1 The SABR(UK) Number 4

Examiner August 1994

THE JOURNAL OF THE BOBBY THOMSON CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY FOR AMERICAN BASEBALL RESEARCH (UK) SABR(UK) MEETS IN LONDON; GETS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION It was deja vu all over him showing "Comiskey and Wrigley Parks side by again...On May 7 SABR(UK) side". It was never stated members from all over Eu- how this miracle was rope once again converged achieved. It was then noted that at the Kings of Clerkenwell Patrick Morley had ten- pub and enjoyed an after- dered his resignation as noon and evening of fellow- Secretary of SABR(UK) be- cause of time constraints. ship, entertainment, and It was voted to offer Patrick just plain baseball. It was a our heartiest thanks for his perfect afternoon to lock yourself in- diligent execution of his side and let your imagination wan- duties as Secretary, and in der, if not only because there was a fact for his founding role in torrential downpour pretty much all SABR(UK). Thank you, day. The meeting was well-organised Patrick. and enjoyable; a well-balanced mix of Mike then went on to business and entertainment. We've make an important an- got about thirty people here who can't nouncement, but in typical talk baseball anywhere else, so when Ross style, he started it out you get them together you don't need with an anecdote. He to do much more. talked of meeting Norman The business matters were Macht, our Chapter President, at expenses of keeping members scat- taken care of the first. We received spring training this year at the Dodg- tered over a large area in touch with apologies from members who couldn't er's facility at Vero Beach, Florida. each other. Well, Norman Macht has attend due to time conflicts. One of Mike told Norman about the difficul- come up with $500 from the main them, David Lovely, was in Chicago. ties of running what is in effect a headquarters for the Bobby Thomson Mike Ross showed a postcard from National Branch, and especially the Chapter, to help fulfil our aims in research. Mr Macht's letter accom- panying the grant is printed on page 2. We offer our thanks to Norman and HQ for what is in effect international recognition of the work we're doing here. In other business, the Officers were elected for three-year terms; Mike Ross as Chairman and Andy Parkes as Treasurer. The post of Secretary is now vacant; we need someone to fill in the duties until we can have a formal election. Any volunteers? Your Chapter needs you! After the election of the Officers, the Chapter in general was asked to confirm the appointment of three other positions: Patrick Carroll as Chair- - continued on page 5 2 VIEW FROM THE CHAIR by Mike Ross Mark Alvarez, Head of council to grant us a budget for re- has crossed over. And he under- search expenses. As has been pointed stands the obfuscation of the dec- Publications of SABR, is out in several items, we are a National ades. It was easy for the school coming to England in Au- Chapter; in fact, we are an Interna- masters to discourage children from gust and has requested a tional Chapter, not a local. wanting to play baseball, thus turn- Pat Carroll has already put the ing baseball into what soon became meeting with whom- exclusively "a girls' game", ever is available from rounders. the SABR(UK) mem- When I met author Leonard Koppett at the I'm having an bership. World Series in 1988 I im- informal gathering for Mark posed on his wisdom and at my home on August 11 at asked him why he thought around 5pm for an extended baseball never took off in visit. I'm leaving for holiday Britain. He took no time to on July 25 and returning ponder. "The class system", on same day Mark is in he said. The effect the class town, so I need to know system has on person ini- soon which of you wish to tiative is inarguable. attend. You'll have to phone Hurrahs to Martin for either Andy Parkes or Mar- continually keeping the Ex- tin Hoerchner (numbers aminer on bubble and fre- below) and you'll have to do quently to the boil. Any it SOON if you think you ideas for local and national might make the date. meetings should be tossed We have thanked Nor- to the committee. We must man Macht in many ways cats with the pigeons by suggesting also elect a new Secretary at the next for being somewhat of a Godfather to rather firmly and amusingly that base- meeting. Any nominations? our little venture. I was pleased to ball (the chicken) came before round- Don't forget to phone Andy or bump into him at Dodger Town during ers (the egg). Pat indeed now has the Martin ASAP regarding meeting Mark spring training so I could thank him chicken crossing the road and, al- on August 11. It's not to be missed. again, personally. His latest effort on though conclusive proof has not been Any historical finds should go to Pat our behalf was to appeal to the SABR secured, he knows why the chicken Carroll way down West. Until then. Text of Macht's historic letter April 27, 1994 newsletters and mailing them (basic committee within two years, but that At the recent SABR Board meet- requirement is one per year). The should be no problem. The committee ing I succeeded in pushing through average committee budget is about is also required to publish one news- the approval for a UK/European Re- $500 a year. letter a year, though many do it more search Committee of SABR, which I told the board that you had often. I know you have a talented will entitle you to a budget for ex- already begun researching the his- group of writers and reporters over penses. Do not mix this with your tory of baseball in the UK, that you there, having read your past newslet- regional; they are two seperate enti- were in pursuit of evidence to show no ters. I also suggest that someone ties. Here is what