Tommy Henrich: 1913-2009
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Regardless of anything else, this afternoon was going to be about arbitration talk and speculation. That’s why I held off on this post until this evening. Seems good to get the arbitration talk out of the way so that we can focus for a bit on Tommy Henrich, who passed away this morning at the age of 96.
“Tommy was a darn good ballplayer and teammate,” Yogi Berra said. “He always took being a Yankee to heart. He won a lot of championships and did whatever he could to help us win. When I came up in 1947, he taught me little nuances about playing the outfield. Being around Tommy made you feel good, whether playing cards or listening to him sing with that great voice. He was a proud man, and if you knew him, he made you proud too. ”
Henrich played from 1937 to 1950. He missed three seasons while fighting in World War II, but spent all of his playing career with the Yankees.
“I am saddened by the loss of Tommy Henrich, who was truly one of my personal favorites,” commissioner Bud Selig said in statement released by Major League Baseball. “Tommy was a wonderful Yankee known for his professionalism and for his many contributions in big games throughout his All-Star career, which spanned three different decades. ‘Old Reliable’ was beloved by his Yankee teammates and played on seven World Championship teams. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest sympathy to Tommy’s family and friends.”
From the New York Times obituary comes this wonderful, unearthed quote from Casey Stengel.
“He’s a fine judge of a fly ball,” Stengel said. “He fields grounders like an infielder. He never makes a wrong throw, and if he comes back to the hotel at 3 in the morning when we’re on the road and says he’s been sitting up with a sick friend, he’s been sitting up with a sick friend.”
Here’s the release from the Yankees, which is also where the Berra comment came from:
———
Former Yankees outfielder Tommy Henrich passed away at the age of 96 in the early hours this morning in Dayton, Ohio. A five-time All-Star (1942, ’47-50) and member of seven World Championship teams (1937-39, ’41, ’47, ’49 and ’50), Henrich was a career .282 batter with 269 doubles, 73 triples, 183 home runs and 795 RBI in his 11-year Major League career–all with the Yankees–that spanned three decades (1937-42, ’46-50).
The left-hander twice led the American League in triples (13 in 1947 and 14 in ’48) and led the Majors in runs scored in 1948 (138). Henrich hit the first-ever “walk-off” home run in a World Series in Game 1 of the 1949 Fall Classic off Brooklyn’s Don Newcombe, breaking a scoreless tie and accounting for the game’s only run in the 1-0 Yankees victory. Prior to the Yankees’ 1942 World Series loss vs. St. Louis, he joined the United States Coast Guard and missed three additional full seasons serving during World War II.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Virgil Trucks is now believed to be the oldest living Yankee at 92 years of age.
The family will hold a private memorial service on Saturday, December 5. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that a donation be made in Tommy’s name to the Baseball Assistance Team.
“Tommy was a terrific player. What made him so special was that he always played well in big games. You get him in a close or important game and he would always show up ready to play. It seemed like he never made any mistakes in the outfield. He was a true professional and an ultimate Yankee.”
Dr. Bobby Brown (teammate, 1946-50)
“Tommy was incredible. They called him ‘Old Reliable,’ and he was just that. My first year with him was 1949, and it seemed like every home run he hit won the game. His career stats might not show it, but he was a great clutch player. When he hit, it counted. He was also a fine defensive player in the outfield.”
Jerry Coleman (teammate, 1949-50)
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Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
RIP
His nickname is the quintessential compliment. I never got to see him play, but I do remember him from going to OTD games as a kid.
RIP Old Reliable.
Check out this picture.
It kind of reminds me of Teixeira.
http://www.gasolinealleyantiqu.....enrich.JPG
RIP Tommy Henrich
Derek Jeter is on the next issue of SI! another Yankee. Wow:
http://zellspinstripeblog.com/.....er-yankee/
I got to see Tommy and Lefty Gomez speak at a dinner back in the `80s, and they were both hysterically funny. Had Henrich and Keller not missed the time they did to WWII they would probably be in the HoF. They were great players and with DiMaggio may have formed the greatest OF ever.
