Jim Kaat Discussion On MLB Network

The Christmas music gigs are behind me, and now there's time for enlightening the world with Twins data. That and cleaning out the cat boxes, feeding our animal managerie...this gif bit was lifted from an MLB Network lead-in to a Kaat interview from May 2, 2016, and posted on MLB.com.

Happy holidays and "So long, everybody!" 

Vin Scully Narrates 1965 World Series Documentary

Enjoy this gorgeous, color recap of the exciting '65 World Series, as told by the incomparable Vin Scully, who signed off a short time ago this afternoon after the Dodgers final regular season game of 2016. This is the latest in the continuing 1965 World Series posts. It is a collection of summaries for each of the games 1-7 from that post season between the Dodgers and Twins.

I became a Dodger fan largely because of him. And I must say, it was my pleasure to see this classy chap one last time on the MLB app. This is Classic Twins's salute to the great one, arguably the best announcer in Major League Baseball history.

His is a career that has spanned post-War 1950s-era Brooklyn to the 21st Century Los Angeles of the digital age, endearing him to millions as he wove his way across the generations and the decades. Scully could adorn a baseball broadcast like no other, adding player anecdotes and figurative language in a genial, American vernacular that was accessible to people in all walks of life. He did so with an economy of words that always had the deft subtlety of one who never forgot the game is the thing. He was the added chrome and vivid detailing on the classic, Mustang Convertible.

As the description from the You Tube sponsor puts it:

"Sandy, Don, and Claude take on Jimmy, Mudcat and The Little Potato!"

Video via the Sports History Channel

"So long, everybody!" - Herb Carneal

Bonus: Vin Scully interview with NPR, with soundbites from some of his most famous calls!

GOTW: Vic Power, First Twin To Steal Home, July 19, 1962

It happened 54 years ago this week, July 19, 1962 (Baseball Ref Box) that Vic Power became the first Twins player to steal home. With Harmon Killebrew batting, Power streaked down the third base line to score in the 5th inning during the Twins 8-0 rout of the Cleveland Indians at Met Stadium.

Here you see Tribe catcher Johnny Romano's futile effort to apply the tag, while home plate ump Nestor Chylak is all set for action. I guess I could be upset that my Dad didn't take me to this one-yes, I was an infant at the time, granted - - but it's the principle of the thing.

Hurt feelings aside, here’s your play-by-play context, courtesy of Baseball Reference:

Jim Kaat had grounded out, first baseman Tito Francona to pitcher Bill Dailey covering. Bill Tuttle followed with a single to left. Then, Power stroked an opposite field double to rightfield, Tuttle reaching third; Rich Rollins moved both baserunners ahead with a sac fly to center, making the score 5-0 for the Twins; and, then, with Killebrew at the plate, the thief Power broke for home. He clearly touched home plate ahead of catcher Romano’s tag, as the above photo demonstrates. Sweet revenge upon his old team! Vic had had a stormy, "on-again/off-again" relationship with the Indians management dating back several years, receiving fines and reprimands that were often a result of his passionate, instinctive nature. Not your 1950s "company man" that team owners expected, especially from a Latino black man.

Vic Power batting in a June, 1963 game. Again, Harmon Killebrew is on-deck (right, by inscription).Six summers would pass before another Twins player - Rod Carew in 1969 - Would create similar excitement on the bases at Metropolitan Stadium. And then, again, with Harmon Killebrew still batting in the three hole(photo), for a nice piece of ironic, synchronized history.

Vic Power actually had quite a history of doing this (see BBRef table below), perhaps THE most exciting play in baseball. He stole home TWICE for the Cleveland Indians, for example, on August 14, 1958 (Google News Archive links) in a regular season game (BBRef Box), and then again in a spring training game on March 22, 1960*, again as an Indian. It would also be the last steal of home for Power in his career. In twelve years, he stole 45 bases - and 8 of them were steals of home...a full 17%!! By comparison, the all-time leader of steals of home, Ty Cobb did this 54 times, 6% of his lifetime 897.

