Aaron: “Baseball Needs To Do More”
September 7, 2010
FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – It’s fitting that the United States Tennis Association, decided to honor baseball Hall of Famer Henry Aaron in its annual “Breaking the Barriers” Reception, because it happened in the shadow of the US Open’s centerpiece Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Actually, the former home run king actually met Ashe a few times during their storied careers.
“I met Arthur twice,” said Aaron, who was honored along with former USTA president Judy Lavering and AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega. “Once when he was about to do a television show with my wife. She used to do a television show in Atlanta. And then I met him in Milwaukee, but I read so many things about him, I knew I admired him and what he stood for. He was an example of what I always wanted to be in my life.”
Aaron sees Ashe as a mirror to his own career. When he came up to the Milwaukee Braves back in 1954, he experienced the same racism as the former US Open Champion did in the 1960s. “I think he handled it some of the same,” he said. “I would say Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson almost had the same kind of reaction as Jackie [Robinson] and me or everyone with some color.”
Things on the racial front have gotten better according to Aaron, but he does feel that there is still room to improve.
“One of the things that bothers me is that after Jackie Robinson broke in 1947, we had so many American blacks playing baseball,” he said. “It’s not that case anymore. It seems like it has gone backwards and it’s gone the other way around. Had things had gotten better, yes. We can stay in the hotels we want to stay at and we can go wherever we want to go. But if you don’t have the money, then you don’t have the money to do those things.”
Of course there are reasons for it. Economics for one, according to Aaron, as young African Americans are choosing to go the quicker money in football and basketball, rather risk a longer career in baseball. So, he feels baseball needs to get the message out and get more and more athletes playing the sport.
The same holds true for tennis, but events like tonight’s, of course improve the sport’s standing in the community.
And maybe one day Aaron will see another African American champion on at the US Open. Although James Blake was the sport’s top player, he never won the big match.
For now, though, Aaron will enjoy the game as it is. A follower of the sport since John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg had their epic battles in the last 1970s and early 1980s; Aaron likes Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to meet in the finals during this tournament, and is a real big fan of Kim Clijsters.
“She showed that she can weather some adversity when she went to have her family and now she’s back and on top,” he said. “I wish her all the luck in the world.”
Fitting words from a fitting honoree.
MLB Needs an All-Star Overhaul
July 13, 2010
Major League Baseball prepares to showcase the 81st version of its mid-summer classic from Anaheim, California on Tuesday night, and while there is still much that’s good with the MLB all-star game and its accompanying festivities, the current setup also leaves a lot of room for improvement. Thus, in the dream world of a writer armed with a voice and some strong opinions, who can temporarily anoint himself MLB Pretend Commissioner for a Day, I offer the following changes to MLB’s all-star break:
Scrap World Series Home Field Advantage
A result of quite possibly the absolute dumbest rule change in the history of sports, awarding home field advantage in the World Series to the winning league in the all-star game was purely a reactionary rule change rather than something born out of necessity. We, of course, wouldn’t have to endure such a ridiculous thing if Commissioner Bud Selig wasn’t so clueless and unprepared at the end of the 2002 all-star game in Milwaukee, which ended in a 7-7 tie, after being halted by Selig in the bottom of the 11th inning.
I never quite understood all of the public outrage over that conclusion. Sure, a tie was unsatisfying, but it’s an EXHIBITION game! It’s SUPPOSED to just end when it ends, win, lose, OR DRAW. Manufacturing artificial meaning to the game was never even remotely a good idea. Whatever happened to player pride and professionalism and trying to win simply in the spirit of competition? Why do players need the incentive of home field advantage in the World Series to try to win an all-star game?
By the same twisted logic, why doesn’t MLB just award the World Series advantage to the league which had the better interleague mark in spring training, since you know, those are exhibition games, too?
Obviously, that too, would be a terrible idea. But, it would make as much sense as not simply awarding the World Series home field advantage to the World Series participant with the best regular season record. Unbalanced schedules or not, that’s the way it should be done.
Even if MLB had balanced schedules, there’s no guarantee that everything would be even anyway, due to injuries, trades, call-ups, playing at the same opponents when they’re hot or when they’re cold, and many other reasons. There are just too many factors and different variables to argue that giving the World Series home field advantage to the World Series team with the best record is not the best thing to do.
Awarding the home field advantage to the World Series participant based on that team’s own body of work over 162 games of REAL baseball makes MUCH more sense than basing that designation on a single exhibition game involving other players from that team’s league, in a game that could often be decided by players who may never even sniff the playoffs.
Plus, picture these three scenarios:
1) You thought there was outrage in 2002? Well, this season, we’ve already seen a bad call cost a pitcher a perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning. Imagine the backlash if during a similar scenario at the end of a game, a bad call awarded the wrong league home field advantage.
2) Suppose a player hits a walk-off homer run in the bottom of the ninth or in extra innings to take a victory away from one league and give it to his own. And, let’s say that same player then gets traded to the opposite league and ends up making the World Series. That player would have just cost himself and his new team home field advantage in the World Series by doing something positive in the all-star game. There is absolutely no logic to that.
