A Maestro At First: Trading For Vic Power, April 2, 1962

LAST UPDATED: June 26, 2017 - 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. For Twins fans born around and after 1987, used to low-risk / low-dollar acquisitions* that numb the mind (see "Chris Speier, 1984, Bret Boone, 2005), the in-season pickups of Shannon Stewart (2003) and Kendrys Morales (2014) stood out as the exceptions. They captured the imaginations of Twins fans in terms of their audacity and potential, even if their outcome didn't exactly live up to the hype.
*Trade, waiver, and free-agent acquisitions are thrown into the same kettle for the purposes of this post

But rarities like these haven't always been the case in Twins Territory.

The Twins in the 1960s had at their disposal an astute gaggle of bird dog scouts, and long-time employees like Director of Minor League Operations man Sherry Robertson to assist President Calvin Griffith and his merry band of nepotists and drinking cronies in upgrading the Major League roster. They did this nearly every season in those early years. Which brings us to today's subject, the first major trade in Twins history.

Vic Power was traded along with young reliever Dick Stigman to the Twins from the Cleveland Indians for right hander Pedro Ramos 53 years ago this week, on April 2, 1962. This happened as the team was winding down the '62 spring training schedule, and seemed to address the needs of both teams. At the time, parting with the talented Ramos, a fixture in the '61 starting rotation, was a significant event. He was their second starter, after staff ace Camilo Pascual, and is the trivia answer to "What Twins pitcher is credited with the first regular season win in team history?" Jim Kaat was just coming into his own that season, and would win 18 games. They also had the enigmatic lefty Jack Kralick in house. In Stigman, the Twins were glad to get a promising, young arm. But the "sexy" part of this transaction was obvious...

The news piece below from the 4/3/62 Jefferson City Daily summed up the trade, besides giving a very detailed, honest set of responses from Power himself (born Victor Power Pellot). Power was the key acquisition for the Twins , and at age 33, was joining his third organization. The Twins organization, going back TEN YEARS to their Washington Senator days (Google news item link) had coveted Power as a player. In another lifetime, as a Yankee in the early 1950s, he was in line to become the first black player for that organization. But the Bronx Bombers instead tapped Elston Howard for that role, for reasons that are now obvious. Some very transparent racism can be inferred from the Yankee brass responses, in The Sporting News piece linked here, from August 19, 1953

A confident, smiling countenance loved by his mother- and many unattached young women

He had a reputation for marching to the beat of his own drummer, and was not necessarily the "company man" preferred by management. He was flashy in his dress, as well as the automobiles he drove. He was glib and candid, much to the consternation of his employees. He was conspicuous for enjoying the company of white women. And, maybe worst of all, he [GASP] made putouts at first with a sweeping, one-handed stab - unorthodoxy and panache frowned upon by the baseball lords of the day. 

Each of the above infractions were decided liabilities for dark-skinned players who desired stable employment before Civil Rights legislation came into effect.

Twins Manager Sam Mele, on the other hand, stated the case for acquiring Power (to whom I devoted a "Remembering Vic Power" post some time back) in this piece:

There was a youth movement (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 4/2/62) underway at The Met. Besides now having the green-as-a-pea kids third baseman Rich Rollins and second baseman Bernie Allen on the roster to start the season, Minnesota also had the mercurial Zoilo Versalles returning at short. Manager Sam Mele went on in the article to say "Power should be a steadying influence on the kids. They won't have to worry about making perfect throws. If it's within Power's reach, he'll come up with the ball." Griffith's concerns about his infield defense were legit, as the team ranked 8th (ten team AL) in defense in 1961; in Power, he now had his "Mother Hen" to corral those youthful slings to first. 

Power himself had a little extra to add in this account, which sums up the pride and inner confidence he held for his talents:

The Brainerd Daily Dispatch revealed the Twins new mindset for what would constitute their daily lineup to begin the 1962 season. Anybody surprised at who's slotted for left field, replacing Jim Lemon? Some big, ox-strong kid, name of Harmon Killebrew:

The trade would indeed benefit the Twins in their infield defense that year, besides elevating their place in the standings. They went on to post a 91-71 record, second in the league, moving them a step closer to respectability. Power would win his fifth Gold Glove Award, and rate 21st in the 1962 MVP voting. He would also play a pivotal role in the first Twins no-hitter by Jack Kralick (story at link) on August 26 that year. 

