May 2, 2006

The Rumor Mill
Putting up a brave public front, the Cubs have claimed that they can patch their newfound first base hole by using an amalgam of converted second baseman Todd Walker, backup John Mabry, and minor league recall Michael Restovich, but they have to know that they will need to make a move for a corner infielder with power. Even with Derrek Lee in the lineup, the Cubs had a questionable offense; without him, it becomes downright putrid. Unfortunately, Jim Hendry’s record in replacing injured players through trades is not very encouraging, but maybe he’ll surprise Cubs fans this time around. He needs to—what with the in-house choices not being very pretty. Triple-A first baseman Brandon Sing is not an option at this point; he’s off to a slow start in Iowa and would also require clearance on the 40-man roster. And as well as Todd Walker has hit in the early season, every game that he plays at first base will translate into too many at-bats for Neifi Perez at second base…
If nothing else, Hendry would like to add a right-handed hitter to the mix, which explains his interest in Jeff Conine. The Orioles’ first baseman-left fielder could platoon with Walker, who has struggled against left-handed pitching. Expect the Cubs to talk to the Pirates about Craig Wilson, who is still available despite Sean Casey’s back injury. Hendry will also talk to the Blue Jays about Shea Hillenbrand, who’s not happy about his sporadic playing time in Toronto. The Cubs also might approach the Rangers about Phil Nevin, who has hit for power in the early weeks of the season. Conine, Wilson, Hillenbrand, and Nevin are also versatile enough to play other positions, which would make them useful to the Cubs when Lee returns from a fractured wrist after eight to ten weeks on the disabled list…

The Cubs could find another solution to first base by looking toward the desert. With Conor Jackson solidifying his place in Arizona, Tony Clark has told the Diamondbacks that he is willing to waive his no-trade clause. Coming off a 30-home run season, “Tony the Tiger” will probably never duplicate that milestone again, but he remains a legitimate power threat from both sides of the plate, plays an excellent first base, and carries a reputation as one of baseball’s best people. Unlike the other candidates, Clark is strictly a one-position player, which means he’d have to revert to backup duty once Lee returns from the DL…

Other rumors out of the Windy City, apparently unrelated to the search for a first baseman, have the Cubs shopping Greg Maddux, who has emerged as an early-season candidate for Cy Young honors. There are several contenders supposedly interested in “Mad Dog,” including both the Mets and Yankees, the slow-starting Phillies, and the Central Division favorites, the Cardinals. While it’s true that trading a player at the peak of his value is usually a smart strategy, I don’t believe this set of rumors regarding Maddux. Playing in a very mediocre National League Central, the Cubs have played well enough to indicate they have a chance of staying in contention this summer. Buttressed by a vastly improved bullpen, those chances will only get better if either Kerry Wood or Mark Prior can return to health and make 20 to 25 starts. As with the A’s and Barry Zito, it simply doesn’t make sense for contending teams to trade quality veteran pitching for future commodities…

The Mets’ signing of journeyman outfielder Michael Tucker doesn’t bode well for the future of Jose Valentin. Once Tucker finds his batting stroke at Triple-A Norfolk, he’ll likely be called up to Queens to play a role as a left-handed pinch-hitter and backup outfielder. Unless an injury creates roster space, Tucker will take the roster place of Valentin, who has looked overmatched (and over-the-hill) in limited duty with the Mets…

Former Met Edgardo Alfonzo could be looking for another team shortly. Unhappy with a lack of playing time, Alfonzo says the Angels have not fulfilled their promise to allow him to compete for the team’s third base job. (Alfonzo may be using Tony Womack’s playbook here. Womack recently expressed discontent with his playing time in Cincinnati, which resulted in him being designated for assignment.) Unfortunately, Alfonzo’s $7 million salary makes him extremely difficult—if not entirely impossible—to trade. As Steve Treder of The Hardball Times recently pointed out, Alfonzo is probably older than he says (he’s listed at 32), which might partially explain his rapid decline over the past half-decade. To make matters worse, few contending teams are currently searching for help at the hot corner. The Phillies, who are fed up with David Bell’s lack of hitting, might be willing to take a flyer on Alfonzo, but they’d probably want the Angels to take back Bell’s salary. In other words, I’ll give you my flat tire for your busted radiator…