Hmm, those are some wonderful quotes. RIP, Tommy…….He seems like he was just a terrific person as well as a terrific ballplayer. I have a feeling he might have been one of my favorites had I had the chance to watch him……
It’s sad when ballplayers start to pass away; it’s like a part of your childhood is going. I know that I am going to be one depressed Yankee fan when the players that I grew up rooting for and am rooting for now start to pass……..In my mind, they are forever young
He is the kind of player that should be remembered somehow in Yankee Stadium. There is SO much wall space and so many corners, they could put up a mural. There are a lot of players that don’t have their numbers retired that should have some kind of mini memorial dedicated to them. maybe just a good picture with a nice caption I bet he was a fan favorite back then. – note this is not something I lose sleep over – just sayin would be cool.
SI got that Picture Right – I love it.
RIP Tommy – My dad loved you!!!
has anybody heard that halladay said he will not accept a trade once the season starts?
Betsy, You make a real good point about our childhood and watching players pass on that you watched growing up……I felt that way just recently as Tommy Tresh, Bobby Murcer & Clete Boyer passed away….
Henrich makes me think of watching Old Timer’s Day on tv with my dad, a treat more appreciated of course now that he’s not here anymore. Yogi was my dad’s favorite, but Old Reliable was right up there.
Dad knew all the players, smiled like he was seeing an old friend at each introduction, telling me something unique about each of them. Like I do with my daughter now, until she gets very politely bored hearing about such luminaries as Horace Clarke, Gene Michael and Chris Chambliss.
I like watching the old men, some hobbled, some still smooth and steady, in that uniform, that time machine that transports them back to their youth for one afternoon, the Ave Maria playing on the organ in the background while they read the list of friends of the game and teammates who have passed since the last Old Timer’s Day. I miss Thurman, but Bobby Murcer still breaks my heart. I’m such a sap.
Rest in Peace Tommy.
(Hey Tommy, can you do me a favor? Can you look up my dad for me? You’ll know it’s him because when he sees you he’s gonna say: “Hey, there’s Tommy Henrich. You know they used to call him Old Reliable!”)
Pat M, it’s got to rip your heart out. In a way, you think they are immortal. It’s why when a Nick Adenhart dies……or Darryl Kile, Corey Lidle, Thurman Munson – it’s shocking. It’s almost as if you expect that there is a bubble wrap around these guys protecting them from harm, but there’s not. They are just as susceptible to human tragedy as we are. When the players I grew up with start to go, I will cry like a baby…….. However, imagine how their teammates feel? I know I read somewhere that when players retire, most often what they miss most of all is the camaraderie of being a team – not the games themselves. These guys spend so much time together – they are sort of like family and, in the case of the Yankees, the are family.
“The Yankees won’t trade Hughes or Joba”
Rich, you may be right, I don’t know what the Yankees stance on this is. I do know that if you choose to pass on Halladay and keep a guy like Joba then you had better be darn well sure he’s going to turn out closer to Roger Clemens than Jared Wright or its a mistake.
Bobby, Thurman and Roy White were my favorites when I was a kid, then Willie Randolph got added. Loved Nettles and Reggie, too.
I’m always amazed at how the guys from that era just stopped playing baseball for 4 years to go and fight in the war and then came back like they never missed a beat.. Its remarkable that they could do that. Sounds like he was a great Yankee and a great American.
Just finished dinner after a long day –
I can remember Tommy Henrich at Old Timers’ Day at the old Stadium. Old Reliable. And, like many players of his day, he spent years in the armed forces, doing their part for our country. And after the war, he came back and picked right back where he left off. Can you imagine if he played in this day and age? As Phil stated above, he and Charlie Keller would have been HOF-caliber players. And like Betsy said, above, it’s a sign of our childhood slipping away….
I really like the MLB Network. Harold Reynolds, and Ken Rosenthal are really making good points. I agree with Rosenthal that Adrian Gonzalez should stay in SD – in that division, with a few good pickups, they can challenge and win. Isn’t that the name of the game, to win – just ask Herman Edwards!
