1974 Spring Training: Blyleven Taken Deep By Rollins College Player

This post highlights the March 6, 1974 Twins versus the Rollins Tars College spring training game. It was notable for the hitting of Rollins players John Castino (photo, above) and Russ Ricciardeli. Rollins is located in Winter Haven, Florida, and its team had competed with the Major League Twins for several years running by 1974.                                                                                                                          
It was usually the first game played by the Twins in the spring; Twins pitchers and catchers had reported on February 25. It was definitely a spring of change for Minnesota (i.e., see "Woodson, Braun, Hisle On Trade List" newspaper account), and the biggest question mark entering camp was whether Harmon Killebrew could come back after an injury-plagued 1973 season  (see 3/9/74 TSN page 1 and page 2).

Guiding the Rollins squad was coach Boyd Coffee, a solid, no-nonsense baseball man who had previously been a catcher in the Twins farm system in the middle 1960s.  He prepared his teams well, emphasized integrity, following the rules, and advocated accountability to the team (see story with Castino comments). He was an active player as late as 1966 with the Orlando Twins (A-Florida State League - see 1965!), and had been a minor league teammate of future Twins Rod Carew, Tom Hall, Charlie Manuel, and Rick Renick. After retiring from active play at age 28, he then managed the Auburn Twins of the New York-Penn League, from 1968-71, with two first place finishes and one second in four seasons.  His enduring fame in baseball, however, would come as The Tars college coach. His career record was an illustrious 586-419-6, a .582 winning percentage! 

Winona (Minn.) Daily News March 6, 1974

Wilmington (NC) Star: March 7, 1974

In this very same game, the future-Twin Castino collected two singles for the Tars, and presumably opened the eyes of the Minnesota management to his energetic style of play. In 1976, he would be selected number 10 in the 3rd round by Minnesota; a 1979 (co) AL Rookie Of The Year Award awaited him. By contrast, the slugger Russ Ricciardeli is difficult to find on the web for any information, from 40 years ago to the present; it's almost as if he's disappeared from the face of the Earth. He went undrafted after college, and isn't found in the data bases I checked. But wherever he is, he can always feel the warm glow of knowing he took a baseball immortal deep. You can go to John Swol's always excellent Twins Trivia for an audio interview from Nov., 2010 with Johnny C.

It is not inconceivable that amateurs would hit major league caliber starters after a winter of inactivity, especially in the first non-intrasquad game of the year. I do know I was shocked listening to this game live in the spring of '74, as a kid. This was the era when many or most major leaguers still worked at other jobs during the off-season, and didn't maintain workout regimens. But what stands out here are the hits coming off a Hall Of Fame pitcher like Blyleven, and future star Dave Goltz and company.

Bert Blyleven's [Cy Young-worthy] 1973 Season

Year	Age	Tm	W	L	W-L%	ERA	FIP	G	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA+	WHIP	Awards
1973	22	MIN	20	17	.541	2.52	2.32	40	25	9	325.0	296	109	91	16	67	258	156	1.117	AS,CYA-7,MVP-26

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/19/2014.

As the great announcer signed off, I likewise say:

"So long, everybody!" - Herb Carneal

Twins Card Spotlight: Rich Reese's 1971 Topps #349



Rich:  A SIDE BURN SUPERSTAR

For us little baseball card fiends, acquiring the Rich Reese 1971 card in a pack that summer was a clear occasion for going orgasmic. Going that  crazy over a guy who was a 1-2 season flash-in-the-pan* is a clear indication of the state of the baseball card industry in the early '70s.  All I remember are the knock-down, drag-out trade negotiations for this Twins favorite between neighborhood boys, to wit: "You can have 2 of my Charlie Manuals and 1 Leo Cardenas  for your Reese...deal...??"

*Sorry for that last comment, old-timers...Rich, a heckuva man, but he never did fulfill the early promise that made future all-star Craig Nettles expendable as a Twins prospect. 

               

Topps had finally been challenged as the industry leader in 1967 by Marvin Miller and the MLB Players Association for increased royalties (see Classic Twins post with legendary Oliva / Killebrew cards). Action shots - AND current stock photos - were finally being updated after the players' mass refusal to have their photographs taken anew. That, plus the black border format, made the '71 set such a hit with card collectors.

Otherwise, Reese had mass popularity with Twins fans, not in small part for ending Oriole pitcher Dave McNally's 1969 winning streak on Aug. 3, 1969 ("Baseball In Minnesota," story link; BBRef game box).