* - scroll above headline to see Power photo

CAREER STEALS OF HOME FOR VIC POWER!
                           

Rk	Date	Tm	Opp	Rslt	PA	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB
3	1959-04-18	CLE	KCA	W 13-4	5	4	3	3	1	1	1
12	1962-07-19	MIN	CLE	W 8-0	4	3	2	1	0	0	1
20	1961-05-19	CLE	NYY	W 9-7	5	4	2	3	0	1	1
Rk	Date	Tm	Opp	Rslt	PA	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB
33	1959-05-03 (1)	CLE	WSH	W 5-0	4	3	1	1	0	1	1
34	1959-04-25	CLE	CHW	L 6-8	5	5	2	3	0	1	2
36	1958-08-14	CLE	DET	W 10-9	6	6	3	3	0	1	2
39	1957-07-28 (1)	KCA	WSH	W 6-2	4	4	1	1	0	1	1

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: 

Generated 7/22/2016.
Only 1 of his steals in 1959-04-25 game was a steal of home.

Regarding his baserunning instincts, his manager from his Cleveland days, Joe Gordon offered: “Vic isn’t particularly fast, but he’s got baseball instinct. He bluffed the pitchers beautifully – rushing up the line, pausing long enough to make them relax and then, poof – streaking all the way in (Cleveland Press, August 5, 1958).” This was an interesting dimension (I would call it a "Negro League style") that the charismatic Puerto Rican brought to the young, conventional Twins.

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SEE This Classic Minnesota Twins! Vic Power Post From 2013!

TRADING FOR VIC POWER - APRIL 6, 2015 - Originally published 4/2/13 In-season trades are rare occurrences for the Minnesota Twins. And even rarer are those that actually impacted the fortunes positively for the home nine.

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As I think about it, Vic Power has been the focal point of at least 3 of my blog posts, an inordinately large number for a player who was a Twin for parts of only three seasons. I submit two reasons for that level of fascination with him:

*He was unique for his time (nearly became the first dark-skinned player on the Yankees!),* in that he was a multi-dimensional player in an era when first basemen were sloth-like creatures who were expected to hit the ball out of the park and field with little range. In contrast, Power, besides being a consistent offensive contributor, ran the bases well, and played his position quite unconventionally, like Adrian Beltre plays third today. That and the fact that he was a charismatic extrovert (see his obit!) in a time when players were rather drone-like.

*That honor would go to the relatively taciturn Elston Howard

*He also intrigues me for having visited my hometown sometime during that 1962-64 period, and greeting kids and other Twins fans at our local movie theatre. This affair was attended by my oldest brother (again, cue my personal envy, bitterness), who recalls it being an occasion to encourage clean living, participation in sports, besides being an autograph-signing session. As a dark-skinned man, I am certain he stood out in what was then an all-white community, perhaps prompting surprise or disappointment for some who may have come out to see if the basestealer would hock some movie candy from the lobby on his way out.

As far as that visit by Power and his teammates to the theatre...do I sense a future blog post sequel coming....?

"So long, everybody!" - Herb Carneal

1965 Twins Win 1st Pennant (Video) - 9th Inning

Our friends at the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting have done it again, posting this beautiful, crisp video from the pennant clinching game of September 26, 1965 (BBRef.) at Washington's old D.C. Stadium, later renamed R.F.K. Stadium, the first home of the new Washington Nationals

1965 MINNESOTA TWINS WIN THE PENNANT! from Pavek Museum on Vimeo.

I personally find this a joy, which is a little like saying the fox enjoys the occasional foray into the hen house. Twins / Green Bay Packers announcing legend Ray Scott is at center stage here, along with announcer Frank Buetel (in booth to call the ninth inning)  and the many greats of the 1965 Twins: Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Jim Kaat, Bob Allison, Cesar Tovar, Camilo Pascual, Rich Rollins, Earl Battey, Mudcat Grant, Jim Perry etc*. Let yourself go, and see 'em as they were!
*Previous three create everlasting image with shaving cream and feather fedora after 35:30 mark 