you have to do: at connection between rounders and submit something in the committee's your next meeting, sign up members baseball, that the research would deal purview to the publications editor for who will do some research on the with the past in the UK, but mostly a future The National Pastime or Base- committee; chose a chairman (sub- the future in the rest of Europe, which ball Research Journal. ject to the approval of the SABR Board, seems to have more future than past Hoist a Guinness for me at which will meet in Arlington), write a in this realm. You may want to get Clerkenwell and let me know if you brief statement of the mission and someone to keep up with what is have any questions or run into any goals of the committee, and do a going on in each country as part of the snags. budget for the year 1995 - this should committee. include postage, phone, research pho- The guidelines say that you need tocopying, cost of printing committee to have at least 10 members on the Cheers, Norman Macht OFFICERS AND GENTLEMEN

Chairman: Mike Ross, 2 Maida Avenue, Suite B, Little Venice, London W2 1TF (Tel: 071 723 9848; Fax: 071 266 3166) Treasurer: Andy Parkes, 84 Hillingdon Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8PJ (Tel and Fax: 061 865 2952) Assistant Treasurer: Hugh Robinson, 567 Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8JQ (Tel: 061 864 1250) Chairman of British Baseball Historical Committee: Patrick Carroll, 10 Court Barton, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 7HP (Tel: 0460 74183) Publications Editor: Martin Hoerchner, 48 Mildmay Road, London N1 4NG (Tel: 071 254 3492) European Co-ordinator: Laurens De Jong, Carnisseweg 61, 2993 Ad Barendrecht, NETHERLANDS 3 THIS SABR'D ISLE by Martin Hoerchner I'm afraid I must start teries until all of them ran out. But I bold text, as if proudly proclaiming its this column in a somber tone. gave it my best shot. I admire the UK ignorance. It was a missed opportu- baseball fans who have never been to nity for the biggest (and almost the My beloved mother passed a major league baseball game and only) bar in town, the Pirate's Arms. away suddenly last November. still love the game. A lot of the excite- She was an avid baseball fan ment is capturable by television, but Is Bobby Riggs still alive? and all-around Good Person. almost none of the atmosphere. That is what I wanted to record. Here we She used to diligently cut out I'm sorry to see that the Silver can get into some corny stuff like the Bullets haven't done better - I'm sure clippings about the Giants from smell of hot dogs, the cries of the everyone is rooting for them. They the local newspaper and send peanut vendors, the deep rich green said they might scale down their op- of the natural grass outfield, the chill them to me - I still have a box position - have they considered play- of the wind blowing in from right field. full of them. We could talk 1ing the Padres? Bobby Riggs must And the feeling; that's the hardest be chortling, if he's still alive. Next baseball for the better part of thing to capture. It's so easy to get year a Women's League will be an hour on the phone, and it's corny about baseball; it's too easy. not cheap to California. People founded, the first time such an action has been inspired by a motion pic- talk about baseball being a The State Of Baseball ture. I'd personally like to see another bond between fathers and sons, action inspired by a movie, that being but that's only half the story. We keep hearing so much about the reinstatement of Joe Jackson and We could talk so easily about The State Of Baseball, as if baseball is his election to the Hall of Fame. Shoeless Joe was such an innocent baseball that talking about in big trouble. It seems that while baseball coverage on TV is being character; and yet the person who other things became easier. She slashed and revenues plunging, at- probably did damaged baseball more had this funny superstition. It seemed tendance at ballparks is hitting new than anyone rests securely in the Hall that every time I was watching a highs. This points out how much of Fame. I'm talking about Cap Anson, Giants game and she'd come in from better is baseball enjoyed live; the who in 1884 almost singlehandedly watering the lawn or something, the ballpark experience just doesn't come forced the major and later the minor opposition would score. So she would across on TV. U.S. football has al- leagues to expel all non-whites in be afraid to watch a crucial game, lest ways been popular as a TV sport; its their employ and not hire any more, it would hex the Giants. Well, she rise coincided with the rise of color TV ever. For 62 years hundreds of the must be watching them from some- in the late 60's. And now the sport on game's top players were excluded from where, because they ain't doing that the surge seems to be basketball. Is Organized Baseball, and that's a big- good so far. this because of the incredible career ger crime than some gullible hayseed Luckily, I was able to see her of Michael Jordan? Is he the Babe holding onto an envelope full of money fairly often, the last time being during Ruth of basketball? My wife and I because his boss told him to keep it the Giants' triumphant season of recently went on holiday to the Sey- and the guys said it was okay. 1993, when they victoriously con- chelles, an island group a thousand Almost everyone agrees that quered second place in the National miles from Africa and two thousand Field of Dreams is a great film, and I League West. I've travelled back to miles from anywhere else. There were think that's because its poetic use of California twice since then, the sec- Chicago Bulls accoutrements every- baseball as a symbol. But of what? I ond time half family business and where, and