Reese with kids, "The Big A" in Anaheim, CA
Circa 1969 Coutesy of Padre Steve

For all you cardboard stalkers who value such commodities, the entire '71 set is up for auction today on Ebay for a mere $2,000 starting bid. Walking around money for the wealthy gent!

As our Hall of Fame broadcaster Herb used to say it"

"So long, everybody!" - TT

All The Young Dudes - The 1968 St. Petersburg (Instructional League) Twins

Material added Wed., Jan. 27, 2016

It may only be me (in fact, I'm sure it is), but old photographs intrigue me.  Historical (ie., Civil War), local (Depression era Minneapolis and St. Paul), ones of my family, etc., etc.  Take this little black and white from the fall of '68.  To all appearances, just a bunch of young jocks trying to make it to the major leagues - an assumption which would mostly be correct, actually!

But the rub is, there are a few human micro-dramas at play here!  I'll post later today on just that, to fill in the picture.  Until then, I hope you can read the roster well enough, if you go on to click on the photo! 

[UPDATE of the UPDATE; Tues., 3-2-10]       

******

1968. Turbulent times. There are 5 of us, my siblings plus me, blissfully unaware of the world outside our small town, mostly.  My second oldest brother, Dennis, is one year away from joining the army in Vietnam, adding tremendous anxiety to the lives of my Mom and Dad. Many a night, Ma would spend crying in a darkened living room, wondering if Denny would ever return.  Johnson has declined to run for a second term. 

One fine June morning, the news of Robert Kennedy's assassination comes over our black and white Sylvania console TV as I sit eating from my cereal bowl before heading off to my summer Kindergarten session.  I'm hoping my brothers and sisters will let me watch "The Monkees," the 30-minute televised showcase of what to me is the greatest rock band in the world.

 The Minnesota Twins are en route to a disappointing season, prepping their list of draftees from that month's amateur draft for their minor league team assignments and later, the fall instructional league, which had a 48 game schedule that year for the Twin. They would join other young players who may have already played A and rookie league ball.

                                          *******                                                     

Instructional league is usually about teams bringing in their younger, less experienced players for some intensive training, "bringing up to speed" and "getting to know you" work after the regular, major league season has completed in October.  Injured players come and rehab, players who need to make up for lost time.  There are teams stocked today in Florida and Arizona.

This photo represents the outstanding 1968 Florida Instructional League Twins team the Twins fielded that fall of '68.  It brought a few items to mind for me, to say the least!  Some represent things I haven't thought about for years.

One of the eerie coincidences in the photo is the pairing of shortstop Danny Thompson and outfielder Herman Hill, seen standing in the back row. Not only were they Twins teammates of high repute at the Major League level, but they both died young. Hill, an Alabaman was age 25 at his death, the youngest Twin ever to do so, drowning in Venezuela in Dec., 1970 (Hill card via  the fabulously entertaining "When Topps Had Balls" blog). 

I remember my brothers and I lamenting this when we found out about it.  We were shocked that someone so young could die.  Little did we know!

Baseball Reference has a concise bio on Hill, and there's an incredible account at the Cool of The Evening website of how Hill's Winter ball teammates Ray Fosse (yes, THAT Ray Fosse, the one who was rammed in the 1970 All-Star Game by Pete Rose!) and John Morris tried to save his life.  Oklahoma native Danny Thompson passed away after a courageous four year battle with leukemia in Dec., 1976.  He was 29 years old. 

Danny's good friend, Harmon Killebrew, inspired the formation of the Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament, which has become an annual event to raise funds for studying medical treatment against this disease. See this 1970 Sporting News feature (PDF).

Another strange coincidence in the camera shot is that one of my all-time favorite Twins is standing right next to Thompson: utility man Jerry Terrell.  Terrell was born in Waseca, Minnesota and went to high school in Waterville, Minnesota - a short drive from my hometown of New Prague. He was signed to a Twins contract after doing well in a tryout camp in 1968 (below, 1974 Topps Rookie Jerry Terrell).

Not long after that, he worked one summer with my oldest brother, Jim, in Le Center, Minnesota at a company that manufactured pool tables.  I remember brother Jim telling me how he casually asked Terrell near the end of one shift what he was doing after work.  Terrell replied "I have a game tonight,"  prompting my brother to ask "Who for?"  "For a townball allstar game, the starting pitcher," said a sheepish Terrell.