"So long, everybody!" - Herb Carneal

Earl Battey 1961 Baseball Digest Feature

Do yourself a favor and check out this link to June 1961 Baseball Digest at my Google Docs with a superb Earl Battey article. Battey was the first Twins player ever to appear on the cover of that magazine, as the Twins first season had just begun in Minnesota just a few weeks earlier.A great piece on the first, great catcher of the Twins, who was named the top catcher on the Twins 40th Anniversary in 2000.

It's from a fantastic, mint edition which I just recently bought off Amazon. I rather fancy it as a historical document, partly because it was published just a month or so into the beginning of the first expansion era in baseball. Besides that, it really is telling as an illustration of sports journalism, circa 1961.

To wit: I truly doubt that any major sports publication today, or any magazine really, would give a damn what I thought about anything, much less pay me for ideas submitted:

[Blurb at left from "Greatest Catches" story - see table of contents in the Google scanned Table Of Contents - I wouldn't mind the money, if the offer from Baseball Digest is still valid..]

You'll notice the date stamp, "MAY 4 - 1961" on the back page, probably denoting when it was received by the store of sale. The story references the Twins first game on April 11, 1961 (BBRef box), which means the interview for the June issue was conducted very shortly after that game before it went to press.

Battey really shows himself to be an incredibly well-spoken young guy (he was 26 in 1961). I mean, this story is really chock full of intelligent, cogent, and insightful responses. The BD staff writer, Charles Dexter, included quite a few long, thoughtful quotes which made it seem at times as if Battey himself wrote the article in the first person.

My favorite sections were his insights into Twins pitchers like Camilo Pascual, Jack Kralick and Pedro Ramos, and how they comported themselves in the lockerroom. I'm only a little surprised not seeing any references to Jim Kaat. Probably indicates where the big lefty was in the staff's pecking order as the season was beginning.

An ironic section on page 15 mentions that Earl had John Roseboro as a neighbor in Compton, California at the time. Of course, all good Twins fans know that Roseboro eventually replaced Earl as the Twins everyday catcher, in 1968, after Earl and Ron Perranoski came in the Versalles/Grant trade. You can read about Earl's post-career at this SABR bio article from 2009.

I included the table of contents in the scan, plus the revised Twins and Yankees rosters as of '61 May, in addition to those for the first two expansion teams in MLB history, the California Angels and the new Washington Senators. I kid you not! If you see any articles you would like pdf scans to read, just let me know. I can try to email you a copy.

There are some nice pluses in the magazine.

See if you can recognize some of the names

of the Twins coaches (or others)

in the chart below! Yeah, just a tad jumbo, but it wasn't 

displaying well at large size!

NOTE: Check out the back side of the magazine at the end of the scan: a full-color advertisement. Rather cool!

You can get a short sample of the older Earl, at this

You Tube video from 1986 I posted a while ago. You get

some idea of the understated, but warm manner

of the man. Fairly engrossing, if I might say so.

I conclude in my best Herb Carneal-ese: "So long everybody!"

One Gritty Left Hander

I suppose I have done quite enough commentary on the original Twins, especially that core group that traveled as one-time Washington Senators to the Twin Cities of St. Paul  and Minneapolis in 1961. It really did define my life as a twenty-something, being a zealous fan of the pennant and World Series winning teams of 1987 and 1991. And at the moment, I'm preparing a piece on a Twin from the last decade that "got away," but for now...

The career odyssey and skills of Jim Kaat still grab my attention. The photo below was taken during the game of Saturday, August 19, 1961 , at Wrigley Field, the first home of the spankin' new Los Angeles Angels.