Rosenthal also brought up a good point about Chone Figgins – as LF for the Yankees. It really is an intetesting thought. I wouldn’t be shocked.
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ise-20637/
Recap of Cash’s breakfast with Francesca………..wow, he called Torre’s book “garbage”. I’m not surprised he feels that way, just that he said it. Good for him, lol
Good stuff.
Loved Guidry, Thurman.
Also was ecstatic when they got Reggie, similar to when they got Tex.
Chone Figgins sucks, especially when you play him in the OF.
I think Old Reliable may be my favorite nickname ever, now that I think about it. It just conveys so much about the player – just two words. Hmm, well Donnie Baseball is probably my favorite nickname, but Old Reliable is not far behind.
Joe, what else did they say? Thanks! I will try to catch the replay later….
Id rather have Damon back that Figgins. Figgins would be an upgrade defensively but Damon is a much better hitter..
Talk about Figgins in LF was going on weeks ago. Trouble is he hasn’t played the outfield much. He also didn’t look very good during the playoffs. If its Figgins or Damon, I think Damon would be better. Definitely a better bat, though not as good on the bases. Fielding? Who knows till it may be too late.
They don’t make nicknames like they used to.
Tony Peña’s doing some winter ball managing
http://www.puristbleedspinstri.....er-ballin/
the yankees can get a lf or move melky to lf & get a cf
my concern is if pettitte comes back how can we get another pitcher if hughes & joba are our # 4 & 5 pitchers unless one get’s traded?
i would like to trade for a good young pitcher.
if that’s not possible maybe sign sheets,etc…
There is nothing better than hearing the voice of Mel Allen introducing Old Reliable.
It is also nice to known as “a fine judge of a fly ball”
Angels offer arbitration to Figgins and Lackey. Signing Figgins would therefore mean giving up a pick. I think it makes him less likely for taking a chance on him in left.
How very Jimmy Rollins of him.
“When the idea of moving back to shortstop was floated to me, I welcomed it,” Pedroia says. “I’m excited. Tell Derek [Jeter] to enjoy the gold glove and silver slugger awards while he can. Obviously, I’m not serious about the fun I have with Derek, but I’m never stopping believing in the goal. I believe I can play shortstop and help get the Red Sox back where they belong.”
Is that a serious quote?
Every time I hear Obama mention the “tolly bon”, it puts me in mind of Senator Geary purposely mis-pronouncing Corleone in the Godfather II. Hopefully it works out better for Obama.
Interesting, though I suppose nothing new:
http://www.weei.com/sports/bos.....y?page=0,0
The Red Sox are back where they belong.
MLB.com says one reason Pedroia may move to SS is because they don’t want to give up the picks if they sign Scutaro. So, they are so in love with picks and prospects that they are willing to weaken 2 major league positions; but they are going to acquire Miguel Cabrera, Hanley Ramirez, Halladay, Adrian Gonzalez, et al?
With what, if they are unwilling to part with young talent?
Even more interesting:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/.....c-dealings
Doc just sounds like a wonderful guy – I hope he lands in a good situation for him. It sucks that he feels unwanted and disrespected by the Jays after all he’s done for them
I remember going to see a playoff game a few years ago – 2005? – against the Angels, in a constant rain. Figgins was playing CF, and made a terrific catch that I thought he had no business making, robbing Sheff and keeping the Yanks from clearing the bases and taking over the game. I think he would be an upgrade over Damon in the field.
On the whole, though, I would prefer Granderson, in CF, with Melky or Swish moving to LF; Damon as DH. Alas, I think Matsui’s days are numbered, due to his physical liabilities (I know, others disagree; I could see a scenario where Matsui comes back, as DH, and Damon leaves).
I don’t think Cookie Jarvis is moving to SS
Blake, Jeter and Pedroia are friends………he’s just tweaking Jete ( but Jete always gives as good as he gets, lol)
Jeter probably only tolerates the little twerp.
“They don’t make nicknames like they used to.”
