For your consideration: a lifetime's accumulation of Twins memorabilia.
I'm rather embarassed by it, was just creating a video to send to family
members. I decided to share it with civilization anyway.
It's heavy on Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva & Rod Carew stuff. Thoughts? If you're in my hometown, gimme a call, perhaps we can line up a quick tour.
To spin the song lyric: "You can check in anytime you like, but you (may) never leave," - no tiffany-twisted chicks, the bane of Don Henley and The Eagles, but lots of good stuff to feast your eyes on. Perhaps if I let you, you can go through the adjacent closet, and find Jarvis Brown, for example, encased in bubble, mothballs. Pretty much any & everything!
As our very own Hall-Of-Fame broadcaster would end his broadcasts:
"Oliva's got real quick hands, like Stan Musial, and he's got bat control like Willie Mays. Tony always gets a piece of the ball - like nobody I've ever seen."
The National Baseball Hall Of Fame announced on Monday the voting result of its Veteran's Committee, in honoring the "Golden Era" stars of the 1947-72 period. Long-overdue recognition finally awarded Ron Santo. The former Cubs third baseman was among the greatest players of the modern era, and his choice was entirely fitting. I join the chorus of others wishing he had been elected long before he passed away just over one year ago.
Q: Who was the best hitter you ever faced?
"Tony Oliva. Because, he could hit any pitch, anywhere. He did not have a weakness." - Hall of FamerJim "Catfish" Hunter, Baseball Digest, Aug., 1992
Pre-injury, Tony Oliva was a
multithreat, all-round player.
He was widely regarded as
a prodigy in his first, spectacular
seasons.
As I am a long-time, ardent fan of both Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva, I had already concluded that the result would not be to my liking well before the voting took place. Understand, my initial infatuation with baseball is due, in no small part, to the fabulous Twins teams of the late 1960's, when I was a tyke. These teams had rosters filled with lyrical, alliterative names like Rich Reese, "Pepe" Tovar, Leo Cardenas, Rod Carew, Jim Perry, and, of course, the late, great, Harmon Killebrew. These names, especially when rendered over the radio by announcing great Herb Carneal (1965 All Star Game audio link), were as much a part of my childhood summers as the buzzing cicadas, Dairy Queen shops and cornfields surrounding my small town in south-central Minnesota. The drive from my home to Met Stadium in suburban Bloomington, Minnesota was a short one, maybe 35, 40 minutes. I looked forward to pregame batting practice in that erector-set of a ballpark. It used to be farmland, cornfields too. Once inside the ballpark, you'd see the expanse of green, with those Twins players looking like giants, or mythical gods to my small eyes. I marveled at Oliva taking batting practice in his prime, before knee injuries and age took their toll. He could spray the ball anywhere. The first game I can recall attending was actually a Met Stadium doubleheader against the defending champion Detroit Tigers (July 29, 1969, BBRef Box) in which Tony, The Killer and Carew each hit homers. A nice way to start as a fan, I think you'd agree...
"He was as good as any hitter of his time...Better."
I knew that the Hall's voting board probably realized its oversight in not selecting Santo, or Gil Hodges long ago. The "Old Timers" Committee was revamped in 2001 to help correct situations such as this. I had already digested the opinions of Aaron Gleeman from a 2005 post, in which he basically dismantles the notion of Oliva as a viable candidate from purely a statistical standpoint. A truly admirable piece of writing, and analysis - there's a reason why Aaron's baseball opinions are so respected. His conclusion: many others with stats similar to Oliva's are NOT in the Hall, and others - in his view, Dick Allen - are more deserving. When you make adjustments to Allen's length of career to approximate Olivas (total at bats, games played), as Gleeman did, you definitely get the impression that Allen was the better, more valuable player.
Sept. 1, 1969 (BBRef box), : was there ever a more perfect image of extension & balance?
as being similar, complete hitters, and also because they hit left handed.
Ahem! While not trying to place myself in the position of arguing the candidacy of Oliva over Allen, I donot find it a stretch to say that Oliva was, indeed, the better player over their first 8 seasons (which ran concurrent, starting in 1964, when they each won the Rookie of The Year Awards in their respective leagues). Oliva, at the plate, running the bases, tracking flyballs, throwing out baserunners, being a buoyant presence in the clubhouse, made the Twins a better team than did the divisive Allen for his Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox, the Phillies again, Athletics...am I forgetting any there? In any event, you get the point. Dick "Don't Call Me Richie" Allen was a great, albeit flawed performer. Even though he was Elizabeth Taylor* in cleats, jumping from team to team...