Besides the fact that it looks odd to us today in the era of the designated hitter, a pitcher on the base paths as an offensive ballplayer, it is also notable for the grit with with which pitchers like Kaat played the game (newspaper story, hit in face by batted ball, '62). He and other hurlers really were total baseball players, who could also hit, hit with some power, and competently run the bases. Today, it would merit a spot on ESPN's Sports Center highlights recap. If you like my newspaper attachments, here is another of Kaat (Farmington Daily Times July 25, 1962) getting familiar with the turf.

The caption correctly states he is safe while sliding into third, playing a version of the childhood game of leap frog with veteran third sacker Eddie "The Walking Man" Yost. Yost began his career, ironically, in 1944 with the Washington Senators, the original franchise that signed Kaat. Unmentioned is that Kaat was advancing there on a bunt by his second baseman, shy and demure Billy Martin (see photo).

The picture above also reminds me of the sliding injury he suffered while running the bases 11 seasons later, in 1972. He was having a career year when , on July 2, he was injured. While sliding the bases in the 6th inning,  Kaat broke his thumb on his pitching hand (Hardball Times story). It would effectively end his season. Also of irony, this was the last game he would play before the adoption of the designated hitter rule by the American League for 1973. 

For now, I parrot the old master of the mic in saying:

"So long, everybody!" (Herb Carneal)

Bert Blyleven Photo: 1972 Yearbook

This photo of young  Bert Blyleven was forwarded to me and others by Twins Twitter historian and local educator @MNTwinsZealot. He had found it right here, at Classic Minnesota Twins blog, which I'd forgotten I'd ever scanned and posted in the nether regions of this page. 

This is what he accomplished in his first full season for the fourth place Twins in '71, who finished 26.5 games back of Oakland:

How's that strike you? He had already become the 1971 Twins staff ace by the numbers over Jim Kaat and Jim Perry. The Brainerd (Minn.) Daily Dispatch gives this impression as well, from an April 13, 1971 report of a Blyleven shutout of Kansas City, with thoughts from Bill Rigney. He also had a legitimate chance to win 20 games, as the Twins lost 5 games in which he gave up 3 runs or less (game logs).

That theme would play out several seasons in succession, and would be (in my opinion), a large factor contributing to Bert failing to record 300 lifetime victories (287-250). Of course, lousy teams in Texas and Cleveland (two of Bert's future employers) would contribute to that fact. I recall somebody, a player, media member playing the naysayer regarding Blyleven's eligibility for the Hall Of Fame, some verbal flatulating about his not being "dominant" enough.

Funny - Don Sutton put in 22 workmanlike seasons (a 20-game winner once, like Bert), knocked no one over with electric stuff, but won 324 games with better clubs. No one ever referred to him as "dominant,"  or being among the best starters of his era. But, he had the all-important W's, see?

If it was good enough for Herb Carneal as a send off, it's good enough for me:

"So long everybody!"

Book Review - Jim Kaat: "Still Pitching" (Excerpt)

Jim Kaat is one of the best to ever toe the rubber for the Minnesota Twins, winning 283 games in his pitching career. That is commendable in itself. But what has made him marketable far past the boundaries of his career is his grasp of the language of his sport, and making plain the nuances of pitching for the pedestrian fan on his baseball telecasts. This autobiography flows very nicely, and really captures the voice and humor of Kaat.

Speaking of voice, here is a podcast from a year ago, from local, Twin Cities sports radio. I think you'll enjoy his views of his old teammate Camilo Pascual and then-Twin Francisco Liriano:

Strides in straight line towards homeplate, squares off
shoulders to face the batter, in position to field the ground ball..
any wonder how Jim Kaat won sixteen straight gold gloves?
 Kaat WAS the clinic........

Jim Kaat pitched with Pascual, Dean Chance and Steve Carlton, Jim Perry and Wilbur Wood, and against Sandy Koufax and Catfish Hunter, Luis Tiant, and Tom Seaver. This fellow has rubbed shoulders with the very best, and it would be hard to find a better man from whom to get as many great stories about the Golden Age of Pitching, or from one better prepared to tell them.