Sad but true. To my ears right now, “Old Reliable” beats the breakfast cereal inspired, vanilla, alliterative Captain Clutch.
Murph, Your warm story that reflected your childhood memories of Old Timers Day in the Stadium with your Dad & Tommy Henrich is a mirror of my memories of those days….My pop raved about Old Reliable
Betsy, I know he’s kidding but as Phil said the Sox are right where they belong…
In the `30s the Yanks had a guy named George “Twinkletoes” Selkirk, who was also a very good hitter over his short career. And then, Henrich’s fellow corner OF was called King Kong.
Jeter will still win the GG and the SS while being 10 years older than Peds.
who is supposed to play second in this scenario and why don’t the Sox go after Scutaro-
is this some type of “Swisher is our Firstbaseman” ploy?
The Scooter
The Yankee Clipper
Iron Horse
The Mick
Mr. October
Gator
The Sultan of Swat
King Kong Keller
I first became interested in baseball in the late 40’s and was a Yankee fan from the getgo….paternal influence as is often the case. My most vivid memories are of Tommy Henrich coming through in the clutch, time and time again. “Ole Reliable” was a moniker most well deserved. As noted, he was a class act with nary a negative word ever voiced about him. Lifetime stats do not tell the story.
Godzilla is a good Current one – thank you Japan
“MLB.com says one reason Pedroia may move to SS is because they don’t want to give up the picks if they sign Scutaro”
Scutaro is a sucker’s play to me. One above average season in his career and it happened to be the one where he hits FA. At 34, giving up a pick and paying $6M for three years is not much of a play. I don’t know if Pedroia can play short. I know he has in college and about half his minor league career. Can’t imagine he’d be any worse than Eckstein who was a little above average at SS when he was Pedroia’s age. Could try him at SS and sign Polanco, who is the same age as Scutaro, probably a better player (11.5 WAR over past three seasons to Scutaro’s 7.4), and not subject to picks.
Betsy – nice link to that Toronto story. I have no reason not to believe it, and I agree, it’s a shame that a player like Doc got jerked around by Ricciardi. Sounds like JP is a real jerk, besides being a poor GM (just look at the deals for BJ Ryan and Wells).
No wonder Doc put a deadline on this. He wants some to exert some pressure on the Jays to get it done, to the team of his choosing. Taken together with the story by Mark Feinsand, I am more optimistic about Doc coming, and for a reasonable price.
“Old Reliable” beats out “Mr. Opt-Out”, that’s for sure.
Poosh Em Up Lazzeri
The Commerce Commet
Joe Flash Gordon
Super Chief Reynolds
The Kentucky Colonel
The Chairman of the Board
Names like A-Rod and Even “the Mick”
are not as good because they just play off the guys name – not related to baseball play.
“Mick The Quick”
Puff is a great clubhouse nickname – I don’t think many fans knew at the time he was called that.
“I remember going to see a playoff game a few years ago – 2005? – against the Angels, in a constant rain. Figgins was playing CF, and made a terrific catch that I thought he had no business making”
Guess the Halos weren’t as impressed. They’ve been buying up CF’s ever since. 1st Matthews and more recently Hunter.
Happy Jack Cheesbro
Some favs: Sal the Barber, The Springfield Rifle, Big Poison and Little Poison, Dizzy and Daffy and of course Yogi.
Before Sputnik, people just used to be better with nicknames, put more thought into ‘em. Then again, I guess “Lefty” Grove wasn’t exactly a killer nickname, but I digress….
Maybe it was TV that killed it. These great nicknames used to convey a striking image in addition to being fun to say. Captain Clutch is so blah. Maybe had Jetes’ playing days been closer to the War Years, he would have been The Kalamazooka (he’s from Kalamazoo and it rhymes with “bazooka”)
I guess baseball nicknaming is like square dancing and taffy pulling, a lost art
What happened to us?
Waite Hoyt was called “Schoolboy” or “The Brooklyn Schoolboy.”
