Hot Ball Claims Not New

From the New York Times: “The big increase in home runs this season is not due to any change in the ball, according to Thomas Shibe, a member of the firm that manufactures all the baseballs used in the major leagues.

“ ‘The baseballs used this year are the same as used last year and several seasons before that,’ said Mr. Shibe.”

The story appeared June 6, 1920.

Add New York Times: “An epidemic of home run hitting has broken out in both major leagues, and if the average maintained to date continues through the season, some new records in circuit drives will be established. A livelier ball is the only answer that fits the case.

“The firm which manufactures the baseballs used in the two leagues makes the statement that it is following exactly the same procedure as in the years when the hitting did not attract as much attention.”

That story appeared May 24, 1921.

Trivia Time: Who holds the Los Angeles Dodger record for career home runs by a left-handed batter? (Answer to follow.)

Seattle Mariner Manager Dick Williams told Bob Maisel of the Baltimore Sun: “I’d say four men had the greatest influence in my career--Bobby Bragan, Charlie Dressen, Gene Mauch and Paul Richards. Of the four, I learned more about all phases of the game from Paul.”

Of Mauch, Williams said: “I only coached one year under him, but if you were really a student of the game and wanted to learn all you could, you could see that the man was something special. If I were to organize a clinic on baseball, Mauch would be my man to run it.”

Eric Davis of the Cincinnati Reds appears a cinch to start a 40-40 club, hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases in a season, but Bobby Bonds came close. In 1973 at San Francisco, Bonds had 39 homers and 43 stolen bases.

From Chicago Bear linebacker Otis Wilson, looking forward to facing Bo Jackson of the Raiders in the last game of the season: “We’re going to treat Bo like everyone else--give him a taste of his own medicine.”

As for the Raiders, he said: “They want to fight more than they want to play football, but you have to go out there and play football. If you want to fight, we’ll go out to the parking lot after the game.”

Said Miami Dolphin Coach Don Shula after a scrimmage before 20,000 people at the new Joe Robbie Stadium: “Even with only 20,000 people, the crowd noise was there. Just triple that and you get an idea of what it would be. And when they put some music on the PA system, that is loud. We’ll just do that when the other team has the ball.”

Green Bay Packer personnel director Tom Braatz, who scouted defensive tackle Reggie Rogers of the University of Washington, told the Green Bay Press-Gazette: “All the coaches, Forrest Gregg, myself and the scouts were involved with Rogers. I can’t tell you how many times we flew to Seattle. We had a bunch of people meet face up with him. We had people talk to Don James, the coach. We even went underworld, almost, to find out about the guy.

“You wouldn’t believe what we found out about the guy. It was enough to know we shouldn’t draft him.”

Rogers was drafted by the Detroit Lions.

Trivia Answer: Willie Davis with 154.

Quotebook

John Brodie, 51, on his career as a senior golfer after careers in football and broadcasting: “My wife said to me the other day, ‘My, God, you may get to 65 without ever working a day in your life.’ ”