Daily News Los Angeles
10/19/2007
BY TOM HOFFARTH, Columnist
Inside SOCAL
Michael Long was digging through the National Archives in Laguna Beach two years ago, researching a book project about former President Richard Nixon and evangelist Billy Graham.
Before he knew what hit him, Long became a Jackie Robinson fan.
An archivist showed Long a file they had kept full of Robinson's correspondence with Nixon that went back to the late '50s. Long, an assistant professor of religious studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College who had done books on politics and religion but nothing even remotely related to sports, said he felt as if someone had dropped "gems in my lap" as he immersed himself in Robinson's words about pursuing social justice.
But now, what to do with all this?
Long went back to his Anaheim hotel room. Not much of a sports fan, he happened to flip the TV on to ESPN. There, he saw another story involving an athlete gone bad.
"It was really an epiphanic moment," Long said. "The contrast between these athletes and Jackie could not have been more striking, or disappointing. Who other than Jackie Robinson, a national icon, to show there's still a need for a role model in the world of athletics?"
The result, after dozens more archive searches and the approval of Rachel Robinson, is the new book, "The Civil Rights Letters of Jackie Robinson: First Class Citizenship" (Times Books/Henry Holt and Company, $26, 384 pages).
Sixty years after he broke baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and 35 years after his death, Robinson's voice comes alive with pointed passion, direct anger, admitted frustration and unbowed determination as simply a person who wanted a better world for everyone.
Long found Robinson correspondence with JohnF.Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Malcolm X and Martin Luther KingJr. that focused on the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, segregation and discrimination.
Robinson and Nixon first met in 1952 at the Republican National Convention. Nixon shared a memory he had of Robinson playing football for UCLA in 1939. Robinson was more impressed with Nixon's pro-civil rights statements and ended up supporting him in the 1960 presidential campaign.
Robinson, however, would not side with either Republicans or Democrats in his quest for equality. He stumped for LBJ in '64, Nelson Rockefeller in '68 and Hubert Humphrey in '72. Robinson had respect for Kennedy but was critical of his motives. Robinson wasn't afraid to call Barry Goldwater a "bigot" and "white supremacist" during the '64 campaign, or to exchange ideas with Malcolm X about the right way for African Americans to have a voice in politics.
Robinson wrote to everyone, it seemed. In today's world of e-mails and text messages, it may be difficult to imagine how anyone left as much of an historic paper trail.
One letter in 1956 went to Bill Keefe, sports editor of the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, who had written an editorial suggesting Robinson was the catalyst for a new Louisiana law that criminalized interracial sports.
"I am happy for you, that you were born white," Robinson concludes. "It would have been extremely difficult for you had it been otherwise."
The book also sheds more on Robinson's departure from the Dodgers in 1957, when he choose to retire rather than be traded to the rival Giants. Dodgers general manager Buzzie Bavasi wrote to Robinson in '71 asking his thoughts about the Hall of Fame's decision to only allow one former Negro League player in per year. Robinson responded in agreement, and added: "Your action justifies the way I thought of you before the 1957 misunderstanding."
Robinson writes to Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley in '62, admitting his loyalty to Branch Rickey and his "being stubborn" had probably led to a deterioration in his relationship with the team after Rickey left.
Mark Langill, the Dodgers' team historian, said of the book: "I'm glad those other letters are being published because all the letters I've seen from Jackie over the years are always very thoughtful, insightful and sincere, no matter the topic."
Long, who never did his Nixon-Graham book, is more satisfied with this result.
"One of the disappointing things about the 60th anniversary of his breaking the color barrier was so much was ignored about his civil rights work outside of baseball," said Long. "It's easier to look at a smiling Robinson rather than one who was angry and wanted to change society. We've sort of sanitized him and kept him frozen in time. This expands his legacy with a new perspective.
"The media these days focuses so much on the negativity of sports. This is a positive story that Robinson reminds us of. It's really a story about the American dream in many ways."
