On a day that saw Manny Ramirez relocate to the National League and Ken Griffey, Jr. move out of Cincinnati, we received some good news on a completely different front: "Cooperstown Confidential" ranked 10th in popularity among MLB fan blogs over the past week. It's good to hear that some additional readers tuned in just in time to learn more about last week's activities during Hall of Fame Weekend. This has been a busy month from another perspective. We've now posted 31 times in 31 days, by far the most frequent posting schedule since launching this blog three years ago...

A few thoughts on today's trades. I thought the Red Sox should have held their breath and stuck with Ramirez through the end of the season, simply because he gave them the best chance of returning to and winning another World Series. For all of his many faults, he remains one of the game's great clutch hitters, absolutely torments the Yankees in head-to-head play, and handles October at-bats with a calmness that most players display only in spring training...

With the acquisition of third baseman Andy LaRoche, the Pirates have now reunited him with brother Adam LaRoche, who happens to play the other infield corner for Pittsburgh. What's next? Will the Pirates bring in the boys' father, Dave LaRoche,into the fold to serve as pitching coach? Dave is best remembered for throwing the blooper pitch during his Yankee days, but he was actually a hard-throwing southpaw who was one of the more dominant relievers in the game during his mid-1970s stints with the Indians and Angels...

Like the rest of the free world, I'm unclear on what role the ChiSox have in store for Griffey. They already have three good outfielders in Carlos Quentin, Nick Swisher, and Jermaine Dye, and two vested veterans at DH and first base in Jim Thome and Paul Konerko. I do know the Sox wanted to balance their lineup with additional left-handed hitting, so at the very least we can expect Griffey to play either center or right anytime a right-hander is on the mound for the other team. Or perhaps Griffey will just DH. After all, he's now a below-average center fielder and doesn't have the throwing arm or tracking ability that Dye has in right...

Finally, I'm a bit surprised that Adam Dunn didn't get traded. There's no way the "Big Donkey" is going to re-sign with the Reds, who apparently were so underwhelmed by trade offers that they'd prefer the two draft picks they might receive as free agent compensation. Blue Jays GM JP Ricciardi took some major heat for issuing publicly critical comments about Dunn, but it seems that many of the other game's general managers share his opinion about The Donkey. I guess that 40-plus home runs and 100-plus walks don't mean as much as they used to--even in a Sabermetric world.

In less than one week, Brian Cashman has transformed his public image from that of Stand Pat Gillick to Frank "Trader" Lane. Or better yet, he has pulled a few pages from the playbook of Whitey Herzog. Better still, he seems to have reincarnated the spirit of Charlie Finley. In making three deals in under seven days, Cashman has launched a massive effort to re-tool the Yankees for what they hope is a strong two-month push for a playoff spot out of the stacked American League East.

I've been highly critical of Cashman throughout the season, taking issue with his lack of initiative and creativity, a seeming unwilligness to make trades of any sort, and an over-obsession with retaining every single minor league prospect within the Yankee organization. Well, Cashman has shut me up but good by executing three trades, all of which seem to tilt heavily in the Yankees' favor. First, he swindled Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates without having to give up a single one of his most prized pitching gems (Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy or Mark Melancon). Second, he satisfied the team's gaping need for a competent hitting catcher by swiping Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez from the Tigers for Kyle Farnsworth, who had become expendable because of the emergence of several young right-handed relievers. And then late last night, he pulled off a lesser--but still impressive--deal, when he dumped batting practice right-hander LaTroy Hawkins on the Astros for minor league second baseman Matt Cusick, who was putting up good numbers in Class-A ball.

In making these three swaps, Cashman has succeeded in directly addressing several Yankee needs. He has bolstered the team's right-handed hitting with both Nady and Rodriguez, solved the catching quandary with I-Rod, bolstered the team's paper-thin bench, added a capable left-handed reliever in Marte for the late innings, and succeeded in ridding the Yankees of their least effective pitcher. At a time when the Yankees appeared to have a realistic chance of filling only one or two of their multiple needs, Cashman addressed all of the problem areas-- with one exception. All that's left is to bolster the starting rotation, which could happen today with a trade for Jarrod Washburn, or could happen later, if Hughes, Kennedy and/or the injured Chien-Ming Wang find their way back to the Bronx.

Need some right-handed hitting and a lefty reliever? Check. Need a catcher who can hit more than .225? Check? Need to get a warm body for our worst pitcher? Check.

Better said, lets' call it, "Checkmate." That's just how good Brian Cashman's moves have been over the last six days.  

Bob Veale--Topps Company--1973 (No. 518)

Everything about this Bob Veale card smacks of the early 1970s. Veale is sporting a distinguishable two-part mustache, which became a fashionable foray for some players after the birth of Charlie Finley's "Mustache Gang." Veale is also donning a pair of those conspicuously oversized glasses that epitomized the era. Finally, he's doing something players often did in spring training during the sixties and seventies: wearing a windbreaker jacket underneath his uniform jersey, with the jacket collar sticking blatantly out of the neck-hole.

I've often asked myself why players wore windbreakers under their uniforms. Were they trying to lose weight, or did they just like the windbreaker-under-polyester look? In the case of Veale, let's guess that it was the weight. Throughout the latter years of his career, Veale had engaged in a prolonged battle of the bulge, sometimes drawing the ire of management for failing to keep his midsection in focus.

For Veale, this 1973 card was also the last that the Topps Company would issue for him. That's a bit of an oddity, considering that the Red Sox brought Veale back to pitch in 1974. In fact, he lasted the entire season in Beantown, before being released after that Fall's World Series between the A's and Dodgers.

By the time that Veale began running out the clock of his career in Boston, he had become a left-handed reliever, pitching only occasionally in save situations. Such an inglorious role was a far cry from his primetime days with the Pirates, where the six-foot, six-inch Veale had developed a reputation as a solidly above-average starter with a mean fastball and an intimidating pose. A two-time All-Star, Veale threw hard and fast--only Sandy Koufax threw at a quicker clip among National League left-handers--making him more likely to lead the league in walks (four times) than he did in strikeouts (once).

When age began to set in, the Pirates switched Veale to the bullpen. In 1971, he won all six of his decisions in relief for the world champion Bucs, but the won-loss record masked a horribly ineffective ERA of 7.04. Some Pirate beat writers speculated that the team would release Veale, but world championships have a way of wiping away such ill intentions.

In his first five appearances in 1972, Veale continued to struggle, giving up seven walks and ten hits in nine innings. With rumors continuing to swirl about his future, the Pirates placed Veale on waivers. When no other major league team claimed him, Veale agreed to report to the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate at Charleston.

Since the Pirates had no intention of adding him to the expanded 40-man roster in September, they sold Veale's contract to the Red Sox, who were battling the Tigers for the American League East title. Veale pitched extremely well in six late-season games for Boston, hurling eight scoreless innings of relief, while picking up two wins and two saves.

Veale's pitching wasn't enough to help Boston overtake Detroit in the pennant race, as the Red Sox lost out by a half game, an inconsistency of the unbalanced schedule that had been created by the season-delaying strike. But the second-place finish was no fault of Veale. He had shown enough life in his left arm to convince the front office to bring him back for the 1973 season. Veale pitched so well for the Red Sox in 1973 that he actually became their second-best reliever, behind only Bobby Bolin, who was enjoying a career season.

Still, Veale's efforts won him no favor from Topps, which didn't produce a card for him in 1974. Perhaps the people at Topps knew what was coming. Dogged by injuries, Veale's availability and pitching fell off badly that summer. He pitched only 13 innings in 18 appearances, saw his ERA balloon above five and a half, and watched his 13-year major league career wind down to its finish.

At the time, very few black men held managing or coaching positions at the major or minor league level, but Veale expressed a desire to continue in baseball. In 1976, Veale signed on as a minor league pitching instructor in the Braves' organization. He later worked for the Yankees, also as a minor league teacher. In 1983, he landed in nearby Utica, New York, which happened to be the hometown of his former Pirates teammate, Dave Cash. That summer, Veale served as pitching coach for the independent Utica Blue Sox, who went on to win the New York-Penn League championship. The team gained additional notoriety as the subject of Roger Kahn's book, Good Enough To Dream.

Unlike 1973, there would be no baseball card for Veale in 1983. After his retirement as a player, there would also be no place for him at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. But at least he could take some solace in knowing that he had played a part in winning a championship just one hour down the road in a place called Utica.

Inevitably, the 2008 Hall of Fame Induction was destined to provide somewhat of a letdown, since there was no way in Hades that 75,000 fans were going to pour through the Cooperstown gates the way they did last year. The Hall announced that 14,000 fans attended the Sunday ceremony, but the institution historically overestimates the crowds, usually by about 5,000. More realistically, there were about 10,000 fans gathered at the Clark Sports Center to watch the induction of Goose Gossage, Dick Williams, Billy Southworth, Bowie Kuhn, Walter O'Malley, and Barney Dreyfuss.

Still, the lack of fans didn't detract from an enjoyable weekend. The weather was terrific, emotions ran particularly high at the ceremony, and scores of former big leaguers descended on Cooperstown to make the weekend the festival of baseball that it has become. In addition to the record 54 Hall of Famers who traveled to Cooperstown this past weekend for the induction extravaganza, hordes of other retired players also made their way into our small, upstate village. Hall of Famers aside, here is a list of the former major leaguers and Negro Leaguers (along with some parenthetical remarks) who were spotted in Cooperstown from Thursday through Sunday:

*Dick Allen (White Sox teammate of Gossage, 1972 AL MVP)

*Jim Beattie (Yankee teammate of Goose)

*Paul "Motormouth" Blair (Yankee teammate of Gossage)

*Vida Blue (played for Dick Williams, 1971 AL Cy Young and MVP)

*Ralph Branca (Brooklyn Dodgers alumnus)

*Dave Campbell (former Padres infielder)

*David Cone (current Yankee broadcaster)

*Steve Garvey (played for Dick Williams)

*Dwight "Doc" Gooden

*Jim "Mudcat" Grant (played for Dick Williams)

*Ron Guidry (Yankee teammate of Gossage)

*Pat Kelly (former Yankee second baseman)

*Denny McLain

*Gene "Stick" Michael (former manager of Gossage; current Yankee executive)

*Graig Nettles (teammate of Gossage)

*Mickey Rivers (teammate of Gossage)

*Pete Rose (argghhh!)

