I sent flowers and a card to his brother, Max. Helluva guy who's going places.

As a Twins fan and just a kid in the '60s, I have to say that the Twins had some very charismatic Latin players in those days. On the playground, all the kids wanted to be "Camilio" Pascual and later Tony Oliva. But Vic Power was definitely a favorite also. His play at 1B was so graceful and aesthetically pleasing.

One of my favorite players also.
Here is an article on why the Yankees traded him---
LINK

Power would've been the first black Yankee, after hitting .331 and .349 for the Yanks' AAA Kansas City team (the Blues, not the A's), but they heard that he had dated a white woman and that was that. They shipped him off to Philadelphia (the A's, not the Phillies) in a multi-player deal in which Power was the only player of any lasting future consequence. It was one of the many reasons for the eventual decline of the Weiss era dynasty. The Red Sox weren't the only team to suffer from their front office's racism.

Good link, Hack. It backs up what I said in my above post.

Very underrated player. Why did he adopt the last name "Power"?

Very underrated player. Why did he adopt the last name "Power"?

The same reason that Cecil adopted the name Fielder? I saw Vic in some very good documentary on SPike TV recently.

Vic Power, he's the man who's name you'd love to touch! But you mustn't touch! His name sounds good in your ear, but when you say it, you mustn't fear! 'Cause his name can be said by anyone!

Vic Power was the bane of our little-league coaches because he (gasp!) caught the ball one-handed!!! (pop-ups, I mean)

that was considered the equivalent, in the late 50s/early 60s of being a Communist

"two-hands, kids--you're not Vic Power"

I also remember the strange batting stance where he held the bat pointed head-downward and kinda rocked it back-and-forth while waiting for the pitch; how he EVER got it up into hitting position was beyond me

Vic Power was the bane of our little-league coaches because he (gasp!) caught the ball one-handed!!! (pop-ups, I mean)

by the time i came along, the villains were rusty staub & amos otis. i've always caught flyballs one-handed, & at the advanced age of 46 i'm not about to start using my right hand now.

My Vic Power point of reference is that he was part of the revolving door at first base for the Phillies in the Year of the Blue Snow. He was brought in late after (The Other) Frank Thomas went down.

& r.i.p., vic. wish i still had your '55 (or was it '56?) topps.

if memory serves, power was danny peary's favorite player ever, & an interview with him features prominently in both of peary's compendiums of essays on various authors' all-time favorite cult players.

Perhaps the most entertaining player I've ever seen in the majors. I saw him intentionally get into a pickle he succeeded in escaping by running AT the infielder with the ball while waving his arms and yelling and the infielder threw it to another player when he should have held it.

He had this great two-strike stance. He was the most graceful first baseman but he never forgot that people came for fun and made the most of every play's drama. He was a really good player. I feel about him dying a little like I did about Doug Pappas -- like Pappas, he was an original who lit up whatever he was doing. He did get a full timespan, though.

A sad day.

What is very sad to me, but not at all surprising, is that there are only 10 posts here. At the same time, the blog for "Ryan signs deal with Jays" has 106 posts. It's another reminder that interest in baseball history, and other sports history, wanes so rapidly. Yet, as to baseball, its popularity over time has long been tied to statistics and historical data. However, the bottom line is, people would rather talk endlessly about B.J. Ryan's new deal and who the Red Sox might bat sixth in their order until my hair hurts, rather than discuss a real quality player who has passed on, and what his contributions to the game were. Bottom line is, in 7-10 years no one will give a rats rear end about B.J Ryan and who hit fifth for the Red Sox in 2006.

Vic Power predates most of this site's readers, self included. I'm familiar with him and, in an analytical way, with some of his mannerisms, but feel no connection to him. I feel for his family, but that's all - no sense of personal loss.

Bottom line is, in 7-10 years no one will give a rats rear end about B.J Ryan and who hit fifth for the Red Sox in 2006.

