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1. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: October 22, 2012 at 11:27 AM (#4278904)Has he written much before? I know he says this is he first time he's saying some of this stuff, but the writing seems to come from a natural storyteller, so I'd love to read more.
I highlighted that one sentence because I remember that sequence like it was yesterday. The closeup camera kept focusing on Odom's darting eyes going back and forth between home plate and Morgan, and then a violent turn with each pickoff attempt. I also remember being astonished by just how much Duncan's throw had beaten Morgan, and thinking to myself right at that point that the A's were going to win. But what I hadn't realized was the crucial part that Tenace's bodyblocking moves had played in wearing Morgan down. Again, what a great ####### read.
This inspired me to go look up Tenace on BR. I'd forgotten how good he was.
and the hilton netherland is still there in cincy and still a great hotel
FOX carried MLB in the 60's?
In subsequent years, Charlie Finley was always trying to get Dick Williams (and later Alvin Dark) to play Tenace at catcher, and Rudi at first base, so that he could play a better hitter (like Claudell Washington) in the outfield. Williams liked catching Fosse, with Rudi in the OF, because it made his defense better. After Williams left and Dark came aboard, Finley basically just made out the lineup and Tenace moved back to catcher.
Finley loved Claudell Washington so much that he even selected him for the 1975 All-Star game (of course Finley selected the team) and ordered Dark get him into the game early.
Although he was a fine hitter going forward, there was little indication that he was a fine hitter up until that point. He was 25 years old and not really a prospect.
Mmm, I'm afraid I'm going to have to, uh, disagree with you there.
Everybody knew Tenace could hit. He'd hit very well in the minors, and torn it up in limited action with the A's in 1970 and 1971. His batting average had taken a dip in '72, but everybody knew Tenace could hit.
The issue was with his defense, as he'd only been converted to catcher at age 22, and had very limited experience behind the plate.
Tenace was born in 1946. I have no doubt that when he was forming sports allegiances in the late 50s, his early teens (when most people do it) that the Yanks were on TV all the time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_on_CBS#1955.E2.80.931958
Steve corrected most of that, but it might be noted that until he got the game winning hit in game 5 of the ALCS, Tenace had gone 0 for 15 in that series.
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CBS bought the Yankees in late 1964--it became official right after the season. For TV deals, CBS negotiated with individual teams, not with MLB, so they cut a TV deal with the Yankees directly and showed the Yankees virtually every week. The Yankee TV deal predated the sale, and was one of the reasons many objected to it.
It was a bit like the deal that NBC has had lately with Notre Dame, only not quite as exclusive.
It was a surprise to most people, I would guess, when Bill James began to suggest that Gene Tenace was a great offensive player, one of the very best over a period of several years. He played in very difficult home parks, and he walked more than any player of the period--two facts that most people did not pay attention to.
About 5 years ago a neighbor of mine introduced me to his brother, visiting from Phoenix, because we were both big baseball fans. My friend told his brother that I was in SABR, and the guy quickly said, "Are you one of those guys who thinks Gene Tenace was a great hitter?" So, he still resonates.
That's classic.
that more than anything explains catchers offense swinging up and down.
Edit: Got pipped by salvomania as I was typing!
My new favorite all time player.
I doubt it. Tenace was always being switched around between multiple positions, in the minors and the majors. He was never a specialist focusing on any single position.
Keep in mind that this would have been a month after the terrorism at the Munich Olympics. The FBI was taking no chances in the fall of 1972.
Anyone else remember that card?
In the majors. In the minors, he played 13 games in the outfield in 1970 as well as 81 games at catcher. And in prior years in the minors he'd played the outfield, third base, and second base as well as catcher.
Yes---the '73 Topps postseason highlights---but not until you brought it up.
I loved those cards---the '71s featured weirdly colored duotones, and the "Pirates Celebrate!" from '72 was probably my favorite card of the series as a kid.
1972 WS 8-23, 5 R, 1 DB, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB
All others: 10-123, 5 R, 2 DB, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 28 BB
5 runs out of 38 times on base isn't very good. I like Tenace, but his walks need to be discounted for his below average baserunning and place in the order.
I think he prefers being retired. From what I remember, he had the option to stay with the Jays in 2010, but instead elected to head home.
OK, I don't remember exactly when modern jacks started to be used but they certainly weren't universal by 72 and I don't imagine an old hotel would have had them.
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