Being 34 y/o, I of course never saw Mr. Henrich play. However, as an avid fan of baseball and the Yankees, historically he is one of my favorite Yankee ballplayers of all time. A wonderful hitter, Mr. Henrich combined an excellent OBP (due to a high BB rate) with terrific power, a solid glove in both RF and 1B and occasional speed. Along with DiMaggio and Charlie Keller, the Yankees had the preeminent outfield in baseball in the late 1930’s into ’40’s. In fact, if it were not for the time that all 3 OF’s spent in WWII, all 3 may have ended up in the HOF instead of just DiMaggio. In recent years, I came upon a relative of Mr. Henrich’s who substantiated the solid character and integrity of the man. The only thing more appropriate about Mr. Jennings post would be if it had occurred at 5:00 PM as one of Mr. Henrich’s nicknames was “Five O’clock Lightning” in respect to his late game heroics. Certainly, the man will be missed.
Herb Pennock was called “The Knight of Kennett Square.”
Best nickname of all time: ‘Babe’
Maybe it was TV that killed it. These great nicknames used to convey a striking image in addition to being fun to say. Captain Clutch is so blah. Maybe had Jetes’ playing days been closer to the War Years, he would have been The Kalamazooka (he’s from Kalamazoo and it rhymes with “bazooka”)
Love it.
“Five O’clock Lightning” AND Ol’ Reliable ?
Henrich had 2 of the greatest nicknames – ever!
“Schoolboy”
Yup. Great handle – he was anything but.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waite_Hoyt
In the spirit of not breaking the bank, anyone think Randy Wolf is worth a look? Had some injury issues in the middle of the decade, but has averaged 200 innings per season over ‘08 and ‘09 and was particularly strong last year. Wasn’t offered arb by the divorce ridden Dodgers.
Shoeless Joe
the Splendid Splinter
Tugboat
Randy Wolf?
A lefty with a pulse always gets a look.
Preacher Roe
A Few More Yankee Nicknames
Spurgeon “Spud” Chandler
Robert “Red” Rolfe
Irving “Bump” Hadley
Walter “Jumbo” Brown
Herrold “Muddy” Ruel
Obviously a different sport but you’re not going to find a much better nickname than ‘Marion the barbarian’.
Billie Martin was called Whiskey Slick.
Most Derogatory Nicknames
Lonnie “Skates” Smith (for his fielding ability)
Leo “The Lip” Durocher (a man that Babe Ruth hated as Ruth claimed that Durocher stole money from him when the former was his roommate in the early 30’s–Always thought that was interesting)
Bob “Fats” Fothergill
Lots of pictures from SI presentation tonight
http://www.gettyimages.com/Sea.....ype=image#
Sal The Barber is the best
MikeBoston
Obviously a different sport but you’re not going to find a much better nickname than ‘Marion the barbarian’.
__
Better than Henri “The Pocket Rocket” Richard?
I think not.
The Yankee Clipper: a clear, striking image conveying a graceful, fast sailing ship gliding along the open sea with multiple masts and huge sail area, from a bygone era. Very appropriate to the player.
“Rocket” Clemens? A boring and unimaginative name. Now if he’d been called “Combustion” maybe we’d be onto something.
It’s time to start combing through that thesaurus again.
Come to think of it
just “The Captain” is pretty good, I think that’s what I’ll be calling him on my rocking chair.
Mark “The Bird” Fidyrch
Joe Vogel,
In Elden Aucker’s book he told the story of how Babe caught the Lip stealing from him, by hiding and waiting one night. Then he beat the living ___ out of him, and the Yanks soon dumped him.
Even the subtle difference between “Pocket Rocket” and “Rocket” is instructive. The image of a rocket in your pocket, (aside from being a song by Little Feat, which band reminds me of some great music), makes you work a little, gives you a great image. Rocket is just too plain for me.
Hey murphydog, is your last name Murphy. If so are you from the O’Murchada clan?
Phil
Own it. Excellent firsthand account of the American League in the ’30’s.