Friday, October 19, 2007
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Scully gets his `who's on first'
By Sandy Sand – Los Angeles Daily News - 10/07/2007
Vin Scully
Vin Scully Vin Scully. The voice of the Dodgers. The voice of the San Fernando Valley. The voice of Los Angeles.
No doubt about it, one of the best things about living in L.A. is being able
to listen to Vin Scully broadcast Dodgers games.
The Los Angeles Dodgers might have ended the baseball season on a dismal note, but the award-winning Dodger sportscaster finished it off on a "high-larious" note, by smacking a grand-slam comedic homer out of the park.
Last Sunday, Scully completed his 58th season as the Dodgers' premiere broadcaster.
Magic is exactly what Scully has brought to baseball broadcasting. Doing both the play-by-play and the color, he saves the listeners from a montage of conflicting voices and unending, mind-numbing monotony of detailed analysis of every player's most nuanced gesture.
The only magic he hasn't been able to work is a pennant for the Dodgers.
Often he plays the Jewish or Italian momma and is a down right "noodge," telling people to drive carefully to and from the stadium. Not a day game goes by without him telling the fans to slather on the sun block.
to listen to Vin Scully broadcast Dodgers games.
The Los Angeles Dodgers might have ended the baseball season on a dismal note, but the award-winning Dodger sportscaster finished it off on a "high-larious" note, by smacking a grand-slam comedic homer out of the park.
Last Sunday, Scully completed his 58th season as the Dodgers' premiere broadcaster.
Magic is exactly what Scully has brought to baseball broadcasting. Doing both the play-by-play and the color, he saves the listeners from a montage of conflicting voices and unending, mind-numbing monotony of detailed analysis of every player's most nuanced gesture.
The only magic he hasn't been able to work is a pennant for the Dodgers.
Often he plays the Jewish or Italian momma and is a down right "noodge," telling people to drive carefully to and from the stadium. Not a day game goes by without him telling the fans to slather on the sun block.
No one knows how he does it. He probably doesn't know himself, but he can be in the middle of a story, call a play, and immediately pick up the thread of the story without missing a beat.
At season's end, it's not unusual to hear him give us the play-by-play of three games at once, while keeping us posted on which team is vying for what position in the standings for the playoffs, which is exactly what he did during the last three days of the season.
After 58 years of calling games, Scully has seen everything on the field and in the stands, from perfect games to no-hitters, from records broken to championships won and lost, from players rushing the field to fans behaving badly.
In all those years, there's only been one thing Scully couldn't do, one elusive thing that he confessed on-air that he's always wanted to do. Say three little words: Who's on first.
That was until Chin-Lung Hu, a native of Taiwan, joined the team at the beginning of September. Pronounced "who," Hu's first hit as a Dodger was a homer in a game with the San Diego Padres. Touching first base was all that was required, not visiting it.
Chin-Lung Hu
His second game appearance resulted in four round trips from the bench to the batter's box and back to the bench.
In the next game against the Arizona Diamondback, Scully uttered something that's still cracks me up, "Let's hope Hu get's a base hit, folks. I can't wait to say Hu's on first."
They say that three's the charm. Game three. The Dodgers were still in Arizona, and voila! Hu gets his first single. Scully took a deep breath and said, "OK everybody. All together ... Hu's on first!"
When Vinnie said he couldn't wait to say "Who's on first," I laughed for days and listened closely waiting for it to happen. The moment would be too priceless and it was.
I'm still laughing, and so is Scully. Chin-Lung Hu can't do anything without us being able to hear the chuckle in Scully's voice. The only times he suppresses it is when he says the shortstop's full name.
As long as Vin Scully calls Dodgers games and there are kids out there to listen, they will not only learn about America's pastime, but Scully will teach them about Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First," which is perhaps the most famous comedy routine that has been immortalized in comedy history.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello are also the only two men who never put on a baseball uniform, or played for any professional baseball team, who have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Perched in the audience in comedy heaven, Abbott and Costello must be smiling down on Dodger Stadium, Vin Scully, Chin-Lung Hu and all the fans, because now an entirely new generation of fans will get in on the joke, and finally ... Hu's really on first!
