Future Hall of Famers (40 Years Later) Pt. 2
Forty years after my first three-cents-a-word prediction, I’m making the call again — this time, for the American League.
Baseball is happening! Here’s your weekly splash of joy:
Why do you love baseball?
Brilliant Reader Mark: “The feeling of walking into Fenway Park and seeing the field for the first time… in every case, it is as close as I will have to a religious experience.”
Brilliant Reader Rod: “Being in downtown Cincinnati on Opening Day, even if you’re not going to the game. Hope springs eternal — this will be the year they put it all together!”
Brilliant Reader Tony: “Baseball broadcasters, especially on radio, allowing the sounds of the crowd to be the only thing you hear for a few seconds.”
Brilliant Reader Ray: In September of 1975, when I was 10, I went to the ‘Stick to watch my beloved Giants play. Johnnie LeMaster debuted against Don Sutton and blooped a ball into centerfield, where it skipped past the outfielder and bounded back to the wall. The speedy rookie raced all the way home with an inside-the-park home run. LeMaster was a hero! But the tide would turn. Though he could pick it at short and had a cannon, LeMaster could not hit a lick. Soon, frustrated fans would dub him Johnnie “Disaster” and boo him mercilessly. One day, LeMaster appeared on the field in a jersey with the name “Boo” on the back. And, again, he was booed.
Joe: In May of 1985, the Cleveland Indians traded for LeMaster after the team decided that Julio Franco needed to be moved off shortstop. LeMaster was 0-for-his-last-16 when the trade was made. “I know we’re losing something offensively,” the Tribe’s general manager Joe Klein said. “But LeMaster is going to settle the infield. We can’t be giving teams 32 and 33 outs every game.”
Cleveland second baseman Tony Bernazard, who was benched to make room for LeMaster, said: “I’ve got nothing against LeMaster … but who is he?”
LeMaster lasted 16 days in Cleveland, during which time he hit .150/.150/.150 and at one point was caught arguing with manager Pat Corrales at the airport.
“It wasn’t an argument,” LeMaster said. “It was a discussion.”
President Peter Bavasi stepped in and demanded the team trade LeMaster away, this time to Pittsburgh. “I’m responsible for the failure,” Bavasi said.
Fridays are Clubhouse days around here. The Clubhouse is where the conversation opens up — when we go a little deeper, wander down a few side roads, have friendly arguments, chat over the weekend, and share some joy. Today, we’re talking doing Part 2 of our Future Hall of Famers series — focusing on the American League.
If you’re a Clubhouse member, come on down — the door’s open below.
If you’re a free reader, thank you for being here. If you ever feel like joining us on Fridays — not for more, exactly, but to be a bigger part of our world — we’d love to have you.