Jim opined that Terrell had to be the nicest guy ever to play for the Twins.  Boston Globe and ESPN baseball reporter Peter Gammons was quoted in Stew Thornley's fine book "Minnesotans In Baseball," saying if there were a baseball hall of fame for good guys, Jerry Terrell would be a first ballot pick.

I remember a Baseball Digest note on Terrell in the "Fans Speak Out" section from January, '74 that kind of made me puff out my chest, what with a fellow Minnesotan being praised for his rookie credentials.  Years later, I had a brush with Terrell while visiting the Kansas City Royals ballpark in the late 1980's, when he was working as a scout for the Royals.  

At one point, a foul line drive nearly took out my front teeth.  My buddy Al, seated next to me, nearly cold-cocked me upside the head as he turned an tried to catch the ball speeding murderously by.  "You almost took a right cross on that one!," said a smiling Terrell.   

Of course, there are others in this photo that are notable.  Pitchers Charley Walters, Dave Goltz and Dick Woodson and Tom "The Blade" Hall all left their mark: the former as a sportswriter, the latter three on the mound. Rick Dempsey went on to play for several fine Orioles teams in the 70's, while Charley Manuel managed the 2008 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Eric Soderholm, Dave Goltz and Jose Stennett were each chosen by The Sporting News for its future stars-studded 1968 Minor League Players of the Year Team. Jim Holt would be an on again / off again regular and DH for the Twins. And Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn is pictured in the front row, a coach on this team, 

But these end up trivial details, with the heart of the matter elsewhere -  at least for me. 

And yes, my brother did come back from Vietnam to live a wonderful and productive life.  Probably holding one of his grandchildren at this very moment.

Twinkler Out! 

1968 Florida State League St. Petersburg Twins

	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Birthplace
Robert Alexander	23	R	R	6' 2.0"	183	Mar 5, 1945	San Diego, CA, US
Steve Brye	19	R	R	6' 0.0"	190	Feb 4, 1949	Alameda, CA, US
Jerry Cram	20	R	R	6' 0.0"	180	Dec 9, 1947	Los Angeles, CA, US
Rick Dempsey	18	R	R	6' 0.0"	190	Sep 13, 1949	Fayetteville, TN, US
Dave Goltz	19	R	R	6' 4.0"	200	Jun 23, 1949	Pelican Rapids, MN, US
Vernon Gove	20	L	R	6' 2.0"	181	1948
Bill Hahn	21	L	L	6' 3.0"	205	Nov 26, 1946
Tom Hall	20	L	L	6' 0.0"	150	Nov 23, 1947	Thomasville, NC, US
Dennis Heger	21	S	R	6' 3.0"	210	Sep 23, 1946
Herman Hill	22	L	R	6' 2.0"	190	Oct 12, 1945	Tuskegee, AL, US
Mike Holbrook	20	R	R	6' 1.0"	185	1948
Jim Holt	24	L	R	6' 0.0"	180	May 27, 1944	Graham, NC, US
Charlie Manuel	24	L	R	6' 4.0"	195	Jan 4, 1944	Northfork, WV, US
George Mitterwald	23	R	R	6' 2.0"	195	Jun 7, 1945	Berkeley, CA, US
Ben Proulx	18	R	R	6' 1.0"	190	Oct 22, 1949	Live Oak, FL, US
Gary Reierson	23	R	R	6' 0.0"	195	1945
Rick Renick	24	R	R	6' 0.0"	188	Mar 16, 1944	London, OH, US
Franklyn Sands	19	R	R	5' 11.0"	165	Dec 2, 1948	Nassau, BS
Eric Soderholm	19	R	R	5' 11.0"	187	Sep 24, 1948	Cortland, NY, US
Jose Stennett	22	L	R	5' 11.0"	161	Oct 24, 1945
Buzz Stephen	23	R	R	6' 4.0"	205	Jul 13, 1944	Porterville, CA, US
Jerry Terrell	21	R	R	5' 11.0"	165	Jul 13, 1946	Waseca, MN, US
Danny Thompson	21	R	R	6' 0.0"	183	Feb 1, 1947	Wichita, KS, US
Lanny Vessell	24	R	R	5' 7.0"	150	1944
Charlie Walters	21	R	R	6' 4.0"	190	Feb 21, 1947	Minneapolis, MN, US
Kenneth Wirell	25	R	R	6' 5.0"	205	1943
Dick Woodson	23	R	R	6' 5.0"	205	Mar 30, 1945	Oelwein, IA, US
Bill Zepp	21	R	R	6' 2.0"	185	Jul 22, 1946	Detroit, MI, US

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Generated 11/28/2013.