Sandy Sand is a resident of West Hills and former editor of the Tolucan.
By Sandy Sand – Los Angeles Daily News - 10/07/2007
Friday, October 05, 2007
Rockies to share postseason payout with Coolbaugh's widow
From ESPN.com
Besides their surprising 14-1 finish to the season, the Colorado Rockies are giving baseball fans another reason to cheer for them this postseason.
The widow of Rockies minor league coach Mike Coolbaugh, who died after getting hit by a line drive this season, will be granted a full share of the team's playoff winnings after a team vote.
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said the gesture spoke volumes about the quality of the character in their locker room.
"I was passed on the information that they voted Amanda Coolbaugh a share, a full share, which I found speaks to their awareness, speaks to their passion, speaks to every good thing about them," Hurdle said.
Coolbaugh, who is 32 and pregnant, won't attend Saturday's Game 3 of the NLDS between the Phillies and Rockies at Coors Field. But her two sons, Joseph, 5, and Jacob, 3, will be in attendance and will throw out the first pitch.
"When I heard about what the players did, I almost cried," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said. "This was the players' idea. I think it's remarkable."
Mike Coolbaugh was a first base coach for the Tulsa Drillers. The former major leaguer was killed July 22.
Shaken by Coolbaugh's death, Rockies first base coach Glenallen Hill now wears a helmet.
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said awarding the family a share was the right thing to do.
"We're obviously happy with the decision,'' Tulowitzki said on Thursday. "I hope they are, too, and I'm sure they will be.''
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
John Shiffert On: Switch-Pitching Tony Mullane, The Apollo of the Box
19 to 21
No, that’s not the number of times Tony Mullane threw left-handed, it’s... Baseball, Then and Now
News Item: August 27, 1881: Tony Mullane makes his major league debut with the Detroit Wolverines.
News Item: September 28, 1995: Greg Harris takes the mound left-handed for the Montreal Expos.
It would be a shame to let the 2007 season pass by without mentioning one of the year’s remarkable stories, a tale from the great state of Nebraska, of a college pitcher, who throws with both hands…
The called him “The Count” or “The Apollo of the Box” back when pitchers threw from a box, and not a mound. His name was Tony Mullane, and he was one of the better pitchers of the 19th Century, as well as one of baseball’s first great characters. He was also the first switch-pitcher, the first ambidextrous pitcher, in major league history.
Baseball has had innumerable switch-hitters over the years, starting with Bob Ferguson in 1870 up to the present day likes of Jimmy Rollins, Lance Berkman and even Raul Casanova. But, switch-pitchers? You may remember Greg Harris, in the penultimate appearance of his major league career, putting his special six-fingered, ambidextrous glove on his right hand, and throwing to two batters lefty during a scoreless ninth inning for the Montreal Expos. The date was just 12 years ago, September 28, 1995, when Harris became the only major league switch-pitcher of the 20th Century by facing the Reds’ Hal Morris (he walked him) and Eddie Taubensee (he grounded out) while pitching left-handed. (He also retired Reggie Sanders and Bret Boone in the same inning pitching right-handed.) This stunt was something Harris had wanted to do for years – he had the ambidextrous glove at least as far back as his days with the Phillies (1988-89) and he’d been lobbying the Red Sox to let him switch-pitch all during his 1989 to 1994 tenure in Boston. GM Lou Gorman forbade him from throwing lefty, saying it would make a mockery of the game.
