuckleballer who succeeds does so after overcoming tremendous odds. No one offers you a college scholarship if you’re a knuckleball pitcher. No team selects you in the amateur draft. If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in the minor leagues, no one on your team will be able to catch you or coach you. Your managers will lose hair and develop ulcers watching you pitch, and only the most patient and open-minded skippers will even give you a chance.

In a game that rewards control and predictability, the knuckleball is stubbornly resistant. Even the best knuckleballers acknowledge that they don’t “control” the pitch. Rather, they just float the ball in the general direction of home plate and let gravity, wind and humidity take over. It takes tremendous courage and faith to trust the pitch that much.

Zink’s story is typical of the knuckleballer breed. He went undrafted after pitching at Savannah College of Art & Design, a school where “painting the black” means something quite different. He was a conventional pitcher then, with a low-90s fastball. With no other options, he went off to pitch in an independent league.

But fortunately for Zink, his coach at Savannah was former Boston pitching great Luis Tiant. El Tiante made a few calls and arranged for Zink to get a tryout with the Red Sox’ Class A team in Augusta. Boston signed him, primarily as roster filler.

Like many pitchers, Zink fooled around throwing a knuckleball on the side. But he didn’t begin throwing it in games until it became clear his more traditional pitches weren’t going to take him anywhere. It wasn’t an easy journey, or a short one. There were many ugly games along the way. But gradually, the knuckleball became his primary pitch, and he now throws it almost exclusively.

Still, Zink spent more than seven years in the minor leagues before getting his chance, and there’s no guarantee he’ll stay. He was hit hard in his debut and sent right back to the minors, but he plans to be back.

Ironically, Zink probably would never have made the majors as a conventional pitcher, but now, throwing the knuckleball, he’s part of a contending team and a shrinking group of baseball iconoclasts.

Fans who like a little spice in their food will be rooting for him.

3. TALKIN’ BASEBALL: Baseball Authors Scheduled to Speak – By David Paulson

Here is the schedule for “Talkin’ Baseball” presentations by baseball authors over the remainder of 2008.

September 6: Fran Zimniuch: Going, Going Gone. The Art of the Trade in Major League Baseball

October 11: Mitchell Nathanson: The Fall of the 1977 Phillies

November 8: Dave Raglin and Mark Pattison: Sock it to ‘Em Tigers

December 1: Bob Bloss: Baseball Managers

The “Talkin’ Baseball” group meets a 9:00 A.M., usually on the second Saturday of each month, at the Owen Brown Community Center, 6800 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD.

Please note that the September and December meetings will be held on the first Saturday (the 6^th in both cases) and of their respective months.

Admission is free, so come and bring a friend!

4. REPORT FROM BETHESDA: Big Train Finishes Successful Season, By Bill Hickman

The Bethesda Big Train celebrated its 10^th season by performing at a high level. The team finished second in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League with a 29-13 record, tying the most wins in a season a Big Train team has ever enjoyed.

Youse's Maryland Orioles finished first, won the playoffs, and went on to win the national amateur baseball championship in the All-American Amateur Baseball Association tournament.

Three Big Train players had particularly noteworthy seasons in 2008. Outfielder Luke Adkins (Mississippi St.) played for a second year and passed the 50-game mark with the team. His Big Train career batting average of .322 now stands on top for all players who have been in 50 games or more.

Danny Stienstra (San Jose St.) had a sensational .391 batting average for the 2008 season, and now owns the Big Train record for number of hits in a season. The team had its own Mariano Rivera in the person of Matt Hiserman (U. of San Francisco), who yielded NO earned runs in 33.2 innings pitched and racked up 10 saves. Matt struck out 37 and walked only 2 batters.