But that was just another day at the office for Victor Pellot Power. For his part, he seemed to enjoy his time in Minnesota, judging by his comments in a Baltimore Afro-American piece from March 31, 1964.

More insight about Power and his role as a MLB trailblazer can be gleaned at this very cool Baseball Hall Of Fame article.  

As the old professional at the mic, Herb Carneal, would end his broadcasts, I also say:

"So long, everybody!"

No, please don't go there....ohhhhhhh(!)....okay...

....what man wouldn't be proud of that assertion?

Classic Twins On Possible Cliff Lee Trade...DO IT!

Anybody with at least a fleeting interest in the Minnesota Twins is eying the news reports for updates about a possible trade for All Star pitcher and Cy Young Award Winner Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners.   "Prickly," "curmudgeonly," "biggest-horses-pa-toot-who-ever-stabbed-a-cactus" are just a few of the phrases used to describe Clifton Phifer Lee (yes, you read that correctly).  He's 6 Wins against 3 losses on the year, has one shutout, and has already thrown 4 complete games, causing Twins fans to be chock full of anticipation and opinions about what this fellow could do on the mound at Target Field.  He rather wears on the teams he's been on, perhaps accounting for why Philadelphia elected not to sign him this past winter, instead opting to recruit another thoroughbread hurler, Roy Halliday.

Were it not for the fact that the current Twins starting rotation may have as many as 3 shaky hurlers (now appearing on your town's post office wall are convicts Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey, and possibly Scott Baker), this wouldn't even be in the discussion.


These poor devils may be in line for standing boos the next time they take the hump at Target Field in Minneapolis. Even our notoriously patient, inattentive fans will pick up on how lousy these guys are flingin at some point.

Catcher Wilson Ramos, outfielder Ben Revere, and Aaron Hicks (all making the Baseball America 2010 Top 100 Prospects list) are the Twins minor leaguers frequently mentioned as possible trade bait. Slowey and/or Mr. Ratburn sorry, Blackburn, have also been thrown in the pot. Hmmmnnnn....

That last bit makes me laugh - um, doesn't Seattle have scouts taking notes on how rotten Blackburn (stellar 12.05 June ERA) and Slowey (current 4.79 ERA) have been? Or clubhouse boys who could at least read the boxscores and notify the Mariner front office? What makes anybody think adding them to the trade block makes the hairs on the Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik's arms stand up in excitement? He'd get nausea and abdominal cramps, more likely.

The conservative opinion is that bargaining chips like Ramos and Revere are too valuable! to the Twins long term future to sacrifice them for what may turn out to be one season of Lee's services, after which he may very likely elect to sign with another team as a free agent.  That's even if the Twins receive 2 compensatory picks in the 2011 draft of college and high school players from the Mariners.

My thought: the muscly Ramos showed he can hit big league fastballs...it's when the breaking stuff came his way during his short stay earlier this season that he went from terrific to tortuous after his first two games. He went 7 hits in 9 at bats before falling on his...backside ("Mom, I'll be home soon in Rochester [AAA league], they're throwing me the curve..."). We have no way of knowing if he'll ever pan out. He surely hasn't set the minors on fire since his return, currently sporting an oblique muscle injury. What, we're going to take Mauer, who could well end up the greatest catcher in history, and tell him he's being replaced next year by some raw rookie who should still be playing AA ball?

Obviously, the Minnesota Twins won't turn into the New York Yankees of the 1990's, throwing money willy nilly at free agent players and the latest ice cream flavor of the month (see "Seinfeld" episode, George Costanza purchasing tasty treats for "The Boss"). They're generally going to take the safe route, put a toe in the water, see how the other players feel, if they'll need fluffy pillows to buffer them against an outburst or sullen glare from that mean, ol' veteran pitcher. Thing is, they've pledged to be more than just competitive this year.  They need to demonstrate to their stars Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau (not to mention Hennepin County taxpayers footing the bill for Target Field) that they're aiming  for a World Series berth. This is precisely the move they should make!

