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Home , 1969 World Series, Amos Otis, Billy Grabarkewitz, Claude Osteen, Dick Dietz, Earl Weaver

PAGE 84 , , and the home plate collision that blew up the 1970 All-Star Game. An oral history.

BY ADAM FLANGO an injury as an excuse to not play in the All-Star Game, Weaver believed they should be fi ned. That never happened, but as The Times noted afterwards, “The Americans had to feel a new sense of foreboding as they were confronted by the shape of things to come.”

CLYDE WRIGHT, losing , California Angels: When the played the , the American League wanted to kick their butt and the National League wanted to kick our butt. That’s all there was to it. It wasn’t going to no party. We were going to a game to win.

CLAUDE OSTEEN, winning pitcher, [1] Osteen: “I went Dodgers: I always try to put down any talk to Reading High about players not caring. All the guys in The night before the 1970 MLB All-Star Game, Reds outfi elder Pete School. My father the National League, all the teams that I moved from Ten- Rose called his friend, pitcher Sam McDowell, and nessee up to Read- was on, they wanted to win and carried a asked if he’d like to go to dinner. McDowell agreed and brought ing and he worked lot of pride in that clubhouse. I’ve never along his Indians teammate, a newly-married rookie named at the General Elec- experienced one that didn’t. [1] Ray Fosse. The trio, their wives in tow, enjoyed an evening on the river tric jet engine plant at the Sycamore Shore and fi nished with a nightcap at Rose’s home in in Lockland. I spent PETE ROSE, outfi elder, Reds: It’s not my last three years Oak Hills. Like any bright young rookie would, Fosse peppered Rose of high school there one of those deals where some players with questions about his teammate, the great . It was a and got involved say, Ahhh, I’d rather have the days of . That jovial fi rst encounter. The second would not go so well. with the baseball wasn’t the way it was with us. We wanted More televisions were tuned to the 1970 All-Star Game than any program and loved to make the All-Star team. The [game] Mid-Summer Classic before or since. An estimated 60 million people every minute of it. in Cincinnati meant a lot more to me be- I was a big Reds fan gazed at the still-under-construction , watching to and knew all about cause I was born there. see if the American League could overcome years of dominance by the them.” National League. Even Richard Nixon—two years into his fi rst term , , Ori- as president, with the Vietnam War raging and deep unrest rumbling oles: The American League, I know we got across the land—was in the stands that night. [2] Brooks Robin- beat up. I played in a lot of losing All-Star son was an All-Star The raucous, National League–inclined crowd of 51,838 roared in 15 seasons, but Games. I think I played in 15, won two or [2] each time one of their guys came to bat. Bench. Perez. Rose. Even for- competed in 18 All- three, and tied one. I we n t to eve ry ga m e mer Cincinnati Red received a rousing ovation in his Star Games. From thinking that I was going to be the best fi rst trip to the plate. True, it was an exhibition game, but to the players, 1960 to 1962, MLB player in the game. I loved playing in it. teams, and more than 2 million fans who voted for the starters, it mat- held two All-Star Games each year. FRANK ROBINSON, tered. Former National League president , who had served His fi nal record was fi rst baseman, formerly with the as president and retired before the 1970 season, used 2-15-1. Cincinnati Reds, then playing for the Baltimore to treat the All-Star Game as his chance to assert the National League’s Orioles: The idea of coming back to the superiority. With a clenched fi rst, he was known to deliver impas- city and playing in a meaningful game— sioned pre-game pep talks that let players know just how much it all [3] Frank Robinson I know it was an exhibition game, but it was signed by the [3] meant. “If you want to make this team next year,” Giles would say, “you Reds in 1953 and meant something back in those days. better play hard tonight.” Pete Rose took it to heart. played 10 seasons for the team before : When I looked around the being traded to the room in the American League, I thought, SUPERIORITY COMPLEX in Well, jeez, there’s going to be a lot of these 1966. He is the only Before free agency and interleague play became commonplace, the All-Star player in baseball guys in the Hall of Fame. And then when Game and the were the only meaningful times when players history to be named you looked over in the National League, from both leagues could settle scores. Heading into the 1970 contest, the Most Valuable you said, “Damn, there’s going to be more National League maintained an air of superiority justifi ed by a dominant Player in both the of them in the Hall of Fame. And I get to stretch. American League , whose Baltimore squad American and Na- pitch against them?” [4] tional Leagues. had fallen to New York’s “Miracle” Mets in the , was so intent on ending the N.L. reign that he lobbied for a committee to evaluate TONY PEREZ, third baseman, Cincinnati Reds: I re - players that might be exaggerating injuries. If any player attempted to use member we played like it was the World 86 O DECEMBER 2013 LEAGUES COLLIDE Pete Rose barreling into Ray Fosse in the 12th . That blurry white sphere (upper right) is the ball.