In commemoration of the 10^th year, an all-decade team was named through fan voting and deliberations by a special committee. Those honored with membership on the all-decade team were:

First base - Brian LaNinfa, Danny Stienstra

Second base - Greg Lemon, Bert Smith

Shortstop - Pat Boran

Third base - Mike Costanzo, Jon Karcich

Outfield - Luke Adkins, Nick Cleckler, Casey Gilvin, Charlton Jimerson, Jonnie Knoble, Matt Long

Catcher - Michael McKenry

Starters and Relievers - Brian Anderson, Byron Binda, Chris Cullen, Gus Hlebovy, Matt Kleweno, Bobby Livingston, John Maine, Keith Moreland, Adam Redd, Steve Schmoll

Closers - Matt Hiserman, Wyatt Stewart

Among the group of Big Train alumni, 27 are currently playing in professional baseball, including John Maine of the New York Mets. The current teams for the three Big Train alumni who are former major leaguers are: Bobby Livingston (ex-Seattle Mariner and Cincinnati Red) is at Louisville (AAA); Steve Schmoll (ex-Los Angeles Dodger) is at Harrisburg (AA); Charlton Jimerson (ex-Houston Astro and Seattle Mariner) is at Sioux City (Independent American Association).

In addition to the 27 current pro players, outfielder Marcus Jones signed a contact with the Washington Nationals on August 15, and should be appearing with one of their minor league teams soon.

5. A FOND MEMORY OF HERB PLEWS: Recalling a Promising Start – By Jeff Stuart

One of my earliest baseball memories was watching a Senators –Yankees game on Aug. 8, 1956 at Griffith Stadium on WTTG (Channel 5) in Washington. The Yankees won 12-2, but Washington’s rookie second baseman Herb Plews had four hits, including three doubles, all off Yankee fireballer Bob Turley. He raised his average to .292

Turley himself had two hits of his own off the Nats’ Camilo Pascual, and Mickey Mantle hit his 38th homer of the season. But no Yankee had more than two hits. To an 11-year –old, this meant something.

Plews, a left-handed hitting second baseman, debuted on April 18 against the Yankees in Washington. He had a pinch single in that game, but he had only one hit in his first 28 at bats. Though he did have five hits in an exhibition game against the Phillies in June, there was little to indicate that Plews would finish with a .270 batting average that year and bat .382 against the Yankees.

On Feb. 8, 1956, Plews was traded by the Yankees along with Lou Berberet, Dick Tettelbach, and Bob Wiesler to the Senators for Mickey McDermott and Bobby Kline. The Yankees later sent Whitey Herzog to the Senators to complete the trade.

Plews had a decent 1955 season, playing third base with Denver of the American Association. That attracted the interest of the Senators. Marv Throneberry was at first for the 1955 Bears; Bobby Richardson was at second, and 18-year-old Tony Kubek was at shortstop. Future Nats teammates Herzog and Tettlebach, were in the outfield. Ralph Houk was the manager.

Upon hearing about the trade, Plews sent Nats traveling secretary Howie Fox the following note. “It was a happy surprise for me and I think it’s a real good chance. I’m proud to be a part of your team and I’ll guarantee it’s the most exciting news I’ve had in my life. I’m going to give it a real good try.”

Senators Vice President Joe Haynes told reporters that former Yankee scout and Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane had “personally put his OK on Lou Berberet, the catcher, and Herb Plews, the infielder. Mickey thinks they can’t miss and he says Washington made a real good trade.”

Plews finished the 1956 season strong. Just one week before his four-hit game against the Yanks, Plews tagged the Tigers for four hits in the second game of a double header at Detroit. Dean Stone posted a 4-1 win for Washington.

Just 10 days after, on Aug. 18, he had three hits in Boston as the Nats won again behind Stone, 9-7. Then, on Sept. 7, he had another four hits against the Yankees. This time the game was at Yankee Stadium and the Nats won, 6-5. In the ninth, Plews singled for his fifth straight hit off Turley, who came on in relief.

Plews had two more four-hit games in 1958. The first came on May 20, in Kansas City (the Nats lost, 7-3). The second came June 21 in Cleveland (the Nats won 11-7 behind Pete Ramos). After the game in Cleveland, his average stood at .325. On June 29, Plews had three hits in the second game of a double header at Chicago. The Nats lost 12-11 after winning the opener 12-0 behind Ramos.

Herbert Eugene Plews was born on June 14, 1928 in Helena, Montana.

