1954

[Rog]

The baseball book "1954" indicates that despite having both black players and white players from the South, the Giants had good chemistry.  A funny example was cited.

Although in later years Giants shortstop Al Dark was to have race problems with the Giants, back in 1954 he got along great with the black players.  One day Dark took infield practice with the Giants' three black players.  Dark was at shortstop; Hank Thompson was at third; Monte Irvin was at first (a position he played late in his Hall of Fame career),and Willie Mays was at second.  (Willie played infield in the Army while on military leave from the Giants.)

In the clubhouse, Dark said to Monte Irvin, "We Darkies looked pretty good out there!"  Irvin laughed heartily at what was a pretty good line by Alvin.

[Rog]

A surprising coincidence yesterday. Before beginning the book, I was speaking to a black man I work with. I don't remember the exact context, but as a short, older man, he was lamenting that the ladies want their men "tall, dark and handsome."

"You've got the dark part covered," I teased him. His reaction was similar to Monte Irvin's.

[Rog]

Most would be surprised that Willie played the infield in the Army, but if you've been paying attention here, you aren't among them.

Think if the Giants had played Willie at shortstop or second base when they came to San Francisco. Willie was about as good an outfielder as has ever played the game, but as one who watched him take infield practice at shortstop, I believe he could have been pretty good there too. I saw him perform moves I didn't see again until Ozzie Smith.

If the Giants had played Willie on the infield, they would have been better able to take advantage of the plethora of outfielders they had. Those included Felipe Alou, Willie Kirkland, Leon Wagner, Jackie Brandt, Harvey Kuenn, Matty Alou, Jesus Alou, Bobby Bonds, Ken Henderson and Jose Cardenal.

From 1959 through the decade of the 60's, the Giants kept finishing just behind the NL pennant winner. Being able to add an extra outfield bat in the lineup with Willie moving to the infield might have been just enough to put them over the top. By the way, many of those guys were fine defensive outfielders who could have taken over for Willie in center.

A very enticing thought. Anyone else enjoy the pleasure of watching Willie take infield practice? Maybe Don.

[donk33]

Mar 27, 2015 6:25:08 GMT -5 Rog said:

The baseball book "1954" indicates that despite having both black players and white players from the South, the Giants had good chemistry.  A funny example was cited.

Although in later years Giants shortstop Al Dark was to have race problems with the Giants, back in 1954 he got along great with the black players.  One day Dark took infield practice with the Giants' three black players.  Dark was at shortstop; Hank Thompson was at third; Monte Irvin was at first (a position he played late in his Hall of Fame career),and Willie Mays was at second.  (Willie played infield in the Army while on military leave from the Giants.)

In the clubhouse, Dark said to Monte Irvin, "We Darkies looked pretty good out there!"  Irvin laughed heartily at what was a pretty good line by Alvin.

dk...Dark was called Blackie before the Black players came to baseball.....

[donk33]

Mar 27, 2015 6:40:47 GMT -5 Rog said:

Most would be surprised that Willie played the infield in the Army, but if you've been paying attention here, you aren't among them.

Think if the Giants had played Willie at shortstop or second base when they came to San Francisco. Willie was about as good an outfielder as has ever played the game, but as one who watched him take infield practice at shortstop, I believe he could have been pretty good there too. I saw him perform moves I didn't see again until Ozzie Smith.

If the Giants had played Willie on the infield, they would have been better able to take advantage of the plethora of outfielders they had. Those included Felipe Alou, Willie Kirkland, Leon Wagner, Jackie Brandt, Harvey Kuenn, Matty Alou, Jesus Alou, Bobby Bonds, Ken Henderson and Jose Cardenal.

From 1959 through the decade of the 60's, the Giants kept finishing just behind the NL pennant winner. Being able to add an extra outfield bat in the lineup with Willie moving to the infield might have been just enough to put them over the top. By the way, many of those guys were fine defensive outfielders who could have taken over for Willie in center.

A very enticing thought. Anyone else enjoy the pleasure of watching Willie take infield practice? Maybe Don.

dk...I never remember seeing Mays play the infield in practice...I did notice he was always the leader in playing "pepper"....I also noticed that in the formal fielding practice...Mays made very few throws to the infield..and there came a time where he stopped taking fielding practice, altogether...I always figured he had arm problems in the later part of his career...he would make some good throws early in the game and then seemed to slack off....he also would hook his right thumb into his belt to take some of the pressure off his shoulder...a trick I did when I hurt my arm...  one of the best times I remember in watching pregame practice was when I saw Pepper Martin and the Gas House Gang...they put on some show...playing pepper without a ball gave up some of the "great" plays....they also played football...without a ball.... another fun time was prior to the Olympics with the Houston team...Jerry Reuess gave a big show...split the guys into 2 teams and they ran a relay race around the stadium...Jerry was the best athlete out there...odd for a pitcher..

[Rog]

Alvin had grown up just blocks away from a black neighborhood and played street ball with black kids.

Something I didn't realize about Alvin, who was recruited to LSU as a quarterback. Early in his career he could run the 100 yard dash in less than 10 seconds.

[klaiggeb]

Rog: I'm very interested in reading that book. Is it recent?

boly

[Rog]

Rog: I'm very interested in reading that book. Is it recent?

boly

Rog -- I'm pretty sure it's come out within the last couple of years. It's available at some libraries, which is where I got it. I'm trying to get through the two handfuls of books I checked out just before I received your book, so I can then read yours. (Barbara asked yesterday if that was your book and saw why you are called Boly.)

I read a few chapters at work Thursday, thinking I could renew it later that day, but a hold had been put on it, so I'll have to wait for it to be returned again before I can read the bulk of it.

The thrust of the book is that 1954 was a seminal year for blacks in baseball. Both Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks were rookies. Willie Mays and Larry Doby led their two teams into the World Series. I've read a LOT about the 1951 Giants, but this is the first book I have read that focuses in part on the 1954 team.

I just zipped this morning through another library book, "The Greatest Games in Baseball." The Willie Mays catch game in the 1954 World Series was ranked #5, and the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" game was #2. Bill Mazeroski's home run game was rated #1.

I just checked out or purchased at least a half dozen books on Willie Mays, about whom I have read a handful of books already. I had just started the book "The Greatest Game Ever Pitched" right before I got all the library books, so like "1954," it remains unfinished. "The Greatest Game Ever Pitched" also made the top 30, although I don't remember at which number.

There are just so many great books out there on the Giants and their players. I've even got two or three I have had for a few years and haven't even got around to read yet. I'll bet I've got 25 sports books I haven't found time to read yet.

And then I keep going to the library!

Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/2770/1954#ixzz3VhPrCiuc

[Rog]

By the way, this morning for the third or fourth time I began watching the CSN Bay Area's Legends series "Willie Mays." That one NEVER gets old. And every time I pick up something I had missed or forgotten.

I wish all our posters had been able to watch Willie at his prime. Back when the Giants had some of their poor teams in the 70's, I realized I would rather watch Willie just play catch than watch the then-current Giants play. Or just to watch him jog off the field and always touch one of the corner bases.

Or, as Don mentioned, to watch him play "pepper." Or as I mentioned, watch him take INfield practice. Or toss the outfield "warmup" ball into the center field stands before the first batter of the game. Or, by gosh, just watch him in the on-deck circle.

Or stride to home plate, handing the catcher his mask when the opportunity arose.

Willie Mays without even coming to bat or playing in the field was the most exciting player I've ever seen!