*or Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Anniston, for you younger kids, on the Nocturnal All-Star Team of Love
"...The guy I watched was Tony-O...When I got to the big leagues, people assumed that Harmon Killebrew must have been my favorite player as a kid. But I always focused on watching Tony swing the bat and hit the ball to all fields."
Bear in mind also that this was the period of great rightfielders like Henry Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Frank Robinson...pretty easy to get lost in the shuffle. Then add to this picture the fact that Oliva played in small market Minneapolis-St.Paul. Barry Larkin also has the same dilemma as a Hall of Fame candidate, playing his whole career in Cincinnati. Gleeman's picture is incomplete, as he apparently never sawOliva in his prime. You can make the numbers say what you want - they do matter. But you are remiss in not weighing the opinion of people who saw and played against him. His contemporaries. That should be factored for any other eligible candidate, for that matter. Their word has to count for something. For without the anecdotal, eyewitness comments of his peers, you only get a sterile, one-dimensional, statistical view of the player. I think their comments in boldtype speak volumes.
Minneapolis Star Tribune photo: Opening Night, Oakland vs Twins April 6, 1973
Put it this way: do you see similar comments in print about Ron Santo being "the best third baseman"? Or best hitter, baserunner, fielder, etc.? Not really. At least, not that I'm aware of...this isn't to say Santo wasn't a great player. You'll notice they were saying those things for and about Tony...and I'm merely stating that Oliva deserves a nod of respect, or consideration when people speak of the elite players of his time, though the excellence of his play is fading from the collective memory; the legion of sportswriters, scouts, and players who witnessed Oliva in his time are replaced by a new generation unfamiliar with him, and puzzled by the buzz over a fellow with "only" 220 homers and .304 lifetime average.
Check Tony's first, excellent years in the table. Pitchers in the 1960's were throwing downhill off a 15-inch high mound (10" today). That was just crazy! No wonder nobody was scoring or going yard very much! It was a notorious pitching-dominated era, as countless others have pointed out. He yet compiled a marvelous power/speed profile during a challenging period:
Ask yourself: had Tony's two second-place MVP finishes been firsts instead, what would that have done for his HOF chances? BOLDFACE numbers denote league-leading totals.
MinnPost'sSteve Aschburner's take on the "Cuban Cruncher," as Linkugel and Pappas refer to him below, makes an intriguing point. He correctly stated that Oliva bested Bill Mazeroski, Orlando Cepeda, Bruce Sutter and Jim Rice consistently (often decisively) in the voting by the Hall Of Fame committee during his initial candidacy years (1982-1996). Ironically, each has leapfrogged Tony, and have been inducted in the years since he went off the main ballot. His argument, if I may paraphrase it, appears to be "if them, why not Tony?"
Batting against the White Sox, 1971, Met Stadium
"Oliva, not [Jose] Canseco, is the greatest Cuban hitter who ever lived."
While interesting, I find problems with Aschburner's logic: it can be used to justify a lot of bador illogical choices. I think players like Tony, Roger Maris, Don Mattingly, and Garry Templetonwere Hall of Fame talents who've been given scrutiny by voters in recent years, and who lit up their leagues for an abbreviated time. And therein is the distinction I draw. At some point, we have to pay attention to the Hall's 10 year minimum standard of high calibre play. If we are to have this hallowed museum where we profess to honor only the greats, only the people that fit the criterion, then we have to follow through. Tony and these guys don't fit in.
No, it's not what people want to hear and read. Not me. Not Steve Aschburner. Certainly not Tony; while being at his core a high-spirited, kind man, he has also expressed frustration with the voting process. He wants acknowledgement as being one of the greatest players of all time, which is natural. Who can blame him? Players tend to be less inclined to use strict HOF guidelines to gauge their worth. Again, all the quotes I'm supplying attest to his talent. He brought the goods, the numbers, the greatness...but it was for onlyeight years, if we are being honest with ourselves. While we could quibble over including his 1973 season to tack on another year for consideration (when he came back after recuping for most of '72), even that year is nowhere near Tony's performance of his 1964-1971 period.