Another unhappy player can be found in Oakland, where Jay Payton wants to play left field every day and wants a chance at accumulating 500 at-bats. With the team off to a surprisingly slow start, the A’s may accommodate him. The A’s might find trading partners in Atlanta, where the Braves are concerned by Jeff Francouer’s unwillingness to draw walks, or in St. Louis, where the Cardinals are searching for Reggie Sanders’ fulltime replacement…

Finally, the Red Sox are still hunting for a backup catcher who can handle Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball. Josh Bard has committed 10 passed balls in less than a month, compared to the grand total of six allowed by Doug Mirabelli all of last season. The problem the Red Sox face is this: there are so few knuckleballers around these days that very few catchers have any experience handling the pitch that Billy Martin used to hate so passionately. And the Red Sox can’t assume that a catcher with a good defensive reputation will be able to catch the knuckleball; after all, Jason Varitek is an excellent receiver who simply can’t handle the unpredictable nature of the pitch. The Red Sox may end up talking to the Rangers about Rod Barajas, who caught R.A. Dickey during the spring and in his lone regular season start. Another possible trade partner for the Red Sox could be the Brewers, where Damian Miller and Chad Moeller have had some experience working with journeyman Jared Fernandez.

The Flag Burners Vs. Bicentennial Rick

Thirty years ago, the United States celebrated its Bicentennial with a number of carefully planned ceremonial events throughout the spring and summer, highlighted by the much-publicized parade of Bicentennial ships that made their way into the New York Harbor. Yet, it was an unexpected and unrehearsed event on April 25, 1976, that stirred the patriotic feelings of many Americans searching for something positive to believe in after the bitterness of the Vietnam War and the scandal of Watergate.

On that late April afternoon, the Dodgers hosted the Cubs at Chavez Ravine—100 years to the day after the Chicago franchise played its first game ever. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Dodgers second baseman Ted Sizemore stood in the batter’s box awaiting the next delivery of Cubs left-hander Ken Crosby. Without warning, a man and his 11-year old son jumped out of the left-field stands and raced toward left-center field, stopping only after running past Cubs left fielder Jose Cardenal.

Initially, Cardenal though the fans were merely typical pranksters who had interrupted the game in an effort to fulfill a cheap thrill—or perhaps to gain some “television time.” A few moments later, Cardenal realized that a “situation” was developing. He saw the two intruders spreading an American flag onto the outfield grass.

In the meantime, Cubs center fielder Rick Monday noticed something else about the two interlopers. He realized that the man and boy possessed a can of lighter fluid and some matches, and were preparing to set the flag on fire. Monday then bolted into a full sprint. Putting his glove into his left hand, Monday approached the two intruders, who were kneeling on the ground and had managed to stir up a momentary flame, only to see it flicker and die almost immediately. Just as the two readied the flag for full ignition, Monday bent over and scooped up the flag with his right hand and began running toward the infield. The man hurled the can of lighter fluid at Monday, but the Cubs’ center fielder continued to run toward the home team dugout, where he handed the flag to Dodgers pitcher Doug Rau.

As Dodger Stadium security led the two protesters off the field, the crowd of 25,167 fans collectively booed the protesters. Shortly thereafter, the boos changed almost instantly to cheers, as the fans thanked Monday with a rousing ovation. In one fell swoop, Monday’s dash had succeeded in mobilizing feelings of patriotism in the arena of the country’s National Pastime.

Shortly after Monday snatched the flag, the Dodger Stadium message board flashed the following thankful words: “Rick Monday…You Made A Great Play.” The appreciation continued the following inning, when Monday came to bat. Taking his place in the batter’s box in the top of the fifth, Monday received another standing ovation from the Dodger Stadium faithful. No one realized it at the time, but Monday would soon become a fixture at Dodger Stadium; after the ’76 season, the Dodgers would trade for Monday, who would play eight seasons in Los Angeles before calling it quits in 1984. (Today, at the age of 60, Monday does color commentary for the Dodgers, for whom he has been employed since retirement, save for a four-year stint as an announcer with the San Diego Padres.)

After the game, Monday replayed his thought process for the media, recounting his reactions to seeing the protesters on the playing field. “I saw the clowns come on the field,” said Monday, not mincing his words, “and I thought they were out there just to prance around. But they began spreading out this flag like it was a picnic blanket.” At first, Monday considered running over the intruders with the sheer force of his body, but when he saw them holding lighter fluid, he decided to make a grab for the flag instead. “I don’t know what I was thinking running at them,” Monday told The Sporting News years later. “All I know, then and now, is what I was witnessing them attempting to do was wrong, as far as my upbringing.”