I mean by the locals. At think the main theme of Field of half holiday. That's when I went to first I figured it was just a U.S. fixation Dreams is second chances. After Opening Day at Candlestick. I be- thing, but once I was gassing up my we've made a mistake, and life is a came a real video nut that day. I had rental jeep just before an incredible parade of mistakes, a second chance been given an old camcorder and was tropical sunset, and the guy at the is something we yearn for, and yet is able to record most of the pre-game pump, when he heard I was a Yank, so rarely granted. Baseball is the ceremonies before the six batteries engaged me in a long conversion about ideal metaphor of the Second Chance. that I carried turned out to be good for the NBA, particularly noting that he First of all, because there is no clock, an average of 2½ minutes each. I was was a fan of Scotty Pippen. I men- a comeback is never impossible. And also taking photographs at the time, tioned I liked the Lakers, and he went if you don't come back, there is tomor- and when Willie Mays was introduced on about how he thought Magic row. Baseball is played every day. If to give Barry Bonds his 1993 MVP Johnson was a lousy coach, and men- you don't succeed, you'll have a brawl award, I got excited and stood up to tioned a player I didn't know. This guy in the clubhouse and a chance to do cheer and knocked the video camera knew pro basketball. I wonder how it all over again the next day. If this to the ground. I guess I'm too clumsy he got all this knowledge, because takes away some of the sting of de- to be the international photojournalist news of the outside world is very hard feat, I suppose it also takes away that I've always considered myself to to come by there. They have one radio some of the sweetness of victory. be; maybe I'm only a technotourist. station and one part-time TV station. Nothing lasts. Tomorrow is always We did see a few satellite dishes, but another ballgame. And as a game can Maybe I'm only a technotourist not many. We also saw a guy wearing ebb and flow, with winning moments a t-shirt with both "San Francisco and losing moments, so can life. The All the awards from last year were 49ers" and "A C Milan" on it, I guess important thing, I guess, is to have given, Chris Isaak sang the national for those who like both kinds of foot- more winning moments than losing. anthem, fireworks exploded and ball. I also saw a real trendy U.S.- As I said, it's easy to get corny streamers went off everywhere. Mean- style t-shirt with baseball images and about baseball. It's too easy. while, I was frantically changing bat- "Pittsburgh Privates" printed on it in 4 The Historical Perspective BRITISH BASEBALL Others asking to see Ian's North If we are to posit as our ultimate of England paper include Dr Jack aim an authoritative history of base- HISTORY : Filling in the Williams of Liverpool John Moores ball in these islands, it seems to me Blanks - 1. University, who is preparing a social that the first step must be to collate -by Patrick Carroll history of sport in Britain between the all the previous research done in or- At our Manchester meeting in wars. A further result of this interest der to put forward, as in scholarly a May of last year I tried to clarify for will become the first piece of research way as possible, a tenable account of myself as much as for the rest of those work by a Bobby Thomson Chapter the actual historical lines of develop- present, what I thought might be member to be lodged with both the ment which lead to the game of base- mechanisms, strategies and medium SABR Research Library and with the ball as we know it, and which relates and long term concrete research aims National Baseball Library at that game as accurately as possible to of the Bobby Thomson Chapter. (These Cooperstown. First of many, I'm sure. the rest of its ancestors, aunts, un- remarks were reprinted in SABR Ex- A further source of interest, cles and cousins by the dozens. Base- aminer 2, and are now filed by the mentioned in SABR Examiner 3, was ball history scholarship has long since Editor under 'Carroll, P. - incoherent the receipt from Mr Ken Marshall of outgrown the Abner Doubleday fan- ramblings of:'). Since that time there Joseph Wright's scrapbook, which tasy, and the similar delusion popu- have been one or two developments gives a vivid account of the lar in Britain that baseball is an off- which, while only beginning to fill in Middlesborough Pioneers club of the shoot of rounders. As John the blanks of British and Irish base- 1890's, and through them of the state Montgomery Ward convincingly ar- ball history, have gone some way of the game in Britain in the late 19th gued as long ago as 1888, even a toward helping to identify just what century. This scrapbook provides cursory study of chronology, history, and where some of many suggestive leads for further re- and development of the two games up the major blanks to that point make it are in the overall much likelier that the picture. opposite is true. How- Perhaps the ever, Ward's corollary most encouraging theory that baseball product in the past 'just growed' from the year has been the native genius of the continuing work American Boy, does not being done by Ian really stand up to any Smyth in Leeds. serious criteria of his- Those at the Man- torical probability. A chester meeting great deal of material heard Ian deliver an on this subject does, abridged version of much of it unconnected his study focusing and contradictory. Has on baseball in the an attempt been made North of England to put all this into a full- during the inter- scale, cross-discipline, War years. This The 1874 Boston Red Stockings of the National Association, headed historically sophisti- fascinating