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Baseball player "oddballs" ; colorful stories to get some WS/baseball flavor up in here.

HymanKaplan

HymanKaplan

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Aug 14, 2001
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I'll start with one of the most enigmatic players that I grew up watching George Hendrick:

Joggin' George/Silent George/Captain Easy/Pants On The Ground (because, for some reason, he didn't want anyone to see his socks, LOL, which started a trend that persists to this day.)

After the final out of the 1982 WS, which the Cardinals won; Hendrick jogged off the field, while his teammates were celebrating, out of the clubhouse, and got straight into a car that he had arranged earlier, and left; w/o even changing out of his uniform. 😆 😆

When he played in HS, sometimes he'd forget his uniform, borrow a jersey and play in jeans. When his team was up, but he didn't anticipate getting an at bat that inning, instead of going back to the dugout, he'd just walk over into foul territory (he played RF), and just lay down and take a nap. 😆
 
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Rickey Henderson was quite a character if one is to believe the stories about Rickey being Rickey
 
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Rube Waddell. He played in the early 1900's. He is a HOF pitcher who had large strikeout totals in an era when hitters didn't strike out much. Bill James suggested he was likely mentally retarded. Opposing fans would bring puppies to games to distract him. He left once during a game to follow a fire truck. In exhibition games, he would call everyone but the catcher off the field and strike out the side. He caught pneumonia and died after helping save the city of Hickman KY fighting a flood.
 
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HymanKaplan said:
I'll start with one of the most enigmatic players that I grew up watching George Hendrick:

Joggin' George/Silent George/Captain Easy/Pants On The Ground (because, for some reason, he didn't want anyone to see his socks, LOL, which started a trend that persists to this day.)

After the final out of the 1982 WS, which the Cardinals won; Hendrick jogged off the field, while his teammates were celebrating, out of the clubhouse, and got straight into a car that he had arranged earlier, and left; w/o even changing out of his uniform. 😆 😆

When he played in HS, sometimes he'd forget his uniform, borrow a jersey and play in jeans. When his team was up, but he didn't anticipate getting an at bat that inning, instead of going back to the dugout, he'd just walk over into foul territory (he played RF), and just lay down and take a nap. 😆
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That was a fun team. Remember watching those WS games as a 10 year old. The day games at any rate. Would watch them at my dads office.

Never heard that about Hendrick. He was one of my favorites behind Ozzie and Willie.

From the team the previous year, my dad had 9 year old me convinced that Sixto Lezcano did indeed have 6 toes!!
 
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Richie Ashburn once hit a foul ball into the stands that hit a woman in the head They were carrying her off on a stretcher and he hit another foul ball that also struck her. He visited her in the hospital and they became life long friends.

If you want interesting stories and lots of info, get a copy of the 2000 Baseball Abstract by Bill James. For those who don't know, James invented saber metrics as a tool for negotiating the value of his clients with owners. It was for one particular player whose name I forget and his book is not handy at the moment.
 
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While with Reds, Elio Chacon got in the clubhouse dryer & went for a spin.

Pedro Borbon took bites out of Mets' player's hat after/during a brawl in '73. After that, I called him Teeth.

Mark Fidrych got down on his knees before each inning to move the dirt around the rubber to his liking.
 
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In 1973, Fritz Peterson, and Mike Kekich, who were both pitchers for the Yankees swapped not just wives, but their entire families and homes. Literally just took each others' place.

 
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In 1950 a man was shot and killed in the outfield bleachers at The Polo Grounds. Dude was hit in the head by a random bullet fired up into the air by a kid who had found the gun.

They kept playing the game, and people fought for his seat as they carried his body away.
 
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Following a league leading season in BA(.420), Hits, Runs, 3Bs, SBs - HOF George Sisler had his whole following season (and somewhat career) derailed by a season ending…sinus infection.

He still ended his career with a .340 BA, but was never quite the same after his 1922 MVP season.
 
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CatsFanGG24 said:
The only MLB on field caused player death was between the batter (Ray Chapman- Indians of Beaver Dam, KY) and pitcher (Carl Mays-Yankes of Liberty, KY). Two KYians in the tragedy.
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Chapman's death led to the birth of modern MLB, since the various subsequent rule changes ended the Dead Ball Era and led to the Live Ball Era -- home runs.
 
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Reggie Jackson's 3 HR game on 3 pitches/swings in game 6 of the 77 WS against the Dodgers is the all time GOAT performance in the WS. To add a little unknown nugget to that, in the prior game he homered in his last at bat in the 8th inning, so he hit 4 home runs on 4 consecutive swings.

This video has the call from Keith Jackson and Howard Cosell....