I’m an avid SOM baseball fan and have replayed every Yankee season from ‘20-’56 and Henrich stood shoulder to shoulder with the best players of his generation. Actually, I would opine that the most dominating Yankee teams of all time must be one of the editions from ‘36-’39. They absolutely assaulted the American League and left nothing to chance in the World Series.
The `36-`39 Yanks are certainly the most underrated of the the truly great Yankee teams.
“Godzilla” isn’t bad from our current (or recent?) crop of players.
“Laptop” is good for one of our foes.
fred “chicken” stanley
al “the mad hungarian” hrabosky
bucky “bleepin” dent
I bet Japan has a bunch of good nicknames
fred “chicken” stanley
al “the mad hungarian” hrabosky
bucky “bleepin” dent
Ah the 70s
jesus “the savior” montero
alex “the centaur” rodriguez
johnny “the idiot” damon (for picking boras as his agent)
melky “peanuts” cabrera
robinson “the coaster” cano
AJAX is a good one if he truely becomes a Hero
one more from the 70’s
dave “the cobra” parker
I like “Skates” for Damon
AJAX is a good one if he truely becomes a Hero
—————————————————
or if he miraculously bats “Cleanup”
Phil
What differentiated those teams (and later Yankee teams thru the ’40’s and ’50’s) from the rest was less their stars and more their incredible depth. After Rickey’s farm system innovation with the Cards and later the Dodgers, the Yankees invested heavily in an elaborate farm system with dozens of teams. I have always been most impressed with GM George Weiss and his exacting attention to detail and thorough knowledge of all the players in professional ball (the stories are legendary). More so than the institution of the amateur draft in ‘65, I attribute the Yankees fall in the mid-’60’s to the firing of Weiss who procurred immense amounts of talented depth (which he later did with the Mets).
mark “slick” teixeira
Anybody mention oil can Boyd?
Phil “the Pointer” Coke
Brian “Heartbreaker” Bruney
Young Master Philip
Sergio “Deathwatch 6.00″ Mitre
“Hey murphydog, is your last name Murphy. If so are you from the O’Murchada clan?”
No, not a Murphy in name, although I do qualify for membership in the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick.
Joe Cool Cano
Tex Book
I can’t believe I forgot “Chicken” Stanley. He grew up in Farnhamville, Iowa 10 miles away from my hometown. He still can’t hit for sh-t.
George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss (If not already said)
American Idle = priceless
Joe Vogel,
Weiss, buiding on the work of Ed Barrow, was both good and bad for the Yanks. He wouldn’t let Greenwade and the other scouts sign the African American players they were finding, many of whom went on to be stars and superstars that would have allowed the Yanks to keep it going in the mid-`60s. Without those players, then with the owners slashing the scouting budget as they prepared to sell to CBS, the talent very much dried up. And along with Mickey’s decline, Roger’s change of approach, and the arm injuries to Bouton, Stottlemyre, and Downing along with others, we were ripe for a collapse in the mid-`60s. Had Weiss allowed Greenwade and the others to sign everyone they were finding, they probably wouldn’t have collapsed at all.
I just finished the most recent Yogi Berra biography. According to that book, Willie Mays was brought to the Yankees attention to sign and Weiss refused. That would have been a pretty fair outfield with Mantle and in later years with Maris too.
It wasn’t just Willie, if was Ernie Banks, Frank Robinson and others, too.
I agree in part, however Weiss’ decision to not sign African-Americans was not exclusively of his own design. Societal and region pressures along with internal biases inside the organization contributed to the Yankees’ exclusion of African-Americans.
In addition, Weiss was fired (along with Stengel) at the conclusion of the 1960 season. The Yankee talent stream dried up under successors Hamey and Houk. I agree that less emphasis (read investment) was placed into player development, an action that I believe Weiss would likely not have gone along with. His subsequent years with the Mets goes a long way to vindicating his ability to still procure top talent from the amateur ranks.