piece of by Harry Wright and featuring George Wright and Albert Spalding cated study which would scholarship has (standing second from left) were the first professional American baseball put the whole question since aroused in- team to tour England. Does Spalding's trophy still survive? into a plausible perspec- terest from several tive? If so, I am unaware quarters. In the autumn of last year search. Hopefully, Mr Marshall (or of it. Surely the challenge of produc- I was contacted regarding Ian's study someone else if he is disinclined) will ing such a study, one that would be at by Mr Jeffrey Orleans who, as well as at some point be able to produce an once, authoritative in a scholarly being a fellow SABR-ite, is also Ex- historically edited and annotated ver- sense and entertaining to the general ecutive Director of the Ivy League, sion of the Wright scrapbook for wider reader, is one to excite any baseball America's oldest and most enduring circulation. research enthusiast worth his Harry collegiate sports organisation. Mr Also printed in SABR Examiner M. Steven's salty peanuts. Any vol- Orlean's initial interest in Ian's paper 3 was Geraint Johnes' and Bob unteers? was gratifying and his subsequent Thornton's brief account of the ver- The first moves which this Com- reactions after reading it even more sion of baseball historically played in mittee of the Bobby Thomson Chap- so. Importantly from SABR's view- southeast Wales and Merseyside. This ter will take in trying to facilitate the point, the correspondence between piece, as I am sure the authors are beginnings of the project envisioned Ian, Mr Orleans and myself concern- aware, really does ask more ques- above are the issuing of requests to ing this paper has also opened lines of tions than it answers, and, if they and the SABR Research Library, the Hall communication which promise to be the Editor will forgive me for using of Fame Library and the British Soci- of great potential value to Ian in his mention of it as a peg on which to ety of Sport History for their help in present project (a thorough study of hang some impromptu thinking in trying to assemble a preliminary bib- the 1938 baseball 'Test Series' be- print, I would like to give an outline of liography of primary and secondary tween England and the American ama- what I feel ought to be the primary research sources which might be of teur national team), and to other re- contribution of SABR(UK) to whole use to anyone wishing to pursue all or searchers on this side of the Atlantic. body of baseball scholarship. part of the suggested undertaking. 5 meeting, con't EDITOR'S NOTE man of the Historical Committee, Mar- gave an entertaining monologue (or I offer apologies for the delay in tin Hoerchner as Publications Editor, was it a diatribe?) called "Baseball publishing the SABR(UK) Ex- and Laurens de Jong as European and Rounders - the Chicken or the aminer, Issue 4 (or SABREX-4 Co-ordinator. All three appointments Egg?" Trevor Kendall talked about his as it will become known to fu- were heartily endorsed by the Chap- involvement with Baseball Briefing, a ter. The Governor of the Kings of weekly publication that gives day-by- ture collectors). Usually we Clerkenwell Public House, John day game reports, box scores, would like to publish once every Eichler, was acknowledged for his standings, and stats. Charles 2 - 3 months. We hope you think fine hospitality and excellently eccen- Kirkwood talked about his annual it was worth waiting for. We've tric premises. baseball trips; usually Charles and a had problems keeping a com- If this is getting a bit dry, I have contingent of baseball fanatics would plete address list, so we've an excuse. Soon after his vote of spend the summer travelling to differ- confidence, the Editor asked the ent ball games in major and minor missed people. The problems of Chairman if anyone was taking the league cities. Only teachers can do keeping track of members in the minutes for this meeting. The Chair- that. Pico Brown talked about the U.K. has been pointed out; we man replied that the meeting was peerless quality of the Iowa baseball think we've got most if not all of being taped (at least for the first two fan. the names. If you don't receive hours; we'd have to remember the At the break we were treated to this issue, please contact me. rest) and that someone would have to chili and lasagne dinner, which I transcribe the tape. I'm no fool; I always demolish. Afterward, Geoff Of course, you'll have to borrow knew I'd immediately be elected to the Simkins showed an amazing short a friend's copy to get the phone chore. Patrick Carroll wrote in an film from 1908 about a baseball fan number! Since the publication earlier article about the Chairman's sneaking off work to watch a game, of Examiner 3, I've bought a powers of persuasion. Because I knew which included actual footage from laser printer, and because of the I'd be doing the meeting report for the the Polo Grounds. Tony Darkin talked better print quality, I've taken Examiner, he suggested that I com- about fantasy baseball leagues, and bine the official minutes with the Ex- Daniel Bloyce read from his paper the print size down one point. aminer lead article. So that's what about British baseball in the 1890's. Let me know how you like it. this is, and that's my excuse for laps- Laurens spoke of the joys of the Euro- We're also trying a test printing ing into the occasional accuracy. pean baseball fan. of photographs in this issue, to Business aside, we got to meet Then the visual entertainment see how it looks. Don't despair, some of the newer members. People took over from the discursive. A song we're back! came from all over to meet with us. by Frank Sinatra, "There Once Was A Damian Begley returned from New Ballpark" was