Wise Up (5-17-10)

Baseball/Softball

"¢ Practical jokes are a part of life of minor-league baseball, with rookies often the target "“ and often the rookies try to get their own back. Matt Smith was the new pitcher for the Birmingham Barons, and veteran Jake Meyer dumped a bucket of ice water on him when Matt was in the shower. Jake then said, "Welcome to the bullpen."� Another veteran, Brian West, advised Matt to throw ice water on Jake the next day at 5 p.m. when Jake would be in the shower. Matt promised to do that, and he did just that, throwing the ice water on Jake and then running out of the shower.

Unfortunately, he heard a loud crash, and suddenly baseball players started screaming for the trainer. Jake came out of the shower with two players assisting him. Lots of blood was flowing down from his head, and the manager, Wally Backman, looked at him and said, "We have to get him to the hospital. We have to get him stitched up."� Then Wally asked who was responsible. Everybody pointed at Matt, who said, "Wally, I didn't mean to do anything."� Wally chewed Matt out, and Matt was afraid that he is going to be fired. Then he noticed that Jake was furious and trying to get at him, but he couldn't because two players were holding him back. Wally, noticing the same thing, said, "Let him go. He's got to do what he's got to do."� Jake came at Matt, but instead of hitting him, he put a tube of fake blood in his hand.

Brian had told the entire team that Matt was going to throw ice water on Jake, and the entire team was in on the practical joke on a very relieved Matt, who admitted, "It was the most elaborate, choreographed prank I've heard of."�

"¢ Braves player Sam Jethro was a speedster who often stole bases, while Dodgers player Gil Hodges was a very intelligent first baseman. One game, after Mr. Jethro had walked and was threatening to steal second, Mr. Hodges came over to talk to pitcher Carl Erskine. While doing so, he took the baseball from Mr. Erskine and hid it in his big first baseman's glove, then he walked back to first base. Mr. Jethro was unaware of what Mr. Hodges had done until he took a couple of steps off first base. Mr. Hodges then moved between Mr. Jethro and first base, showed him the baseball, and said, "Hey, Sam, look what I've got."�

"¢ In 1951, manager Leo Durocher's New York Giants came from way behind "“ on Aug. 1, they were behind by 13 ½ games "“ to catch up to the Brooklyn Dodgers and force a playoff game to decide who won the pennant. In the bottom of the ninth, the Giants had one out and men on second and third base. They were also behind 4-2. Bobby Thomson got ready to bat, and Mr. Durocher spoke to him. Mr. Thomson then hit a home run "“ "The Shot Heard Round the World"� "“ that sent the Giants to the World Series. What did Mr. Durocher say to him? Just this: "If you ever hit one, hit it now."�

"¢ Dodger catcher Roy Campanella used to tell Dodger pitchers, "Now you young pitchers just throw what ol' Roy calls and I'll make you a winner."� After losing a game, however, Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine would show Mr. Campanella the box score that said, "Erskine losing pitcher,"� and ask him whether instead it should say, "Campanella losing catcher."� Mr. Campanella would laugh and reply, "You can always shake me off."�

"¢ Nolan Ryan was one out away from a no-hitter when practical joker Norm Cash came up to bat, but he didn't have a bat "“ he had a table leg! Even though Mr. Cash claimed that the way that Mr. Nolan was pitching, a bat wouldn't do him any good, umpire Ron Luciano made him step up the plate with a real bat. Actually, Mr. Cash was right "“ the bat didn't help him. Mr. Cash popped up, and Mr. Nolan recorded a no-hitter.

"¢ Roberto Clemente did a lot of damage to opposing teams with his hits. He made his 1,000th hit against the Cincinnati Reds, one of whose pitchers asked, "Didn't he get 'em all against us?"� Once, Don Drysdale threw a pitch that made Mr. Clemente roll in the dust to avoid getting hit. Mr. Clemente then hit a home run. Asked later what kind of pitch Mr. Clemente had hit for the home run, Mr. Drysdale replied, "Ball four."�

"¢ Comedian Bernie Mac admires baseball player Pete Rose, aka Charlie Hustle. He tried to imitate Mr. Rose "“ once. Playing softball, he tried to steal second base. Trying to beat the throw to second, he slid headfirst "“ and tore off a bunch of skin on his chest. Normally, Mr. Mac's skin is black, but for a while after that slide, his chest was pink. Mr. Mac says about Charlie Hustle, "Now tell me he don't belong in the Hall of Fame."�

"¢ Baseball player Bobby Bonilla was usually even tempered, but in 1988, after striking out with a called third strike, he yelled at the umpire. Later that day, he watched a video replay, and the next day he apologized to the umpire, admitting that the pitch had been a strike and he had been wrong.

"¢ In 1941, Phil Rizzuto, who stood at 5 feet 6 inches, first reported to the Yankees training camp. He was surprised by the size of the other Yankees, and he was surprised that they ignored him. He complained to Lefty Gomez, who told him, "Take it easy, kid. Those big guys just ain't seen you yet."�

"¢ At one time, the Brooklyn Dodgers had trouble being more than mediocre, and the team's fans knew it. Once, a cabbie at Ebbets Field asked an usher how the Dodgers were doing in the game. The usher replied, "They have three men on base."� The cabbie asked, "Which base?"�

"¢ Outfielder Woody Held once watched a Mickey Mantle home run sail over the center field fence. When he got back to the dugout, his teammate Billy Hunter gave him some fielding advice: "Woody, I don't believe you're playing Mantle deep enough."�

"¢ "I'm throwing twice as hard as I ever did. The ball's just not getting there as fast."� "“ Lefty Gomez, New York Yankees pitcher.