1970: with daughter Anita, Fathers - Kids game at Metropolitan Stadium. Minnie Mendoza (center) and Jim Kaat (left, head on hands) are visible.
"He was one of the best hitters I ever saw. And it was not only what he hit, but when. He always seemed to be getting big hits."
"You mean, Tony Oliva's not in the Hall of Fame yet?"
So, were left with this: Tony and Jim Kaat will have to wait another three years before they can come up again in rotation for the voters to consider. Perhaps Oliva will have to make peace, as will his fans, with the prospect that he will have even less backing the next time, in 2014, and will remain on the outside looking in. He'll be graceful, no doubt. And we'll do well to make do, remembering the excitement, joy, and memory of our very own, Tony-O.
As our Hall of Fame Broadcaster Herb Carneal ended his postgame, I say to you:
(Pic 1.) Visiting childhood memories: a time machine to days long past.
The Low Brow pub in Minneapolis is a fine, relaxing little place to go with friends for a bite to eat OR enjoy a cold one while talkin' baseball. Nice, easy to find, and the wait staff were top shelf in accommodating us. It's not really a sports bar. In fact, you have to look hard to find any other photos of sports and baseball figures, beyond the cards. Still, it's a great venue for viewing a ballgame with a buddy.
"Dirty Al"and I took in it's sublime pleasures last Friday during Game 7 (ESPN box score). Just not the Ranger's year, my friends! Even so, we could enjoy the Cardinal club's professionalism, while taking in the bar's marvelous baseball card collection under glass.
Half the fun, of course, was picking out Twins heroes and sharing stories of years past in the menagerie. I'm my trademark, Cliff Claven-style, I discoursed on the wonders of the Twins 1961 Topps set; "You see, Dirty Al, for example, the players had just emigrated from the nations's capitol, and were pictured hatless - owing to the fact that the Topps card company did not have sample info on the new Minnesota team logo."
Well, that, and it was a hell of a lot easier than airbrushing "TC's" onto 20-plus Senators caps of the year previous. As you'd expect, the Claven in me was only partially correct with the facts! Take a look at the 1961 Twins Group #1, 1961 Twins Group #2, and 1961 Twins Group #3 from the set!
Pic 2 from bar. The vintage cards pre-Upper Deck, pre-card
speculating commodity hoarders, are still the best & most
character laden hunks of cardboard on God's green Earth.
But that's just me.
Spotted this trademark
Hrbek fielding pose
(1987 Topps) under glass. High sentimentality factor!
I will plan to revisit this fine, little gem of a pub. With good friends.
As Herb Carneal, our good friend at the mic for so many years, saith: "So long everybody!" - TT
Yes, boys and girls, I realize it's difficult to dredge up the sad past of the playoff futility for the Minnesota Twins vs. the New York Yankees in the decade of the 2000's (or, if you will, the "aughts"?). But as a point of illustration and contrast - oh, hell...I'm posting this to slake the visceral, vindictive satisfaction we Minnesotan's thirst for against the Bronx Bombers - here is Joe Nathan pitching to Alex Rodriguez in the 9th inning of Game 2 of the ALDS* at "new" Yankee Stadium on Oct. 9, 2009:
*American League Division Series
(Sorry, gotta wait out the commercials the boys in the suits put in)
O.K., hit me with a hammer, NOW! Whether it was Nick Punto or that wacky Carlos Gomez pulling bonehead moves on the basepaths, or our closer Joe throwing the ball up on a tee for A-Rod, something always went wrong, in that series, and in the seasons of 2003 and '04. And in '09. Andin '10 (sigh!)....You always knew some sick house of horrors was awaiting our little train that could just around the next bend (to wit: see my Twitter post from this morning, re: Juan Rincon, 2004 Game 3).
Let's face it: our little train couldn't,not against this collection of ringers with their deep pocket book.
My God. It's as if we've been living in some spooky poem by Poe, "The Raven," driven mad with frustration and mourning.
So, here's the good stuff...