played over the York; he was at our inaugural meeting Ballparks sequence of When It Was A in January 1993, and flew in from Game, a stunning collection of color New York specifically to attend. Brent home movies from Major League Richardson came from St. Louis. Larry ballparks in the 30's, 40's, and 50's. INCREDIBLE Potts came from Arlington, Texas, and The effect was haunting. Then we invited us to the SABR national con- saw some slides that were taken at vention. Charles Kirkwood is in the the training camp of the Colorado CAPS OFFER U.K. until August on a year-long fac- Silver Bullets. The photos conveyed ulty exchange. From the U.K. were well these women's enthusiasm and Mike's managed to negotiate a deal Harvey Sahker and Pico Brown, local exuberance to be able to play profes- with his old Town Ball partner, "Old ballplayers who got interested in the sional baseball, a goal that has al- Clothes" McAult from Cooperstown, history of the game. Peter Marchment ways been denied them by their sex. who runs the Copperstown Ball Cap came in from Manchester. The three We then saw a collection of slides Co. Old Clothes makes the finest Bloyce brothers, Stephen, Daniel, and from Opening Day at Candlestick Park vintage baseball caps you can buy; he David, were here for the first time - this year, and then, if you didn't get researches the design and seeks out they were immediately dubbed "the the point, we saw some video from the the original materials, so they're as Alous" (three brothers who roamed same event. Then Mike Ross played a authentic as you can get. The other the outfield for the Giants in the 60's). tape from Ship of Fools where a joy is that he's got the most extensive Graham Winterbone told of seeing drunken Lee Marvin bemoans the catalogue you've ever seen - between Nolan Ryan pitch in his final year. fact that he washed out of the Majors one and two thousand caps. And if Paul Rimmer announced himself a because he couldn't hit the curveball you don't see it in the catalog, Old Blue Jays fan, and Mark Davison on the outside corner. Clothes will make it for you special. came in from Belfast. Of course As a finale to the evening, Tony Members of SABR(UK) can get any Laurens De Jong once again came in Darkin conducted a trivia contest, cap from his catalog for £20, which from the Netherlands to partake of which was won by one of the groups. isn't much more than what you pay baseball fellowship. On top of this, I'm sorry we didn't get the names of for plastic caps on Oxford Street. The many others had other obligations everyone in the group, but SABR(UK) catch is that we need to get an order and couldn't attend; if all of us could is currently in need of a Chapter of 24 caps to qualify for what is in ever get together at once, we'd need Secretary. Even though the meeting effect a half price offer. So contact Wembley. passed into history unminuted, it is Mike if you're interested and want After a bar break, the entertain- my humble opinion that this was our more information. We've got opera- ment commenced. Patrick Carroll best one yet. - Martin Hoerchner tors standing by to take your calls! 6 LAMENT FOR Moanings and musings but this wasn't horseshoes. And were Well, I did awake. In December not only talking the sixties. 1978 was the owners of major league teams ve- from the off-season the Giants' best year between Willie toed the sale and a local consortium I am a Giants fan. Ask me to and Will; they were in first place most was put together to keep the team in specify why, and I can't. As John of the year, but faded in September as town. Instead of criticising Candle- Leonard said, "Our passionate iden- the Dodgers came on strong. In 1982 stick Park, they made it more comfort- tifications are arbitrary. Because they lost in the final days of the able. The new owners put money into they are arbitrary, they refuse to die." season to the Braves. In 1987 they improving the team, most notably by Okay, I am from Northern California won the title but lost the pennant to making Barry Bonds the richest man - I spent most of my young life in the Cardinals due to a single mishap. in baseball. His father was hired as a Sacramento, and the Giants were In 1989 they won both the division coach and Dusty Baker was hired as a the closest major league team to me and the pennant, and were ham- new manager. With a new owner, a when I was growing up. When I think mered in one of the most lopsided new manager, a new star, and a new of the Giants I think of home, but World Series ever. They never even lease on life, the San Francisco Giants deep down I believe I would have led once. They have only won a World came into 1993 with a new attitude rooted for them if they had stayed in Championship once in the last 60 and a new hope. New York, which is where they truly years. So to say that the Giants are So, lest you British readers are belong. The Giants have a fascinat- hungry is too simple a cliché. They getting bored, I was fascinated when ing history. They were probably the are famished! They are ravenous! I found out that the Giants actually pre-eminent team in the first half- They are starving!. had a monument in London. In 1924 century of the National League and I really got interested in the John McGraw took his Giants on a were managed by thirty years for the Giants in 1976. The Giants were big world tour. On February 26 they played man I consider the best manager in news that year because Horace in the presence of George V. A plaque history, John McGraw. Despite this, Stoneham, whose family had owned commemorates the occasion at they are one of the great hard-luck the team for 60 years, was selling the Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea Football teams in baseball history. They lost Giants. A deal