Well, bottom line is that many don't seem to care about the passing of Vic Power right now. Which I admit is sad. But c'mon, recency is always going to be more popular because its fresh in our minds, and because, well I'd imagine most on this site never saw Vic Power play.

Sorry Catfish, while I respect your sentiments, they don't hold water with me. This site has a statistical bent, always has, and while I think most of the posters have a healthy appreciation of the game's history, the Ryan signing and current BoSox batting lineup, etc. are the reasons people visit here.

Power sounds like he was quite a player, and I always enjoy the personal reminiscences of those who have seen way more ball than I have, but I just don't think that your attitude is necessary on this matter.

Besides, how do you know which of today's players will still be discussed 50 years from now? In 1955, I am sure that many would have shouted you down if you wanted to talk about some kid from Puerto Rico, when you should be swapping anecdotes about the recently deceased Honus Wagner, etc.

Danny Peary's book Cult Baseball Players contains an interview with Power in the back of the book that is the best ballplayer interview I've ever read, period. Definitely check it out if you get the chance. There's a wonderful anecdote about Minnie Miñoso picking up some woman at a nightclub and getting surprised in a "Crying Game" sort of way.

While sitting down at a southern restaurant Vic was informed by the waitress that they did not serve “Negroes”. Vic told her not to worry; he didn’t eat “Negroes” and just wanted rice and beans.

Wow. That's one of the best comebacks I've ever heard...

What is very sad to me, but not at all surprising, is that there are only 10 posts here. At the same time, the blog for "Ryan signs deal with Jays" has 106 posts. It's another reminder that interest in baseball history, and other sports history, wanes so rapidly. Yet, as to baseball, its popularity over time has long been tied to statistics and historical data. However, the bottom line is, people would rather talk endlessly about B.J. Ryan's new deal and who the Red Sox might bat sixth in their order until my hair hurts, rather than discuss a real quality player who has passed on, and what his contributions to the game were.

OTOH if you go to the HOM threads, there's plenty of knowledgeable discussion about baseball history. In fact, as one who saw Vic Power play many times, I think the best thing about BTF is that it does attract lots of people who can appreciate that not everything worth discussing took place after they were eight years old.

And in point of fact, if B.J. Ryan is as good as the Jays seem to think he is, he'll likely wind up as a better player than Vic Power, who was at best an average hitter with a rather ironic last name, considering that his lifetime OPS+ was a rousing 97.

And in point of fact, if B.J. Ryan is as good as the Jays seem to think he is, he'll likely wind up as a better player than Vic Power, who was at best an average hitter with a rather ironic last name, considering that his lifetime OPS+ was a rousing 97.

There is much more to baseball history than OPSs . . . like racial issues, etc. And, in the "history" of any player, what is most unusual and newsworthy, signing a contract(s) or death? A no brainer.

Finally, your hyperbole on B. J. Ryan has caused the doo-doo detector to shriek! The most similar players to Ryan at his age are the following: Steve Kline, Chuck McElroy, and Fred Scherman. He'll be in the dog-eared pages of history much sooner than 7-10 years!

Whereas during his age 29 season Vic Power was most similar to that baseball immortal: John Kruk.

Catfish, your tone has officially moved you into the ranks of "Crusty Old Guy". I picture Walter Matthau reading your posts aloud as he types them.

Catfish, your tone has officially moved you into the ranks of "Crusty Old Guy". I picture Walter Matthau reading your posts aloud as he types them.

I figure if I'm going to die soon, I might as well talk about an interesting subject. --Walter Matthau

And, in the "history" of any player, what is most unusual and newsworthy, signing a contract(s) or death?

It depends. If he dies while he's playing, than death. if he dies fifty years later, than signing a contract is far more important from a baseball perspective. I mean, I'm sure his death had a profound impact on his family, but virtually no impact on me or my favorite baseball team. Ryan's signing does.

If you disagree, then you tell me which you are more aware of: what teams Hall of famers played for, or the year that they died.