As a high schooler, Plews played for his high school team during their seasons, and played American Legion ball in the summers. In 1945, he was selected as the representative for the state of Montana in the Esquire game, sponsored by Esquire magazine and played at the Polo Grounds in New York. One player from each state was chosen to play in that game. “I met Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, who were the managers for the two teams,” said Plews.

He earned a degree from the University of Illinois, where he played college ball and was named to the All Big 10 squad in 1949.

Plews played in the minor leagues in 1950 but his career was interrupted by military service. Stationed at Camp Drake in Japan, he played Army baseball with other current and future big leaguers. Back in the minors after his service stint, Plews batted .304 with Norfolk in 1953 and .302 with Birmingham in 1954. He led the Southern Association in triples in 1954. A solid season with the Denver Bears in 1955 paved the way for his move up to the majors in 1956.

Plews hit only four big league homers, but two of them were off Detroit Hall of Famer Jim Bunning. The other two game off Chicago’s Bob Keegan. As a part-time infielder with the Nats from 1956 to 1959, Plews, who wore number 25, was a timely and respectable hitter, and a solid glove man.

He tied a since-broken record by participating in five double plays on Sept 26, 1958 at Boston. Plews was dealt to Boston, along with Dick Hyde, on June 11, 1959 for Billy Consolo and Murray Wall. Hyde and Wall were returned to their original teams just a few days later.

Now 80 years old, Plews and his wife currently live in a retirement community in Boulder, Colorado, quietly rooting for the new baseball team across the country in Washington, D.C. to win.

6. TRACKING DOWN MARATHON GAMES: Still Missing 20 States – By Phil Lowry

Some 20 states are missing in the search for marathons. In almost a half century of looking, we have failed yet to identify any amateur baseball games in these states that have lasted 20 or more innings. Must have happened in every state, wouldn't you agree?

Can you please help us bring in the missing states by informing us of an amateur game in these states that lasted 20 or more innings?

By way of comparison, Pennsylvania has experienced 26 such games, such as the following one: 20½ innings – at Daisytown, Pa., name of ballfield unknown – 20-Sep-1931 – Monongahela Valley League playoffs – California Eagles 3 Daisytown Moose 1 in 4:00. After a long fly ball hit by a California Eagle batter down the left field foul line was ruled by the umpire to be a two-run homer in the top of the 21st, the Daisytown Moose team vehemently protested the call, saying the ball was foul, and then walked off the field. The umpire awarded the game, and the league championship with it, to the Eagles 3-1.

Here are the missing states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Some high school associations are very serious about maintaining the integrity of their state records, specifically their baseball record book for games lasting 20 or more innings. Examples include Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Others, sad to say, cannot be bothered with what to them is a totally meaningless topic, like Texas, New York, and California.

Below is the list of USA high school games discovered in the past 46 years of research to have gone 20 or more innings. They are located in ONLY 20 states.

What about the OTHER 30 states, the District, and the five U.S. territories? That they would NEVER have had such a game is pretty unthinkable. It stands to reason that most or all of our 50 states should have had at least one such game. However, as we shall see below, huge numbers of states are missing, and have had no such games found yet.

21 innings – Girard Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - 29-Jun-1878 – Amateur at High School – Yeager 10. Girard College High School 7 in 4:00.

22 – Greenwood, South Carolina - 26-Apr-1908 – Anderson Boy’s High School Yellowjackets 5, Greenwood High School Eagles 4 in 3:45 – finished at 7:15 PM.

20 – School Playgrounds, Lawrenceville, New Jersey - 29-May-1908 – Mid-Atlantic Prep League – Lawrenceville School Big Red 3, Mercersburg Academy Blue Storm 2 in 3:00.

20 – Mercer Park on Tattnall Square, Macon, Georgia – 15-Apr-1911 – College at High School – Hall’s School 4, Georgia-Alabama Business College 3 in 2:45.

20 – Bertram Field, Salem, Massachusetts – 10-Jun-1914 – Salem High School Witches 6, Haverhill High School Hillies 5 in 4:20 – finished at 7:40 PM.