3) We’ve already seen the 2008 all-star game go scoreless for 6½ innings before it was decided in the bottom of the 15th. Although the rosters have since been expanded with extra pitchers and rule changes have been made for very limited re-entry with catchers and for other players only in the case of injury, it’s quite possible teams could still run out of pitchers if the all-star game goes long enough. Now, honestly, how much sense would it make if the New York Yankees, who are on pace to win 103 games, end up as the only team to post triple digit wins and DON’T have home field advantage if they make the World Series simply because current Yankee outfielder and first baseman Nick Swisher (who’s pitched in a blowout before) might be forced to pitch in a tie game, and he gives up a game-winning hit in the top of the 18th? You think there might be just a few complaints over that one, which might rival the 2002 tie? And, if it’s a 100+ win team facing an 82-win wild-card team in the World Series, there’s absolutely nothing that should happen in the MLB all-star game that should occur, which should award that wild-card team home field advantage in the World Series. If that did happen, why should there not be more outrage over that than an all-star game tie? You just have to wonder what people are thinking sometimes!
The bottom line is quite simply this. The NBA finals were so close this past season, that home court was probably the difference. If Game 7 were in Boston, chances are, the Celtics would have won the NBA title. As it was, it was the Lakers won it all hosting Game 7 in Los Angeles. And yet, the Celtics and Lakers played very different regular season schedules. But, it doesn’t matter, the NBA still does it right, giving home court to the teams with the best records, regardless of who won or lost the NBA all-star game. MLB needs to follow suit and realize that as an exhibition, the mid-summer classic should have nothing to do with the fall classic.
Player Selection Changes
I’m a little torn on the next two points I’m about to make. Here I am discussing the all-star game for the pure exhibition that it is, and yet, I’m about to argue for taking the fan vote out of the equation. On one hand, I remember how much fun it used to be going to the park and filling out the ballot, or seeing my own guys, my New York Mets, represented in the all-star game.
But, that’s wrong. The fans simply can’t be trusted any longer to get it right. They’ve made it a popularity contest and have rewarded too many players who don’t deserve to make the team (don’t feel so bad, baseball fans, the same thing happens annually with the NBA all-star game).
Ideally, the voting should be left to the experts who know the teams the most, and it should be done based on each league, in the fairest way possible. Select two radio broadcasters, two television broadcasters, a select number of beat reporters for each team in each league, and the manager of each team. Let them all vote only for the league which they cover or manage in, and allow them to collectively select the entire roster for that league, starters first, followed by all reserves. That way, there’s a greater chance that only the most deserving players would be voted in correctly as starters and reserves, and that only the undeserving players would get snubbed.
To keep the fans engaged with voting, let fans instead vote in players to compete in skills competitions (which I’ll get to in a moment), whether that group of players would consist of those who would make the all-star rosters, or if they might be additional players to compete in skills competitions.
Next, get rid of the current rule that a player from each team must be chosen. Sorry, but it’s not kindergarten, where everyone gets a gold star for something. It’s Major League Baseball. You’re either an all-star level player or you’re not. Take only the best in the players league, irrespective of their teams.
Other than Yankee fans, no one wants to see a dozen or more Yankees in the all-star game. But, if they happen to have that many players who deserve to be selected over players from awful bottom feeders like Baltimore, Cleveland, or Seattle, they should go to the all-star game and simply marginally good players on terrible teams should enjoy the three days away from baseball.
Another consideration is that player’s contracts, in the form of bonuses and incentives, are tied to all-star games, so it’s important to get the selections right and choose only the players who deserve being selected, the most. Taking the fan vote away and taking only the best players regardless of the teams they play for, would accomplish that.
Count The Home Run Derby Fairly
Sorry again, but when you hit by far the most home runs, you should be the home run champion. What a disgrace it was that Josh Hamilton was easily the star of the show two years ago, and finished second. It made as much sense as the all-star game deciding World Series home field advantage.
During the 2008 home run derby at Yankee Stadium, Hamilton hammered 28 first-round homers, TWENTY more than anyone else in that round. After two rounds, he reached the finals with a very sizable 32-17 total margin over Justin Morneau, who outhomered Hamilton 5-3 in the finals to (in my opinion) very wrongly and unfairly take home the home run derby crown despite being considerably outhomered 35-22 by Hamilton, overall.
And, here’s another change that makes sense… With 10 outs per player, per round, it drags on for hours. When players sometimes wait around too long, and can’t get into any kind of rhythm, what’s the point? A perfect example was this year’s home run derby on Monday night. Milwaukee’s Corey Hart led all contestants with 13 first-round homers, as the only player in double figures during the opening round, including each of his final five blasts all going at least 450 feet. But, he was eliminated with no homers in round two after sitting around for 91 minutes between first-round and second-round swings.
Cut it in half, to five outs per player, per round, and use the extra time to…
Add Other Skills Competitions
Just a few ideas… Fielding and throwing to first base or to second base, for third basemen, shortstops, and second basemen; testing first basemen’s ability to pick balls in the dirt or to turn a 3-6-3 double play; testing the best outfield arms, such as the longest outfield throws and the most accurate throws to second base, third base, or home plate; see who the fastest runners are going from home to first, home to second, home to third, or first to third; or perhaps, test catchers crouching behind home plate with their accuracy for throwing out potential base stealers at second or third base.
The best baseball players are recognized as five-tool players, yet we only see one on display -– home run power -– during the all-star break. Hold a five-tool competition with each of those tools tested, making up 20 percent of a total score.