was almost clinched to Grounds. That name has always in- the pennant of 1908 because a rookie sell the team to Labatt's and move trigued me - Stamford Bridge. What erred in base running. They lost the them to Toronto. Mayor Moscone of has that got to do with Chelsea? It's World Series of 1912 because an San Francisco stepped in and stone- the name of town near York - I've been outfielder dropped a pop fly. They walled into a local buyer could be there. Then it occurs to me. Stamford lost the World Series of 1917 because found. And one was: Bob Lurie. Bob Bridge was the scene of a great Eng- a runner scored from third when the Lurie was the man who saved the lish military victory, when the last plate was left unguarded. They lost Giants for San Francisco. The next Saxon King, Harold, defended his the World Series of 1924 when an year Toronto and Labatt's got their throne from a massed invasion by the easy grounder took a bad hop over own team, and they've been very King of Norway, who also claimed the the head of a Hall-of-Fame third base- happy together. So this makes the throne. The battle isn't really well man not once, but twice - the second opera bouffe of 1992 even more ironic. remembered, but the year is - 1066. time in the bottom of the 12th inning. The man who saved the Giants had 2½ weeks after the Battle of Stamford And they lost the World Series of given up after sixteen years of finan- Bridge, King Harold fought another 1962 when one of the leagues most cial losses and the failure four times battle against another claimant to the feared hitters, with a runner on third for the area to build him a ballpark, throne - this time the place was Hast- in a 1-0 game, hit a pitch from the and planned to sell the team to who- ings. same pitcher who gave up the home ever wherever would buy it. The Towards sundown the Saxons run to Bill Mazeroski, straight into debate raged back and forth for were slowly gaining control of the bat- the glove of the shortstop, ending the months; proposals were made and tle. However, a ninth-inning rally by game. These things can only endear rejected. The unsettled nature of the the Normans seized victory from the you to a team. team's future didn't improve the team's English, and the course of history was This points up one key point in play, and they sank into fifth place. changed. As for King Harold, an amaz- the Giant's recent history. The last When the deal to move them to St. ing effort went for nought. He never time the won a World Championship Petersburg was announced in Au- made Manager of the Year; he ended in 1954, when they were at New York. gust, a bit of every Giant fan died up with an arrow in his eye, and the I've got a video of that series - it looks inside. Deep down we all had this memory of the Saxons faded. Mean- so old I'm surprised it wasn't silent. sickening feeling that you would lose while the victor, William, became the Only four teams have had a longer the team you had known all your life. Conqueror. King Harold missed it by wait to win the whole kaboodle. The I understood how New York fans felt that much, and it's the defeat we re- Giants have played 36 seasons in in 1958. I wondered if I could root for member, not the triumph. History San Francisco without a champion- the A's; the answer was no. Moving works that way. Stamford Bridge is a ship. No one has yet uttered the our team to Florida was ludicrous. As perfect symbol of futility. words "World Champion San Fran- one SF paper said, "Florida is where Like the 1066 Saxons, the 1993 cisco Giants" and been telling the people go to die". The idea of the Giants started the season full of hope. truth. And the wait is getting a little Giants playing in a dome (ironically They didn't have a roaring start, but too long. In the sixties the Giants called the Suncoast Dome) was re- they soon took off. They finished April had one of the most powerful lineups pugnant to me; the idea of our team 10 games over .500, and on May 11 in baseball history, with Mays and moving to that place was like a bad took over first place in the NL West. McCovey and Marichal and Perry and dream. It just didn't seem true; I felt The Phillies were playing the best base- Cepeda and the Alous, and were re- that, though deep down I didn't be- ball in the majors, and were the talk of warded with a string of second-place lieve it, I would wake up and it would the town. The Braves, despite a team finishes. They were always so close, all be a bad dream.. 7 FALLEN HEROES ERA of less than 1.00, had no offense started to look back, which Satchel made a mistake feels like he lost the and languished toward the bottom. Paige told us was a bad idea. The season. Certain games leap out at In May the team that had been sitting Braves were 6.5 games out when they you, like the one vs. the Phillies where in second place, the Astros, came to came into Candlestick on August 23 they were leading 8-0 and ended up Candlestick for a four-game series for a four-game series. They swept losing 10-8. Or another one against and they were swept. About that time the Giants, the first time that season the Phillies, lost in the 14th inning Giants fans were beginning to get that it had happened. The Giants after a their main setup man was excited. The Giants just got stronger seemed to fall apart - from that day injured in a miscue. Questions...like and stronger. They played .625 in until their 8-game losing streak that what would happen if the Giant's April, .667 in May, .672 in June. ended on September 15, they played hadn't slumped. Take out the three Road, home, day, night - they made with a 6-15 record, while the Braves weeks, and they played at a 97-44 the game their own. People starting continued to play at an incredible clip; extending that to a full season