Series. We were hot, and we played like it [4] Including man- Giants catcher and a two- by Dietz’s teammate, Wil- was the last game we were going to play. agers, the American lie McCovey, put the N.L. within one. , playing despite League lineup a sore neck, pinch- for Cardinals pitcher and knocked a , catcher, St. Louis Cardinals: I always boasted nine future sacrifi ce fl y that allowed (then still with the ) to Hall-of-Famers felt that when players went to the All-Star while the National score, sending the game into extra . “Once you go into extra innings,” Game, they had fun. They talked among League had a whop- said in his role as a radio color commentator for NBC, “well, themselves. But when they went out and ping 12 future the home team has got a great advantage.” played, they only knew one way to play and Hall-of-Famers. that was to win. It was evidenced by Pete SAM McDOWELL, pitcher, Cleveland Indians, on the mound for the American in 1970 trying to score the winning run. [5] Starter and Sam League from the fourth to the sixth inning: I had struck out so many McDowell combined players that they initially told me when I came off the mound to THAT FATEFUL INNING to throw six score- go ahead and shower so I could get out of the way of the other guys Ray Fosse scored the fi rst run of the game and less innings to begin coming in after the game. [Then] they said hold off on that, stay the game for the drove in the second run, while Brooks Robin- American League. in uniform, because my name was up for MVP of the game. Lo and son added two insurance runs with a two-out behold, the game was tied and went on. Everything changed after in the top of the eighth inning. Heading I came out of the game. [5] into the ninth inning, the A.L. held a 4–1 lead and seemed poised to end their disappointing , center fi elder, : I came in the game around run. But as radio play-by-play announcer Jim the seventh inning as a replacement in center fi eld. We were win- Simpson said in the bottom of the ninth, “This ning at that time. Then that fateful inning rolled around. ball game was cruising strictly in the pitcher’s hip pocket for a long while. It’s now broken CLYDE WRIGHT: It was just like any normal inning. You don’t pitch to the names on the back of the uniform, • CONTINUED ON PAGE 114 PHOTOGRAPHS BY © BETTMANN/CORBIS BY PHOTOGRAPHS open.” A leadof from San Francsico PAGE 87 DECEMBER 2013 O 87 BOOM! CONTINUED FROM PAGE 87

CLYDE WRIGHT: If it was a perfect throw, he SAM McDOWELL: I think Pete could’ve slid

Pete Rose, Ray Fosse, and the home plate collision that blew up the might have. But there was a lot of dif- without any problem, without hurting 1970 All-Star Game. An oral history.

BY ADAM FLANGO ference between where he threw it and a Ray or anybody else. As you know, Pete perfect throw. never did that. He loved that headfirst dive and in order to do that headfi rst dive you put your shoulder down. He was go-

