Colbert Hits Cooperstown

One of the many benefits to living in Cooperstown involves the arrival of former major leaguers, who often visit the village to participate in Hall of Fame legends events or local autograph shows. Earlier on Friday, I had the privilege of meeting former big league slugger Nate Colbert, who talked to a small but attentive crowd of fans in the Hall's Bullpen Theater. Casual but colorful in his presentation, Colbert spun stories from his days in baseball, beginning with his travels on Negro Leagues barnstorming trips and continuing during his major league days with the Astros, Padres, Tigers, Expos, and A's.

During an entertaining and wide-ranging talk, Colbert touched upon a variety of topics, from his early days as a fan to his current work as a minister and advisor to young amateur athletes:

*Colbert became exposed to baseball early in life, primarily through his father, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the old Negro Leagues. The elder Colbert played with the likes of Cool Papa Bell and Satchel Paige, and against such legends as Josh Gibson. During the summer, young Nate often accompanied his father on barnstorming trips, giving him some insight to the struggles of some players. "A lot of the players were illiterate," says Colbert, revealing something I had never previously heard. "I was one of the few guys who traveled with them who could read menus, sign my name, that sort of thing. I taught Satchel how to write."

*Colbert's father didn't know how to read--but he understood how to play the game properly. "One time, I ran 87 feet down the line, I knew I was gonna be out, and then I just drifted into the bag. After the game, my father asked me, 'Are you injured? You can't run 90 feet. What's wrong with you?' He taught me a real lesson."

*As Colbert grew into his powerful 200-pound body, he began to draw the attention of major league scouts. The Yankees offered to double any offers he received. Colbert preferred playing for his hometown Cardinals, so he took less money to sign with St. Louis in 1964.

*Buried behind talented first basemen and outfielders in the Redbirds' system, Colbert was left available in the Rule Five draft. The Astros swooped in and picked Colbert, bringing him to the major leagues in 1966. Prior to the start of the season, the Astros hosted the Yankees in an exhibition game at the Astrodome, giving Colbert his first glimpse at a Yankee legend. "Mickey Mantle was taking batting practice," Colbert says. "I said to my teammates, 'Oh my gosh! Hey guys, that's Mickey Mantle.' The other guys on the team just said calmly, 'I know.'"

*Colbert's big break came in 1968, when the Padres selected him in the expansion draft. As the Pods prepared to play their inaugural season in 1969, they planned a platoon role for the ex-Astro. "I was going to platoon at first base with Bill Davis. And then, I got hot and hit home runs in five straight games. Preston Gomez, the manager, then came up to me and told me that I had earned the right to play every day." Davis was soon traded, cementing Colbert's newfound status. From 1969 to 1972, he put up huge power numbers, twice hitting 38 home runs in a season and twice posting slugging percentages of better than .500. In 1972, his best year, he collected 111 RBIs, accounting for an incredible 23 per cent of the pathetic Padres' run total for the season. That 23 per cent figure remains a major league record.

*On August 1, 1972, Colbert tied Stan Musial's record with five home runs in a doubleheader. There was something cosmic about that accomplishment, considering that Musial had been Colbert's idol while growing up in St. Louis. In fact, Colbert was at Sportsman's Park the day that Musial set the record in 1954.  "My father said, 'You'll never see that again.' " In hitting his fifth home run against the Braves and thereby tying Musial's mark, Colbert victimized Atlanta closer Cecil Upshaw. "Upshaw always gave me trouble. He threw underhanded. For some reason, he threw me an overhand fastball that day. I asked him about that later on and he said that he thought he could surprise me. Surprise!"

*Continuing back problems began to derail Colbert's career in the mid-1970s. He spent time with the Tigers and Expos before landing in Oakland with Charlie Finley's A's for a final cup of coffee in 1976. While with the A's, his back acted up, resulting in a minor league rehab stint. There he met his wife--and became involved in a bench-clearing brawl. "I was in Salt Lake City on rehab, when a big right-hander named Mike Barlow threw a pitch at me. Then he threw a second one at me. So I tackled him, flipped him over, and started pounding him. Mike ended up with a bruised face and blood all over him, and I had scratches all over me. Well, I felt bad. After the game, I went into the parking lot. I was hanging out with six or seven of my teammates, all of the black players on the team. And then Barlow walked out into the parking lot. He must have thought we were a gang! I went up to him and said, 'Mike, I'm sorry. I feel bad about what I did.' " Later on, I found out that Mike Barlow was my wife's cousin!"

*Now a minister, Colbert and his wife run a business called "Amateur to Professional Sports Services." The organization provides advice to amateur athletes considering careers in professional athletics. "About 160 of our players have gone on to sign pro contracts," says Colbert. "We've been around long enough that some of them are now coaches and managers." He also finds his work as a minister fulfilling. "I love to pray. And I love to teach. I love the involvement with other people."

Most of the people that listened to him speak in the Bullpen Theater seemed to enjoy their involvement with the personable, down-home Colbert. After his talk, I accompanied Nate, his family and his representative as they made their way to Sal's Pizzeria for a quick bite to eat. By the end of the day, Colbert's appearance in Cooperstown had made an unbearably hot and humid day on Main Street that much more tolerable.