But, would it? There actually is a rule that covers this – apparently the same one that states that a batter must declare his intention of batting either left-handed or right-handed before entering the batter’s box. In other words, he can’t jump back and forth from batting left to batting right between pitches. Similarly, a pitcher would have to declare his intention of pitching to a specific batter either left-handed or right-handed. As long as said pitcher knew which side of the plate was the weaker side for a switch-hitter, there’d be no problem at all. Thus, if Harris had the physical ability to throw at a major league level with both hands, why not let him so do? In effect, Harris could have been two pitchers in one. Imagine a reliever who could conceivably pitch in 160 games a year. Absurd? Not really, since Harris was in 80 games for the Red Sox, pitching strictly right-handed, in 1993 at the age of 37. If he could alternate hands in an inning, why not have him alternate hands by appearance? Even if that didn’t work, he could, by switch-pitching, always give his team the platoon advantage when he was on the mound.
It seems obvious that this sort of versatility would be a tremendous asset, especially in an era of extreme specialization among relief pitchers, wherein it’s become common for at least one pitcher on each team to have more appearances than innings pitched. But, Harris was still the only major league switch-pitcher of the 20th Century, maybe because of the tradition-bound thinking of the Lou Gorman’s of baseball, or maybe because Harris’ ability to throw with both hands isn’t exactly a common one. Indeed, records seem to indicate that the only other pitchers known to have used both hands in a professional game in the 20th Century were Bert Campaneris (yes, the Oakland Athletics shortstop who later played all nine positions in one major league game… another player with unusual abilities) in 1962 in the Florida State League, and Moxie Manuel in 1907 in the Southern Association.
While the feat of switch hitting is neither easy nor common, it is at least do-able on some level if the individual has some ability with both hands, or starts early enough. But, switch-pitching… the ability to throw at least close to equally well with either arm… now that’s tough. Anecdotal evidence indicates that Pete Reiser was ambidextrous enough to throw left-handed during his military ball-playing days when he’d injured his right arm, but, then again, Reiser was a one-in-a-million talent. (In case you’re interested, he came up to the majors as a switch-hitter, but ended up just batting lefty.) Among pitchers, Harris (the only relief pitcher – he had 54 career saves) was one of only five to actually pitch with both arms in the major leagues, the others being Mullane (the first time in 1882), Larry Corcoran (just once in 1884), Elton “Icebox” Chamberlain (at least one game in 1888) and George Wheeler (a handful of times between 1896 and 1899). Their careers…
(To continue, click this link: Apollo of the Box)
No, that’s not the number of times Tony Mullane threw left-handed, it’s... Baseball, Then and Now
News Item: August 27, 1881: Tony Mullane makes his major league debut with the Detroit Wolverines.
News Item: September 28, 1995: Greg Harris takes the mound left-handed for the Montreal Expos.
It would be a shame to let the 2007 season pass by without mentioning one of the year’s remarkable stories, a tale from the great state of Nebraska, of a college pitcher, who throws with both hands…
The called him “The Count” or “The Apollo of the Box” back when pitchers threw from a box, and not a mound. His name was Tony Mullane, and he was one of the better pitchers of the 19th Century, as well as one of baseball’s first great characters. He was also the first switch-pitcher, the first ambidextrous pitcher, in major league history.
Baseball has had innumerable switch-hitters over the years, starting with Bob Ferguson in 1870 up to the present day likes of Jimmy Rollins, Lance Berkman and even Raul Casanova. But, switch-pitchers? You may remember Greg Harris, in the penultimate appearance of his major league career, putting his special six-fingered, ambidextrous glove on his right hand, and throwing to two batters lefty during a scoreless ninth inning for the Montreal Expos. The date was just 12 years ago, September 28, 1995, when Harris became the only major league switch-pitcher of the 20th Century by facing the Reds’ Hal Morris (he walked him) and Eddie Taubensee (he grounded out) while pitching left-handed. (He also retired Reggie Sanders and Bret Boone in the same inning pitching right-handed.) This stunt was something Harris had wanted to do for years – he had the ambidextrous glove at least as far back as his days with the Phillies (1988-89) and he’d been lobbying the Red Sox to let him switch-pitch all during his 1989 to 1994 tenure in Boston. GM Lou Gorman forbade him from throwing lefty, saying it would make a mockery of the game.