comparing them with the 1962 team, clip. would have won them 111 games. heretofore the best San Francisco I don't know how many games But as some wit once said, if you lose team. The Phillies faltered and the back they were from the Braves, be- at beginning of the season, it's a bad Giants edged toward them for the cause I had stopped following it. It start, if you lose in the middle, it's a best record in the Majors. In July the just hurt too much. I finally couldn't slump, and if you lose toward the end, Giants came into Philadelphia, and bear the suspense any longer and it's a choke. Except the Giants didn't the results were decisive. They won bought USA Today. I fully expected to choke, and the Giants didn't fold. the first game 15-7, the second 13-2. find the Giants five games back. But They had one of the most amazing They took 3 of 4, averaging more than no, they were only 1.5 games. They revivals in baseball history, and came ten runs a game for the series. The had actually started winning again. within a day of thwarting an amazing Giants seemed like an unstoppable After that horrible losing streak ended, revival of its own. juggernaut, and I started making my they won four in a row. They lost one, I suppose 1993 will go down into plans to fly to San Francisco for the and then they won seven in a row. history like 1964, 1969, 1978 - Years World Series. I visited California Atlanta continued to play at its torrid of the Choke. But Giant fans know shortly after the Philadelphia series, second-half pace, but now the Giants what year 1993 is most like. In 1914 and the excitement was electric in the had started creeping up on the Braves, the Giants were breezing through the air. We were seeing amazing heroics and with more than a week to go, they year in first place. In mid-July, before - veterans were regenerated, bench were dead even. Like two armies they had All-Star breaks, the Braves jockeys were surprising, rookies were locked in mortal combat, they paced were mired in the cellar. Then they phenoms; it seemed that whenever a each other game for game in one of started to move, slowly at first with player was injured, someone would the greatest finishes to a pennant increasing momentum. They ended step in and be perfect. A team that race in history. If the Braves gained up beating the Giants by 10 games, wasn't supposed to have any pitching a game one day, they lost it the sec- and earned for themselves the legen- suddenly had two Cy Young candi- ond day. But mostly both of them just dary title "Miracle Braves". The shell- dates, a perfect setup man, and a won. After the slide the Giants posted shocked Giants finished in the cellar near-invincible stopper. It was just a 14-3 record and played some of the next year, but they had the last laugh. that rare combination of occurences most focused baseball this year. The They won five of the next ten pen- that make a surprise champion. two teams were tied when they began nants; it took the Braves 34 years to Nearly every one of the starting eight their final series: the Giants came to win their next. was having a career year or near it. Dodger Stadium with Atlanta was This kind of emotional overhang They were winning games in the late hosting the Rockies. The Giants had could ruin the fan of a more privileged innings, they were scoring lots of runs had trouble with the Dodgers all year, team. But Giant fans are strong. with two out. And we seem to have the but they took the first three games. They won't be down for long. If you constant image of Barry Bonds win- The Giants and Braves were tied at could find one nearing 100, life for ning it with a home run in the ninth. 103-58 as play resumed on that last him would have been a long series of Even by July Giant fans were talking day. disappointments, when winning about the championship season - by After all is written, the only thing teams didn't win, when Hall of Famers July 18 they were ten games ahead of that will matter is that the Giants lost failed at key moments, when all the the second-place team. the title in 1993 by one game. Only cards were in your favor but you And then the oddest thing hap- twice have teams won more games didn't come through when the chips pened. I was on some Los Angeles and finished second - the 1909 Cubs, were down. What can you do? You beach listening to the radio, when the the year after the Merkle affair, ended wait for the next deal. When the news came over that Fulton County up at 104-49, 6.5 games behind the daffodils blossom and the geese start Stadium, where the Atlanta Braves Pirates, and the 1942 Dodgers, the to fly north, the pain will have eased. played, had caught fire and the game year after their first pennant in 21 The promise of new players, new ex- was delayed while the fire was raging. years, were 104-50 and ended up 2 perience, a new start will dim the This was to be the debut of Fred games behind the Cardinals. Only six memory of what happened in 1993. McGriff, recently acquired from the times has a team won more than 100 The first pitch will be thrown and it San Diego fire sale. It turned out to be and lost, including the 1954 Yanks will be a whole new ball game. The not as bad as it sounded; the game (103), the 1962 Dodgers (102), and past will be forgotten; only thoughts was resumed after a short delay. But the 1961 Tigers (101). When you play of day, and tomorrow, and the day something had happened. The At- so well and lose by only one game, after... For me, it can't come soon lanta Braves had caught fire. They analyses and recriminations multiply enough. had started winning like nobody's like bacteria. Each loss is put under - Martin Hoerchner business, and soon the Giants had the microscope; every player that has 8 SABR ALL-STARS CONTINUE UNDEFEATED