*Joe Rudi (played for Dick Williams)

*Robert "Bob" Scott (Negro Leagues player)

*Bobby Shantz (1952 AL MVP)

*George "Shotgun" Shuba (former Brooklyn Dodger)

*Lee Smith

*Chuck Tanner (Gossage's first manager)

*Roy White (Yankee teammate of Gossage)

There were also a number of current and former executives in town, including Yankee GM Brian Cashman, Yankee advisor Arthur Richman, former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley (son of Walter), former White Sox owner Eddie Einhorn, and longtime White Sox executive Roland Hemond, who now works for the Diamondbacks...

Other news and notes from the weekend: At Sunday night's annual meeting of the Society for American Baseball Research, several historians noted that Ernie Banks did not attend the Friday afternoon dedication of the new Buck O'Neil statue. That seemed a bit odd, considering that Banks played for O'Neil with the Kansas City Monarchs before being brought to the Cubs by O'Neil. Another former Cubs great, Billy Williams, did attend the O'Neil ceremony...

After the SABR meeting on Sunday night, I ran into three members of the "Dick Williams Lunch Bunch." They're all residents of Nevada and longtime friends of Williams who meet with him for lunch every Thursday afternoon. Fifteen of the "Lunch Bunchers" attended the Sunday ceremony, replete with special T-shirts and vintage Charlie Finley green-and-gold A's caps...

Finally, for those thinking of next year's Hall of Fame induction, expect to see at least two new Hall of Famers on the stage. Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice will very likely be entering Cooperstown next summer. Henderson is a slam dunk choice, while Rice should come in at about 77 or 78 per cent of the vote.

Except for a drop or two of moisture on a humid afternoon, the rains stayed away on Sunday in Cooperstown, allowing Goose Gossage and Dick Williams to take center stage at the Clark Sports Center, site of the Hall of Fame's induction ceremony. Although the crowd was sparse--a conservative estimate placed the total at about 10,000 fans--the emotion coming from the induction stage made for a memorable afternoon. The best speech of the day might have been turned in by longtime Mariners voice Dave Niehaus, who accepted the Hall's Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence. Sounding smooth and sincere, Niehaus elegantly accepted an award that began three decades ago, when it was first given to the legendary likes of Mel Allen and Red Barber.

I was glad to hear Gossage, who narrowly broke down at several points during his 17-minute speech, take extra measures to credit Chuck Tanner, his first major league manager. Tanner certainly has his critics as a manager--Bill James among them--but on balance has had a distinguished career, achieving success with both the White Sox and the Pirates, including a world championship in 1979. And his "nice guy" persona is no act; he's one of the sincerely good people in the game.

If you're a fan of the Yankee world championship team of 1978, you had to be heartened by the support that Gossage found in the Clark Sports Center crowd. Former Gossage teammates Jim Beattie, Ron Guidry, Graig Nettles, and Roy White all attended the ceremony, as did current Yankee executives Gene "Stick" Michael and Brian Cashman. In some ways, it was a nice warmup to the upcoming Old-Timers' Day festivities at Yankee Stadium.  

Dick Williams almost became part of those great Yankee teams of the seventies, but instead managed the Angels and Expos after leaving the clutches of Charlie Finley. Williams deserves credit for skillfully working Finley into his speech, as he jokingly mentioned the "friendship" between his former owner and Bowie Kuhn, another member of today's induction class. I would have liked to have seen a few more of Williams' former players in the Cooperstown crowd--Joe Rudi was one of the few in attendance--but perhaps that's only fitting; Williams never set about to win friends, but was far more interested in extracting the best from his players. He certainly did that during his managerial stops in Boston, Oakland, and San Diego.  

Earlier in the day, I walked the streets of Cooperstown with friends and family in order to capture some of the local flavor created by the weekend. With all of the Hall of Famers preparing for the ceremony, it was a chance for other retired ballplayers to take center stage on Main Street. As we worked our way through the crowded block between Pioneer and Chestnut Street, we saw Mudcat Grant and former Brooklyn Dodger George "Shotgun" Shuba signing at TJ's Place. Negro Leagues standout Robert Scott, a frequent visitor to Cooperstown, ended up signing at several locations along the main boulevard. When a few young fans approached Scott and told him they had no money to pay for his autograph, he playfully responded, "Why is it you kids never have any money by the time you get to us? You always seem to run out once you get here." It was all good-natured, with Scott finding a way to converse with the kids despite their lack of funds.

On Saturday, Mickey Rivers and Bobby Shantz signed at CVS Pharmacy, with both drawing rave reviews. (Shantz was so nervous before his signing that he woke up at three in the morning, walked the streets of Cooperstown, and then rested in his car until it was time to report to the store.) My spies tell me both Mickey and Bobby were especially friendly and accommodating, as they dealt with long lines of signature seekers. Rivers, dressed in a slick red and white sweatsuit and sporting a tooth with a gold star, made new friends out of a number of fans, including my nephew. He was both engaging and funny, willing to pose for photographs, and only too happy to sign autographs in any way they were requested. Though I didn't have the opportunity to meet Mickey personally because of prior commitments at the Fenimore Art Museum, my friends at CVS did help me secure a 1973 Topps card inscribed with the words, "Mick 'The Quick' Rivers #17."  

Friendship, former players, and fond memories of baseball. That, folks, is what Hall of Fame Weekend is all about.   

After two picture-perfect days here in Cooperstown, partly cloudy skies are greeting us in the village this morning. There's a threat of rain in the air. but if recent history is any indication, the afternoon induction ceremony will be free of rain, hail, and any other kind of precipitation. A Hall of Fame ceremony hasn't been rained out since 1991, when heavy rains forced the Joe Morgan/Jim Palmer induction to be pushed back to Monday, and even then it had to take place at the Cooperstown High School Gym. My hunch is that the ceremony will go off without a hitch, allowing Goose Gossage, Dick Williams, Barney Dreyfuss, Bowie Kuhn, Walter O'Malley and Billy Southworth to take their places in the Hall of Fame.

Most of the focus will be on the speeches of the two living inductees, Gossage and Williams. I know that Goose will acknowledge Chuck Tanner, his first big league manager. I hope he finds a way to work people like Billy Martin and Bob Lemon into the conversation. As for Williams, he'll always be best remembered for the work he did in leading the A's to back-to-back world championships in 1972 and '73. I hope he mentions Campy Campaneris, Joe Rudi, Reggie Jackson, Jim "Catfish" Hunter and Rollie Fingers, all of whom were central figures to Charlie Finley's dynasty. And yes, for all the headaches that Finley gave him, I hope Williams has a kind word or two for Charlie O, too.

For those who can't be at the ceremony in person, ESPN will provide the TV coverage. Once again, in its infinite wisdom, ESPN has seen fit to put the ceremony on ESPN Classic, its fourth channel.That's another slap in the face to baseball, considering that ESPN will be showing bull riding,--yes, bull riding--on its second channel, ESPN 2.

But let's not ESPN's lack of appreciation ruin the day. It's a supreme day for baseball, a day that the Hall of Fame grows by six, a day that great players and managers will spin stories from bygone eras. The Induction Ceremony is almost hear. It all starts at 1:30 pm Eastern Daylight time. Let's enjoy it.

To no one's surprise, MLB and the Hall of Fame emerged from Saturday's meeting with Save The Fame Game founder Kristian Connolly by reiterating their stance that the Hall of Fame Game is over, essentially dead and buried. During the meeting, MLB president Bob Dupuy pointed out that the game is basically a local attraction, one that matters primarily to the folks of central New York. Connolly responded by pointing out that fans who attend the game come from a far wider geographic base. He also said that the geography of the fan base shouldn't matter, considering that the game sells out every year, sometimes within a matter of hours or days.

So what's next in the process? I don't expect that Connolly will give up just yet, while the Hall of Fame will continue to explore options for replacing the game. The Hall of Fame has a tendency to move slowly on such matters, sometimes at a glacial rate. It would be wise for the institution to move more quickly in this case, in order to quell continuing arguments to sustain the game and to move the focus of the discussion of the new event. My choices continue to be an Old-Timers Game first, and a Futures Game second, with the ideal solution allowing for both to take place. Youth clinics and minor league games are all fine and well, but they simply do not carry enough marquee value to replace a popular and longstanding tradition like the Hall of Fame Game...

I spent part of Saturday afternoon standing in the spacious lobby of the Otesaga Hotel, waiting for a ride that never came. There was definite upside to the lack of transportation, though, since it gave me an opportunity to do some people-watching at the Otesaga. I spotted Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Yogi Berra, Bob Feller, and Joe Morgan as they made their way through the first floor of the four-star hotel. Along the way, I picked up on some interesting Aaron news. His boyhood home in Mobile, Alabama, is being moved to the ballpark in that same city, as part of an effort to convert it into a museum. In addition, the Hall of Fame will be opening a new Aaron exhibit in April of 2009, fulfilling a dream for the former home run king. He's long wanted an exhibit in Cooperstown, something similar to the old Babe Ruth Room that used to be featured, and will apparently get his wish within the next year...