In your classic "that-was-then-this-is-now", here is the same narcissistic, self-absorbed slugger getting his oats against wacky Detroit Tiger closer Jose Valverde, from Thursday night of last week, at the end of their ALDS. And like the previous post alluding to the 1980's Twins humiliations at the hands of the Detroit Tigers, this is at least gives hope to the idea that one day Minnesota's fortunes will turn. The Twins beat them in '87...so why not believe a modern edition can't prevail against the latest bully? We can only hope, right?
I must have sat through this video at least 25 times by now, drumming my fingers like Mr. Burns ("The Simpsons"), muttering "Excellent, mmm-bu-HA-HA-HA, simply Excellent."
"Yes, Ex-cellent!"
Is it just me, or do the sad-ass faces of Yankee fans just make you happier than hell? Or as Minnesotans do, smile very privately?
[AUDIO REINSERTED: DEC. 26, 2011. first POSTED IN MAR., 2011]This is an original album produced by radio station WCCO (CBS-Minneapolis) in 1965 to commemorate the American League pennant winning Twins. It has some excellent game and player sound clips from many of the players of that club --Harmon, Tony, Zoilo, and the announcing team of Herb Carneal (great '65 All Star Game clip), Halsey Hall and Ray Scott are all here. Later, make SURE you check out the classic video clip of Ray with 2 other legends.
I heard it years ago on LP when I was a kid. I was smitten immediately, and I can trace my love of Twins history to that event. It, of course, is a passion that dovetailed nicely into the worldly passions of baseball card collecting, and making awkward advances towards the fairer sex (for some reason, the lasses have never been enamored with my encyclopedic knowledge of the '77 Topps Baseball set). Ah, women...a fickle, hard to please race of beings! Anyways, I've been looking for the original version of LOT9TH ever since, with hopes of finding a working copy off Ebay or Amazon for play on ye olde Victrola. It's a toughie, having out of print since the Johnson administration, and the people I discover that own it don't want to part with it. Gravy sucking, elitist cake eaters...
Otherwise... Looking to post up another update of "Twins Phenoms Of Springs Past" again this weekend. Enjoy the Twins-Rays preseason game today. It'll be interesting to see how the roster shapes up, and how our starters like Baker and Slowey respond to the pressure of their competition for the 5th starters role [ edit. note: some competition, as Slowey basically had to beWalter Johnsonlast spring to lengthen Mgr. Gardy's short leash ]. If Baker had been able to perform last year up to his capabilities, there would never be this current situation he finds himself in. Go Luke Hughes!
Dad: fishing on vacation, 1954.
Click on image to increase size.
When I was growing up in the late 1960s and '70s, my heroes were my Dad, Gene Busch, and Harmon Killebrew. I'd like to think that had he been a major league baseball player, my old man would have been..."The Killer."
They were neck and neck for me, on the character, integrity and grass roots scale. Harmon, the team player and face of the Twins. Dad, along with Mom, the heart and soul of my family. He may have felt he didn't get far in life, but I'll always feel proud he was my father.
I guess you could say Dad helped make me the Twins fan I became.
And as we layed him to rest 7 years ago on Memorial Day weekend, this time is the one I reserve to honor his memory.
***
From 1960's Twins scoring program.
At Metropolitan Stadium, 1962: Manager Sam Mele, Harmon,
and owner Calvin Griffith
There seemed to be a Twins game on all the time in our home, either on radio with Herb Carneal, and Halsey Hall, or the rare telecast on WTCN (ABC, Channel 11 - Minneapolis). Harmon served for 12 years as the host of the pregame show, a congenial link of the media to the players, managers and the Twins front office. It was cheap entertainment, perfect, as we didn't have a lot of money to spend in our home. The Twins came from Washington in 1961, and the balance of the decade of the 60's was a period of economic stagnancy and inflation. Things weren't great for workingmen and their families. Those radio games were great soundtracks to our life at home, bringing home part of the essence of summer. They were also very instrumental in giving me "baseball fever," forever branding me as THE Twins and baseball geek of the family. The crosses we bear...