 
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I had a Don Hoak model glove as a kid, so he became a favorite. Don was a tough guy. He had been a run of the mill pro boxer before deciding baseball was easier. Someone had committed a robbery at a neighbor's house and Don jumped in his car and gave chase. He had a heart attack and died during the chase.
 
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HymanKaplan said:
In 1973, Fritz Peterson, and Mike Kekich, who were both pitchers for the Yankees swapped not just wives, but their entire families and homes. Literally just took each others' place.

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Was going to bring this one up. My buddies dad played for Yanks when this happened. His mom was friends with the wives and it was more traumatic for them than the players.
 
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Another Bill James story. Remember Jimmy Piersall. They made a movie about his life and mental breakdown. It was called "Fear Strikes Out." Well they are playing the Yankees and the first two hitters get knockdown pitches on the first pitch. When Piersall reaches the plate, he tells Yankee catcher Yogi Berra, "Yogi, you knock me down and I will take this bat and knock you in the head with it, and You know I am the only man in baseball who can get away with it." Yogi answered, "Jimmy, we don't throw at .240 hitters."

Btw, for several years, Jimmy played CF next to Ted Williams in LF. Jimmy said he deserved 2 paychecks since he had to play 2 positions.
 
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Lou Piniella will always be one of my favorites in baseball.

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In 1917 Ernie Shore threw a perfect game with 27 straight strike outs without allowing a single base runner, but was only credited with a combined no hitter because he pitched in relief of starter Babe Ruth who was ejected after walking the first hitter and punching out the umpire.
 
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Rob Dibble of the Cincinnati Reds was upset with himself after a poor performance vs the Cubs. He threw the ball into the centerfield stands after the final out and the ball hit someone in the arm.
 
Not to many know and it would be taboo today, but Sandy Koufax was called Super Jew by his teammates. Larry and Norm Sherry were Rude Jew and Jolly Jew. Larry was a relief pitcher and Norm was a bull pen catcher who is credited with making Koufax a star. Sandy was a bonus baby at a time when big bonus guys were required to go directly to the MLB roster, so he failed to get much of the developmental work most players got. Norm's tips helped him gain control of his pitches.

Btw, Sandy had verbally agreed to sign with the Dodgers (though had not signed a contract) when the Pirates came along with a larger offer. Sandy said he had to remain true to his word, so he stuck with the Dodgers.
 
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Stan Musial was a left handed minor league pitcher in the Cardinal farm system who played OF when not pitching. He hurt his throwing shoulder making a diving catch. When his arm failed to heal quickly, he decided to go home to Pennsylvania. He was married with a newborn son and had to support his family.

Dickie Kerr was his manager. Kerr told Stan that his family could move in with him and his wife with Kerr's wife helping care for the new baby if he would stay in baseball and give the OF a chance. Obviously Stan became a major star.

Years later, the Kerrs ran into financial problems. Stan bought them a brand new house. Dickie Kerr was the same Dickie Kerr who was the lone hero in the WS for the White Sox during the infamous Black Sox Scandal thrown WS by being the winning pitcher in both his starts.
 
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🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

July 7, 1993: Tom Browning leaves the Reds' dugout at Wrigley Field in uniform, walks across the street and sits with a group of Cubs fans on the roof of an apartment building behind the right field bleachers. Manager Davey Johnson fines him $500 for the stunt. #RedsVault


Image
 
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Contrary to current popular belief, Babe Ruth was at one point a physical stud...and a very fluid athlete:

 
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berniecarbo said:
Btw, Sandy had verbally agreed to sign with the Dodgers (though had not signed a contract) when the Pirates came along with a larger offer. Sandy said he had to remain true to his word, so he stuck with the Dodgers.
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My little league coach for one year, Hank Schmidt, was the only pitcher to defeat Koufax in his year at UC.

www.cincinnati.com

Xavier's Hank Schmidt proud of Sandy Koufax connection

Hank Schmidt will be forever linked to Sandy Koufax on the pitching mound.
www.cincinnati.com
 
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CatsFanGG24 said:
Following a league leading season in BA(.420), Hits, Runs, 3Bs, SBs - HOF George Sisler had his whole following season (and somewhat career) derailed by a season ending…sinus infection.

He still ended his career with a .340 BA, but was never quite the same after his 1922 MVP season.
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Problems with his eyesight and I think it was from the sinus infection.
 
vhcat70 said:
While with Reds, Elio Chacon got in the clubhouse dryer & went for a spin.

Pedro Borbon took bites out of Mets' player's hat after/during a brawl in '73. After that, I called him Teeth.

Mark Fidrych got down on his knees before each inning to move the dirt around the rubber to his liking.
Click to expand...
I believe that was Concepcion in the dryer.
 
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