I’m not sure what could be done for pitchers. We don’t want to see them throwing out their arms trying to top each other on the radar gun, but perhaps technology could be used to test who has the best command and who can most consistently paint the corners of the plate.
At any rate, if fans had a vote for these types of activities, they might even be more interested to see such competitions rather than the all-star game itself (which often falls well short of the pre-game hype by the fifth inning) .
MLB, Hear Me Out And Improve The All-Star Break And World Series!
Alright, now that I’ve said my peace, I’ll step down and let Bud return as acting commissioner. But, Mr. Selig, for the good of the game, please make the above changes –- I’ll settle for the first two –- and we’ll all enjoy a much better All-Star break and World Series each year.
Don’t Make Any Changes To The Imperfect Game
June 3, 2010
With only 18 perfect games in baseball history before this season, and then two 27-outers this past month, you would think the baseball world would have to wait for the Jenna Bush Presidency to see the next one.
But no, much like the oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, the perfectos just don’t stop in 2010 and here today, Armando Galarraga was mowing down the Triple-A Cleveland Indians – no runs, no hits, and no errors.
And on out No. 27, a sharp ground ball in the hole by Jason Donald scooped up by Miguel Cabrera who tossed it over to the man of the hour covering and there you have …
But wait, first base umpire Jim Joyce called him safe at first, even though replays showed Donald out by a step and a half.
“I just cost that kid a perfect game,” Joyce would tell reporters in Detroit. “I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay.
“It was the biggest call of my career.”
No matter how much outrage comes out of Detroit and how many calls for instant replay come from columnists, reporters, and even bloggers, Major League Baseball must resist the urge to either change the call or institute any rule changes due to this call.
Baseball is a human game. Played by humans and arbitrated by imperfect men. It’s the reason why they count errors in the game. It’s the reason why it’s the National Pastime.
Historically, baseball has been filled with bad calls – just ask the Cardinals what they thought of Don Denkinger’s call in the 1985 World Series or the Orioles with Jeffrey Maier’s interference catch in the 1996 American League Championship Series with the Yankees.
Those plays are part of baseball lore now, as will Galarraga’s imperfect game of 28 outs. Sure, the Tiger fans will make their calls for play to be overturned and the Detroit Free Press columnists will burn Joyce in effigy, yet that doesn’t change the fact that the Indians had one hit in the game coming on out No. 27.
Right now, baseball has a very good instant replay rule. Umpires should be allowed to review the outfield calls, because these days with so many ads odd colored signs out there, it’s tough to make a home run call from 200 feet away.
But with calls at first base, MLB should think twice. Joyce was all of two feet away from the play and should have made the right call. And even when he didn’t the call didn’t change the outcome, as the Tigers won 3-0. The human factor needs to be there. It’s what makes this game great.
Years from now, Dallas Braden will still be remembered as the pitcher who stood up for A-Rod and Roy Halladay just added to his Hall of Fame resume. But Galarraga will be forever remembered as the man who pitched the one that got away. Not perfect game No. 21, but imperfect game No. 1.
It’s part of baseball lore and will forever be in this great game’s history.
Memories of the “Stadium”
May 29, 2010
No–it wasn’t Shea, the old Yankee one, or even Three Rivers. It was our wiffle ball venue as kids back in the 70′s–my next-door neighbor’s backyard serving as our nightly “home field” during those warm spring/summer days of yesteryear. Yes–we called it “The Stadium.” We’d meet there after dinner EVERY night (I’ll admit to eating much too quickly on occasion in order to get there first)–unless a downpour caused streams of water to be flowing down this uneven stretch of real estate that ran slightly downhill. Picture this layout: an unmovable rock serving as home plate–located just a few feet in front of some overgrown forsythia that would prevent balls which were fouled straight back from going into another neighbor’s yard. First base was simply the front, right edge of a patio just a few feet from the entrance to Al’s house; if Al’s younger sister was riding her “Big Wheel” there during any game, she’d be keenly aware of any batted balls stroked in her direction. Second base was ANOTHER rock–slightly larger than “home rock”–located about 30 feet from the outfield fence. Third base? A GARBAGE can that stood near a dilapidated, rusting shed on the edge of an overgrown grass area–serving as the boundary line of yet another neighbor’s property; one didn’t STEP on third when he arrived there as a simple touch of the receptacle would suffice. And stuck in the very MIDDLE of our treasured “ballpark”? None other than an above-ground swimming pool–so-often the collection area of batted balls that would simply not count and be replayed. The pitcher stood in front of the pool as there was no pitching rubber per se; I believe the unwritten rule was that if you could touch the pool from where you pitched–about 20-25 feet from the batter–you were “legal.”
Yes, we all adored our “stadium,” too. Any misplaced toys were frowned upon and floating wrappers of any kind were always immediately placed in the nearby ”third base receptacle.” I also recall the fresh smell of grass soon after Al’s Dad had finished mowing our field; that would make the base paths–having been formed simply by our constant playing–show up even better. And that outfield fence? It had brown posts with gnarly wire intertwined throughout. And I remember one day a few of us actually measuring its distance from home plate–with the right field “wall” being the shortest poke; it was just a few strides from the aforementioned patio. To this day, I’m not sure why we didn’t display the # of feet from home plate ON the fence itself; all I can surmise is that we didn’t have the tools/materials needed at our disposal.
