The Squibber
THE DAVIDS CHAPTER E-NEWSLETTER
Spring 2009
This newsletter is produced by the Bob Davids Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), which serves members in the nation’s capital, Maryland, Virginia, and parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware. Visit the chapter’s official website at http://chapters.sabr.org/bobdavids/.
This quarterly newsletter is distributed electronically to members. The deadline for material for the next newsletter is June 10, 2009. Submissions can be sent to Squibber editor Walt Cherniak at wcherniakjr@aol.com. Keep sending us those squibs, and those ideas for squibs!
CONTENTS
- Branching Out: Bethesda Big Train Seeks to Expand its Management Team, by Bill Hickman
- Here’s Mudcat in Your Eye Again: Nats Tried Everything to Beat Grant, by Jeff Stuart
- Central Pennsylvania Report: Updates from Harrisburg, Lancaster and York, by Barry Sparks
- Book Discussion Double Header: New Titles by Dickson, Barra Featured,
- Celebrating Dave Philley: Pinch-Hitting Record Has Lasted 50 Years, by Cort Vitty
- Speaking Baseball’s ‘Language’: Smithsonian Program Planned
- New Books by Bob Davids Chapter Members: Vincent on ‘Monumental’ Homers; Walker on the 1969 Senators
1. BRANCHING OUT: Bethesda Big Train Seeks to Expand its Management Team – By Bill Hickman
The Bethesda Big Train summer collegiate baseball team is in its 11th season of operation. It plays at Shirley Povich Field in Cabin John Regional Park in North Bethesda, not far from Westfield Montgomery Mall. Big Train is a team in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League.
The team has been successful in many ways. Five of its former players have made it to the major leagues: John Maine, Charlton Jimerson, Bobby Livingston, Steve Schmoll and Dirk Hayhurst. About a third of its players play professional baseball after they graduate from college. The organization has raised over $500,000, which it has donated in support of improvements to youth ball fields in Montgomery County and the District of Columbia. It has welcomed more than 150,000 fans to watch Big Train games at Povich Field, a ballpark it built in partnership with the Montgomery County Parks Foundation.
We see the potential to do even more good works in the field of baseball, if we can get more volunteer help with the year-round management of the organization. The team is seeking volunteers to fill the positions of Marketing Director, Assistant Marketing Director, Fund-Raising Director, Press Relations Director, Program Director (game night entertainment), Publications Director, Community Relations Director, Ballfield Facility Planner and Accountant/Bookkeeper.
If you have experience in any of these areas and a passion for baseball that you would like to convert into active management of a baseball operation, please contact Bill Hickman at volunteer@bigtrain.org. We have position descriptions for each of these volunteer jobs and would be pleased to provide you with more specific information about them.
2. HERE’S MUDCAT IN YOUR EYE AGAIN: Nats Tried Everything to Beat Grant -- by Jeff Stuart
Baseball players are notoriously superstitious. But on July 2, 1960, at Griffith Stadium, the Senators’ promotional staff implored their fans to be that way too.
It was “Beat Mudcat” Day at the Stadium. There were 2,000 rabbits’ feet and 2,000 “Beat Mudcat” buttons given out to the crowd of 11,331. A group of Boy Scouts did an Indian Dance on the mound. The boys represented the Order of the Arrow Camper group, specializing in Indian Dances and customs, and performed the "Devil Dance" with live snakes in their teeth. Really! Some fans brought voodoo dolls, and there were at least a couple of black cats in evidence.
The object of all this was Cleveland’s Jim “Mudcat” Grant. The gangling Cleveland right-hander had beaten the Senators 13 straight times over two and a half seasons. Grant himself was given a “Beat Mudcat” button, and he got into the spirit of things, putting a strip of tape over the “beat” and changing it to “Win”. He wore the “Win Mudcat” button on his cap while warming up, but the umpires made him remove it before the game.