 It would be great to get the whole book to read here, but that's what libraries are for. I will say that I completely enjoyed Kaat's workmanlike, humble attitude about his career, and how completely relevant for the modern game are his theories for the craft of pitching. I loved the story of how he attempted to impart his strategies for Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina (Ch. 11), and just got a quizzical stare, as if he was nuts! Sometimes the most down-to-earth, practical truisms are the most difficult to comprehend!

Personal favorite in this excerpt? Chapter 12 (click "Contents"), "Work Fast...Throw Strikes...Stay Ahead," is a great treatise by Jim on those theories! He references Johnny Sain, Ray Miller, and some of the other renouned pitching coaches of the last 50 years. I read this book several years ago after a double hernia operation, when I could essentially do nothing, or go anywhere exept stay confined to my bed for several days. It was the best "sick" gift I've ever received (thanks to my wonderful Mother-In-Law Audrey!). 

Enjoy this excerpt!

As the great broadcaster ended his postgames, I say to you:

"So long, everybody!" (Herb Carneal)

The 1st Camera Day, 1962: Day Of The Jack Kralick No-Hitter

By sheer coincidence, the Twins 1962 Camera Day landed on the very day (8/26/62, BBref Box) the franchise's first Minnesota no-hitter (post link!) was pitched, by Jack Kralick. Through the goodness of Twin Cities blogger Michael Haas (@digitalHaas, Alright Hamilton!), we have this beautiful set of photos from that historic day. They were shot by his grandfather, who attended the game that day along with Michael's mother and grandmother. We also get a sampling of Michael's thoughts at the end of this post, lending context to the photos. 1962 Twins team members Jim Kaat, Zoilo Versalles, Vic Power, Don Mincher, Dick Stigman, Ruben Gomez, Rich Rollins, Johnny Goryl, Hal Naragon, Marty Martinez, Coach Floyd Baker, and Manager Sam Mele are all present in this collection.

What is so great to me is how relatively shiny and new Metropolitan Stadium was - it was only in it's seventh season of existence, and its second as home to the Twins. The right field view is beautiful, encompassing the scoreboard, crowd, and bullpen areas. Especially nice is the Rollins / Valdivielso photo, with the first base foul territory and upper deck mezzanine in the background.

          [ NOTE: HELPS TO SINGLE CLICK PHOTO, ENLARGE FOR DETAIL! ]

My first inclination before posting these photos was to couple them with archival newspaper reports of the famous game by Kralick. After some thought, however, I felt they deserved a post of their own.  A separate blog entry will follow this week, concentrating on the original "Black Jack's" efforts.

[below: player with Rich Rollins (R) is Ruben Gomez, and not Jose Valdivielso as noted. To correct)

Ironically, Jack Kralick was nowhere to be found on the field for interested fans. The Sporting News Sept. 8, 1962 edition gave this explanation (see PDF of TSN page for extra context from that game) :

My Questions For Michael Haas: Behind The 1962 Camera Day Photos

ClassicTwins: I've always wanted to know about that blog title: "Alright Hamilton." How did that come about? How would you summarize the blog?

Michael: Oh, it's just a line from the movie "Fast Times At Ridgemont High," uttered by Sean Penn's character. I didn't put much thought into the title, obviously. Actually, we were a pretty legitimate blog in the pre-Twitter days. Myself and a few others tried to document the Twins fan experience and random off-topic things. You can see the archives at alright-hamilton.blogspot.com. The alright-Hamilton.tumbler.com is where I post random media very sporadically. I wish I could get back into the writing daily, but I just lost the momentum. Someday.

ClassicTwins: I get that "momentum" thing. Tell me about the photos, Michael. What’s the history behind them?