Harmon Microbrew: Catfish, your tone has officially moved you into the ranks of "Crusty Old Guy". I picture Walter Matthau reading your posts aloud as he types them.

Hey Microbrew: "Good morning ########. . . . Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head . . . and swallow." --Matthau from "Grumpy Old Men.

As the Switzerland of Primer, I'm gonna side with Catfish on this one..... partially. Obit threads don't get as many comments as Hot Stove League threads do. But that doesn't necessarily mean more people read the Hot Stove League threads than threads like this.

One of my favorite features here is Cooperstown Confidential, but Bruce often writes about stuff that happened prior to my fandom. Occasionally, I'll throw Bruce a complement, but I often have nothing to add.

Power does stick out in my mind, because he was recently featured in a dicumentary on Spike about Latino ballplayers. I know that a few Primates saw it, but I think that it ran on a Friday night and the name of it escapes me for some reason.

I guess that I didn't really side with Catfish326 after all, but I thought that his posts here were better than the ones on the Beckett threads.

I saw that Spike program. Its too bad it was on Spike because it was really good. ESPN really should have done somthing like that to give the Latin Legends more exposure.

And, in the "history" of any player, what is most unusual and newsworthy, signing a contract(s) or death?


This made me think of poor Bo Diaz.

This made me think of poor Bo Diaz.

satellite TV is hazardous to your health

The most similar players to Ryan at his age are the following: Steve Kline, Chuck McElroy, and Fred Scherman. He'll be in the dog-eared pages of history much sooner than 7-10 years!

Most similar players to Vic Power at the same age:

John Kruk, Dee Fondy, Donn Clendenon, Hal McRae, Lee Maye

The AP headline should probably say something about Power being remembered for his dazzling fielding. At least that's what I remember most about him, moreso than him stealing home twice in one game.

The Power vs. Ryan debate is interesting. Here is how I look at it. While we don't know what Ryan's legacy will be--he could be another Mark Davis, though I think he will be better than that--we do know that Power has left a pretty strong legacy in several different ways:

a) he was a terrific defender at first, the best ever according to some who saw him play

b) he was a wonderfully colorful character, both during and after his playing days

c) he's remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of Puerto Rico; if you make Orlando Cepeda the DH, Power would make a good selection at first base for an all-Puerto Rican team

Regardless of whether you prefer talking about baseball history or current-day events, the passing of Power is both significant and sad.

Remember when they made those Latino Legends go through those humiliating obstacle courses set to hilarious commentary dubbed in English? That was awesome.

Bruce, I read and enjoy all your pieces here, but I was surprised you didn't say a few words about Harry Dalton when he passed a few weeks ago.

Vic Power was everything that New Yorkers want you to believe about Mattingly or Keith Hernandez. Just really something to behold out there.

I know that comment will likely get Sam M or other Mets fans in a snit but being number 2 to Power is not a slam. The guy was just that good.

I'd like to second praise for Cult Baseball Players, a really fun read.

The Spike TV Latino baseball documentary is called, "Viva Baseball." I did some consult work for them.

Vic Power was a Latino legacy, whose name is all but forgotten by the superstars of today. For many, he was an icon. Documentaries, such as "Viva Baseball" and others, as well as recent Latino baseball books serve to bring the stories of the Latino pioneers and legends to life, so that we shall not forget that it's their shoulders that today's Latino players stand on.

Vic Power was probably then finest fielding first baseman I ever saw, with the exception of Gil Hodges. His race helped keep him off the Yankees. However, what is often forgotten is that at the same time that Power was trying to make the Yankees, Bill Skowron also was competing. If you look at the statistics, Skowron was definitely a better hitter, and probably more valuable over his career. The bigger issue is if Skowron and Power each were of the opposite race, who would have become the Yankee first baseman.

About the closest around-the-bag comp. for Vic Power was probably Willie Montanez and that damned gyrating elbow of mysterious snap-o-bility of his.

Hot-doggin' and scooping in a flurry of flails...a bootiful thing.

