Let's cut to the chase.
The marquee player for today's
countdown is Johnny Bench, who wore number 5 for the Cincinnati Reds. Bench is often cited as the greated catcher ever, winning 10 straight Gold Gloves (in his first 10 seasons) and two NL MVP awards. Bench was a 14 time All Star, was voted 1968 Rookie of the Year, and was a key member of the Big Red Machine that won back to back World Series titles in 75 and 76. When Bench hung up his cleats after the 1983 season, his 327 home runs as a catcher were the most by any catcher who had played the game. He was ultimately surpassed by Carlton Fisk and Mike Piazza. Bench was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1989 on 96.4% of the ballots, 3rd highest ever up until then. Bench is pictured here on his 1979 card from my collection.Brooks Robinson was the greatest defensive third baseman of all time, and wore number 5 for
the Baltimore Orioles from 1955-1977. The Human Vacum Cleaner won 16 consecutive Gold Glove awards, tied for second for the most for any player at any position. His honors include being named the 1964 AL MVP, played on two World Series championships, and was named World Series MVP in 1970. His fielding performance in that Series was so incredible that Bench quipped "Gee! If we had known he wanted a new car that bad, we'd have chipped in and bought him one." Robinson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983.An equally famous number 5 was Joe DiMaggio of the New York
Yankees. Best known for his 56 game hitting streak in 1941, DiMaggio was a 13 time All Star and undoubtedly would have had more but he missed three seasons when he enlisted in the US Army during WWII. The Yankee Clipper lead the Yankees to 9 World Series championships, and was named AL MVP three times. He retired after the 1951 season and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1953. The rules has since changed, requiring players to be retired for five years before being eligible.Honorable mentions go to Jeff Bagwell, Lou Boudreau, Nomar Garciaparra, and Hank Greenberg.
Local Trivia again - sorry if I'm being a "Cliff Clavin" --
ReplyDeleteDiMaggio once stayed with his bride, Marilyn Monroe, at the once luxurious but now demolished Tides Bath Club Hotel in Redington Beach. Here's a picture of when they were there: http://www.sptimes.com/2007/09/30/Northpinellas/North_Redington_Beach.shtml
There was a restaurant in Indian Rocks Beach owned by Joe Dimaggio's nephew called "Little Joe's" - I believe it's now gone as well.
-- Maria
Little Joe's has been gone from Redington since 1994...and now the Bath Club is home to million dollar condos, imagine that..
ReplyDeleteJohnny Bench was a great player, but I never liked the Reds. As a 10 year-old in 1973 I stood around for hours hoping for one of the Big Red Machine to stop and sign a card for me as I waited outside of Al Lang Stadium after a spring game. They emerged from the clubhouse, and didn't even make eye contact with those of us standing nearby. This was before the day of the big crowds. I have cheered against the Reds ever since.
ReplyDeleteNever had any contact with the Reds, although one time my uncle was on vacation, traveling through Cincinnati, and he stopped at Johnny Bench's restaurant, "Home Plate." It's odd, the only souvineer he brought back to me was a book of matches with the logo on it. Funny thing was he wasn't a smoker, and neither was I (not even cigars back then at a tender age of.... 12...)
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