The day after the incident, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley asked Monday to serve as Grand Marshall for the city’s “Annual Salute to the American Flag” parade, which was scheduled for June 12. On the same day, the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution declaring May 4 to be “Rick Monday Day” throughout the state.

Baseball also made plans to honor Monday. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn awarded Monday with an official commendation, and the Cubs held their own “Rick Monday Day” at Wrigley Field. During the ceremony, Monday received the actual flag he had rescued from the protesters, thanks in part to the efforts of Dodgers vice president and general manager Al Campanis, who extracted the flag (legally, I might add) from the LAPD evidence room. Monday still has the flag today, displaying it in the den of his home in Vero Beach, Florida.

Honors for Monday continued to pour in throughout the remainder of the 1976 season. Commendations came from the Washington, D.C., where President Gerald Ford wired Monday a congratulatory note and former President Richard Nixon expressed his thanks in a formal letter. Ford wrote the following in his note: “Your actions in Los Angeles made Sunday, April 25, an even more special day for every patriotic American. We are inspired by the respect you have shown and proud of the good you have done.”

Monday patiently handled the barrage of media attention that accompanied the many methods of congratulation. He also offered some insight into his thoughts on flag-burning, which had not yet become a hot-button issue on the nation’s political agenda. “If you’re going to burn the flag, don’t do it in front of me,” said Monday, a veteran of six years in the Marine Reserves. “I’ve been to too many veterans’ hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it.” During his early major league days with the Kansas City and Oakland A’s, with the country in the midst of the Vietnam War, Monday had visited a veterans’ hospital for the first time.

By June of 1976, Monday had received thousands of letters from fans and dignitaries expressing their appreciation for his actions. “It’s refreshing to find out how many people love their flag,” said Monday, who expressed no sympathy for the adult protester who had led the charge onto the playing field in Los Angeles. “I don’t know what those clowns were trying to demonstrate and frankly I don’t care. All I know is if they don’t like it here, there’s nobody standing there at the border telling them they can’t leave. Take a hike.”

So why did the two fans decide to make a rush for the field and attempt to incinerate the flag? The father, a 37-year-old man named William Errol Thomas from Eldon, Missouri, explained that he had decided to stage a protest because his wife was being held illegally against her will in a mental institution. Aside from public ridicule, Thomas incurred minimal legal punishment for his actions. He was fined $60 for trespassing and placed on probation for a year. No formal charges were placed against his son, who was treated as a juvenile offender.

While most diehard baseball fans remember Monday for his pennant-winning home run in the 1981 playoffs or for his standing as the first player taken in major league baseball’s first amateur draft in 1965, casual observers are more likely to recall Monday as “the guy who saved the flag.” That may not be a fully fitting legacy for a quality major league outfielder who played 19 seasons and hit 241 career home runs, but it ensures that Monday will be long remembered in Bicentennial lore.

The Team That Changed Baseball

In an effort to promote my new book, The Team That Changed Baseball, we’ll be featuring a regular trivia question about the 1971 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. The first person to post the correct answer to the question (and provide his or her email address) will receive three Pirates cards from the 1972 Topps set.

Here is our first trivia question:

Which 1971 Pirate was once drafted in the first round by the NHL’s Boston Bruins?

Carlos and Colome

Late in April, the Yankees announced two player moves that hardly created a splash of ink in the New York City newspapers. Well, those papers may have missed an important developing story because those players could be filling key roles in the Bronx very soon—especially if the Yankees continue to hover around the .500 mark.

In signing former Tigers first baseman Carlos Pena and onetime Devil Rays reliever Jesus Colome, the Yankees assigned both players to begin workouts at the team’s minor league facility in Tampa before sending them to Triple-A Columbus. The Yankees didn’t lay out the next step for the two players, but the plan is to eventually bring both of them to the Bronx. (In fact, Pena’s agreement with the Yankees stipulates that he has to be called up to the big league club by May 1; otherwise, he will be allowed to become a free agent.) In some ways, they could become this year’s version of Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang.