Hall of Fame Weekend is not merely about the Hall of Famers. As I scanned the lobby of the Otesaga, I saw Dick Allen, Chuck Tanner, and Roland Hemond make their entrance. They're all in town for Goose Gossage's induction. When The Goose made his major league debut for the White Sox in 1972, Allen was his teammate, Tanner his manager, and Hemond a key executive in the Chicago front office. Allen and Tanner have remained particularly close to Gossage over the years. The Goose has always praised Allen for being a good teammate, while crediting Tanner with the fortuitous decision to convert him from starting pitcher to the bullpen...

A walk down Cooperstown's Main Street also proved fruitful on Saturday. While the crowds are much smaller than the Ripken-Gwynn induction of 2007, there is no shortage of oldtime players to be found signing along the main boulevard. Ron Guidry is in town, presumably to offer support to Gossage during Sunday's induction. Gentleman Joe Rudi has made the trip from the West Coast; he's part of the contingent that is here on behalf of Dick Williams. A number of other baseball notables have joined in on the weekend celebration, including former Yankees Jim Beattie and Doc Gooden, oldtime Brooklyn Dodgers Ralph Branca and George Shuba, and former Yankee manager and GM Gene "Stick" Michael. Stick, one of baseball's best minds, was one of Gossage's many managers during his six-year tenure in New York. Other celebrities are expected to attend Sunday's induction ceremony, including Roberto Clemente's widow Vera, Yankee GM Brian Cashman, and Players' Association chieftain Donald Fehr. Cashman attended Saturday's Yankee game in Boston, but is part of the official Yankee welcoming committee that will honor Gossage as he gains official induction to the Hall of Fame on Sunday. Perhaps Cashman will have another deal to announce, coming on the heels of his Friday night steal of Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates.

Perhaps the most interesting item on today's Hall of Fame Weekend schedule is the 10:00 morning meeting between Save The Fame Game leader Kristian Connolly, MLB president Bob Dupuy, and Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson. I'm still not expecting the Hall of Fame Game will actually be saved, but I applaud Connolly for his grass roots effort and his ability to even engineer a meeting with one of the top executives at MLB. Connolly's meeting has also produced follow-up pleas from state senators Hilary Clinton and Chuck Schumer, who have signed a letter to MLB, urging the continuance of the game. (The letter may not help, but it can't hurt.) If nothing else, Connolly has shown that there is still huge support for the game, and that its biggest fans will not let it go without the largest of fights.

If the game cannot be saved, the Hall of Fame has to come up with a suitable replacement. A minor league game involving the International League (or any league for that matter) simply won't cut it. The Hall has to come up with something bigger, something with more cache, like an Old-Timers Game or a Futures Game, or better yet, even both. One of the games could then be attached to Hall of Fame Weekend, which desperately needs a signature event, while the other could be played in early June to coincide with the Hall's birth date of June 12.

If nothing else, we need something good to come out of the loss of a wonderful institution like the Hall of Fame Game. Perhaps Connolly's efforts will underscore that desire. 

The highlight of Friday's induction activities occurred at 12:30 in the afternoon, when the Hall of Fame unveiled its new bronze statue of the late Buck O'Neil. Located near the staircase to the left of the main lobby, the statue is a terrific lifelike representation of O'Neil. The statue portrays the Negro Leagues legend wearing a suit, his arms folded near his midsection, while he flashes his trademark smile. Behind the statue, the Hall of Fame has erected an attractive glass backdrop, featuring engraved text and photo images from his career. If Buck were alive today, he'd look at it and say something like, "Beautiful, just beautiful. They made me look better than I am." Buck, I'd say it looks just like you. Wonderful...

Another high point on Friday involved the youth clinic sponsored by the Hall of Fame. Taking place at historic Doubleday Field, the clinic featured instruction by former big league ace Mudcat Grant and retired second baseman Pat Kelly. Although Mudcat is now in his early seventies and somewhat limited in his physical movements, he captivated the onlooking youngsters with his words of wisdom. Grant will remain busy throughout the weekend, as he signs autographs on Main Street and continues to charm passersby with his storytelling abilities... 

Earlier in the day, I ran into one of my favorite baseball writers, Bill Madden of the New York Daily News. He informed me that he's begun work on his latest book project, a comprehensive biography of Yankee owner George Steinbrenner. The book will be published by a major player in the publishing industry, Harper Collins. Madden has previously written books on the tumultuous Yankee teams of the 1980s, along with two revealing books he did in tandem with former Yankee coach Don Zimmer.Of all the New York writers, none cares more about the Hall of Fame than Mr. Madden...

Finally, I'd like to correct a mistake from an earlier post. Contrary to what I had written, Hank Aaron is in town for Hall of Fame Weekend. My apologies to Hammerin' Hank. The eight Hall of Famers not in Cooperstown this weekend are Rod Carew, George Kell, Lee MacPhail, Stan Musial, Nolan Ryan, Duke Snider, Carl Yastrzemski, and Robin Yount.

As I walked into the Otesaga Hotel on Friday afternoon, the first person I noticed was Willie Mays. Sitting in a chair in the front of the lobby, Mays was surrounded by a phalanx of friends and family. I guess when you're Willie Mays, it's hard to move five feet in any direction in Cooperstown without drawing some sort of a crowd. Later in the day, I spotted several other Hall of Famers making their way through the Otesaga lobby, including Jim Bunning, Bob Feller, and Bob Gibson. At 89 years of age, Feller is the third oldest Hall of Famer, just behind Bobby Doerr and Lee MacPhail. He's also sporting a different look these days, with a new crew cut that reminded me of his days in the military during World War II. Gibson's appearance also surprised me a bit; he appeared to be smiling, an expression not often seen on the master of intimidation...

Making my way around the basement of the Otesaga, I caught a glimpse of Dick Williams, who is now less than 48 hours away from his induction, in the "Abner Doubleday Room." A fitting name. As I eavesdropped on Williams' conversation with a member of the media, I heard him talk about today's ballplayers. He praised them for being bigger, stronger, and better trained than athletes of the past, but complained "that they have no idea how to play the game."  When it comes to the art of baserunning and the ability of outfielders to throw to the right base, I'm in complete agreement with Williams...

Later in the day, I ran into Cincinnati Reds broadcaster George Grande, who peaked in on us as we sat in the "Natty Bumppo Room." Grande is currently preparing for Sunday's induction ceremony, where he will continue his longstanding role as emcee. One of the truly nice guys in the game, Grande reminisced with me about the early days at ESPN, when the channel didn't broadcast 24 hours a day and when SportsCenter anchors had to wear blazers with ESPN logos. We also talked about his former broadcast partner with the Yankees, Bobby Murcer. Just like everyone else in the game, Grande has nothing but kind words for Murcer, who died earlier this month from cancer. Just like Murcer, Grande is one of the good guys who help make our game something special.

Jim "Mudcat" Grant created a bit of a stir in Cooperstown on Thursday when he likened Barry Bonds to presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. Basically, Grant said that Bonds has been put under same kind of intense scrutiny of someone running for president, which has made him a target for criticism on so many fronts. Grant defended Bonds in the interview, saying that he deserves the presumption of innocence on the steroid issue. Grant's defense of Bonds isn't surprising considering his long friendship with Barry's late father, Bobby Bonds. Grant pitched against the elder Bonds in the late 1960s and early seventies, when Mudcat played for the Expos, Cardinals and Pirates and Bobby starred for the Giants. Frankly, what Grant said amounted to very little in terms of real controversy, but it did make a few headlines...

I've sometimes compared Mudcat to the late Buck O'Neil, as far as their abilities to charmingly spin stories and make friends. Well, O'Neill will officially be honored on Friday afternoon, when the Hall unveils his new bronze statue in a ceremony taking place in front of the Museum. The statue coincides with a new award the Hall has created, the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. O'Neill, who died two years ago, will be named the first winner of the award during Sunday afternoon's induction ceremony...

I'm off to the Otesaga Hotel, where I'll be interviewing Hall of Famers Juan Marichal, Luis Aparicio, Orlando Cepeda, and Tony Perez. The material from these video interviews will be used by the Hall of Fame as part of a new permanent exhibit about the Latino baseball experience. The new exhibit will debut in 2009. Hey, I'm just excited about being allowed into the Otesaga. It's where all the Hall of Famers stay, and security is usually at the level of something that might be employed by the CIA. Hopefully, they'll let me in the door.

I noticed the first seeds of Hall of Fame Weekend being sowed on Wednesday night. Just as I finished leading one of my guided tours of Cooperstown, two young boys in the group noticed a trolley arriving at the front doors of the Hall of Fame. Within moments, they exclaimed "Dave Winfield," and then raced across the street in a failed attempt to acquire his autograph. Autograph or not, Winfield had become the first Hall of Famer to hit town, beginning a procession that continued on Thursday, and will not conclude until all of the Hall of Famers have reached Cooperstown by sometime on Friday.

The Hall of Fame is expecting a record 54 returning Hall of Famers for Sunday's induction ceremony. Assuming they all attend the ceremony, that would eclipse last year's mark of 53 Hall of Famers. Originally, the Hall expected only 52, but then Ernie Banks and Cal Ripken, Jr. changed their plans at the last minute and announced that they were coming. Joining Banks and Ripken on the induction stage will be the likes of Tony Gwynn (who was inducted with Ripken during last year's memorable Hall of Fame Weekend), Willie Mays (the game's greatest living player), Steve Carlton and Sandy Koufax (the two greatest living left-handers), Bobby Doerr (the oldest Hall of Famer), and Brooks Robinson (the nicest Hall of Famer). All will be on hand for the official induction of Goose Gossage and Dick Williams, along with the late Billy Southworth, Bowie Kuhn, Walter O'Malley, and Barney Dreyfuss.