PAGE 84 “ONE HELL OF A COLLISION” ing to go into anything that was there on Jim Simpson’s voice rose in excitement as the plate—the leg, the arm, anything that Hickman made contact, wavering just slightly was there. from the wry, professional demeanor he car- you pitch to home plate and your catcher, ried throughout the game. “Up the middle, PETE ROSE: The advantage I had there—and where [he] sets up. You check the run- Rose is on his way around, picked up by Otis, it’s a big advantage when you are running ners on base and hold them close, but Otis coming to the plate…” As Rose rounded the bases—was that he was reaching out to I can’t worry about them two guys on third, third base and Cubs manager get the ball. If he had had the ball, he’d have base. The thing I have to take care of is , hardly able to contain himself, knocked me into the middle of next week. get that sucker out that’s got that 34-inch trailed behind him. In front of the plate stood But you can’t concentrate on two things. bat up there. Fosse, dripping with sweat due to the heat emanating from the newly installed emerald FRANK ROBINSON: Anytime you step between AMOS OTIS: Pete Rose led off, somehow got to green AstroTurf—“just as if someone had the white lines you should play to win. But second base, then Jim Hickman [with the turned a hose on him,” said Simpson. there is a point to where you draw the line ] hit one to center fi eld. [6] in an All-Star Game, OK? I just think that it could have been avoided. PETE ROSE: He hit a base hit, a one-hopper, SAM McDOWELL: When the throw came in it and I had to score. was to [Ray’s] right side. It forced him AMOS OTIS: The collision happened at the into a position where he was semi-block- same time the ball got there. It was one CLYDE WRIGHT: I don’t know [what pitch ing the plate. hell of a collision. I threw]. Whatever one it was, I wish I would’ve thrown something different. AMOS OTIS: I think Pete thought he was go- ing to score easy and [then] realized the THE IMPACT : I remember Hickman getting throw was on the way and that it was go- Over the years, Rose has contended he had no the hit and we were all anticipating Rose ing to be close. choice in the matter. “My father was at that scoring. game,” he told ESPN in 1985. “If I’d have slid PETE ROSE: I actually started to head- like a little sissy or something, he’d have waited , third base that night: I had a fi rst, but he had the plate blocked. I was outside and kicked the hell out of me after the great angle on that play. I can still see Rose saying, “Well if I slide now, I’m probably ball game.” Instead Rose, the son of a semi-pro going from second to third and rounding going to break both of my collarbones.” football star, hammered Fosse like a linebacker, third. I’m watching him running to home sending the rookie somersaulting backwards. plate and Fosse is waiting for the ball. [I BILL HALLER: Before the collision happened, I Rose immediately turned to Fosse—who was knew] we were going to have a collision. could see it happening because of where doubled over and clearly in pain—and asked if the ball was and the type of runner that he was all right. But the deed was done. CLYDE WRIGHT: Rose, he can move around the Rose was and the type of player that Fosse bases pretty good. If we had a shot at him, was. Neither one was going to give in. PETE ROSE: I remember the collision like it it was going to be bang-bang. It had to be was yesterday. If you look at the replay, I a perfect throw. CLAUDE OSTEEN: I mean, it’s a snap judgment actually started to slide headfi rst, but he decision you have to make when you’ve had the plate blocked. So I went over him BILL HALLER: Amos was a pretty damn good got a big catcher standing there. Instinct and tagged the plate with my right hand. player. He was a very, very, very, very, very takes over. You think: Well, the only way good defensive player. [7] I’m going to be safe is if I can knock the ball CLYDE WRIGHT: When Rose hit Fosse I heard out of his hands. the pop. That had to hurt pretty good. AMOS OTIS: As Pete rounded third base, I What did it sound like? A limb breaking. charged and scooped the ball up real BROOKS ROBINSON: I’ve seen a lot of catch- quick and made a real good throw. It was ers get hurt in situations like that when [6] Joe Torre and Roberto Clemente actually led of the bottom of the 12th inning, each grounding out. up the line maybe a foot and a half. If the you’re standing on top of the plate. I Rose singled and was moved to second on another throw would have been dead-on accurate, guess Rose really didn’t have any place single by . [7] Otis would go on to he would’ve been out. to go, so he ran over him. win his fi rst of three Gold Gloves in 1971.