Furthermore, my reservation with outfielder Ben Revere is this: succinctly, I don't care if he singles and bingles the opposition to death in the minors, we've already got an outfielder with very little power (Denard Span), and we don't need two. Add to that, Revere has such a weak throwing arm, and couldn't hit the barn side of a broad if his life depended on it (I might be exaggerating Hall of Fame Twins Coach Paul Molitor's comments to that effect). Would you want to be the coach or manager who has to tell new and improved Delmon Young he's not good enough for our starting nine because we've got cool, new Ben Revere to play left field? Or tell Jason Kubel (Mr. Double Play) to go and work on his hitting since Aaron Hicks...on second thought, that might not be such a bad...er, you know what I mean...

AGAIN, trade for him. NOW!

Historically, the Twins have gambled on getting big name pitchers on their roster, at least once: Dean Chance, in 1967. All Mr. Chance did was throw two no-hitters (OK, one official 9-inning one), and nearly lead the Twins into the Series that year against the Cardinals. Um, that's a LONG time ago, boys and girls...it's 43 years ago, and I think maybe, just maybe, that we can take the plunge again! Especially with a new park, a new era, a revitalized roster, and a fired-up fan base ready to make the Twins THE ruling sports team in the Twin Cities!


DO IT!

May Your Taters Fly Far
(unless your name happens to
 be Lee, Slowey or Blackburn)
Twinkler Out

Twins Trade Glen Perkins & Francisco Liriano In Exchange For Pitching Legends!

After the devastating news Tuesday of Joe Nathan's ligament damage, Twins General Manager Billy Smith had seen the usually bright and happy Twins spring training clubhouse transform into something akin to the apocalyptic cover of Led Zeppelin's "Houses Of The Holy" album.

                                   

In one corner of the room was Delmon Young, seen giving "How To Be Unfriendly With The Press" lessons to All American Joe Mauer, while Justin Morneau and Jim Thome were in another cold-cocking one another with their bats, tiffing over who gets to bat fourth this year. Thus, to turn the tide, Smith went out and procured two of the best available free agents still on the market - veteran right hander Charlie Brown of the Charlie Brown All-Stars, and the eccentric Nuke LaLoosh of the Durham Bulls. 

Brown, a soft-tosser best known for giving up a record 100 runs to a pickup team of girls in the 1969 movie "He's Your Dog Charlie Brown," is thought by Smith to be useful in a specialist relief role, to pitch to righthanded batters.  "You never know - guys like him, Bugs Bunny for instance, throw so slow that they can get cartoon hitters to swing and miss three times on one pitch, what with the pinwheeling effect. "

One concern Smith voiced is Brown's makeup, as he's historically demonstrated a lack of confidence in pressure situations, an attribute not appealing in relief pitchers.

Also, line drives hit up the middle have left him undressed,with tiny imaginary birds spinning about his head; the specter of Brown lying scantily clad on the mound, causing potential morals violations (not even getting into child labor issues), is a situation the Twins have never had to deal with. "But for American schoolchildren," Smith went on "he's been an iconic figure for almost three generations, and should be a draw for people to come out to Target Field this year!"

Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh, who threw nearly 100 MPH in the movie "Bull Durham," and wore bad leisure suits in the same,  is a character of another sort.  Best known for his off-beat attitude, he is thought to be the best closer candidate because of his brash approach.  Asked how he would have pitched to Alex Rodriguez with the bases loaded in the 2009 ALCS, he scoffed and said "[I'd] want to give him the heat and announce my presence with authority!

When told that Manager Ron Gardenhire is a "player's manager," one who likes to help his players stay relaxed so that they can perform well and have fun, he was overheard muttering "Have fun?  He's old, what does he know about fun?  I'm young...I know how to have fun.  I have a Porsche." 

Stay tuned...this should be an interesting year!

Meanwhile, equally brash and crybaby-ish lefthanders Glen Perkins and Francisco Liriano tearfully cleaned out there lockers, after vengefully loading the clubhouse clothes dryer with wet bubblegum (remember: they're lefties...EVIL!).  Perkins stalked about, ordering clubhouse boys to fill his satchel and carry it for him to the taxi.  Liriano went about Dazed and Confused(as is his norm).  GM Smith said "We're happy as can be to get rid er, provide them with a new venue to showcase their talent." And save on the clubhouse food budget, in the process!

Twinkler Out!