Only a handful of Hall of Famers will not be in Cooperstown this weekend. The no-shows include Hank Aaron (who seems to carry on a love/hate relationship with the Hall), Stan Musial (whose health has cut down on most of his public appearances), Nolan Ryan (who's never been back for an induction since his own), and Carl Yastrzemski (probably the most reclusive of the Hall of Famers). 

Hall of Famers will not be the only retired ballplayers making appearances in town at the various signings on Main and Pioneer streets. For me, the list of non-Hall of Famers is just as interesting, probably moreso because their stories have not been told as often as those of the game's immortals. The list of "others" includes Paul "Motormouth" Blair, Ralph Branca, Steve Garvey, Dwight Gooden, Jim "Mudcat" Grant, Denny McLain, Graig Nettles, Mickey "Mick the Quick" Rivers, and Bobby Shantz. That's quite a diverse group, ranging from the troubled trio of Garvey, Gooden and McLain to the ever colorful Rivers to the gentlemanly Branca and Shantz. There's a lot there for just about everyone, from fans of the 1940s to the more contemporary followers of the game in the eighties and nineties.

One source told me that Pete Rose will also be signing along Main Street, but I have not yet been able to confirm his appearance. I really wish Rose would stay away, if only because he tends to steal attention from where the spotlight really should be--on Gossage, Williams, and the Class of 2008. It's also bothersome to watch a guy profit from being the outlaw of baseball, a role that Rose is only too pleased to fulfill. 

But let's not allow Rose to spoil the beauty of the weekend. I'll never cease to be amazed how this small village of 2,200 fulltime residents annually transforms itself into the focal point of the baseball world for four summer days. We saw a few signs of that today, as security guards lined the public access points of the Leatherstocking Golf Course, where a few of the Hall of Famers took in their first round of golf. Yes, Hall of Fame Weekend has begun!

The Detroit Tigers of the late 1960s and early 1970s remain a beloved team throughout Michigan and much of the Midwest. In 1968, the "Battling Bengals" came back from a three-games-to-one deficit to win the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals. Four years later, an older Tigers team, featuring many of the same heroes from 1968, captured the American League East title before losing the playoffs to the eventual World Champions Oakland A's.

One of the most colorful players on both of those teams--and certainly my personal favorite--was Norm Cash, who provided Detroit with just the right combination of polished glovework at first base, hefty power at the plate, and a keen sense of humor. This 1973 Topps card provides us with an especially appropriate image of "Stormin' Norman," since it shows him accompanied by two of his trademarks at the plate. He's wearing a soft cap instead of a batting helmet and holding a bat that may or may not have been filled with cork. Fearless at bat, Cash was one of the final major leaguers to wear a cap at the plate, as part of a grandfather clause attached to the 1971 rule that made batting helmets a requirement for most hitters. (For those keeping score, Red Sox catcher Bob Montgomery was the last player in major league history to wear a soft cap at the plate.)

Cash admitted to using a corked bat at various times throughout his career, including his breakout season of 1961, when he batted .361. Of course, even if he was using cork during Detroit's championship run in 1968, it didn't do much to counter the effects of the "Year of the Pitcher," a development aided by higher mounds, an ever expanding strike zone, and the emergence of larger, cookie-cutter stadiums.

Cash also made intriguing bat-related news during the 1973 season. With Nolan Ryan in the midst of throwing his second no-hit performance that summer, the free-spirited Cash decided to walk to the plate without a bat, instead carrying what appeared to be a strangely-shaped piece of wood. Legendary Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell described the item as a piano leg during his play-by-play of the game, but it was actually a table leg, taken from a piece of furniture in the Tigers' clubhouse.

Cash had every intention of using the table leg; he actually saw one pitch from Ryan while holding the table leg in his hands. After that first pitch, not-so-amused umpire Ron Luciano (a colorful figure in his own right) realized what Cash was actually holding and told him to discard the makeshift stick in favor of a regulation bat. "I can't hit him with a regular bat," Cash argued with Luciano, before making his way back to the dugout to retrieve his regular bat. Even then, Cash could do nothing more than record a weak out to the infield, with Ryan eventually finishing his no-hit masterpiece.

Cash played one more season in the major leagues before calling it quits. Cash dabbled in broadcasting and played in a professional softball league, all the while spinning stories from his days with the Tigers. Then came tragedy. In October of 1986, the 51-year-old Cash slipped and fell off a dock while boating in northern Lake Michigan. He tumbled into the cold waters, could not keep himself afloat, and drowned. An autopsy determined that Cash was legally drunk at the time of the accident.

Cash has been gone for 22 years now, and the game of baseball is a little lesser for it. Even after all these years, I still miss Stormin' Norman.

To their credit, the Mets bounced back with a win on Wednesday night, responding nicely to their most devastating loss of the season. They just have to hope that this year's pennant race won't come down to one game, the way it did last year.

Here's my reaction to the Mets' 8-6 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday night: perhaps the Mets should start treating Johan Santana like an ace. On Tuesday, Santana threw 105 pitches over the first eight innings. He sailed through the eighth inning, needing only a handful of pitches to retire the Phillies, putting the Mets three outs away from sole possession of first place. With the Mets holding a three-run lead and Billy Wagner unavailable, the conditions seemed right to have Santana start the ninth and attempt to finish off the game. Instead, manager Jerry Manuel pinch-hit for Santana in the bottom of the eighth and turned the game over to Duaner Sanchez. Six runs and three more pitching changes later, the Mets found themselves down by three runs--on their way to a crushing loss against their prime divisional rival.

I understand that Santana is a prized arm, someone the Mets desperately want to keep healthy, but 105 pitches over eight innings is not an exorbitant total. Asking Santana to give you 115-120 pitches, especially on a night when your closer is unavailable, is not an unreasonable request. Yet, the Mets continue to treat Santana with the most sensitive of kid gloves, even in the midst of a heated pennant race with the Phillies and Marlins. The continued babying of Santana partially explains why he hasn't pitched a single complete game all season. Not one. In contrast, Toronto's Roy Halladay has pitched seven complete games. CC Sabathia, now with the Brewers, has a total of five on the season. I'm not expecting that Santana match either of those totals, but it would nice for the game's top left-hander to complete a game every once in a great while.

Instead, Manuel and the Mets allowed themselves to be ruled by the dreaded pitch count, where anything over 100 pitches is treated with red flags, fire whistles, and burglar alarms. It cost them a game, one that they may or may not be able to retrieve...

The Astros' acquisition of Padres left-hander Randy Wolf has baffled much of the baseball community. Why would the Astros give up a prospect in Triple-A right-hander Chad Reineke for a veteran pitcher when they're already ten games out in the National League Central? What possible difference will Wolf make for a team that needs help everywhere, from the lineup to the bullpen and maybe even the manager's office? Are the Astros certain they can re-sign Wolf, who is eligible for free agency at season's end?

Here's a deal, courtesy of some creative Internet types, which makes so much sense that it will never happen. The prospective trade would have the Orioles send veteran catcher Ramon Hernandez to the Yankees for burly right-hander Chris "Big Foot" Britton. Hernandez would give the Yankees a competent hitting catcher with power (11 home runs), thereby replacing Jorge Posada, who won't be able to catch any more in 2008. Britton, a 25-year-old reliever who has thrown well in limited duty but never gets much of a chance to pitch in New York, would complement George Sherrill in Baltimore's improving bullpen. Britton, a shorter version of Tim Stoddard (the original Big Foot) who stands six-three, 278 pounds, has enough stuff to be a closer, which could ultimately make Sherrill available in a subsequent deal...

The Hall of Fame's official web site doesn't list his name among the inductees returning to Cooperstown for this weekend's induction, but a Hall source tells me that Cal Ripken, Jr. is indeed planning to attend. That brings the total number of expected Hall of Famers to 53. The group also includes Tony Gwynn, who was also a part of the memorable Hall of Fame Class of 2007. Those who are not coming to Cooperstown include Stan "The Man" Musial (who has eliminated most of his public appearances because of health concerns), Hammerin' Hank Aaron (who doesn't often attend inductions), and Carl Yastrzemski (noted for being a recluse).

Boog Powell--Topps Company--1973 (No. 325)

Although Boog Powell was surprisingly nimble and surehanded as a first baseman, it's at the plate where he is most remembered. On his 1973 Topps card, he holds the bat high, regally concluding one of his Ruthian swings. (If you've ever seen his 1974 Topps card, you'll notice the subtle bending of the bat, a common trait amongst power hitters with high bat speed.)Other than Reggie Jackson, Willie McCovey and Willie Stargell, no left-handed hitter of that era was more fear inspiring while pawing in the batter's box or hitting home runs of tape-measure dimensions. (Tony Oliva, Billy Williams, and Carl Yastrzemski were better all-around hitters than Powell, but none really struck fear in the hearts of pitchers, first basemen, and second basemen the way that Boog did.) At a time when no players lifted weights and 200-pound players could scarcely be found, the hulking Powell weighed 250 pounds by the most conservative of estimates, helping him carve out a niche of sheer intimidation at the plate.

As much as Powell looked like an angry behemoth swinging a large club, his personality ran to the other extreme of the spectrum. Affable and good-natured both on the field and away from the ballpark, Powell became known as a kind of smiling giant who liked to laugh and have fun. He rarely argued with umpires or exchanged angry words with opponents. His jovial personality only helped him during his postseason days, when he became a staple of the legendary Miller Lite television commercials and later opened up "Boog's Barbecue" stand outside of Camden Yards.