But despite their best efforts, the Nats fans failed to conjure up any runs. The Indians thoroughly enjoyed themselves, banging out 18 hits, including a two-run homer by Bubba Phillips. Camilo Pascual yielded 12 hits and seven runs, Tex Clevenger allowed three runs and Chuck Stobbs two more. Meanwhile, Mudcat tossed a five-hitter and the Tribe won, 11-2.
This “inspired” promotion turned out to be a humiliating flop. The “baseball demons” seemed to be immune to exorcism.
In fact, some of those snakes must have bitten the Nats, because Washington played raggedly. This was by far the worst defeat of the season for the Nats. Only Julio Becquer prevented a complete rout, as he hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth, salvaging at least some personal pride. Pascual suffered his 12th loss in 13 decisions to the Indians. His ERA jumped from 2.80 to 3.18.
It all started harmlessly enough, when the Indians scored an unearned run in the second. Hank Foiles walked with one out, and moved to second on Woodie Held’s single. Grant grounded to Reno Bertoia who threw to second for the force, but Billy Gardner, bumped by Held, overthrew first and Foiles scored.
The carnage erupted in earnest in the fourth inning. Vic Power doubled and moved up on Tito Francona’s bunt single. Foiles singled to center, scoring Power. After Held sacrificed, Grant’s long fly brought in Francona, and Johnny Temple singled home another run.
Pascual was knocked out in the fifth. Singles by Harvey Kuenn and Power, and another bunt hit by Francona filled the bases. Foiles blooped a single to right to score one run, and Grant singled in two more.
Clevenger came in to retire the side, but he received lumps in the next inning. Marty Keough singled, stole second and scored on Kuenn’s single. Francona tripled to center, scoring Kuenn. Held's sacrifice fly made it 9-0. The Indians added two runs off Stobbs in the eight on Phillips’ homer.
In the ninth, Dan Dobbek walked with one out and Jim Lemon fanned before Becquer’s homer into the left field seats spoiled the shutout.
It is significant to note that Grant had 26 total victories over this stretch. On a pitching staff that included Jim Perry, Cal McLish, Ray Narleski, Herb Score and Don Mossi, it is inexplicable that it was Grant who tormented the Nats. Despite the witch’s brew, Grant now had 14 wins over the Nats without a loss.
Washington finally beat Grant for the first time a few weeks later.
It happened on July 17, 1960, when they beat Grant 3-2 in the first game of a double header. They won the second game as well, 5-3, before 15,843 paying customers. In the victory over Grant, Washington scored in the second. Elmer Valo reached on a bad throw and one out later Earl Battey and Jose Valdivielso singled. A passed ball scored Valo and Battey scored as pitcher Clevenger grounded out.
Cleveland scored in the third when Temple doubled and scored on Ken Aspromonte's single. In the fourth, Marty Keough doubled and scored on Foiles’s single to tie the game.
Power opened the sixth with a single and Held reached when Dobbek lost his pop fly in the sun. With two outs, the ever-present Grant singled to center. Dobbek got to the ball quickly and threw home where Battey easily tagged out Power. But the two exchanged words and then punches and the benches emptied. After order was restored, both initial participants were tossed.
The Nats scored the winning run in the seventh when pinch hitter Harmon Killebrew reached on an infield hit. Reno Bertoia singled, and pinch runner Pete Ramos scored on Dobbek's single. Cleveland’s final rally died in the ninth as Kuenn bounced into a double play. Don Lee got the save and thus ended the potent Mudcat Jinx.
3. CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA REPORT: Updates from Harrisburg, Lancaster and York – by Barry Sparks
Harrisburg
Fans of the Harrisburg Senators, the Class AA affiliate of the Washington Nationals, will reap the benefits of a $45 million deal that will overhaul Commerce Bank Park. Some of the renovations are expected to be completed by April and others are slated to be finished by April 2010.
Commerce Bank Park, formerly known as Riverside Stadium, was built in 1987. With many metal bleacher-type seats, it is antiquated by today’s minor league standards. Its clubhouses are thought to be the smallest in all of minor league baseball.