I firmly believe that knowlingly or not, this is generally the posture that Cashman has assumed: creating self-sustaining organization by placing an emphasis on player development, securing the desired developed players thru the tremendous financial advantage the Yankees enjoy, selectively signing a small number of FA’s, and using his excessive minor league inventory to acquire precisely targeted players. This is the polar opposite position of the Steinbrenner Yankees of the ’80’s whose management engaged in a reactive, ad hoc manner focusing on short-term interests at the expense of long-term stability. Further, I would posit that if a more controlled personality than Steinbrenner had purchased the Yankees in ‘73, they would have likely been far more successful. I reject the argument that Steinbrenner should be commended for his deep pocketbook as it is highly probable that anyone who purchased them would have likely been in a position to spend with the same gusto (high team revenues, considerable baseline wealth as evidenced by original purchase), only with a more responsible tenor.
My favorite Yankee loss of the ’30’s was that of losing Greenberg to the Tigers as Gehrig was already at 1B. Adding Greenberg in LF with Dickey at C, Gehrig at 1B, later joined by DiMaggio in CF…they would almost certainly won in ‘34-’35 and probably ‘33, ‘40.
A large part of the reason the Yankees’ talent stream dried up in the ’60s was the advent of the amateur draft.
Rich
In my original post on this subject, that historically most common given reason is the one I was arguing against by claiming that the Weiss departure weighed more heavily than the instituting of the draft (Not to say that the draft had no deleterious effect).
Interestingly, the uptick in talent procuration from Latin America in the ’80’s brought baseball somewhat closer to the ’30’s-’50’s as teams such as the Dodgers and Blue Jays principally built their organizations on Latin American talent that wasn’t subject to the American draft. In this “Wild West” time, the most innovative, effecient, and locally connected teams were able to gain a competitive advantage on their deeper-pocketed brethren who lacked the vision to see this repository of talent.
Joe Vogel
Don’t you think that a large part of the reason why Weiss was effective was that he could sign pretty much any player he wanted?
Rich
Absolutely (bearing a resemblence to Cashman’s contemporary situation). However, I would argue that he combined greater financial resources with a great deal of precision and financial accountability (unlike the Steibrenner ’80’s, the Phillips/Duquette/Minaya Mets, etc.) as he assembled an elaborate farm system and number of working agreements with minor league teams that filtered a tremendous inventory of talented players to the Yankees.
For example, in the first half of the ’50’s, the Red Sox had a comparable lineup to the Yankees, but their depth in bench and pitching was nowhere near the Yankees. I attribute this to their never ending supply of minor league talent. I will of course stipulate that they did buy some high-end amateur talent (DiMaggio, Lazzeri, etc.), but many of their amateur acquisitions were a result of an extensive scouting network and a belief that signing a large number of relatively inexpensive amateur players will ultimately yield a sufficient number of quality players to compete. Not all teams could invest in such a system as a large difference in teams revenues and ownership wealth existed (see the Browns, Senators, Braves, Phillies), but the point is that Weiss placed an emphasis on this long-term, self-sustaining approach.
Perhaps I’m still bitter at the Steinbrenner ’80’s.
I’m just getting a workout in and watching Studio 42 with Costas. Anybody else following this series? I love listening to these Costas interviews.
Joe Vogel
Good points. Scouting is critical.
Steinbrenner went completely nuts after the 1981 WS loss, and then arrogated too much power to himself.
Is there comparative payroll data for the ’50s and ’60s. I’m searching Baseball-Reference.com, but I can’t find it.
Rich
I haven’t found any centralized database of salary information dating back that far. I have found alot of cumulative data on team revenues and overall player salaries in books by Andrew Zimbalist and Gerald Scully on baseball and economics.
Additionally, many players have revealed their salaries in their autobiographies (Cobb, Bouton, damn near every biography I’ve ever read on baseball), but I know of no single place.
Rich
I should mention that before the rise of the player’s union under labor attorney Marvin Miller, players were discouraged by management from revealing or discussing their salaries as this would provide in incentive to drive up wages.
Nobody mentioned the Iron Horse?
Gozzlehead—Mickey Rivers
Gooneybird—Don Larsen
…and an all time fave Elroy’in your’Face.