20 – Hamlin, Texas – 28-Apr-1924 – Anson High School Tigers 2, Hamlin High School Pied Pipers 1.

21 – Prepatera Diamond, Fullerton, California - 09-Apr-1927 – National Collegiate Athletic Association at California High School League - Pomona College Sagehens 4, Fullerton High School Indians 3 in 3:00.

25 – Koshien Kyujo (Stadium), Osaka, Japan – 19-Aug-1933 – Koshien National High School Tournament Semifinal – Chukyo-shogyo 1, Akashi-chugaku 0 in 4:55 – finished at 6:05 PM.

25 – Yuanshan Qiuchang (Stadium), Taipei, Taiwan - 28-Jul-1941 – Jiayi Agriculture and Forestry Institute (Jianong) 2, Taipei Industrial School 1 in 5:29.

20 – Recreation (now Rotary) Field, Naugatuck, Connecticut - 15-Jun-1946 – Naugatuck High School Garnet and Grey (later Greyhounds) 3, Waterbury Leavenworth (later Croft, then Kennedy) High School Engineers 2.

20 – Newtown or Bryant, New York - 15-May-1947 – Newtown High School 3, Bryant High School 2.

25 - Japan – July 1948 – Koshien National High School Tournament Regional Qualifier – one high school team defeated another high school team.

24 - Japan – July 1951 – Koshien National High School Tournament Regional Qualifier – Morioka Number One High School vs. Aomori High School, final score 1-0.

20 – Bourne Dormitory Field, Pomfret, Connecticut - 10-May-1952 – Pomfret School Mannymen (later Griffins) 4, St. George’s School Dragons 3 in 4:55.

21 – Japan – July 1952 – Koshien National High School Tournament Regional Qualifier – Tsuru (Otsuki) High School defeated unknown high school.

21 – Clemons, Iowa - 10-May-1955 – playoffs – Roland High School Rockets 3, Clemons High School 2 in 4:35.

20 – Dallas, Texas - 17-Apr-1957 – Adamson High School Leopards 3, Sunset High School Bison 2; then Hillcrest High School Panthers 3, Thomas Jefferson High School Patriots 2 in 13 innings – 2^nd game finished at 11:59 PM.

25 – Shikoku Kyujo (Stadium), Shikoku, Japan – 28-Apr-1958 – Takamatsu-shogyo 2, Tokushima-shogyo 0 in 5:47.

20 – Hoolulu Park (later Wong Stadium), Hilo, Hawai’i - 15-Apr-1962 – Ka’u High School Trojans 3, St. Joseph High School Cardinals 2 in 4:00.

21 – Delano High School Diamond #4 and Delano High School Varsity Field, Delano, California - 23-Mar-1967 – Fresno McLane High School Highlanders 3, Fresno High School Warriors 2 in 6:15, diamond switch delay from Diamond #4 to Varsity Field 0:15 top 8th – finished at 10:30 PM.

25 - Honolulu Stadium (later Termite Palace), Honolulu, Hawai’i – 25-Mar-1967 – Kamehameha High School Warriors 9, McKinley High School Tigers 7 in 6:12.

21 – Knowles Field, Martinez, California - 09-May-1968 – Alhambra High School Bulldogs 4, San Ramon Valley High School Wolves 3 in 6:00 – finished at 9:30 PM.

21 – Field Park, Mukwonago, Wisconsin - 15-May-1969 - Mukwonago High School Indians 5, Burlington High School Demons 4 in 5:00 – 65 fans – finished at 9:30 PM.

24 – Flamingo Park, Miami Beach, Florida – 23-Apr-1970 – Miami High School Stingarees 1, Hialeah High School Thoroughbreds 0 in 5:16, then Miami Coral Park High School Rams 9, Miami High School 0 in 2:44 and 7 innings – 250 fans; 500 fans at end of 1^st game – 1^st game finished at 8:16 PM; 2^nd game finished at 11:44 PM.

22 – Shively Field, Lexington, Kentucky – 03-Jun-1970 – Madisonville High School Maroons 12, Lexington Lafayette High School Generals 11 in 6:03.