Powell could also be mischievous, in the way that he joked and played pranks on others. In fact, that's how he obtained the nickname "Boog." As a child, John Wesley Powell sometimes misbehaved, leading his parents to say, "What's that little booger up to now?" Booger eventually was shortened to Boog, giving Powell his memorable moniker.

Although he was often overshadowed by the Robinsons (Brooks and Frank), Jim Palmer, and Earl Weaver, and has never received serious consideration for the Hall of Fame, Powell has achieved iconic status in Baltimore. It's partly because of his performance--he did win American League MVP honors in 1970--in part because of his sense of humor, and partly because of that great nickname. While few would remember someone by the name of John Wesley Powell, they all seem to remember the burly slugger named Boog.

If the Milwaukee Brewers don't make the playoffs, Ned Yost will surely be fired. That's one of several conclusions that can be drawn after the Brewers announced their second major mid-season trade on Sunday. The acquisition of Ray Durham, coming on the heels of the pre-All-Star break addition of CC Sabathia, gives the Brewers needed depth and versatility. Although Durham has played almost exclusively as a second baseman throughout his career, I could see the Brewers using him as a Tony Phillips-like superutility player. The switch-hitting Durham could platoon with the disappointing Rickie "Hands of Stone" Weeks at second base, while also filling in at first base and perhaps even the outfield, assuming that Yost is willing to be daring. Durham's ability to get on base, coupled with his occasional power, makes him a useful player. He also helps balance a lineup that leans far too much to the right side. Other than Prince Fielder, the Brewers haven't had much left-handed hitting. Durham, a stronger presence from the left side, gives them a little bit more.

The Brewers really have no excuses now if they fail to make the playoffs. It's debatable whether they're as good as the Cubs, but they certainly have more talent than the Cardinals, whom they are currently trying to catch in the wild card chase. With All-Star talents like Fielder, Ryan Braun, Corey Hart, Sabathia, and Ben Sheets, the Brewers should beat out the overachieving Cardinals. If they don't, the Ned Yost bashers will have their most convincing evidence yet that it's time to make a change in the Brewers' dugout...

Do you want to hear the good news or the bad news on the Yankees? The good news involves their standing in the AL East; they're only two and a half games behind the Red Sox and four and a half games behind the Rays. The bad news is that their roster has been rendered a M*A*S*H unit, with Jorge Posada back on the disabled list, where he joins Hideki Matsui, Chien-Ming Wang, and Phil Hughes. With Posada's right shoulder continuing to bark, the Yankees are looking at the real possibility that he won't play again in 2008. Even if he does manage to suit up, he can forget about doing any catching the rest of the season. That leaves the Yankees in a quandary. As good as Jose Molina has been defensively, he is the kind of offensive non-entity that the Yankees can no longer afford to carry.  With their offense already devalued by Matsui's injury and the wear-and-tear to Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu, the Yankees need a catcher who can hit at least a little. Some of the available candidates include Baltimore's Ramon Hernandez, the Rangers' Gerald Laird, Cincinnati's David Ross, and the Padres' pair of Josh Bard and Michael Barrett. Brian Cashman won't have to break the bank for any of those receivers, but he will have to part with at least one prospect in any deal, something that he's been reluctant to do up until now...

In a year that has already seen the passing of Eliot Asinof, W.C. Heinz, and Jules Tygiel, the baseball world lost another writing giant over the weekend. Jerome Holtzman, the unoffficial dean of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, died after a long illness. He was 82. Holtzman is best remembered for spearheading the invention of the save statistic, but his legacy encompasses far more than that. For years, he successfully covered both the Cubs and the White Sox as the guardian of the Chicago baseball beat. He wrote a terrific oral history, No Cheering in the Press Box, which chronicled the memories of some of the game's early writers. He also provided some unique memories to other members of the BBWAA, as they delighted in watching him verbally spar with Dick Young, the dean of New York City baseball writers. Holtzman and Young might not have liked each other, but they were both impressive old-school chroniclers of the game's history.

A's general manager Billy Beane did very well in acquiring two high-ceiling prospects from the Phillies for Joe "Bulldog" Blanton. The workmanlike right-hander has struggled badly this year, with an ERA creeping toward 5.00 and a declining strikeout rate. While I understand the Phillies' interest in Blanton--they need starting pitching in the worst way and hope Blanton can fill the bill as a No. 3 starter--they paid a high price in surrendering second baseman Adrian Cardenas (no relation to former major league shortstop Leo Cardenas) and pitcher Josh Outman (what a wonderful name for a pitcher). Cardenas might have to be moved to the outfield at some point, but he has enough of a bat to justify playing him anywhere. Outman could join the Oakland bullpen by mid-2009, when the A's figure to be more legitimate contenders to the Angels' throne out west...

His death has hardly been acknowledged by the mainstream media, but it deserves to be at least mentioned here. Former Negro Leagues broadcaster and writer Sherman "Jocko" Maxwell died earlier this week at the age of 100. Maxwell religiously followed the exploits of the old Newark Eagles, submitting stories on game days to the Newark Star-Ledger. Maxwell also announced--free of charge--Sunday afternoon games in Newark as part of a broadcasting career that finally came to an end in 1967. Like other great Negro Leagues writers, including legends like Sam Lacy and Wendell Smith, Maxwell fulfilled an important role in publicizing and promoting black baseball both before and after Jackie Robinson integrated the game at the major league level...

For weeks now, we heard nothing public about the cause of death of former major leaguer John Marzano. That changed earlier on Friday, when the coroner announced that Marzano died from a fall that was caused by "ethanol intoxication," or essentially alcohol intoxication. Ever since Marzano's death in late April, speculation had centered on his death being caused by a heart attack, but that has now been ruled out. I'm really not sure how to feel about this latest revelation. If Marzano, a seemingly healthy 45-year-old man, had died suddenly because of an unexpected heart attack, it comes across as much more alarming because of concerns that it could happen to anyone. On the other hand, the news that his death was related to alcohol consumption makes it all the sadder because the circumstances could have been avoided. While the cause of death has been altered, the end result remains the same. Marzano, one of the game's nicest guys and most energetic forces, is gone all too soon.

Why didn't Dick Dietz play beyond the 1973 season? As a valuable backup catcher-first baseman for the Braves, Dietz batted .295 and compiled a remarkable .474 on-base percentage in 1973. In today's game, most teams would kill for a backup catcher like that. Yet, no major league team saw fit to offer Dietz a contract for the 1974 season.

While his name might not be familiar to younger generations of fans, Dietz was certainly a recognizable player to those who grew up with baseball in the 1960s and seventies. He was an underrated player and a fun-living teammate. He was also a Sabermetric favorite, in much the same way that Gene Tenace and Mickey Tettleton garnered preference in later decades. And for one season, Dietz was just about the best catcher in the National League--playing at a level that put him in company with Hall of Famer Johnny Bench.

In 1970, Dietz batted an even .300 for the Giants while compiling 22 home runs, 109 RBIs, and 84 runs scored. Even more impressively, Dietz drew 104 walks, an excellent total for any player and a remarkable figure for a catcher who lacked the reputation of a Bench or Joe Torre. Although Dietz' home run and RBI totals didn't come close to matching those of Bench, his high walk total gave him a stunning on-base percentage of .430--a 79-point advantage over Bench (.351.) On the way to producing such numbers, Dietz earned a berth in the All-Star Game and came off the bench to hit a key home run in the bottom of the ninth.

So why is it that Dick Dietz didn't become a household name? Unfortunately, he never came close to matching his 1970 numbers again. On the heels of a respectable 1971 season, Dietz was surprisingly sold on waivers to the rival Dodgers during the spring of 1972. The reason? As the Giants' player representative during the strike of '72, Dietz had drawn the wrath of San Francisco management. The Giants decided to punish Dietz by selling him to another team, but they mostly punished themselves by receiving nothing of consequence for a highly competent major league catcher.

Shortly after joining the Dodgers, Dietz suffered a broken finger (in his first start with Los Angeles, no less) and missed most of the 1972 season. By then, Dietz' days as an everyday player had come to an end. During the spring of 1973, the Dodgers sold Dietz to the Braves. (Unfortunately, Topps had already issued its 1973 card for Dietz, which still shows him wearing Dodger duds.) With the Braves, Dietz became a valuable member of the team's vaunted "F-Troop" bench brigade, which also featured jack-of-all trades Chuck Goggin (who played second base, shortstop, the outfield and even caught one game) and first baseman Frank Tepedino (who later became famous for his work as a fireman on September 11, 2001). And then, after a productive offensive season in 1973, when he compiled a near .480 on-base percentage in a backup role and helped make the Braves' clubhouse a fun place, Dietz never again played in the major leagues. Believing that he still had ample ability to hit the ball, Dietz felt that major league teams had colluded against him because of his active involvement with the Players' Association.

Although Dietz was only 32, his career was over--just three years after his All-Star season, which had come at the tender age of 28. Sadly, such rapid declines are not uncommon for catchers, who are subject to more physical wear and tear to their bodies than any other position players. It's quite likely that Dietz' extreme workload in 1970 and 1971 contributed to a loss of arm strength, a falloff in his already questionable mobility behind the plate, and to his general lack of longevity. After playing in a staggering 148 games in '70 and another 142 games in '71, Dietz' physical skills had declined from overuse. Yet, in spite of his defensive deterioration, he still had a potent bat, one that was more than capable of producing as a pinch-hitter and a backup. For a team that had two light-hitting catchers in Johnny Oates and Paul Casanova and a mediocre first baseman in Mike Lum, Dietz appeared to be a nice alternative.