But, would it? There actually is a rule that covers this – apparently the same one that states that a batter must declare his intention of batting either left-handed or right-handed before entering the batter’s box. In other words, he can’t jump back and forth from batting left to batting right between pitches. Similarly, a pitcher would have to declare his intention of pitching to a specific batter either left-handed or right-handed. As long as said pitcher knew which side of the plate was the weaker side for a switch-hitter, there’d be no problem at all. Thus, if Harris had the physical ability to throw at a major league level with both hands, why not let him so do? In effect, Harris could have been two pitchers in one. Imagine a reliever who could conceivably pitch in 160 games a year. Absurd? Not really, since Harris was in 80 games for the Red Sox, pitching strictly right-handed, in 1993 at the age of 37. If he could alternate hands in an inning, why not have him alternate hands by appearance? Even if that didn’t work, he could, by switch-pitching, always give his team the platoon advantage when he was on the mound.
It seems obvious that this sort of versatility would be a tremendous asset, especially in an era of extreme specialization among relief pitchers, wherein it’s become common for at least one pitcher on each team to have more appearances than innings pitched. But, Harris was still the only major league switch-pitcher of the 20th Century, maybe because of the tradition-bound thinking of the Lou Gorman’s of baseball, or maybe because Harris’ ability to throw with both hands isn’t exactly a common one. Indeed, records seem to indicate that the only other pitchers known to have used both hands in a professional game in the 20th Century were Bert Campaneris (yes, the Oakland Athletics shortstop who later played all nine positions in one major league game… another player with unusual abilities) in 1962 in the Florida State League, and Moxie Manuel in 1907 in the Southern Association.
While the feat of switch hitting is neither easy nor common, it is at least do-able on some level if the individual has some ability with both hands, or starts early enough. But, switch-pitching… the ability to throw at least close to equally well with either arm… now that’s tough. Anecdotal evidence indicates that Pete Reiser was ambidextrous enough to throw left-handed during his military ball-playing days when he’d injured his right arm, but, then again, Reiser was a one-in-a-million talent. (In case you’re interested, he came up to the majors as a switch-hitter, but ended up just batting lefty.) Among pitchers, Harris (the only relief pitcher – he had 54 career saves) was one of only five to actually pitch with both arms in the major leagues, the others being Mullane (the first time in 1882), Larry Corcoran (just once in 1884), Elton “Icebox” Chamberlain (at least one game in 1888) and George Wheeler (a handful of times between 1896 and 1899). Their careers…
(To continue, click this link: Apollo of the Box)
Monday, September 17, 2007
Ted Williams At War
Book Review - Rounder Books
"He did a helluva good job. Ted only batted .406 for the Red Sox. He batted a thousand for the Marine Corps and the United States." - John Glenn
Ted Williams was the only Hall of Fame ballplayer who saw military service in two wars. He was a fight instructor with the United States Marine Corps in World War II and flew 39 combat missions in the Korean War - several of them as wingman for squadron mate John Glenn. Shot down once, on his third mission, Williams was lucky to escape with his life. He was back up and flying less than 24 hours later.
There aren't too many athletes who are truly heroes. Ted Williams was one such athlete. Imagine Alex Rodriguez or Barry Bonds flying dive-bombing missions in close air support of troops on the ground, taking anti-aircraft fire as they pulled out of the dive as low as 500 feet. Imagine the records Williams might have set had he not devoted nearly five full seasons to serving the country.
Most biographies of Ted Williams devote a chapter or two to the five years he spent in the Marines. Bill Nowlin has interviewed over 40 pilots, who flew with Capt. Williams from K-3 in Korea, and interviewed over 120 people in all who knew or encountered Ted Williams during his years of service. Combined with access to Williams' squadron records, his personal flight logbooks, and his fitness and evaluation reports, Ted Williams At War presents by far the most comprehensive portrait of a man that many termed "the real John Wayne."
Features a wealth of over 100 photographs (most previously unpublished) from Ted's time in the service.
From rounderbooks.com
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