Construction has been divided into two phases. Changes expected by Opening Day 2009 include a scoreboard upgrade, a new outfield wall with LED boards and static advertisement panels, left-field seating area with outfield bar and an outfield boardwalk stretching from foul pole to foul pole.
Phase 2 changes to be completed by April 2010 include a new seating bowl with chair-backed seats and a roof covering the majority of the seats; 20 suites; new concessions and bathrooms; renovated clubhouses; a new sound system; a new press box and a new reserved parking lot.
The Harrisburg Senators averaged just 2,488 fans per game in 2008, despite posting their first winning season in six years. The club had the lowest attendance in the 12-team Eastern League. It was Harrisburg’s lowest attendance since it returned to City Island in 1987.
In comparison, Lancaster drew 5,130 fans per game, while York attracted 4,351 fans per game. Seven of the eight teams in the Atlantic League averaged more fans per game than Harrisburg. Only Bridgeport (2,370 per game) averaged less.
Lancaster
In an effort to reverse their fortunes, the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League have put together what they consider a dream coaching staff. Manager Von Hayes and former manager Tommy Herr have joined forces.
Hayes signed a two-year contract after a disappointing 64-76 debut season that included a rash of injuries and a revolving clubhouse door involving 65 players.
Herr, who managed the Barnstormers in 2005 and during their 2006 Atlantic League championship, has signed a one-year deal to serve as Hayes’ bench coach.
Hayes and Herr were teammates on the 1989 and 1990 Philadelphia Phillies.
Rick Wise, who had served as the Barnstormers pitching coach since their initial season in 2005, has retired. Bill Bliss is his replacement.
York
Chris Hoiles has returned for his third season at the helm for the York Revolution. Tippy Martinez is back as pitching coach.
Other Atlantic League News
The Long Island Ducks and the Newark Bears boast new managers this year. Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter is in charge of the Ducks, while Tim Raines has taken the reins in Newark. Mike Torrez is the club’s pitching coach, while Ron Karkovice is the hitting instructor.
In other coaching changes, Willie Upshaw has joined Tommy John’s staff in Bridgeport. He’ll serve as bench coach.
The Atlantic League has an impressive list of former major leaguers as managers and coaches. In fact, they would make a good all-star team in their playing days.
1b - Willie Upshaw (bench coach, Bridgeport)
2b - Tommy Herr (bench coach, Lancaster)
3b - 3B - Butch Hobson (manager, Southern Maryland)
SS - Bud Harrelson (third base coach, Long Island)
C - Gary Carter (manager, Long Island)
LF - Von Hayes (manager, Lancaster)
CF - Tim Raines (manager, Newark)
RF - Joe Ferguson (manager, Camden)
DH - Chris Hoiles (manager, York)
Pitching
RHP - Mike Torrez (pitching coach, Newark)
LHP - Tommy John (manager, Bridgeport)
RP - Sparky Lyle (manager, Somerset)
[Editor’s note: The Harrisburg Senators will host the Bob Davids chapter for a picnic/meeting/game this year on Saturday, August 29. Details will be announced very soon.]
4. BOOK DISCUSSION DOUBLE HEADER: New Titles by Dickson, Barra Featured
Books by Paul Dickson and Allen Barra will be discussed at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
The Press Club is on the 13th floor at 529 14th Street NW. Metro Center is the closest Metro station. The event is open to the public and is presented free of charge, but reservations are required.
You can RSVP at opus@press.org or phone 202-662-7523. The Press Building is next door to the J. W. Marriott, where this summer's SABR national convention will be held.
In a “double header” evening that promises to interest fans and non-fans alike, Dickson and Barra will entertain with stories filled with humor, history and interesting baseball facts.
The Wall Street Journal called the third edition of “The Dickson Baseball Dictionary” ($49.95) “a staggering piece of scholarship.” It provides information compiled from historic works, as well as contemporary source materials that offer an enriching and illuminating account of baseball in America.
