By Paul Casey Gotham
****Remember, try this without research. Make like Wally, and release your inner James Joyce. Show us your stream of consciousness as you try to decipher the answer.
It might be difficult to imagine this, but after my life on the diamond, I got into the doll business. People struggle to understand that. After all, I manned the hot corner for most of my 16 seasons. I never grabbed the headlines like my teammates. From 1968 to 1977 I had the second most RBI in the American League. During that same time period, I was fourth in home runs in the American. I played in the all-star game four times. I finished top five in MVP voting three times. But being the glue of a World Series winning team isn’t very sexy. I probably grabbed the most headlines when I stuck up for my teammates. One time, our owner wanted to release a teammate after he made two errors in a World Series game. I wore a black arm band in protest. A couple years later, after we won the Series three times, my owner wanted to sell three of my teammates. Bowie Kuhn blocked that move. Our owner refused to let them play. I led a revolt. He didn’t like that too much. I finished my career as part of “The Brew Crew.”
Who am I?
Late 60’s-70’s American League 3rd baseman who played on a 3 time World Series champion owned by a cheap, eccentric owner? Well, the team certainly sounds like the Oakland A’s dynasty of Charlie Finley. Man, I loved those teams …. Catfish, Vida, Rollie, Reggie, Bert, Joe Rudi, Blue Moon, Kenny Hotlzmann, Gene Tenace, et al … and those great uniforms with green & yellow and of course the white shoes. Priceless!!! Of course, the “glue” that held that team together was 3rd baseman Sal Bando … the “Rock” on that squad who was very productive over several years, a leader for sure, but probably quite under-appreciated for what he did.
Casey … that one was right in my wheel-house 🙂
Good one ! I remember him and those teams. Didn’t they try an different colored baseball or something ?
Joe —
Yes … I believe Charlie Finley was trying to push for the use of either a yellow or orange colored ball … not sure why … maybe white blends in too much with background colors in stadiums and clouds. Anyway, I don’t think Charlie ever got clearance from MLB to actually use it.
Oakland As third baseman; beyond rthat…STUMPED!!!!
Pete —
You’re familiar with northern Indiana roads … several years ago, do you remember seeing a big barn along 80/90 between South Bend and Valpo that had a logo of a white elephant (A’s mascot) and “A’s” printed on it? That was Charles O. Finley’s farm. (I don’t think it’s there anymore).
Sal Bando is the answer.
Great discussion.
Joe – good to have along for the ride. We post a Who Am I? every Wednesday.
Wally – that barn might still have the A’s logo on it. Seems like I recall passing by it in the last few years and thinking it was odd to have an A’s logo in the middle of Indiana.
The rest of the story … from Wikipedia:
Charles O. Finley was born in Ensley, Alabama, but was raised in Gary, Indiana, and later lived in La Porte, a small town 60 miles east of Chicago. He played semi-pro baseball in several Indiana cities. ….
Soon after Finley took up residence in LaPorte, the farm became less a working ranch and more a showcase for Finley to impress his friends and associates. He built a 2 story pool house next to the mansion and full sized playground equipment on the other side. Huge St. Bernard dogs greeted visitors and peacocks roamed the property. Several monkeys were kept in zoo like cages and assorted livestock dotted the fields. The upper story of one large barn was converted into an indoor basketball court where the Finley and Mihelic children often played together.
Never a stranger to self promotion, Finley had a large “Home of the Oakland A’s” sign installed on the roof of another large barn where it could be viewed by vehicles passing on the Indiana toll road.
I’ll have to look for the barn next time I go to ND.
I know I have seen it – just can’t remember when.