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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Amazin’ Avenue: Howard Johnson’s Playing Days Aren’t Over?

Remember how odd it was when Phil Ochs started to live his life as John Butler Train? This is odder.

Say it ain’t so, HoJo.

The Can-Am League’s Rockland Boulders announced on their website this morning tthat they have signed 50-year-old Howard Johnson and his son, Glen Johnson, to their 2011 player roster. The father-son duo will suit up and play for the sixth-place Boulders (18-22) in their final homestand on September 4 and 5 during a pride-saving weekend against their geographic rivals, the seventh-place Newark Bears (17-22).

Here’s HoJo’s quote from the Boulders website for those of you who are into that sort of thing:

“This may be my last go ‘round so it’s a great opportunity to play in a professional game with my son,” said Howard Johnson. “How many fathers can do that?”

Repoz Posted: August 30, 2011 at 07:58 PM | 10 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: history, mets

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1. RMc and His Roster of Rubbish Posted: August 30, 2011 at 09:13 PM (#3912653)

The Boulders play about a half-hour drive from me; I might just go, just to see the last playing member of the '84 Tigers in action...

2. Sam M. Posted: August 30, 2011 at 09:21 PM (#3912660)

I bet HoJo can still get around on a decent fastball. Guy just flat-out loved heat.

3. BDC

Posted: August 30, 2011 at 10:33 PM (#3912688)

And Minnie Miñoso still can't get into a game for his seventh decade? Speaking of people who could get around on a fastball better than Omar Quintanilla ...

4. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: August 30, 2011 at 10:59 PM (#3912703)

Damn. I was just looking at the rosters of the 1984 Tigers and 1986 Mets and I realized I'm older than any of their players were then except for Darrell Evans, who was ancient, and George Foster, who was even ancienter. Well at least their all older or deader than I am now.

5. BDC

Posted: August 30, 2011 at 11:08 PM (#3912712)

Guys who ever appeared in a major-league game who are older than I am now: Satchel Paige, Charley O'Leary, Nick Altrock, Orator Jim O'Rourke, and Miñoso.

I got six years to work on my hesitation pitch.

Edit: Cripes, I'm a year and a half older than Howard Johnson, in real time. I wouldn't have guessed that, but looking at his record, he both came up and retired pretty young.

6. asinwreck Posted: August 31, 2011 at 12:48 AM (#3912837)

They just signed Gordie Howe, his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons.

“This may be my last go ‘round so it’s a great opportunity to play in a professional game with my great-grandsons,” said Gordie Howe. “How many great-grandfathers can do that?”

7. Bob Evans Posted: August 31, 2011 at 03:18 AM (#3913037)

I dunno, BDC; six years' worth of gently jangling doesn't seem worth it at our ages.

8. Howie Menckel Posted: August 31, 2011 at 04:24 AM (#3913056)

I've been to this park.

Their "Green Monster" is in dead-center field.
I assume that if you hit one over it, you receive an affiliated-team minor league contract before you reach home plate.

Also, the Jersey Jackals (home of Montclair State U. and the Yogi Berra Museum as Yogi lives down the street) are probably the truer rivals for the new Boulders, but I'm nitpicking.

9. Jose Canusee Posted: August 31, 2011 at 02:48 PM (#3913283)

HoJo and Julio Franco came up in 1982 but HoJo is actually younger than Franco. Judging by softball (not a wise idea usually) there are plenty of 50 YO's who hit as well as when they were 30 (with less power, sometimes masked by superior modern bats), they just can't run or field like it and need more time to recuperate. So I wouldn't be surprised if he ropes a few fliners for hits or guesses right and pulls one down the line for an HR if he has kept in shape.

10. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: September 01, 2011 at 03:28 PM (#3914497)

So does this re-set his election clock for the purposes of the Hall of Fame?

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Amazin’ Avenue: Howard Johnson’s Playing Days Aren’t Over?

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