27 – Ube City Kyujo (Stadium), Ube City, Japan – 13-May-1973 and 14-May-1973 – Matsue Sho 2, Shimonoseki Sho 0, suspended after 18 innings.

21 – Mt. Olive, Illinois – 23-May-1973 – Staunton High School Bulldogs 0, Mt. Olive High School Wildcats 0 in 4:05, scheduled to resume 29-May but instead they decided to play a new game – finished at 8:05 PM.

20 – Olympians Field, Olympia Fields, Illinois – 1975 – Homewood-Flossmoor High School Vikings vs. Olympia Fields Rich Central High School Olympians in 4:00 – finished at 8:00 PM.

25 – Farmers Field, Hayward and Rebels Field, San Lorenzo, California – 09-Apr-1975 and 02-May-1975 – Hayward High School Farmers 2, San Lorenzo High School Rebels 1, suspended after 17 innings in Hayward, completed in San Lorenzo – 15 fans at San Lorenzo; then Hayward 5, San Lorenzo 4 in 7 innings.

20 – Moss Field, Meridian, Mississippi – 09-Mar-1979 – Meridian High School Wildcats 4, Corinth High School Warriors 3 in 3:30 – 250 fans – finished at 5:30 PM.

21 – Hickey Park, Russellville, Arkansas – 14-May-1980 – Hazen High School Hornets 8, Tuckerman High School Bulldogs 7.

20 – Mayo Field, Rochester, Minnesota - 10-May-1986 and 20-May-1986 – Rochester Mayo High School Spartans 3, Mankato East High School Cougars 2 in 6:15, rain delay 1:30 bottom 10^th, suspended after 3:00 and 9 ½ innings, then Rochester Mayo 11, Mankato East 10 in 2:30 and 7 innings – 125 fans on 10-May – suspended at 3:30 PM on 10-May, 1^st game finished at 8:15 PM on 20-May; 2^nd game finished at 11:00 PM on 20-May.

23 – Legion Field, Downers Grove, Illinois – 28-Apr-1995 and 03-May-1995 and 08-May-1995 and 12-May-1995 – Downers Grove North High School Trojans 12, Elmhurst York High School Dukes 11 in 7:00, suspended after 3:00 and 8 innings, suspended a 2^nd time after 6:00 and 20 innings – 75 fans on 28-Apr, 75 fans on 03-May, 250 fans on 12-May – suspended at 7:15 PM at 28-Apr, suspended 2^nd time at 7:15 PM on 03-May, rained out on 08-May, finished at 5:15 PM on 12-May.

21 – Blue Valley District Activity Center, Overland Park, Kansas – 20-May-1997 - Blue Valley Northwest High School Huskies 1, Shawnee Mission North High School Mustangs 0 in 5:50 – finished at 10:50 PM.

20 – Kyoto or Kobe, Japan - 1997 – Kinki District High School League – Kyoto Heian-koukou 8, Kobe Ikuei-koukou 7.

21 – Rotary Field, Brunswick, Ohio – 09-May-2001 and 10-May-2001 – Brunswick High School Blue Devils 11, Elyria High School Pioneers 10, suspended after 18 innings – 100 fans.

24 – Rebels Field, Norridge, Illinois – 23-Apr-2004 and 25-May-2004 – Evergreen Park High School Mustangs 2, Ridgewood High School Rebels 1 in 4:40, suspended after 2:00 and 12 innings – 40 fans on 23-Apr; 80 fans on 25-May - suspended at 6:15 PM on 23-Apr; finished at 6:55 PM on 25-May.

20 – Nash Park, Kenosha, Wisconsin – 24-Apr-2007 – Kenosha Tremper High School Trojans 3, Racine Horlick High School Rebels 2 in 5:05 – 65 fans; 20 fans at end – finished at 9:35 PM.

20 – Yanez Field, Downey, California – 13-May-2008 –California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division III Playoffs Wildcard Round – Downey High School Vikings 3, Harvard-Westlake Upper School Wolverines 2 in 7:20 – 200 fans including Tommy Lasorda; 125 fans at end - finished at 10:35 PM.