During his playing days, Dietz sported a solid six-foot, one-inch, 185-pound frame. After his playing career, he fell victim to a condition that sadly plagues too many former players. Dietz became extremely overweight, which may have contributed to the 2005 heart attack that took his life at the age of 63.

Much like his playing days, Dietz' life was far too short. Let's hope that doesn't make him a forgotten man. Baseball fans should remember that for one season, Dick Dietz was pretty much the equal of Johnny Bench. And that he deserved to play at least one more season, after the way he led F-Troop in 1973.

The All-Star Game started ridiculously late and ended horrifically behind schedule, but in between the American and National League stars provided us with a host of good memories. Exhibiting plenty of good defense and baserunning (particularly in the area of stolen bases), this year's Midsummer Classic proved to be one of the best in the last 25 years. There was also a plethora of controversy, from the broadcast booth to the issue of tied games for the All-Stars.

*As much emotion as the lavish pre-game ceremonies and a tight ebb-and-flow game created, the presence of Joe Buck continues to be a drawback. I can excuse the mispronunciation of Justin Duchscherer's name (it's a momentary lapse on a tough name), but Bucks' other indiscretions have become intolerable. During his pre-game PA announcements, Buck didn't just introduce the participants by name and team, but saw fit to provide parenthetical remarks for each player. ("Last night's hero, Josh Hamilton.") That kind of hoaky commentary just isn't done by the public address man. Besides, Buck shouldn't be doing the PA announcements in the first place. He's the play-by-play guy, not the in-stadium announcer. I know that Bob Sheppard has been ill, but Yankee Stadium backup Jim Hall should have been the choice to handle the intros. And then during the game, Buck repeatedly told us that Carlos Guillen was the last man on Terry Francona's bench when in fact Evan Longoria was still available. That was a huge mistake to make, especially with extra innings looming, along with the real possibility of running out of players.

*Man, Justin Morneau is slow. Reminiscent of players like Rich Gedman, Ed Herrmann, and Ernie Lombardi, Morneau barely managed to score the game-ending run despite a weak, fading, two-hop throw by Corey Hart. If Hart had even managed to reach home plate on one hop, Morneau would have been out, the inning would have ended, and Terry Francona would have had little choice but to send Scott Kazmir out for the 16^th inning.

*J.D. Drew will always be a pariah in Philadelphia, and to a lesser extent in Los Angeles, but his MVP performance on Tuesday night may be a sign that he is reaching his peak in his early thirties. Drew does everything so well--hitting for power, drawing walks, running the bases, and playing solid defense in right field--to the point that we have to start considering him an elite player. If he can just keep himself on the field for 150-plus games, he could win the real MVP Award within the next three years. With the Red Sox figuring to contend over that stretch, and the futures of both Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz murky, Drew's importance to the franchise should only grow.

*I'm glad that MLB took a moment to honor the late Bobby Murcer, but it would have been far more appropriate to do so during the pre-game ceremonies. There are far more viewers than in the later innings, when East Coast fans turn off their TVs in droves. Murcer was a five-time All-Star himself, a franchise icon of the Yankees, and an extraordinarily popular player. He deserved an earlier spotlight on the broadcast.

*I felt a flashback toward the days of Mike Andrews when Dan Uggla made back-to-back errors, practically losing the game in the bottom of the 10^th inning. Thankfully, Charlie Finley wasn't lording over the National League team last night. If here were, he would have fired Uggla on the spot and asked Bud Selig to replace him with Brandon Phillips.

*Is there anything more nauseating than listening to broadcasters or reading Internet scribes as they agonize over pitch counts, who's available to pitch, and the possibility of running out of pitchers and declaring the All-Star Game a tie? (My goodness, 12 pitchers aren't enough to get through a single game?) These tedious issues would become a non-factor if MLB instituted a simple rule and managers adopted a basic pitching plan for the All-Star Game. If a pitcher isn't physically capable of pitching at least two innings in the game, his invitation should be withdrawn and his spot should be taken by someone who can. Managers should ask their starting pitchers to give them three innings (which was customary for many years in the All-Star Game), followed by a two-inning stint from the second pitcher. Then the manager can go single innings with the next four relievers. That way, managers would use only six pitchers in regulation and have five or six still available to pitch in extra innings. The possibility of a tie shouldn't even be discussed until the completion of, let's say, 18 innings--which is the equivalent of two nine-inning games. And please, no more mention of tiebreakers or shootouts. This isn't the North American Soccer League here.

Johnny Bench--Topps Company--1973 (No. 380)

The 1973 All-Star Game was remarkably unmemorable. The National League dominated a one-sided affair, 7-1, continuing a seemingly endless string of supremacy against the older and less talented American League. Bobby Bonds came off the Nationals' bench to hit a double and two-run homer, earning MVP honors for his work as a substitute. The other National League home runs--both solo shots--emerged from the bats of Willie Davis (the subject of an earlier "Card Corner") and Johnny Bench, who started the game behind the plate and batted sixth in the NL lineup before giving way to Ted Simmons. Bench was one of 15 Hall of Famers to appear in the game that night at Royals Stadium.

In this 1973 Topps card, we see Bench in full action, near the climax of a hell-bent run toward the first-base dugout, as he attempts to finish off a two-handed basket catch of a foul ball. Due to the timing of the photo by the cameraman, we don't know for sure if Bench makes the catch, crashes into the enemy dugout (is it the Giants?), or both. Given Bench's athletic ability, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to say that he makes the catch while remaining on his feet, frustrating yet another opposing batter with his gifts of soft hands and nimble agility.

Simply put, Bench is the best defensive catcher I've ever seen. (Keep in mind that I never saw Roger Bresnahan, Mickey Cochrane, or Jim Hegan play.) When you include Bench's offensive game--which encompassed power, the ability to draw walks, and above-average speed--he ranks as the best all-round catcher of my lifetime, too. I suppose strong arguments could be made for Josh Gibson as the greatest catcher of all time, but I never saw him play, and the Negro Leagues statistics are so lacking as to do him little justice. So I'll take Bench in that category, as well.

There's some irony to those assessments when you consider his name--"Johnny Bench." Think about that. It sounds like a putdown nickname for a young schoolboy who's not quite good enough to start. "Sit on the bench, Johnny. You're not that good. We'll call you 'Johnny Bench.' " I can just hear Hawk Harrelson exclaiming in an imaginary game between the White Sox and Reds, "Grab some bench, Johnny."

I wonder if Johnny Bench ever heard such putdowns. Kids can be cruel sometimes, so it wouldn't be shocking if he did. It didn't matter. Bench's talent and work ethic made up for any ill feelings that his neighborhood cohorts might have created.

What made Bench such a standout behind the plate? Any discussion of Bench's defensive prowess has to begin with his hands. Bench was actually nicknamed "Hands," largely because his hands approached the size of lion's paws. He could hold eight baseballs at one time in his two hands, a neat trick that became a staple for photographers of the sixties and seventies. His hands weren't just oven mitts either; they were soft enough to dig balls out of the dirt and keep wild pitches at a minimum. With such large tools at his disposal, Bench adopted a one-handed catching style; when no runners were on base, he held out only his mitt hand, keeping his bare hand behind his back so as to avoid hurting his fingers on foul tips. His success with the one-hand style, aided by the use of a hinged mitt, helped influence a baseball myth. For many years, Bench was falsely credited with being the first major league catcher to use the one-handed approach. The pioneer was actually the Cubs' Randy Hundley, but Bench followed shortly thereafter. Both were exceptional.

Bench's throwing arm teamed well with his hands. He pumped cannonshots to second base, displaying the kind of power arm that has been matched by only one man since (Ivan Rodriguez). Bench's arm served him well in an era in which the stolen base shared prominence with the home run.

Although Bench's 208-pound build made him look like a piece of rounded granite, he was amazingly agile. He moved smoothly in blocking pitches, handled pop-ups with speed and grace, and deftly snatched bunted balls.

In completing the picture of defensive perfection, Bench handled pitchers exceptionally well. Unlike Pudge Rodriguez, there were few criticisms that he signaled for more fastballs to improve his chances against basestealers. Bench called a solidly good game, even though the Reds lacked dominating pitchers for most of his years in Cincinnati.

Johnny Bench created a poetic portrait with the way he handled the position. Sometimes a baseball card catches the player just right.

The last few days have been rough ones for ballplayers and fans of the 1950s, sixties, and seventies. We've lost four retired players since last Thursday, all of whom had an impact on the game. Here is a tribute to the good memories they've left with us.

Bobby Murcer (Died on July 12 in Oklahoma City, OK; age 62; brain cancer):
Bobby Murcer was not a Hall of Fame ballplayer. He wasn't the greatest center fielder in the history of the Yankees' franchise. He never won a world championship, not in New York, San Francisco, or Chicago.

And yet, none of that matters. Murcer was a very good ballplayer who upheld the fine tradition of center fielders in the Bronx. A five-time All-Star, he put up two superstar seasons in 1971 and '72--when he slugged .543 and .547 and totaled 58 home runs and 190 RBIs--along with about a half-dozen other campaigns of solid production. If he had been a bit luckier, he would have been part of two world championship teams with the Yankees. More to the point, above and beyond his many on-field accomplishments, Murcer had Hall of Fame personality and character. That's what matters most.

I never met Bobby in person, but did have one opportunity to interview him over the phone. Some might question whether I knew Murcer well enough to make any judgments about him. That might be a legitimate concern in the case of many ballplayers, but it wasn't with Murcer. When everyone in baseball tells you how good and caring and sensitive someone is, and that is corroborated the one time you have a chance to talk to him, that works well enough for me.