***
New Prague’s Centennial Celebration in 1956 featured a beard-growing contest, and employees of the International Multifoods plant in New Prague added to the festive mood by taking part as a group. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Bill Kubik, Jim Pasek, Joe Smisek, Louie Bisek, Stanley Javourek, Lloyd Segna, Ed Kohout; (middle) Myles Rybak, George Kohout, Joe Peroutka, Albert Meyer, Henry Tikalsky, Joe Mikalashek, Fritz Novak; (back) Gene Busch, Isadore Dols, Russ Sindelar, Myles Kadrlik, Julius Bisek, Ed Hanek, Leon Snyder, Dick Schlauderaff and Cy Bruzek.
Twins games and music - LP phonograph records, AM radio...both played liberally throughout our home. This while Mom would be ironing clothes, Dad wrenching in the garage or reading the paper. On local radio, before rampant programming took hold, you had "classic country," when it still had that drunk-morning-in-America sound aka: Johnny Cash mixed in with The Animals or old Beatles; then it would jump over to something vaguely like glam rock, i.e. Badfinger, then double back to the country of Glen Campbell or Lynn Anderson. What a hoot - perfect for developing kids with an ecclectic variety of
tastes in music. Dad and Mom provided us the avenue and license to develop these tastes. They didn't alway like what we played, but their tolerance made us give more leeway for their styles. I can listen to polkas and waltzes, Lawrence Welk, with a warm feeling, rather than revulsion.
As it turned out, all my brothers and sisters have involved themselves in music to some degree, playing in high school bands, choirs, productions and later personal musical instruction post high school. This was part and parcel of the legacy of music inherited from people like my Grandfather Meinrad (Dad's father), and the tradition in the St. Benedict / New Prague area. My Grandfather played church organ; he
taught school in St. Benedict (located a short distance from New Prague and Jordan). He died very young, while Dad was in his teens. I know that was a blow to him, which he didn't talk about much.
Dad would pull out his harmonica every so often, and play a jaunty "Ol' Susannah." THAT was a treat, to watch him go. My folks may not have had the same opportunities to branch out in the arts, but they were enlightened, and intuitively knew that it would benefit us!
***
Vacation: 1959, with Susie, Mom, baby Kevin,
Jim and Nancy
Quitting school after the 8th grade, Gene worked on my Grandfather's farm until he met and married Lucy Maxa, my Mom in 1944. Other than farming, there weren't many industrial jobs to be had. Dad and Mom then had extra reasons to provide with a toddler in the house, my oldest sister Nancy. He joined International Multifoods (Robin Hood flour processing) in 1946, and stayed there through 1981, finishing as a machine tender.The mill didn't pay much, but it was steady work and Dad felt compelled to take the position. It was hard for him there at times. Three shifts, away from us a lot. There were some upright people there that he admired and enjoyed. There were also some low grade characters in the mix, who stirred things up against Dad for his industrious, hard-working nature. Sometimes those gentle, quiet guys become targets. But he stuck it out. For us.
We fished and camped a lot in summer. Had lots of family barbecues and swimming outings at local lakes (i.e., "Camp Pa-Hu-Ca," on Fish Lake, near Lydia, Minn.) My brother's and I played tons of whiffle ball in the backyard. Vicious, vicious battles. We played Little League baseball. Collected scores of Topps baseball cards. Then, there were the Vikings in the fall, and ice fishing in the winter. And waited for baseball and the Twins to start back up...winter was an eternity for me as a kid. Long now too!
Dad and beloved family pet, Shana, on
the frozen extremes of Spring Lake.
The little icefishing house Dad built in the 60's is a warm family memory for each of us who shared it with him and Mom. Many hours were spent together in that little 10' by 7' shack on the waters of Spring, Fish or Cedar Lakes. The images of the beer ad that Dad hung on one wall are about all that exist from those times...
The Twins Twinkler and famous beer sign, in partial. Picture
of fisherman rounds out rest of scene!
.
International Multifoods Corporation & surrounding New Prague
area, circa 1971.
***
It was all a golden time to become infatuated with Harmon and the Minnesota Twins, really.
To wit:
*The Twins had dazzled fans in the upper Midwest by winning the American League pennant in 1965, and taking the LA Dodgers to the 7th game, losing 1-0 to Sandy Koufax
* Jimmy Kaat won 25 the next year, most in the American League
* Harmon drove a mammoth shot to the Met Stadium upper deck (500+ feet) around the time I was just starting to swing those big, red, "Bammer" Flintstones plastic bats, in early June, 1967
*Hall-Of-Famer Rod Carew arrived to play second base that year
*Cesar Tovar played all nine positions in a game against the Athletics, in September '68
*And in 1969, the Twins fielded what may have been their best, most complete team - managed by the mercurial Billy Martin!