Vic Power was everything that New Yorkers want you to believe about Mattingly or Keith Hernandez. Just really something to behold out there.

I suppose this is changing the subject, but I'm not sure if you are saying that Mattingly and/or Hernandez were terrific, and so was Power, or that Mattingly and/or Hernandez were overrated, and Power was the real deal.

I would agree with the former and not the latter.

Talk about putting the ball in play. Power in his career had 279 BB, 247 K in over 6,000 PA.

I think the main reason for the lack of posts on this thread isn't due to indifference, but simply that most readers don't have anything to add. While everyone can agree that the death of a former player is saddening, people will have different opinions on various signings. Ultimately most people post on this site to express their opinions, therefore threads dealing with transactions will garner more interest.

I can't believe there are only 41 posts about this guy.

Dizzypaco:

Well, Hernandez was wonderful. Mattingly is overrated in my opinion for all of the obvious reasons. Just because someone has a look of concentration on their face while in the field doesn't mean they are the swellest thing around. But to the writers in NY a player who actually pays attention in the field is probably a novel thing. :)

If I ranked them it would be Power by a smidge over Keith. Mattingly wasn't in the same zip code as those guys.

Very good. Not great.

I'm a little disappointed there are 44 posts on Vic Power, a light hitting, good fielding first baseman from 40 years ago, and only seven posts on Abraham Nunez, a light hitting, mediocre fielding infielder from today. Do Primates have no respect for the present?

And in point of fact, if B.J. Ryan is as good as the Jays seem to think he is, he'll likely wind up as a better player than Vic Power, who was at best an average hitter with a rather ironic last name, considering that his lifetime OPS+ was a rousing 97.

There is much more to baseball history than OPSs . . . like racial issues, etc.

Which is why the first post I made on Power made reference to his blackballing by the Yankees. I certainly wasn't trying to dispute your point about the importance of baseball history.

And Vic Power was every bit the fielder that Harvey says he was.

Vic Power was probably then finest fielding first baseman I ever saw, with the exception of Gil Hodges. His race helped keep him off the Yankees. However, what is often forgotten is that at the same time that Power was trying to make the Yankees, Bill Skowron also was competing. If you look at the statistics, Skowron was definitely a better hitter, and probably more valuable over his career. The bigger issue is if Skowron and Power each were of the opposite race, who would have become the Yankee first baseman.

Good point. Power and Skowron were teammates at KC in 1953, and in that year Skowron was the first baseman, whereas Power played mostly in the outfield. Prior to 1953 Skowron had played the outfield.

And looking at it from the Yanks' POV at the end of 1953, they were set in the outfield (Woodling-Mantle-Bauer) and at third (McDougald), but not at first. And so it seems that with that in mind, they used 1953 to groom Skowron as their future first baseman, which is he became in 1954, and in fact during his Yankee career Skowron was for the most part a much better hitter than Power. So in truth it looks like they made the right decision WRT those two.

But of course since Power was a terrific fielder, if they'd really had two cents worth of imagination they could have moved him to third base and been set for a decade there, since Rizzuto was toast and McDougald was moving over to short, leaving a big hole there.

And so as a result of their disdain for Power's nightlife, they wound up with the likes of Andy Carey at third instead. Not so great a move.

One of my favorite features here is Cooperstown Confidential, but Bruce often writes about stuff that happened prior to my fandom. Occasionally, I'll throw Bruce a complement, but I often have nothing to add.

Both Bruce Markusen and Steve Treder write a lot about the era I am most interested in (mid 60's to '80's), and I read all Bruce's stuff I can here, plus some great day-by-day accounts of the early 1970's brawling A's, who I remember fondly, that I found someplace else on-line; and I also make it a point to read all of Treder's stuff here, plus at THT.

While I am interested in all of baseball history, that period, when I was still an innocent, collecting Topps cards and playing S-O-M, has the most allure. It's not pure nostalgia -- going back and looking at it has caused me to realize a lot of things I thought I knew about 1970's baseball were not completely right, and sometomes completely wrong.