It has become an indispensable resource for baseball fans. More than 25 years in the making, and with contributions from more than 300 baseball and lexical experts, this new edition has expanded its information base by more than 30 percent.
It introduces words and phrases from around the world of baseball, including those introduced by Latin-American ballplayers, and statistical expressions relating to fantasy baseball and the SABR/Moneyball era and includes more than 250 photos.
Dickson is a long-time member of the National Press Club and has written more than 50 books.
“Yogi Berra: Eternal Yankee” by Allen Barra ($27.95), presents a fresh look at one of the most heralded Yankee ballplayers of all time. This revelatory biography offers hilarious insights into one of baseball’s greatest players and some of the game’s greatest moments.
Part comedian, part feisty competitor, Yogi is also one of the winningest players (14 pennants, 10 World Series, three MVPs) in baseball history. In “Yogi Berra,” Barra presents the icon’s remarkable life as never seen before, from his childhood in “Dago Hill”, the Italian-American neighborhood in St. Louis, to his leading role on the 1949-53 Yankees, the only team to win five consecutive World Series.
Allen Barra, author of “The Last Coach: A Life of Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant,” is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal.
5. CELEBRATING DAVE PHILLEY: Pinch-Hitting Record Has Lasted 50 Years – by Cort Vitty
The start of the 2009 season will mark the 50th anniversary of switch-hitting Dave Philley’s record of nine consecutive pinch hits. Coming off the bench, Philley ended 1958 with eight consecutive safeties for the
Philadelphia Phillies. On April 16th, 1959, in his first plate appearance of the season, Philley laced a sharp double to establish a National League record of nine pinch hits in a row.
Philley’s role as a pinch hitter evolved after many years as a dependable everyday player, including two impressive stints with the Baltimore Orioles.
David Earl Philley was born on May 16, 1920 in Paris Texas. As a youngster, he threw right and batted left, until a broken left arm made it impossible to swing from his natural side. He learned to hit right-handed and became adept enough to continue switch-hitting after the arm healed. Dave was a high school standout in baseball, football, track and boxing.
The 6' 0",188-pound Philley was signed by the Chicago White Sox as a catcher in 1940. When Philley came up for a brief trial late in 1941, manager Jimmy Dykes cautiously inserted him into the lineup against the Senators. A Washington scribe reported: “A rookie named Dave Philley played left field for five innings and escaped without serious injury.” As an outfield newcomer, Philley completely missed one ball hit in his direction. Later, a scorching line drive barely missed his head, prompting Dykes to “remove the youngster before being charged with manslaughter.” Philley carried the tattered news clipping in his wallet for many years.
After the 1941 season, Philley entered the Army and served until the end of World War II. He returned to the majors late in 1946, hitting .363 in 17 games for the Pale Hose. In 1947, he became the White Sox’s regular center fielder, and hit .258 in 143 games. His 21 stolen bases were second best in the league. A .287 mark in 1948 was followed by a .286 average in 1949.
Philley started 1950 solely as a left-handed batter, realizing he hit about 100 points higher from the port side. The experiment ended when New York left-hander Tommy Byrne plunked him three times during a contest at Yankee Stadium. Philley resumed switch hitting and finished the season with a .242 average and a career-best 14 home runs.
Former manager Jimmy Dykes was running the Philadelphia A’s in 1951, and acquired Philley as part of a three-team deal. By now, Philley had become an accomplished flyhawk, and his field boss had no qualms about his defensive skills, or his ability to defend. On numerous occasions, Philley saved his diminutive manager from surly pitchers and argumentative catchers. When benches cleared, Philley would intervene with a gruff: “All right, you want to fight somebody—fight me. Let him alone. He’s an old man.”
“Well, that took me down a peg or two.” Dykes laughed. The hard-playing Philley confidently stated, “I never look for trouble.” But teammates and opposition alike agreed he never ran from it either.