Ah–and the games themselves (which–during school/summer vacation–usually followed an afternoon that had already included shagging fly balls for a couple of hours at the O’Brien Tech field down the street). There were the regulars who participated: Al, Joe, Tom, Jim, Steve, and myself. Al’s older brother–another Steve–would be “iffy”; if we needed an extra player–and he wasn’t busy playing his LP’s or 45′s indoors–he’d give us a few innings here and there. Equipment? We usually used the famed Wiffle-brand balls manufactured at the local plant in nearby Shelton–along with the accompanying yellow plastic bats. Often, we’d switch over to plastic balls with seams and NO holes–which would travel much farther but also become DENTED after any solid contact. I recall Jim and I winding black electrical tape around the handles of the bats to give them nothing more than a streamlined, professional look. And we’d all be sure to wear the hat or helmet of our favorite teams at the time, i.e. Al–the Tigers, Jim–the Dodgers, yours truly–the S.F. Giants. To this day, I remember the ‘shiny-ness’ of those plastic helmets, too–yeah, just like the ones the big-leaguers playing on TV were wearing.
We played until it got dark; the spotlight above the patio was futile in its attempt to provide us enough light to play past 9:00 PM. It was usually the older guys vs. the younger guys–no choosing sides, no bickering. And I recall another unwritten rule we had: no FIRING the ball on the part of the hurler, but no lobbing it, either–just a consistent, fair speed that we were all comfortable with. Wow–what a feeling when one cleared the fence with a “backyard blast.” For some reason, I never remember anyone in the field complaining when having to retrieve one hit into my yard or even one landing on an adjacent property–one dotted with HUGE trees along the leftfield line. We really didn’t care about the score; we simply played until no one could SEE the ball anymore. Personally, I recall always being disappointed when darkness took over–but also taking joy in the fact that there ALWAYS was a game scheduled the following night at “The Stadium.”
We’d all then pile into a car driven by one of the older guys–our destination being the Hardee’s Restaurant on Route 34. Large sodas were always in order for about a half-dozen thirsty kids who had surely experienced their collective dose of baseball for the day–although tomorrow STILL couldn’t arrive fast enough. Funny–the remnants of “The Stadium” are still located on a street known as Bruns Rd.; however, as an adult, it has now shifted to a place fondly known as Memory Lane. Luckily, memories can never be torn down or fade away; they just continue to bring joy.
So Long, Mr. Harwell
May 16, 2010
The Detroit Tigers happened to be out of town this past May 4th–playing at the new Target Field in Minnesota. Soon came the seventh-inning stretch and a picture of a smiling Ernie Harwell graced the stadium’s bright, new big screen. The news was then announced–though many fans were already privy to the inevitable: the Hall of Fame Tigers broadcast legend had just lost his months-long battle with inoperable cancer. The 39,000 fans in attendance responded with a warm, standing ovation; some of them wiped away tears while younger patrons–perhaps not too familiar with the man–just KNEW some type of honorary tribute was still in order. Yeah, the Tigers didn’t just lose a game that evening; I guess the loss of a legend always has a bit more sting to it than an “L” in the standings.
A sportscaster who was acquired by the Brooklyn Dodgers for a catcher in 1948, Ernie Harwell went on to spend 42 of his 55 broadcasting years with the Detroit Tigers–his sweet, Southern diction gracing the Motor City over the course of five glorious decades. It’s extremely difficult to describe what made Mr. Harwell great; I guess legends do that on occasion to us admiring scribes. But let me try: he was easygoing, smooth, and his voice was unmistakable; fellow Hall of Famer Vin Scully simply used the words “gentle” and “caring” in describing a man whose catch phrases enthralled even the most casual of baseball fans. When radio listeners/TV viewers heard the words “LOOOOONG GONE!” (home run) or “TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!” (double play) while Ernie Harwell worked a broadcast, they KNEW these were coming from a man who simply loved the game of baseball. Nope–nothing forced, nothing meant to be self-serving, and never any self-promoting “shtick” from one Mr. Harwell. It was just one man demonstrating the love of his craft while relaying info to an audience who truly loved him back–probably more than he ever realized.
Oh, what a thrill on those rare occasions in the past when I’d be watching a televised “game of the week” and be treated to a live ‘look in’ on a Tigers game for some particular reason–and hear Ernie Harwell describing the action in a manner nothing short of magical. He possessed the type of demeanor and delivery that made you FEEL like he was your friend; yeah, what a gift. And he was magical OUT of the booth, too. Baseball writer/rules consultant Rich Marazzi on Harwell: “I first met Ernie at Yankee Stadium around 1982 as a rookie writer and he made me feel like a million dollars. He was so friendly and it made me proud that he always called me by my first name. He was baseball royalty–and I was privileged to know him.” Shelly Riley–a contributor to Seamheads.com who was recently present on a day when Harwell would lie in internment at Comerica Park–added this: “Ernie was a man of the people–an everyone’s man. Regardless of whether you had ever physically met him or not, you felt as if you had a close personal connection to him. Losing Ernie was like losing a grandparent; we all knew his death was coming, but no one wanted to admit it.” Finally, Tony DeAngelo–my co-host on CTV-14′s “Monday Night Sports Talk“–remembered Harwell this way: “Just to hear him say ‘Gary Roenicke was left standing at that curveball like the house by the side of the road and watched it go by’–that told me everything I needed to know about Ernie. He brought such a color and respect to the game; when you heard the voice of Ernie Harwell, you knew you were listening to a special event.”