Not everyone reads this site for the stats, and some of the regular readers think the whole Moneyball, us-vs-them thing is pretty silly. It is possible to ignore those things almost completely, and still see this site as a good place to read about baseball, current and otherwise, and if one feels so compelled, to discuss it.



About the closest around-the-bag comp. for Vic Power was probably Willie Montanez and that damned gyrating elbow of mysterious snap-o-bility of his.

Hot-doggin' and scooping in a flurry of flails...a bootiful thing.

Thanks for that. Power was just ahead of my time, so I have no memory of him. But the Montanez comparison is all I need to know. Like the guys who got in trouble with their LL coaches for making one handed catches, in my era if one was screwing around or hot dogging it in a game or practice, one would inevitably hear that, "Hey, your not Montanez out there!'

'Or Tito Fuentes, either!'

Very underrated player. Why did he adopt the last name "Power"?

The story goes last this: when he started his pro career in Drummondville, Quebec, his name Pellot made the crowd laugh as it sounded like the french equivalent of p.u.s.s.y.

BTW, Power hit ,345-9-54 in the outlaw '49 Quebec Provincial League, a league that was full of Mexican league jumpers and veteran Negro Leaguers. He was believed to be 19, so he looked like one of the best prospects around. The next year he hit ,334-14-105 in the same league.

I'd like to second praise for Cult Baseball Players, a really fun read.

I'll third that, while also plugging Danny Peary's WE PLAYED THE GAME -- Power's one of the 1950s stars interviewed in it -- and his movie books. He needs to update his GUIDE FOR THE FILM FANATIC, which came out almost 20 years ago...

But of course since Power was a terrific fielder, if they'd really had two cents worth of imagination they could have moved him to third base and been set for a decade there, since Rizzuto was toast and McDougald was moving over to short, leaving a big hole there.

Funny you should mention that, and that Senor Pellot should have passed this week. This is from my THT article that ran today:

Vic Power (5.4%, 1954-65). If Billy Cox can properly be described as a Dead Ball style third baseman playing decades into the Live Ball era, then Power is his counterpart at first base. The typical first baseman in the 1900-20 period wasn’t the lumbering slugger he’s since become, but, reacting to constant bunts, was instead very often a mobile, agile singles-hitting type. Power was that kind of first baseman.

The adjective most often heard to describe Power’s defensive work is “acrobatic,” a term rarely applied to first basemen. Then again, rare is the All-Star first baseman whose next-most-played position was second base, and who, when deployed in the outfield, was most frequently in center field.

Power played quite a bit of third base in the minors and 89 games there in the majors (as well as eight major league appearances at shortstop). There’s simply no question that, given the opportunity, Power could have been an excellent defensive third baseman. Though he was spectacular with the glove at first base, given his modest first baseman’s bat, I’ve always felt his talent was misapplied as a full-time first baseman. Power would have been better leveraged in a different role, as either a second baseman or third baseman, or better yet as a Chone Figgins-style supersub.

Question for those who are old enough to remember him:

How did he end up playing 1st? He wasn't tall...he wasn't left-handed. Why would someone look at an athletic, 5'11 guy and say, "Aha! there's a first baseman!"?

How did he end up playing 1st? He wasn't tall...he wasn't left-handed. Why would someone look at an athletic, 5'11 guy and say, "Aha! there's a first baseman!"?

Strange things happen in baseball....look at Mientkiwicz...he's short and fairly athletic, but doesn't hit like a first baseman. I still don't know how he ended up there, other than they decided he wasn't a catcher and they realized he could pick it at first. Probably a similar story for Power. All it takes is one coach and one decision to change a player's whole career path.

I wish I had something to add about Power, but I don't know much about him. I plan on studying up on him, though. Thanks to the BTF community for pointing out an interesting character, whose passing I would have otherwise missed.

Post 50:

Pretty simple. Guys weren't as tall on average then as they are now.

Ferris Fain played first base and was 5'11". Bill Skowron, the guy who got the job, was a hair under 6'.