Philley posted identical .263 averages in 1951 and 1952. He enjoyed his most productive offensive season with the A’s in 1953, when he hit .303 in 157 games. The strong-armed Philley led league outfielders in assists three times during his A.L. tenure. Dykes noted: “He has always been a sort of a ballplayer’s ballplayer, faster than most and with a stronger arm than the majority.” Philley practiced hard to become an exceptional bunter and usually led the A’s in sacrifices.
Philley was a holdout after the 1953 season, and the A’s couldn’t meet his salary demands, resulting in a trade to Cleveland prior to the 1954 season. He proceeded to have the worst year of his career, hitting only .226 for the pennant-bound Indians. Manager Al Lopez put some perspective to the disappointing numbers. “I never saw so many screaming line drives hit directly at so many people.” Philley would make the only World Series appearance of his career that October.
Further down in the standings, the 1954 Orioles finished a dismal seventh in their inaugural season in Baltimore. The O’s went from bad to worse in 1955, opening the season with a 20-53 record under new Manager Paul Richards. Desperate to add offensive punch, Richards was surprised to find Philley available and promptly plucked the big Texan off the waiver list.
His acquisition immediately sparked the Orioles. Philley went on to hit .299, primarily as a left fielder and third baseman. After his arrival, the team improved to a 37-44 record, earning him Most Valuable Oriole honors, as voted by the media. Traded back to the White Sox for 1956, Philley added first base to his growing resume of defensive positions. He would next be shuttled to the Detroit Tigers in 1957, where he hit .283 overall, but logged a .414 average off the bench.
Philley made his initial National League appearance when he was sold to the Phillies prior to the start of the 1958 season. Acquired specifically as a pinch hitting specialist, the 38-year-old was still agile enough for outfield or first base duties. He feasted on N.L. pitching to the tune of a .309 average. The hard-charging veteran broke his nose on May 17 when he dove into the first base stands chasing a foul ball. The collision kept Philley out of the starting lineup for six weeks. He ultimately pounded 18 safeties as a pinch hitter, including the eight hits to end the season.
When his streak was extended to nine in a row in 1959, Philley elaborated on his approach to pinch hitting during a 1959 interview with Ed Wilks of the Associated Press. “I walk to the plate with all the confidence in the world. I figure I’ve got only one shot at it. I relax as much as possible, yet manage to bear down. Of course it helps to know the opposing pitchers. I study them as much as I can.”
A productive .291 mark for the 1959 Phillies resulted in his sale to the San Francisco Giants after the start of the 1960 season, but he hit only .164 in 39 games. He was reunited with the Orioles and old manager Paul Richards on Sept. 1, 1960. Although obtained specifically for pinch-hitting, the veteran was immediately pressed into the starting lineup when left fielder Gene Woodling suffered an injury. Philley hit .265 in 14 games.
In 1961, the Baby Birds of Baltimore won 95 games and finished a respectable third in the AL standings. Philley contributed 24 pinch hits to establish an American League record, while posting an overall .250 average in 99 games. Despite his record-setting pinch hits and.299 average off the bench, he was released by the Orioles at the end of the season. By then, Richards was hired away from the Orioles to develop the expansion Houston Colt-45’s. He signed Philley as a free agent in 1962, and subsequently traded him to the Boston Red Sox, where Philley wrapped up his big league career. Philley went on to manage in the Houston organization and also served as an instructor and scout in the Red Sox system.
Overall, his 1,700 hits in 6,296 at bats produced a lifetime batting average of .270, with a total of 84 home runs. A competitor on and off the field, Philley strived to improve every aspect of his game. A believer in top physical conditioning, he became a proponent of fingertip push ups as taught to him by Ted Williams. He always got plenty of sleep and strictly adhered to training rules. The strongest drink he’d consume was soda pop and his only admitted vice was smoking an occasional cigar. In retirement, Philley became an active community leader and held several elected posts, while residing on his 557-acre cattle ranch east of Paris, Texas.