I never had the opportunity to meet Ernie Harwell personally, but was lucky enough to interview him last year on ESPN Radio’s “Inside Yankee Baseball” shortly after the death of former Tigers pitcher Mark Fidrych. He talked fondly about his memories of “The Bird”–graciously answering me with the same warmth that had engulfed so many others over his remarkable lifetime. He was real, he was genuine–and for those few cherished minutes became MY friend; it would be from THAT day forward–after experiencing his wonderful persona over the airwaves–that I’d always refer to him as “the GREAT Ernie Harwell.” Yes, I’ll always treasure the opportunity I had to converse with a true “journalistic giant” whose personality made me feel like we were equals; to him, it was just two guys talking baseball. Thanks for that, Ernie.
Currently, a life-size statue of Ernie Harwell graces the entrance to Detroit’s Comerica Park; the press box, called the “Ernie Harwell Media Center,” now stands as a tribute to a man–or should I say “friend to many”–whose contributions to sports journalism surely remain beyond the scope of one particular weekly column. After calling his last game back in 2002, part of Harwell’s final words to his listeners were as follows: “It’s time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I’d much rather say hello–hello to a new adventure. I’m not leaving, folks–I’ll still be with you.”
Yes, Mr. Harwell–goodbyes ARE sad–so I’ll just say “So long” for now. And yes–you’re STILL not leaving–as your legacy assures that you’ll always be in the hearts and minds of many.
Hall of Fame Detroit Tigers Broadcaster Honored Posthumously By WFUV
May 16, 2010
Ernie Harwell was one of three giants honored for a lifetime of superior work in their chosen craft at WFUV’s annual Spring Gala at Gotham Hall on Wednesday, May 5. For each of the past three years, Fordham University’s radio station WFUV, (90.7 FM), has honored three individuals during its annual fundraiser. On Wednesday, Bob Scheiffer received the Charles Osgood Lifetime Achievement Award, Levon Helm received the WFUV Sound & Vision Award and Harwell would have been given the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award. Unfortunately, Harwell passed away at his home in Michigan on the day before his honor was to be bestowed.
The 92 year-old sports broadcaster had been diagnosed with cancer less than a year ago. Harwell opted not to receive surgery. He courageously battled the disease without losing his good humor or strong religious faith. Al Kaline, one of the greatest players in Detroit Tigers history and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame since 1980 accepted the award for his longtime friend. Kaline recalled his first meeting with Harwell, “I met him as a Baltimore broadcaster in 1954. We became friends right from the start. “Kaline played with the Tigers from 1953 through the 1974 season and was a broadcaster for the team from 1975 through the 2002 season. Thus, he was in close proximity with Harwell for decades, even though the two worked together in the broadcast booth for only one year. His advice to Kaline was expressed in words he himself always followed, “He told me to be myself, and to be as honest as I can.” He vividly recalled to reporters a four day cruise the two men and their wives took. It was during those days that Kaline truly realized the breadth and depth of Harwell’s interests and his knowledge of so many subjects.
Harwell became connected to the sport of baseball as a young boy in Atlanta when he served as a batboy for the minor league Atlanta Crackers. After graduation from Emory University, Harwell began work as a newspaperman. He was broadcasting games on the radio for Atlanta when he was ‘traded” to the Brooklyn Dodgers for a minor league catcher, Cliff Draper. He travelled north to replace the ailing Red Barber during the 1948 season. After two seasons with the Dodgers, Harwell was replaced by a young graduate of Fordham University, Vin Scully. It’s interesting to note, as Scully would say, that more than six decades later, Harwell would be granted an award in Scully’s name by the Fordham University radio station. Harwell would have been pleased to be a recipient of the honor. Kaline related, “Ernie told me that he thought Vin Scully was the best broadcaster he ever heard.”
Harwell’s career did not end after parting with the Dodgers. He remained in New York City calling games for the New York Giants from 1950-1953. When Baltimore gained a Major League franchise in 1954, Harwell broadcast Orioles games through 1959. In the following year, he began his long association with the Detroit Tigers. He did play-by-play for the Tigers through the 2002 season with the exception of the years 1991-93 when the team’s then ownership replaced him. During the 1992 season, he worked for the California Angels. Although he broadcast other sports and nationally broadcast baseball games, he is most closely associated with Detroit.
Kaline said of Harwell, “He was the most revered and loved person in sports in the state of Michigan.” The Detroit baseball superstar described the qualities that made Harwell stand out as a broadcaster, “[The qualities are] the way he interacted with the fans, his knowledge, his love of baseball and the way he told stories. The one thing I think is missing today are broadcasters who can tell stories. He knew the game was first and ego didn’t get in the way.” The accomplished CBS newsman Bob Sceiffer, another of the evening’s honorees said it was special to get an award with Harwell, “He [Harwell] loved baseball and he loved people. He did his homework and always knew what he was talking about.” Scheiffer recalled listening to Harwell broadcast Tigers game when the station’s signal was strong at night and marveling at Harwell’s skill.