114 CINCINNATIMAGAZINE.COM JULY 2015 Not a big limb—a branch, that would be SAM McDOWELL: I know he didn’t intention- Pete, he was just never the same player in more like it. Just a crack, and that was it. ally try and injure Ray. But that destroyed any way—throwing, hitting, or catching. Ray’s career. I remember he had some power but that BILL HALLER: Oh, you knew he was hurt. It just about ended it for him. [9] was like a boxer that got hit in the jaw and he’s down on his knees and he’s try- “JUST PART OF THE GAME” SAM McDOWELL: He was a free swinger and had ing to get up. Hickman’s hit and Rose’s run won the game a quick bat prior to the injury. After that, for the National League, 5–4. Fosse played he pulled his shoulder in and you could ac- JOE TORRE: I t wa s a c l ea n h i t . Pe te d i d n ’ t go i n through the injury until September, when a tually see it almost every time he swung— spikes fi rst, he basically bowled him over. broken fi nger sidelined him for the remainder he was cringing. He had trouble throwing Being a catcher myself, I sort of knew the of the season. He wouldn’t discover the extent the ball back to me on the mound a lot of drill. You try to defend your territory. of his injury until the follow- times. He changed everything that he was And whether you had the ball or not you’d ing year. He made one more appearance in the doing, which ruined his career. try to keep the run from scoring. As it All-Star Game, in 1971, but it would be his turns out, it was devastating, and that’s last. He retired in 1980 at the age of 33, and BILL HALLER: He was touted to be the best the sad part about it. is now a broadcaster for the Oakland Athlet- catcher in the American League after he ics. Ray Fosse declined multiple requests to be played a few years. He never did reach BROOKS ROBINSON: You don’t want to kill or interviewed for this story. that plateau. maim anyone. You just do what you can do. Offhand, I don’t remember any player that AMOS OTIS: The fi rst trip back into Cleveland I can name that said, “That’s crazy that he SAM McDOWELL: When I saw it on the television when I saw Ray, we got to talking and I would do that.” I think everyone realized in the clubhouse, I came running down to was telling him how I felt and he told me that’s just the way Pete Rose played. the dugout. I saw Ray in the dugout and I it wasn’t my fault. It was baseball, things tried to comfort him [and] fi nd out exactly happened. That eased my mind. I’m still CLYDE WRIGHT: A lot people thought it was how bad it was. They rushed him to the sorry that he got hurt because I could tell dirty, right? But the thing about it is, hospital and had some X-rays or whatever, he wasn’t the same player. that’s the way Rose plays and everyone and I think they just told him it was a bad knows that’s the way he plays. It didn’t bruise or sprain. It wasn’t until winter that PETE ROSE: I got bad mail from American bother me at all. The only one it hurt was they saw he had a broken collarbone. [He] League fans, but so what? We’re playing Fosse. I don’t even know if Fosse thought went through a whole year of playing not the game to win the game. Anybody that it was a dirty play or not. I never asked knowing it was broken. That was the old don’t agree with what I did in that game him. To me, no. It was just the normal way dynamic of baseball—you played no mat- is a loser. That’s the way I look at it. If that Pete Rose played: All-out. ter how hurt you were. I’m a National League fan, I want a player that had the opportunity to do that to do AMOS OTIS: If that was me coming around AMOS OTIS: I wa s a l i ttl e b i t u p s e t a n d f e l t ba d . the same thing—win the game, within third base and I was in the same situa- For a long time, I thought it was my fault. the rules. tion that Pete was, nine times out of 10 If I’d have made a perfect throw, it never I probably would’ve ran into the guy. Of would have happened. SAM McDOWELL: For months after the colli- course at that time I only weighed 150 sion reporters from all over continually pounds, so he probably would’ve knocked PETE ROSE: [The collision] hurt my knee, but wanted to interview Ray and Pete. I was me backwards. I’ve had a lot of impacts like that. It don’t physically next to Ray in the locker room hurt as bad as you might think when it where they were trying to get him to say FRANK ROBINSON: Listen, I played hard. I happens because you won the game. And that Pete did it intentionally to hurt him, played tough. I did what I could do to help that meant more to me than anybody else just to start a controversy. Ray wouldn’t my team win, short of hurting someone on the fi eld that night because it was in do it. I have not talked to Ray in 20 years, intentionally. I’ll tell you one thing—I Cincinnati. [8] so I have no idea what his thoughts are would have never gone into home plate now. But I knew way back when that it like that. No. CLAUDE OSTEEN: It was kind of a mixed emo- was just part of the game. tions thing. You’re happy over the win PETE ROSE: I’d do the same thing tomorrow because that was the ultimate thing that [8] Though he was expected to be out for a few if I had to. I was within the rules. I wasn’t you’re there for. At the same time, you games, Fosse played in Cleveland’s fi rst game after dirty. I was probably the most aggressive felt bad about Fosse and you hoped he the All-Star break. Rose missed the fi rst three games guy ever, but I wasn’t dirty. I never pur- wasn’t hurt too badly. due to his left knee injury. [9] In the months before the All-Star game in 1970, during his rookie season, posely tried to hurt anybody. The only Fosse hit 16 home runs. He would go on to hit just 49 thing I did on purpose was try to score. BROOKS ROBINSON: After that hit he took from homers over the fi nal eight years of his career.

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