As a ballplayer, Murcer overcame an ill-fated stint as a shortstop and a lengthy stint in the Vietnam War to become an All-Star center fielder. He posted those two Hall of Fame seasons in 1971 and '72, becoming a beloved Yankee Stadium fixture along the way. He never reached that peak again, in part because of the Yankees' shift to Shea Stadium and in part because of an unwanted trade to San Francisco, where Murcer hated the ill winds of Candlestick Park. In spite of those geographical hardships, Murcer became one of the most productive outfielders of the 1970s.

In 1979, Murcer provided Yankee fans like me with two of the only highlights of a torturous and tragic season. The first occurred on June 26, when the Yankees brought Bobby back to the Bronx in exchange for an obscure right-hander named Paul Semall. The second came in early August, when only hours after delivering the eulogy for his friend Thurman Munson, Murcer drove in all of the Yankees' runs in a dramatic 5-4 comeback win on Monday Night Baseball against the Orioles.

Thanks, Bobby, for memories--so many others, too--just like that.

Steve Mingori (Died ion July 10 in Kansas City, MO; age 64; natural causes):
He didn't win a lot of games or earn many saves, but few middle-inning left-handers were as successful as Mingori. If he pitched in today's game, he'd easily command one of those three-year, $18 million deals on the free agent market. Inconsistent in his early years with the Indians, Mingori emerged as an important weapon for the Royals of the mid-1970s, pitching out of the Jack McKeon/Whitey Herzog bullpens. Mingori used a herky-jerky sidearm delivery that made him tough on left-handers, and owned a deceptive screwball that made him effective against right-handed bats. (Mingori's motion was so herky-jerky that it later caused him severe neck pain after his playing days, requiring surgery to alleviate the discomfort.) Off the field, Mingori was known as a joker and prankster. He became infamous for stealing food that belonged to the grounds crew at Royals Stadium, prompting one angry groundskeeper to dub Mingori "Crater Face."

Dave Ricketts (Died on July 13 in St. Louis, MO; age 73; renal cancer): 
Acclaimed as both a coach and a clubhouse prankster, Ricketts made many friends during his days with the Cardinals and Pirates. After a non-descript career as a backup catcher in the 1960s, Ricketts became a coach with the Pirates in the early 1970s. He was activated briefly as a player during Pittsburgh's 1971 world championship run, but didn't appear in an actual game that season.

Several years ago, the late Nellie Briles told me about the role that Ricketts, his former teammate with the Cardinals, played during the Pirates' world championship run in 1971. "Dave Ricketts was the No. 1 needler on the ballclub," Briles said of the journeyman catcher-turned-coach, who was actually activated for three weeks in 1971 but did not appear in any actual games. "That was the style we had in St. Louis.  When we were winning the championships [with the Cardinals], Dave Ricketts was also there.  [In Pittsburgh], we always had this constant needling going, and the only rule we had about needling each other is that we never got personal."

Ricketts remained with the Pirates' organization as their bullpen coach until 1973. He then re-joined the Cardinals as a member of Red Schoendienst's coaching staff. Ricketts' first coaching term with St. Louis lasted only two years, but he returned to the organization in 1978, kicking off a 14-year tenure as a coach and batting practice pitcher. During his second tour of duty in St. Louis, Ricketts received high praise from Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog. "The SOB is the hardest working man I've ever seen," Herzog told sportswriter Dick Wagner years ago. Even after his days as a major league coach ended, Ricketts remained with the Redbirds' organization as a spring training and minor league instructor.

Ricketts' work ethic and knowledge of catching earned him a reputation as a catching guru, with an unmatched ability to improve the defensive play of young receivers. Simply put, Ricketts was one of those unheralded baseball guys who become essential to the game through their ability to pass the torch from one generation to another.

Chuck Stobbs (Died on July 11 in Sarasota, FL; age 79; cancer):
Stobbs was best remembered for giving up a famed tape-measured home run to Mickey Mantle, one that allegedly traveled 565 feet, but he also won 107 games during a 15-year career with the Red Sox, White Sox, Senators, Cardinals, and Twins. Known as an intense competitor on the mound, Stobbs provided some other memorable moments. During the 1956 season, he once threw a wild pitch that landed, according to reports, in row No. 17 of the grandstand. Seventeen rows deep! Despite that momentary lapse, he led all American League starters with a ratio of only 2.3 walks per nine innings. He also won a career-high 15 games that summer, an impressive total given Washington's seventh-place standing at season's end.

After putting together his best season in '56, Stobbs lost his first 11 decisions in 1957 on his way to a 20-loss season. To his credit, he kept taking the ball late in the year, even as the milestone loss loomed. Later in his career, Stobbs moved to the Senators' bullpen, where he became the club's No. 1 reliever. 

I guess I felt something wasn't quite right when I heard Bobby Murcer on his first Yankee broadcast of 2008. With his voice weakened and distant, it just didn't sound like him. And then Bobby never returned to the broadcast booth.

All of my worst fears were confirmed on Saturday afternoon, when I heard the news that Bobby Murcer had died earlier in the day. Only 62 years of age, Bobby succumbed to the effects of brain cancer, which was first diagnosed in December of 2006.

This is heartbreaking news for me--as I'm sure it is for all of Bobby's fans, and of course, his family and friends. When I first started following the Yankees in the early 1970s, he and Thurman Munson were my favorite players. They were two of the reasons why it was always worthwhile to switch the television dial to WPIX, even when the Yankees were losing more games than they were winning.

In his prime, Bobby was a five-tool player who did everything well. He enjoyed a couple of Hall of Fame seasons before showing some slippage in his game. And just as we waited for Bobby to bounce back, the Yankee front office broke our collective hearts by trading him to the Giants for Bobby Bonds.

Thankfully, the Yankees brought Murcer back in 1979, allowing him to finish out his career in the only place he should have played. When he retired, he stayed in the Bronx, becoming a broadcaster and friend to a new generation of younger fans. For us older fans who remembered watching him play, his place in the broadcast booth gave us a continuing connection to an earlier and more innocent era in Yankee history.

A few years ago, Bobby provided me with one of the most lasting thrills of my professional career when he agreed to become a guest on the Hall of Fame Hour show that Billy Sample and I hosted for MLB Radio. I'll always cherish those few on-air moments with Bobby, who was as gracious and kind as I'd always been led to believe.

Today, I'm one of just many people offering thanks to the man who was known as Bobby Ray Murcer. He was one of the genuinely good ones; they're realizing that in heaven right about now.   

No one should have been surprised when the Mariners finally cut their losses by releasing Richie Sexson this week. Already a poor defensive first baseman, Sexson had become an offensive wasteland, his production declining every year since his injury shortened 2004 campaign with the Diamondbacks. As badly as Sexson has played, he won't be out of work for too long. His numbers against left-handed pitching are decent, which will make him desirable to a team like the Twins, Yankees, or Blue Jays.

Dick McAuliffe--Topps Company--1973 (No. 349)

During the 1960s and 1970s, there might not have been a major league hitter who had a more unusual batting style than Dick McAuliffe did. He used such an open stance that he practically faced the pitcher--almost like a left-handed version of a player of more recent vintage (Tony Batista)--but with his hands held higher. McAuliffe's batting stance was so peculiar that it was oft-imitated by young fans, just like Willie Stargell's windmilling of the bat and Joe Morgan's chicken-wing flap with his elbow.

I've never met or interviewed McAuliffe, but his face has always reminded me of one of the Bowery Boys. Maybe that's why teammates called him "Muggsy." With that dark complexion and heavy eyebrows, he looked like a gangster in one of Edward G. Robinson's films.

McAuliffe was one of the unsung stalwarts for the Tigers. Though usually overshadowed by the likes of Al Kaline, Norm Cash, and Willie Horton, McAuliffe played a critical role as a leadoff batter and second baseman. He flashed good power for a middle infielder of that era, drew plenty of walks, and played the middle infield reliably. As the Tigers' leadoff man during their World Championship season of 1968, McAuliffe proved more than effective, leading the American League with 95 runs scored while not once grounding into a double play.

McAuliffe remained with the Tigers for five more seasons, eventually platooning with veteran second baseman Tony Taylor, and was a part of the 1972 team that won the American League East. Two years later, the Tigers traded him to the Boston Red Sox for slugging outfielder Ben Oglivie. The trade allowed Muggsy to play near his hometown of Farmington, Connecticut. With his legs wearing down, McAuliffe played only two seasons with the Red Sox, mostly as a backup. After seven games in 1975, he voluntarily retired and lost a chance to play in that fall's World Series, but did receive an American League pennant ring from the Red Sox.

It's a shame that McAuliffe never received that chance to play in the '75 Classic, which might just have been the best World Series ever. An underrated ballplayer like Muggsy deserved a showcase like that. 

With nary a significant trade throughout the first half of the season, the Brewers and Cubs proved that Santa Claus does exist by pulling off near blockbusters on back-to-back days. Reacting quickly to Milwaukee's acquisition of CC Sabathia, Chicago netted Rich Harden as part of a six-player swap with the A's. Most of the Internet reaction I've read has expressed surprise that Billy Beane didn't acquire more for his talented right-hander. I disagree. Given Harden's horrible history with injuries, I think Beane brought back decent value. Matt Murton gives the A's a legitimate corner outfielder with power, Sean Gallagher has the potential to be a good No. 3 starter, and Eric Patterson has enough talent to fill a role as a part-time or platoon player.

I love Harden's talent, but the condition of his arm makes it difficult to build a stable front end to the rotation. He's already visited the disabled list six times in his career; I'd be shocked if he makes it through the second half without being DLed at least once. Realistically, the Cubs are gambling that he'll be healthy for the postseason. They can win the NL Central without him, but they'd like their postseason hopes a lot better if they know then can use Harden in Game Two, right after ace Carlos Zambrano. It's probably a reasonable gamble for the Cubs, who were smart to acquire a buffer like Chad Gaudin as a hedge against the fragile Harden hitting the DL again...