Even more important than Harwell’s skills as a broadcaster were his qualities as a special human being. Kaline remembered, “He was a person you could feel comfortable with. He was that way we everybody. He always had a smile. I’ve known him and celebrate the kind of man he was. We were lucky to have him. {His death] is like losing a parent.”
Some views on Arizona Immigration and Sports Reaction
May 5, 2010
NEW YORK - A few thoughts here about the recent controversial immigration issue in the state of Arizona that has dominated the headlines. More so, how the world of fun and games, known as sports has reacted. As a frequent visitor to the Grand Canyon state and with numerous friends affected by the law, this issue needed some attention.
There is no right or wrong here because on one hand there is an influx of illegal immigrants in the greater Phoenix metro area. And then there are those who are rightfully American citizens of Latino descent who earn wages and strive for a continued and better life.
And those who are taxpayers, and good citizens with values, will be subjected to being stopped and questioned by local law enforcement authorities because of their ethnicity. That, on the other hand leaves to question as to how constitutional this Arizona immigration law is.
As an observer it has been seen in the desert. Hard workers of Latino descent they are, employed in restaurants, schools, assisting in building of new homes and businesses in the valley. They are what America stands for when it comes to equality and opportunity.
So when the world of sports reacts, this has to be a major issue that has gone beyond expectations. In the last week there has been a call from a Major League Baseball manager for ballplayers of Latino descent to boycott the All-Star game in Phoenix next July.
There has been reaction from organizers of the Fiesta Bowl, a major college football game that is played in the town of Glendale, for the United States Government to reconsider the law. The Arizona Cardinals football team of the NFL expressed negativity to the law as did the NBA basketball Phoenix Suns.
Of course when it comes to sports, and issues of concern to our nation, we tend to always believe that this is our diversion from the troubles of a bad economy or unrest around the world. We all recall how the events of September 11, 2001 were briefly tamed with the resumption of a Major League Baseball game.
But last week prior to his Chicago White Sox meeting the Yankees in New York, Sox manager Ozzie Guillen made a public statement referring to the Arizona immigration law as racial profiling. Furthermore, Guillen reiterated, as is fact, a majority of MLB rosters are dominated by players of Latino descent.
Ballplayers, as Guillen says are people also, who would be subjected to being stopped and searched. Well highly unlikely, as baseball does have a well reputed security detail around their teams. Players usually travel together and have proper identification with them. They are reminded to have their passports available for an upcoming road trip to Toronto Canada and that has been seen on billboards in clubhouses of teams in the American League.
Regardless of what Guillen says, or what other professional college or sports organizations believe, remember, sports has always been that diversion. A way to keep our minds and beliefs for the moment away from turmoil as this immigration law will become.
Let this work itself out. And for those who feel they are being discriminated and profiled incorrectly, you are justified to warrant your cause for justice. Sports and politics were never meant to meet on the same playing field and by the time that All-Star game gets to Phoenix surly there will be a compromise for all.
Because that is what America is supposed to be all about.
e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com
MLB Season Preview
April 10, 2010
Yes, folks, the 2010 season is underway; there’s further talk of performance-enhancing drugs and tainted records–which reminds me: I’ve been having headaches lately so will head to Canada soon to get some ibuprofen. Anyway, here’s how they’ll finish this season:
AL EAST
N.Y. Yankees
Boston Red Sox
T.B. Rays
Baltimore Orioles
Toronto Blue Jays
AL CENTRAL
Minnesota Twins
Chicago White Sox
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals
Cleveland Indians
AL WEST
LA Angels
Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers
Oakland Athletics
**Notes:
AL EAST- New York’s Nick Johnson gets hurt more than Evel Knievel did, but he’ll be able to JOG around the bases most of the time; don’t think Beltre and Ortiz will give Boston the ‘pop’ they desperately need to overtake NY. Longoria may be the league’s MVP, but will B.J. Upton rebound? Orioles could finish at .500 as young pitchers like Bergesen and Matusz develop; Toronto won’t get enough outfield production, may lose 100 games, and should hand out handkerchiefs to fans every time Halladay starts for Philadelphia.
AL CENTRAL- Hudson helps Twins A LOT and–even without closer Nathan–Gardenhire will find a way to win the division. White Sox’ starting pitching will keep them near the top of the division, but which Alex Rios will show up? Tigers will score enough but overall team health may be a concern. Royals lack power and just won’t get around the bases; Tribe’s pitching is the reason they’ll occupy the cellar as EVERYONE becomes trade bait in September.
AL WEST- Angels still have enough talent and the best manager in the league while Matsui is a great clubhouse addition; I question the back end of Seattle’s rotation and how much Griffey has left in the tank. Texas has some good young arms, can score, and may challenge Seattle if Josh Hamilton stays vertical. Oakland simply won’t score runs and no player will SNIFF the 100-RBI mark–putting way too much pressure on a decent, young staff.
NL EAST
Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves
N.Y. Mets
Florida Marlins
Washington Nationals
NL CENTRAL
St. Louis Cardinals
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers
Houston Astros
Pittsburgh Pirates
NL WEST
Colorado Rockies
S.F. Giants
L.A. Dodgers
Arizona D’Backs
S.D. Padres
**Notes:
NL EAST- A good Philadelphia team got better, but will Lidge be closing come October? Don’t know if Atlanta can score enough although their pitching looks decent; I have more questions about the Mets pitching staff than I do about Obama’s health-care plan. Florida will have trouble closing games and their defense is suspect. Nats’ closer Capps had an ERA close to SIX last year–and guess what? He’ll probably be closing AGAIN in 2010.