STREAK! - by Grantland Rice (creator of M*A*S*H), Paul Maslansky year's mound hero, Hugh Robinson; The Roving Reporter finds that (Police Academy), Johnathan Demme the Dutchman Laurens De Jong com- the old adage still applies - "The bigger (Lamb & Philly), John Cassavetes, pleted the battery at catcher. they are the harder they fall"... and numerous figures of the silver The outfield handled chances Following an impressive victory screen including Phil Silvers, Tony flawlessly, around from left to right over the Stretford Saints last year up Curtis, Charles Bronson and Jim was Dave Halliwell, Andy Parkes and Manchester way, as an adjunct to the Brown who hit the biggest ever homer; Peter Marchment. Coming all the way May 7th National Meeting III, held at to this day no-one has hit a ball "over from New York was Damian Begley, John Eichler's "Three Kings" pub, the the trees". who held down the keystone as good SABR(UK) nine took on HyPisco (Hyde All this is mentioned only to give as a member of the Yankees could Park International Softball and Ca- pleasure to the minds and hearts of have done. First baseman Pat Carroll noeing Organization) with some trepi- those who have a certain sweet spot was unable to make the game due to dation. for the underdog. committments as Commissioner of Formed in 1963, HyPisco is the The game ended in a 3-0 shut- Baseball for the Southwest England oldest established softball club in Eng- out after three innings when a now "outlaw league", and played Wally Pipp land. To make the SABR(UK) victory pathetic contingent of HyPiscans lit- to Geoff Phillip's Lou Gehrig. sweeter, one is at pains to mention erally quit rather than face the indig- It was sad to see the once noble that Hypisco has had an illustrious nity of a full-blown loss. HyPisco go down in such ignominius history and that the whole of the now While the losers take pride in fashion. Their captain Robert burgeoning softball craze in Great their bloodlines, still with a nearly Kihlstrum was unable to comment, Britain stemmed from the seeds they 100% American squad, SABR boasted except to say "Some of the guys had to planted. only three Yanks: Chairman Mike get home because their wives had It should also be mentioned that Ross(3B), Damien Begley(2B), and lunch waiting." Or had to wash their HyPisco started as a 'show biz' game Scott Cousino (SS) who was given a hair. So SABR(UK) will move up a with famed members participating, pre-game on-field commission follow- notch in terms of universal respect. such as their founders Norman ing an honorary membership to And if this isn't enough, the SABR(UK) Panama and Mel Frank (Hope & SABR(UK). Martin Dodd, who came All-Stars are unscored upon in the Crosby 'Road' movies), Larry Gelbart down from Birmingham replacing last first three innings. The European Connection - by Guus Mater Dutch TV crew was there when he Finally the world is being told that August 29, 1993 was an impor- made his first steps in the Majors. there is baseball on the continent - of tant day in the history of Dutch base- Faneyte, always a happy go lucky course, you in Britain already know. ball. At Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, guy, is now a serious ball player. The first Dutchman to play Ma- a young Dutch baseball player stepped His Major League debut wasn't jor League Baseball was Wilhelmus up to the plate for the San Francisco his first visit to Miami. Four years "Win" Remmerswall. In 1979 he Giants. A crowd of 45,278 saw Rikkert ago, he was a student at Miami Dade pitched 55 innings for the Boston Red Faneyte become only the second Community College. "I tried to show Sox. In the early days of baseball, Dutchman ever to make the Majors. the scouts that I could play". He players nicknamed "Dutchman", like In his first major league game he went succeeded. Faneyte, son of a base- Honus Wagner, were invariably Ger- one for five, but he earned his place ball player from the Dutch Antilles man. on the roster a few weeks later when and an Amsterdam softball player, Baseball has been played in the first baseman Will Clark was sidelined has been seen as a gifted player since Netherlands since 1910. The KNBSB by an injury. he was a teenager. At sixteen, he was (Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Faneyte, in a telephone inter- chosen in the Dutch National Squad. Association) has about 30,000 mem- view with the Dutch press agency In 1987, at eighteen, Faneyte was bers. J.C.G. Grasse, a businessman ANP, said that he was a little nervous MVP during the European champion- who learned the game in the United to roam the outfield between big money ship in Barcelona. Pat Murphy, an States, founded the association in makers Barry Bonds and Willie American who then was the national Amsterdam on March 16, 1912. McGee. Although he has been judged team coach, is now a coach at Notre For more than three decades as a prospect, the quick center fielder Dame. He was impressed by his fast the Netherlands and Italy (where base- played only a few games with the wrists "given by nature. No coach can ball was only founded after World War Giants before he was sent down. teach you that". II) dominated European baseball. That's the way it goes. A few days after Faneyte's de- Netherlands grabbed the continental Faneyte, 24, had a good season but, Dutch baseball fans were sur- title fourteen times, and Italy seven with the Phoenix Firebirds, the AAA prised to see their National League times. The British National side had affiliate of the Giants in the Pacific standings printed in USA Today. A its best showing in 1967 in Antwerp, Coast League. In 120 games he bat- few days later, the paper printed the when the British finished second af- ted .312 with 11 HR and 71 RBI. A standings from the Italian League. ter Belgium.