Let’s take Pena first. Jason Giambi’s continued deterioration as a defensive player has convinced the Yankee brass that he can no longer be relied upon to play 130 to 140 games at first base. Giambi will move to DH, clearing space for Pena to platoon at first base with either Miguel Cairo or Andy Phillips. An above average defender who looks stylish in the field, Pena will represent a major upgrade over Giambi. And the Yankees hope that Pena, an overall disappointment in Detroit, can simply replicate his power from 2005, when he hit 18 home runs in only 260 at-bats, for a ratio of one home run every 14 at-bats. If so, Pena could become a Jim Spencer/Oscar Gamble type of role player for Joe Torre.

When healthy, Colome is capable of reaching 98 miles per hour on the radar gun, putting him in the same lofty territory as Kyle Farnsworth. While with Tampa Bay, some observers debated whether Colome was healthy, given a drop in velocity and worries about a tired arm. If Colome’s problems were merely just a dead-arm phase and he can regain his power fastball at Columbus, the Yankees will take a look at him as part of their ever-changing bullpen, which they continue to remake with power arms. That would put the inconsistent Tanyon Sturtze, who hasn’t been able to repeat the six-week stretch of success that he had two years ago, in jeopardy of losing his roster spot. The Yankees might end up trading Sturtze, or failing that, might just release him and pay off the balance of his $1 million salary.

Card Corner

We resume our 40th anniversary look at the 1966 Topps set by taking a closer look at a 1960s icon—and an underrated player who became an integral part of a championship team.

During the 1960s, there might not have been a major league hitter who had a more unusual batting style than Dick McAuliffe did. He used such an open stance that he practically faced the pitcher—almost like a left-handed version of a player of more recent vintage (Tony Batista)—but with his hands held higher and choked up on the bat. (He even used an open stance in fielding grounders, as seen in this awkward pose for the Topps cameraman!) Older generations of fans compared McAuliffe’s stance to that of Hall of Famer Mel Ott, who surprised many by hitting so many home runs with such an unconventional approach. McAuliffe’s batting stance was so peculiar that it was oft-imitated by young fans in the sixties and seventies, just like Willie Stargell’s windmilling of the bat and Joe Morgan’s chicken-wing flap with his elbow.

I’ve never met or interviewed McAuliffe, but his face has always reminded me of one of the Bowery Boys. Maybe that’s why teammates called him “Muggsy.” With that dark complexion and those heavy, deep-set eyebrows, McAuliffe looked like a gangster in one of Edward G. Robinson’s films.

McAuliffe was one of the unsung stalwarts for the Tigers. Though usually overshadowed by the likes of Al Kaline, Norm Cash, and Willie Horton, McAuliffe played a critical role as a leadoff batter and second baseman. As the Tigers’ leadoff man during their World Championship season of 1968, McAuliffe proved more than effective, leading the American League with 95 runs scored while not once grounding into a double play.

McAuliffe remained with the Tigers for five more seasons, eventually platooning with veteran second baseman Tony Taylor, and was a part of the 1972 team that won the American League East. Two years later, the Tigers traded him to the Boston Red Sox for slugging outfielder Ben Oglivie. The trade allowed Muggsy to play near his hometown of Farmington, Connecticut. With his legs wearing down, McAuliffe played only two seasons with the Red Sox, mostly as a backup. After seven games in 1975, he voluntarily retired and lost a chance to play in that fall’s World Series, but did receive an American League pennant ring from the appreciative Red Sox.

Getting’ Jiggy With Wiggy

Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield has absorbed a lot of heat for his decision to release Chris Shelton, who has made himself an unlikely early-season candidate for Triple Crown honors. Yet, another Littlefield castoff has also emerged as a spring sensation, albeit without the fanfare of Shelton. Ty Wigginton, who was released by the Pirates last December, has hit eight home runs for the Devil Rays (through games of April 27), as he battles Jonny Gomes for the team lead and both Gomes and Shelton for the league lead in the all-important power category. Wigginton has emerged as Tampa Bay’s regular third baseman, providing them acceptable defense at the hot corner, while also giving manager Joe Madden a flexible backup to Jorge Cantu at second base and Travis Lee at first base.

Originally acquired from the Mets as part of the trade package for Kris Benson, Wigginton upset the Pirates with his attitude last summer. After struggling to hit as the team’s regular third baseman, the Bucs benched him and then demoted him to Triple-A Indianapolis. The moves upset Wigginton, whose attitude turned sour in the process. During the offseason, the Pirates released Wigginton to make room for free agent signing Joe “The Joker” Randa, who is now Pittsburgh’s starting third baseman and struggling to reach first base (with hits and walks, that is, not with throws).