Michael: My Aunt digitized these old slides and gave some framed prints to my Mom for Christmas. My Grandpa was likely the photographer. My mom, 12 years old, is visible in the Athletics’ dugout on the left, and that’s my Grandma in the blue dress.

ClassicTwins: Very cool, a piece of family history with your grandparents and mom at the game, the photos literally a snap shot of a small part of their lives at the time. Could you give any information regarding the type of Twins or baseball fans they were – avid, casual, or otherwise? Did they make regular outings during the summers to Met Stadium to see the Twins? Do you know if they had any favorites among the players or coaching staff?

Michael: I would describe my grandparents as casual fans. I don’t remember them having much to say about the Twins while I was growing up in the 90’s. However, they must have been pretty close with the team because my Grandpa worked as an usher at Met Stadium. I’d guess my mom was the big fan of the family. I think she has a Bob Allison autographed picture around somewhere. And I know she still has her ticket stubs from games 1 and 2 of the 1965 World Series she saw as a 15 year old. I have no idea why she didn’t go to 6 and 7.

ClassicTwins: Bob Allison – perhaps the “Mr. Photogenic” of all the Twins ‘60’s guys. Does the photo set give you any particular feelings, i.e. “I wish I could have seen Earl Battey play in person,” or “Did the Twins REALLY have Harmon play left field a lot when they had Vic Power around to play first?” Or anything at all that you wonder about from that period in Twins history?

Michael: Well, the things that strike me most is the ballpark and the uniforms. I had no idea the Athletics had changed their primary colors to orange and black during their brief stay in Kansas City. It’s also interesting to see the way Metropolitan Stadium evolved over the years as they added seating. What’s most amazing to me is the fan access to the players and the field. Can you imagine what it would be like, as a 12-year-old, to stand on tobacco juice and sunflower seed shells in the dugout with the players? It would be fun to know what was going through their heads.

ClassicTwins: Great observation! I like word-pictures! So, how would you rate yourself as a fan? What was your favorite player growing up as a kid? Or now?

Michael: I’m a big Twins fan, but I’m a reasonable one. I don’t let their stinky performance affect my mental health, or anything like that. I grew up in the era of the ‘M’ hat and Kirby Puckett. I don’t actually remember either World Series title, but in every picture of me as a kid, I’m wearing a “World Series Champ” hat.

ClassicTwins Are there any particular games you’ve attended that stand out in memory?

Michael: The best two games in recent memory that I’ve attended were game 163 in 2009 and the Jim Thome walk-off bomb against Thornton and the White Sox in 2010. Every fan remembers those two games.

ClassicTwins: What do you think about Target Field (what a dump, right?)?

Michael: I like Target Field a lot. We’re four years in and it still feels brand new. In fact, I’m still learning about the best views, best seats for the money, and most excellent and secret parking spots. The only thing I dislike about modern stadiums is the separation between seating areas. They put a moat in Target Field to close off the padded seats from the regulars, and they place almost all the memorabilia in exclusive seating areas. But that’s the nature of the modern sports palace - - gotta make sure the corporations feel special.

ClassicTwins: I have no doubt many Twins fans share that idea! I loved my single visit to the Legends Club area, swanky, but I wish it would be easier to just glide through there, in particular, and see the fantastic museum-like exhibits. Great stuff, Michael! Anything else pertinent you’d like to add about “1962 Camera Day At The Met”?

Michael: That’s really all I got. But it sounds like you’ve done further research on the game and roster than I, so anything you want to add about that era would be really cool. You could just add my twitter handle I guess. Thanks a bunch. I really think the Twins have a cool circle of fans on the internet, and you’re one of them.

ClassicTwins: You show yourself a man of great judgment. 

10-4 on that handle: @digitalhaas.

Thanks again, Michael and Win! Twins! (okay, that IS how the song is properly titled!).

***

What a great thing it was, having our Mr. Haas's permission to go ahead with these gems!
As the great Twins announcer finished every broadcast, I also say:
"So long, everybody!" - Herb Carneal