NL CENTRAL- Third base could be a concern for St. Louis, but Holliday adds some needed power; I question the bridge to Marmol in Chicago and Piniella’s best managing days may have passed. A better-than-average Aaron Harang could be the key to the Reds’ success; I don’t like the Brewers’ pitching staff OR Hoffman closing games in the clutch. Astros need Oswalt to be better but their bullpen still won’t get it done; the Pittsburgh PR people could offer MAJOR incentives/prizes at EVERY home game if the team scores five or more runs–simply because they WON’T.
NL WEST- A high team on-base percentage–along with a healthy Jeff Francis–get the Rockies to the playoffs; lack of team speed–along with a low on-base percentage–will hurt the Giants. Dodgers won’t pitch as well as last season and Manny’s #’s will continue to decline; a non-healthy Brandon Webb seals D’Backs’ fate. San Diego will have trouble pitching on the road and won’t score at ANY stadium in which they play.
*Postseason: Yes, my friends–a replay of last season’s Fall Classic as the Yanks and Phils emerge from their respective leagues. Yankees’ core players get to enjoy a repeat as the edge goes to the NY closer–making all the difference as frigid fall temperatures arrive. Enjoy the season, everyone.
A Few Things That Need Attention…
January 12, 2010
So now we finally know that Mark McGwire used steroids and performance enhancing drugs to become the home run hitter he was. His admission and apology Monday to Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, and to his former manager Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals was a slap in the face to baseball fans.
Because for years, did we ever have any doubt? But for McGwire, who said “It was foolish” his admission came, a little too late. It won’t help his hopeful enshrinement to the Baseball Hall of Fame, nor does it help his respectability as one of the top home run hitters of all-time.
You see McGwire also admitted, years later, that he used performance enhancing drugs during that media hyped season home run race with Sammy Sosa in 1998 that saw him hit a record 70 home runs. And at that time there were always the questions about him and Sosa. Except baseball was happy then that home runs were bring hit out of the ballpark in a record pace as the game was recovering from a nasty labor war between the owners and players.
All that time the questions were being asked. The speculation was always about reconfigurations of outfield fences, or that the baseball was different and easier to hit out of the park. Yet, guys like McGwire, Sosa, and others always denied that steroids and other body enhancement drugs were the reason.
They made us, the media, and you the fans look like fools. Because they fabricated their reasons for becoming such proficient home run hitters and all the time you looked at McGwire, you saw Sosa, and were amazed at how big the arms were, and how deep the home runs were being hit out of the park.
It made sense then, as much as it is now. McGwire denied using performance enhancing drugs before a Congressional Committee and his 538 home runs are eighth on the career all-time list. Barry Bonds is no angel here and will always be the center of attention with his denial of allegations that he did what McGwire did.
Baseball owners knew it was happening, and perhaps so did Commissioner Selig, Home runs put people back in the seats and players hitting the long bombs out of the park were getting their lucrative pay checks.
But getting back to the admission, Monday that is putting McGwire back on the national map. He was appointed the hitting coach for La Russa’s Cardinals in November. Back in baseball now and teaching hitters, hopefully the right way to hit a home run out of the ballpark.
McGwire had to finally come clean or the scrutiny would continue at every Major League ballpark in 2010. Too bad it came years later, that admission. The home runs he hit are still questionable. They are surly under consideration when the name Mark McGwire comes up every year now for enshrinement to Cooperstown. He came up short again last week when the ballots were counted.
It would have helped him to come clean years ago when this all started, most of all telling the truth then would have diminished the bad image that baseball received and at times continues/ McGwire said he did not tell the truth then because he feared there would be legal jeopardy.
He may get those sympathizers that give a second chance, Many, in the baseball community believe the steroid home run race is still a disgrace and the punishment is always denying Mark McGwire enshrinement to the Hall of Fame. All of those home runs in the record book now with this admission deserve an asterisk.
BOXING IS DISGRACED WITH FALLOUT OF PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER: A mediator could not get the principles involved with welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr, on a compromise over blood testing procedures and now what was supposed to be the mega fight of all time if off.
Instead the boxing world prepares for a mediocre fight. Pacquiao will defend against Joshua Clottey the native of Ghana now residing in the Bronx. That fight will be televised on HBO Pay-Per-View on March 13th, the original Pacquiao-Mayweather date, from the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium and does not have the magnitude that was anticipated with Pacquiao and Mayweather,
So where did the two fighters go wrong, as well as the promoters, in this case Bob Arum of Top Rank who promotes Pacquiao and Richard Schaefer of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions that represented Mayweather? According to Arum, Pacquiao made some concessions as to timing of three blood samples prior to and after the fight.
The blood testing issue was the obstacle that prevented this fight from officially being announced in New York City this week. Arum requested a mediator with hopes there would be some movement to getting the top two fighters in the world in the ring. A mediator who Arum used to negotiate a proper deal for Pacquiao when is fighter left the Golden Boy promotion.