Source List:
The New York Times; The Paris (Texas) News; The Salisbury (Maryland) Times; The Sporting News; The Washington Post; www.astroland.net; www.baseball-almanac.com; www.baseball-reference.com
6. SPEAKING BASEBALL’S LANGUAGE: Smithsonian Program Planned
In conjunction with the publication of Paul Dickson’s monumental third edition of his Baseball Dictionary and the SABR National Convention, the Smithsonian Associates is putting on a program on the “Language of Baseball” at 7:30 p.m., July 29, featuring Dickson and Phil Hochberg, former stadium announcer for the Washington Senators.
Attendees will hear the background of Dickson’s 10,000 entries and 18.000 definitions – and try to stump him with ones he may not have included. There is a special admission price for SABR members of $15. The event will be held at the Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, D.C. For tickets, call (202) 633-3030 or contact www.ResidentAssociates.org.
7. NEW BOOKS BY BOB DAVIDS CHAPTER MEMBERS: Vincent on ‘Monumental’ Homers; Walker on the 1969 Senators
Bob Davids Chapter members David Vincent and Stephen Walker have recently published new books.
The home run has changed the game of baseball, moving it into a sport where might makes right and fans clamor for the clout. Home Run’s Most Wanted™: The Top 10 Book of Monumental Dingers, Prodigious Swingers, and Everything Long-Ball celebrates all there is about the home run, from the folks that hit it, the guys that serve it up, and even the voices proclaiming, “It’s outta here!”
David Vincent, called “The Sultan of Swat Stats” by ESPN, brings it all to you in this fact-filled smorgasbord of home run knowledge. His detailed and varied top-ten lists include top home run totals position by position; players with the most homers against the Yankees; the youngest and oldest to “go yard,” pitchers who surrendered the most homers; the states that have birthed the most top hitters; home run hitters with the longest last names; and even the top totals for players with the common last name of Williams.
There’s so much more, too. With a database of every single round-tripper ever hit, Vincent can present just about anything home run related you can imagine, and does so in this book. From the interesting and surprising to the humorous and just plain offbeat, Home Run’s Most Wanted™ fills the bases with fun trivia about the longest ball of them all.
David Vincent is the author of Home Run: The Definitive History of Baseball’s Ultimate Weapon and co-author of the award-winning book The Midsummer Classic: The Complete History of Baseball’s All-Star Game, and SABR Presents the Home Run Encyclopedia: The Who, What, and Where of Every Home Run Hit Since 1876. Major League Baseball, ESPN, FOX, USA Today, and many other media entities consult him regularly on the history of the home run. He lives in Centreville, Va.
A Whole New Ballgame: The 1969 Washington Senators
Despite a long and uneven history, Major League Baseball’s Washington franchises have hardly been the stuff of legend.
However, in 1969, when new owner Bob Short coaxed batting legend and rookie Manager Ted Williams out of retirement, these annual no-names climbed out of the depths and straight into the hearts of Washington baseball fans starving for a winner.
Led by the “Capital Punisher” Frank Howard, whose tape-measure home runs sometimes seemed like optical illusions, the Senators simply won ball games with a determination rarely seen in D.C. environs. A Whole New Ballgame showcases the 1969 Senators’ magical season, complete with player bios, photographs, stats, game action, and stories.
Stephen Walker has extensively and lovingly researched the 1969 Washington Senators for the past 15 years. He interviewed 16 Senators for A Whole New Ballgame including Frank Howard, Dick Bosman, Darold Knowles, Del Unser, Ed Brinkman and Ken McMullen, as well as coaches Sid Hudson and Wayne Terwilliger, radio announcer Ron Menchine, bat boy Paul Oppermann, and numerous fans.
Walker’s articles have appeared in national and regional SABR publications and the Washington Baseball Historical Society’s quarterly newsletter. He is a regular speaker at the Bob Davids chapter’s annual winter meetings and writes a Washington baseball-focused blog at www.stephenjwalker.com. Walker lives in Ellicott City, Md. with his wife and three sons.
Chapter Info