Sure you had your Walt Dropos of the league but they were the exception.

Hope that helps.

HW

Vic Power certainly seems like an interesting player, but for kicks anyone care to throw out a player of recent memory that might compare to him so as to make an 18 year old better understand?

Doug Mientkiewicz circa 2001-2003 with fewer walks, more speed, and better defense.

Pretty simple. Guys weren't as tall on average then as they are now.

Ferris Fain played first base and was 5'11". Bill Skowron, the guy who got the job, was a hair under 6'.

Sure you had your Walt Dropos of the league but they were the exception.

Hope that helps.

HW

I guess what I meant was, back then you might stick a 5'11 guy at 1st base, heck, you might do that now, but only if
1) they were lefty
2) or a slugger
3) or slow, unathletic


It seems like Power was none of those things. Why first, when he could have been at another infield position?

In addition to Mientkiewicz, J.T. Snow and David Segui are two other players similar to Power. I think Power was better than both of them, but all three qualify as slick-fielding first basemen who lacked the prototypical power expected of first basemen.

The answer to THAT question dates back to when Power's career began. I just know that when I first saw him it was obvious he was a fantastic defensive first baseman.

What circumstances led to him being placed at first to begin with I don't know.

What circumstances led to him being placed at first to begin with I don't know.
Interesting question. I have been involved with teams where the infielders had erratic arms and I wanted a good first baseman, other times the arms were good and it was not a big issue.
I wonder how many careers were determined at an early age because of teammates.
Could Vic Power have played third? Terrific question.

I don't know where Power played before 1949, but all through the minors his primary position was never first base. He always played there some, but mostly he played the outfield, and quite a bit of third base, as well as some middle infield.

He didn't play mostly first base until 1955, with the Athletics. Given the general track record of the A's in that period, we might say "nuff sed."

Steve, I swear I didn't plagiarize you....

What circumstances led to him being placed at first to begin with I don't know.

This happened in 1955, Power's second year. The A's had an All-Star at third (Jim Finigan) and a pair of name outfielders in Gus Zernial and Harry Simpson, whereas their first baseman in 1954 (Lou Limmer) was a complete stiff. It was probably just a case of plugging up the most obvious hole in the lineup, although when I say "obvious," it may not seem so obvious today, when we would have seen Power's defensive skills as being more valuable in centerfield.

Could Vic Power have played third? Terrific question.

I think there's every reason to believe he could have played it very well.

Steve and Andy....thanks for explaining everything. That's why this site is awesome.

Steve and Andy....thanks for explaining everything. That's why this site is awesome.

And we did it all without steroids....

And we did it all without steroids,
When were you last tested?
Lance Armstrong's long-time teammate Roberto Heras just tested positive for EPO.
Vic Power, I will never believe it.

I concur. This site is a wealth of baseball history. And I don't even care if it is PED enhanced. Thank you.

I wish I had something to add, but Power predates me.

Nevertheless, I want to thank Steve, Andy, Harveys et al for providing a neat picture of a guy who was just a name to me. This is the kind of great thread that makes BTF my favorite site.

Thanks guys.

I saw Power only a couple times as a kid, but I was struck by what a fluid athlete he was. The best I ever saw:
1. Power
2. Wes Parker
3. Mike Squires
4. Hernandez

I like Snow, Lee, Erstad and Eyechart as the best now.

Former Twins great Tony Oliva, 67, played with Vic Power, 78, who died Tuesday in Puerto Rico.

"I never saw a guy who played first base better than Vic Power; there was nobody even close to him," Oliva said. "Many times people would bunt to the other side of the plate away from first base and Vic would charge in and still throw out the runner at third base, and second base, too. He was unbelievable."

In the Puerto Rico Baseball League, Vic Power is the only player to win batting titles in two positions; in 1955 he won it playing 3rd base (.358) and in 1959 as a first baseman (.347). In addition, in 1959, he managed Caguas to the championship.