Who would Pirates fans rather have now, the aging Randa or the still youthful—and productive—Wigginton? Pirates management would probably argue that Wigginton’s demeanor left them no choice, but it doesn’t look good when a player you released has hit eight home runs before April has come and gone. If Wigginton keeps up the production for the Devil Rays, he’s liable to become as popular as Ty Pennington—at least in Tampa Bay. And that’s only going to make Dave Littlefield even less popular in Pittsburgh.

Pastime Passings

Steve Howe (Died on April 28 in Coachella, California; age 48; car accident): A talented left-hander who was regarded as a potentially outstanding relief ace, Howe gained infamy because of his career-long abuse of illegal drugs and alcohol. Howe was suspended by Major League Baseball seven times—an unwanted record— for his repeated use of cocaine and other substances. As a hard-throwing 22-year-old in 1980, Howe won the National League’s Rookie of the Year Award. The following season, he helped the Dodgers win both the league pennant and the World Championship. Unfortunately, drug problems quickly began to plague him and hindered a career that included later stops with the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees. Howe played for the Yankees during their World Championship run in 1996, but was released in the middle of the season, preventing him from taking part in the playoffs or World Series that October. Two days after his release, police arrested Howe at JFK Airport on charges of possessing a gun, which resulted in a guilty plea, three years of probation, and 150 hours of community service. Howe never again appeared in the major leagues, ending his career with a record of 47-41, 91 saves, and a 3.03 ERA.

Prior to their game against the Toronto Blue Jays last Friday night, the Yankees held a moment of silence for Howe at Yankee Stadium.

Sibby Sisti (Died on April 24 in Amherst, New York; age 85): An infielder known for his defensive ability and skill at bunting, Sisti became an iconic figure for the Boston Braves. He played all 13 years of his major league career with the Braves, including two seasons after the franchise’s move to Milwaukee, earning a place in the team’s Historical Association Hall of Fame. Capable of playing second base, shortstop, or third base, Sisti filled an important need during the Braves’ 1948 National League pennant, replacing an injured Eddie Stanky at second base. Well-liked by teammates and fans, Sisti also played an indirect role in the founding of the Jimmy Fund charity when he and several of his teammates visited a young cancer patient at Boston’s Children Hospital in 1948. After his playing days, Sisti gained notoriety when he was asked to play the part of the Pirates’ manager in the 1984 film, The Natural, while also providing technical advice on the film’s sets and costumes.

Oscar Acosta (Died on April 19 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; age 49; car accident): A minor league manager in the New York Yankees’ organization, Acosta was killed after his car collided with an SUV on a highway just outside of Santo Domingo. Acosta was preparing for his third season as manager of the Gulf Coast Yankees, New York’s affiliate in the Rookie Leagues. Acosta had led the team to league championships in both 2004 and 2005. Known for his intensity and expertise in pitching, Acosta had previously served as a pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs during Don Baylor’s managerial tenure with the team. He also worked as a pitching coach for the Texas Rangers and for the Columbus Clippers of the International League.

Humberto Trejo (Died on April 19 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; age 38; car accident): Trejo was also killed in the nighttime car crash that claimed the life of Oscar Acosta. (The driver of the other vehicle was hospitalized with minor injuries and then discharged by doctors.) At the time of his death, Trejo was working as the coordinator of the Yankees’ Latin American player development program. A veteran of 16 years in the organization, Trejo had previously served as a minor league manager and coach for the Yankees.

William “Dutch” Fehring (Died on April 13 in Stanford, California; age 93): Fehring played in only one game as a major leaguer, making an appearance as a catcher, but was best known for his successful reign as the head coach at Stanford University. From 1956 to 1967, Fehring oversaw the baseball program while also serving as an assistant football coach. In 12 years as head baseball coach, Fehring led the Cardinal to 11 winning seasons, including a berth in the 1967 College World Series, when he set school records for most wins in a season and highest winning percentage.

A freelance writer and broadcaster, Bruce Markusen serves as an advisor and consultant to museums that feature exhibits about baseball and other sports. To contact him about exhibit consultation, send an e-mail to bmark@telenet.net. Markusen is also the author of the new book, The Team That Changed Baseball: Roberto Clemente and the 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates, which will be released in May by Westholme Publishing. The book tells the story of the team that featured major league baseball’s first all-black lineup.