Arum is livid, so are boxing fans The sport has once again become a travesty because of a ridiculous blood testing procedure called by Mayweather that would have been conducted anyway by the sanctioning Nevada State Athletic Commission, Mayweather wanted to use the Olympic style blood testing procedures that are done three times, Prior to the pre fight press conference, 30 days before the fight, and after the fight
Either way, the Nevada Commission would have done similar testing, and if everyone is clean there are no concerns. The biggest paydays for Pacquiao and Mayweather go down the drain. The questions persist. Is Mayweather backing away from Pacquiao, or is Pacquiao with his initial resiliency to taking blood hiding something? Pacquiao is a record seven- division title holder having defeated Miguel Cotto last year and is going for number eight against Clottey as a junior middleweight.
e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com
Mickey Mantle Is Going To Heaven, But What About Fritz?
December 8, 2009
“Best Wishes, Fritz Peterson #19″ That’s how my copy of Mickey Mantle Is Going To Heaven starts. It is a book written by a famous former New York Yankee pitcher. He was an All-Star. He won 20 games once. He played with Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle – legends, not just Yankees legends, but baseball legends. He hung out with Joe DiMaggio, another legend, on Old Timers Game days. Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer, Joe Pepitone, Jim Bouton… Fritz played with them all. For a spell, he was better than most of his competition. Then his arm went south and it all ended quickly thereafter. Mickey Mantle Is Going To Heaven covers this.
But there’s more to Fritz Peterson. There’s always more to somebody than what they put down in their memoir. Is this book a memoir? Maybe. Peterson has prostate cancer and thought he was going to die, so he put pen to paper and wrote before it was too late. So, even though he never uses the word “memoir,” we could call it that.
Is it a tell all? Kind of. He writes stories about Whitey Ford doctoring balls. He writes about Joe Pepitone’s hairpiece (two hairpieces, actually, one for under a cap and one for when he didn’t were a cap). He explains why he is mad at his former roommate, Jim Bouton, for writing the famous Ball Four. And he lets readers in on numerous practical jokes that are not only creative but disciplined; some of which took months to reach fruition.
Is this a religious book? Yes. And no. Yes it is, in that every chapter focuses on one, or a few, different baseball personalities. At the end of the chapter, we find out Peterson’s “verdict,” based upon each respective person’s alleged belief, or disbelief, in God as to whether or not that person will go to heaven, hell, or take a “dip” in the lake of fire for a while before eventually making his way to the Pearly Gates (he actually disputes the existence of Pearly Gates as well). It’s not a religious book in that every page is not inundated with scripture and suggested psalms (read Paul Byrd’s Free Byrd if that’s what you’re looking for). In his day, Fritz Peterson played hard and joked/partied just as hard. He doesn’t condemn his past. In fact, he glorifies it. So this religious man still knows a good time, even if he wouldn’t partake in some of the goings-on anymore.
Mickey Mantle Is Going To Heaven is, more than anything, a baseball book. It is about a baseball player who wanted to win it all but never did. It’s about a time in baseball before money and big free agent contracts. It’s about getting along with teammates and hating the competition (Peterson hates – HATES – the Mets but does write a chapter called “Even Met Fans Go To Heaven”).
Ironically, this book is not one that will ever pave the way for its author to grace the cover of Us Weekly. While Peterson’s famous “trade” of wives in 1972 was huge news in spring training of 1973, and that trade is what Peterson may be best known for today, very little about that transaction is covered. He devotes a chapter to his former best friend and fellow teammate and “swapper,” Mike Kekich, as well as a chapter called “A New Era In Journalism,” which is the one portion of the book that goes the farthest into the infamous episode.
But a reader can see Peterson held back. There is still a cloak of privacy over the author, whose second (and current) wife, the one he traded for, is never mentioned by name even though one could easily find it on Wikipedia. The How and Why of the ’72 event is never really answered, other than Peterson and his second wife fell in love. In a recent Jimmy Scott’s High & Tight Interview with Fritz Peterson, he says how the day after his divorce went through he married his second wife. So maybe, in today’s time, when we want and expect to know every private thought and action of our public figures, just maybe the How and Why is as simple as two bad marriages, four people trying to figure out how to be happy, and two people falling in love and staying there.
An interesting thought is that if Peterson and Kekich had done something like trading wives today, there would be a reality show one television (and baseball) season later covering the aftermath, earning untold riches for the participants. There would be the magazine covers, the book deals, the film. But 37 years later, the only book deal is Peterson’s. A film deal is in the works, he says, through Warner Bros. Whether it ever sees the light of day is anyone’s guess.
While the book is not perfect – there are typos and incorrect grammar throughout, it is a good book for those interested in the fun side of baseball, the side before slugging plus on base percentage meant everything. If you have a few hours one day, you’d be using the time wisely reading your copy of Mickey Mantle Is Going To Heaven.
Jimmy Scott is probably the greatest pitcher you’ve never heard of. Visit Jimmy Scott’s High & Tight to read more from Jimmy and guests Desi Relaford, Eric Valent & Real Baseball Wife Cassidy Dover. You’ll also hear a new interview every Monday morning with former MLB players, agents, wives and others; giving new outlooks on this great game we call Baseball. Go there now to hear Jimmy’s latest interviews with Rollie Fingers, Mike Vaccaro, Natalie Niekro and Lary Sorensen. You can follow Jimmy on Twitter or Facebook.