The Dodgers are running through hitting instructors the way that George Steinbrenner used to plow through pitching coaches. The announcement of Don Mattingly's imminent return will give the Dodgers their fourth batting coach in the last season and a half. LA started 2007 with Hall of Famer Eddie Murray, who was fired in mid-season and gave way to Bill Mueller. When Joe Torre was named manager, he announced that Mattingly would join him as hitting coach, but personal problems derailed "The Hit Man's" plans. The Dodger then hired Mike Easler (also nicknamed The Hit Man), who is now being reassigned to make room for Mattingly. Perhaps Mattingly can fix what ails the Dodgers most--a subpar offense that doesn't walk enough or hit with sufficient power...

After coming within a game of the World Series, the Indians have become baseball's biggest underachievers in 2008. They just lost their 10th consecutive game, which puts them perilously close to rock bottom. So what exactly has happened to the Indians, my preseaon pick to win the AL Central? Well, just about everything. They have endured a massive and continuing wave of injuries, which currently has Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, Josh Barfield, Fausto Carmona, and Jake Westbrook on the disabled list. There has also been plenty of underperformance, with Hafner, Ryan Garko, Jhonny Peralta, Andy Marte, and Joe Borowski among the many culprits. With the team hopelessly out of contention, GM Mark Shapiro has already begun the purge, waiving Jason Michaels, trading Sabathia, and designating Borowski for assignment. The exodus only figures to grow, with third baseman Casey Blake, veteran outfielder David Dellucci, and soft-tossing righty Paul Byrd expected to hit the trade market before the end of the month.

And who says that baseball isn't the most unpredictable of the four major sports? 

Nate Colbert--Topps Company--1973 (No. 340)

Admit it, you like those yellow and brown uniforms the San Diego Padres wore during the 1972 and '73 seasons. There's just something especially captivating about those yellow jerseys and pants. So colorful, so bright and cheery. Oh, who am I kidding? As much as I loved baseball in the seventies, those uniforms may have been the worst creation in on-field fashion this side of the Houston Astros' rainbow uniforms and the short pants worn by the Chicago White Sox for three games in 1976.

In spite of having to wear those hideous polyester monstrosities, Nate Colbert is doing his best to maintain a happy face while posing for his 1973 Topps card. As the former Padres slugger pointed out to me during his recent visit to Cooperstown, those duds were major league uniforms, far superior to anything that he would have endured wearing in the Pacific Coast League. "Well, the brown didn't bother me," says Colbert. "The yellow ones, which were called 'Mission Gold'--I don't know where they got that name from--when I first put them on, I felt really embarrassed. But I looked at it like this is the major leagues; this is the uniform I was required to wear. I took a lot of ribbing, especially from the Reds and Pirates players. Even my mother used to tease me. She said I looked like a caution light that was stuck. You know, it was a big league uniform. I'd rather have that than one with the Hawaii Rainbows on it, that being the Triple-A team for the Padres [at the time]."

In many ways, that's just Nate being Nate. Just as he appears on his Topps card--smiling, positive, and upbeat--Nate tends to looks at the bright side of things. If Colbert had chosen a different path, he could have worn the more dignified pinstriped uniforms of the Yankees. As an amateur ballplayer in 1964, Colbert was offered a lucrative contract by the Yankees. They promised to double any offers given to him by any of the other 19 major league teams, but Colbert had his heart set in another direction.

If the Yankees had signed Colbert, they presumably would have brought him to the majors by the late 1960s. That would have been good timing for the struggling franchise, considering the instability the Yankees had at first base. Given Mickey Mantle's impending retirement and Joe Pepitone's imminent departure, the Yankees endured a period of mediocrity at the position. Patchwork players like Danny Cater, Johnny Ellis, and Mike Hegan, and the oft-injured Ron Blomberg could have given way to Colbert, who put up big slugging numbers from 1970 to 1972. Colbert also would have supplied some much-needed right-handed power, balancing a lineup that had Bobby Murcer (and later Graig Nettles) from the left side of the plate.

It was not to be. Colbert briefly considered the Yankees' offer, but opted to sign with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals. That fulfilled a dream for Colbert, who wanted to play for the same team as his idol, Stan Musial. Unfortunately, the Cardinals had such depth at first base and in the outfield that Colbert faced major roadblocks. After the 1965 season, the Redbirds left Colbert unprotected in the Rule Five draft.

The Astros jumped in and picked Colbert, bringing him to the major leagues in 1966. As it turned out, Colbert would cross paths with the Yankees one more time. 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," says Colbert, recalling his boyish enthusiasm that day. "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 made his major league debut in 1966. Two years later, he met his most colorful teammate ever, Doug Rader. "When we were with the Astros, he and one of the guys, another player on the team, went down to the pet store. That's when it was legal to own alligators. And they bought three alligators, baby alligators. They waited until we were all in the shower, and they let them loose in the shower, down in Cocoa, Florida. We were trying to climb the walls, these little baby alligators all around us."

With teammates like Rader, Colbert found fun away from the field, but found little playing time beyond pinch-hitting and filling a utility role in Houston. Then came his big break. After the 1968 season, the Astros left Colbert unprotected in the expansion draft. As one of the two new National League teams, the Padres selected him in the expansion draft. After starting the season in a platoon role, Colbert caught the attention of his new manager, Preston Gomez. "I was going to platoon with Bill Davis. And then, I got hot and hit home runs in five straight games. Preston Gomez 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, Colbert 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. He was never better than he was on August 1 that season, when the Padres played a doubleheader in Atlanta. Colbert hit two home runs in the first game, and then smacked three more in the nightcap. The record-tying fifth home run (matching a mark set by his boyhood hero, Musial) came in the ninth inning against Cecil Upshaw, who would pitch for the Yankees two years later. "I always had trouble against Cecil Upshaw, who threw underhanded," Colbert explains. "For some reason, he threw me an overhand fastball [in Atlanta]. Years later, I asked him why he did that. He said that he thought he could surprise me with it... Surprise!"

Colbert's prime years with the Padres provided other memorable moments, including the infamous night when team owner Ray Kroc took to the microphone at San Diego Stadium. "Well, we had just gotten thumped in LA," says Colbert, setting the scene. "And we came home and got thumped the first night. And we were getting thumped again. So I was the hitter, and somebody comes on the mike and says, 'People of San Diego...' It scared me, I thought it was God. You know, I thought, oh gosh, the rapture was coming, and I'm not ready. And he said, 'I want to apologize for such stupid baseball playing. And about that time, a streaker ran onto the field, a guy with nothing on but a Viking helmet. And he did a little dance at second. Ray lost it and said, 'Get him out of here! Get him out of here! People like that should be arrested and the key thrown away.' Then he got composed again and said, I just want you to know that we had more fans than LA and San Francisco tonight...but I never saw such stupid ballplaying in all my life.' So in protest, I said to myself, I'm not swinging.' I just stood there and I walked. The next guy did the same thing and he walked. So I yelled to the next guy, 'We got a rally going.' We scored five runs. He apologized to us later. And I told him, 'You own us. You can say what you want.' "

After putting up a final productive season for the Padres in 1973, Colbert's chronically bad back began to give him major problems. He spent short stints with the Detroit Tigers and Montreal Expos before finishing his career with a cup of coffee in Oakland. Although he went hitless in five at-bats for the A's, he loved playing for another controversial owner, one who made Kroc look like a wallflower. "As far as Charlie Finley, I loved Charlie Finley. I thought he was awesome. When he traded for me, he told me that he always wanted me to play for him. He told me couldn't afford me the next year [1977], but he wanted me to have a good time that year [1976]. He told me if I needed anything, just call him. He treated my wife and I very well."

Colbert met his wife Kasey during that memorable stopover with the A's. Nine children and 22 grandchildren later, the two remain together. They are both ministers (Colbert served as a chaplain for the Padres after his retirement) and co-owners of a company that provides advice and counseling to amateur athletes considering careers at the professional level. Now 62, Colbert hopes to write a book about his experiences, including his work as a minister. "I love to pray," says the affable but soft-spoken Colbert. "And I love to teach. I love the involvement with other people."

Just when I thought that the concept of the major midseason trade had become extinct, the Indians and Brewers restored my faith in the belief that old-fashioned blockbusters can still happen in-season. Monday's announcement confirmed what had been rumored for most of Sunday--that C.C. Sabathia has become a Brewer in exchange for three minor league prospects and a player to be named later.

I know this will sound abysmally cliched, but like most cliches, it's true: this deal helps both the Brewers and the Indians. Although Sabathia struggled at the outset of this season, the reigning American League Cy Young winner has recovered to become his reliable and durable self. He's once again on pace for well over 200 innings, has managed to keep his strikeout rate at a batter per inning, and won't turn 28 until later this month. He also figures to benefit from a weaker National League, where thinner lineups and weak bottom-thirds make life so much easier for most starting pitchers. And when Ben Sheets is healthy, the Brew Crew will have the best righty/lefty combination in the league. As for the Indians, the trade makes sense for them, too. No longer contenders due to a wave of injuries and underperformance, the Indians had come to the realization that they had little chance of re-signing their hefty but helpful left-hander. So instead of watching Sabathia leave for a couple of draft choices (which often turn into a crap shoot anyway, especially at the end of the first round), they acquire three legitimate prospects who have already succeeded at the professional level. With Travis Hafner continuing to struggle, Matt LaPorta becomes the heir apparent as a game-changing DH-first baseman. Left-hander Zack