It was all compelling stuff to us kids, and we had our own favorites, like Rich Reese, Leo Cardenas, and Cesar Tovar
**
Dad did extra things to make some money for us. He upholstered furniture, and made excellent lawn swings. He had a really nice eye for detail. I remember him really stressing when some aspect of his work was subpar, or there weren't enough materials to finish a job. But he got a lot of good word of mouth for what he was doing, and people kept coming back for his craftsmanship.
I remember vividly helping him transport and set up what turned out to be the last swing he ever developed. It was for an African American lady in St. Paul. When she came to the door to answer our bell ring, Dad gave me this look [WOOF!], a little smile forming, in what I can only refer to as an "Archie Bunker" moment, if you catch my drift. He had a habit of undercharging people for his work, to a fault. He always seemed to keep that "workingman's mentality" in mind, knowing how difficult it was for people to afford things.
Scene from opening of "All In
The Family."
Archie Bunker made him gutlaugh with his malaprops. It made me feel great when he could do that, because he didn't often let himself go, to be extemporaneous, and enjoy himself and life. He had a private battle going on inside of himself much of the time, I felt. Now that I'm a Dad, I think I can identify with some of the pressures he went through - hoping you're doing well by your family, keeping the marriage alive, giving the kids what they need to thrive.
It was one of the pleasures of my life to go out in the woods with him later in my adolescence and early adulthood to split wood for his fireplace; a chance to be alone with him, and hear him talk about himself, life, and how difficult it was growing up in a big farm family. He didn't neccessarily get much personal attention from his parents. No touchy, feely stuff. That's the way things were back then, coming of age in the Depression with parents who made do with the time, resources and parenting skills they had.
***
Mom, me sans teeth, Dad, brother Marty at Easter, 1970
About that firewood gathering thing: I remember cutting up wood with him with a wood splitter, a playoff game playing on the truck radio (i.e., George Brett 3-HR playoff game) and telling him about some girl troubles I was having. He pondered what I'd said and [me leaning in for sage advice from my old man] responded..."Make sure you get yourself a good looking woman."
Could always count on him to throw you a curve.
To backtrack: he was rejected by the army after his service exam. His hearing was poor, and had been deteriorating since he was a young man in his teens. He'd had a childhood ear infection. It really made things tough for him, to seek out and secure friendships, especially being laid back and gentle in his nature. But he soldiered on, and we always knew he cared about us and Mom. Great parents!
Dad liked baseball, liked playing it when he was young, but he had to grow up early and give up playing it in any organized league. He took us to at least one game a year at the Met, and there is one double header against the then-World Champion Tigers that I'll post later on this summer - a great memory being at it with Mom and Dad. I remember it vividly! 2 wins in one day!
Dad was kind. He was sensitive. He could be impatient. He had a wry, sometimes crazy sense of humor. AND he was quiet. In fact, he didn't communicate much of what was on his mind, and that made him hard for people to read, and that included us, his children. Much of that stemmed from his hearing, . So he didn't get a lot of what people were saying to him. Essentially, he communicated an ethic of work and good living through his actions, instead of words.
I believe his reluctance to speak much contributed much to people thinking he was aloof. But when people took the time to get to know him, they loved him. A huge heart indeed. What a guy...I was proud about him and the kind of man he was.
***
Dad with Great-Granddaughter, Alexis, 2003
He became the elder statesman, sitting in the same church pew with Mom every Sunday. And like Harmon, he acquired a certain dignity AND warmth as he grew older, especially after surviving cancer, which forced his retirement. He liked Kirby Puckett. To me, he was great. I miss him to this day.
Tony Oliva, Harmon Killebrew, & Rod Carew present
Joe Mauer with his 2009 MVP Award, April, 2010
I'm glad to say we still have Harmon Killebrew with us - still very much alive and representing the Twins at various functions...which is a treasure I'd dare say that's taken for granted. I know that I'd give a kidney just for another chance to hear Dad speak, or watch another game with him!
