By Chas
****Remember, try this without research. Release your inner James Joyce and show us your stream of consciousness as you decipher the answer. Add to that the teachings of Myagi: patience. If you don’t get the answer right away, give your brain a chance to work if for no other reason than to stay in the discussion. You may not have THE answer, but you might prompt another reader by asking the right question.
I played on some pretty bad teams in my time. Not only bad during my time with them, but a pair of them are historically bad, neither winning a single World Series game in their close to 100 years of collective existence.
It wasn’t until my 10th year in the bigs that I was a member of my first team with a winning record. The second half of my career things were a little better, but in 23 years in the majors, I ended up playing on 16 losing teams, including the first season ever for the first team north of the border.
North of the border is where I earned one of my two nicknames, both of which are inspired by the color of my hair. They also retired my number there, even though I only played with them for three years.
Back to that 10th year, though. We were pretty good, and although we only finished a few games above .500 the following year, we miracuously made it the World Series. I batted .423 with a homer and 6 RBI in that seven-game series, but we lost to a team that is considered one of the modern dynasties, smack dab in the middle of their reign.
As it turns out, that was my one and only trip to the postseason in a 23-year career that produced over 1000 runs, almost 1500 RBI and pretty darn close to 3000 hits. In fact, I’m the only player in history with at least 500 hits for four different teams, and one of only three players to hit a homer before the age of 20 and after the age of 40. I didn’t make the Hall of Fame, but I stuck around on the ballot for seven years, peaking at 7.9% of the vote in my fourth year.
Late in my career, I returned to the team I played in my only postseason with. That team was having a bit of a resurgence, but my days were coming to an end. After logging less than 100 at bats in two consecutive seasons, I called it quits, only to see that team take it all the following year. Oh well…at least my career wasn’t as heartbreaking as the storied history of the team they beat.
Who Am I?
A nickname based upon hair color? Could it be Le Grande Orange – given to him for his time played with the Expos in Jarry Park? Ah the memories of Rusty Staub and the ’73 Mets – one of my vices. Loved that team: Jon Matlack, Tom Seaver, Tug McGraw, Jerry Grote, John Milner, Dave Hahn, Willie, Bud Harrelson. But Rusty Staub is the answer for which we look.
It’s strange having Casey get the answer. Not that he doesn’t know his stuff, but he’s always been behind the control panel acting as the Wizard. Until now. Well done Casey … now this one was a hanging slider right in YOUR wheelhouse, huh?
Wally, this whole thing smacks of conspiracy – the byline says Chas, but it could easily have been Casey.
Before looking at anything else I am going to say Rusty Staub. With the historic loser Mets and nicknamed for his hair color. Did spend some time in Canada; I think with the Expos.
Was it just me or did it seem that Rusty Staub appeared , shall we say, very “unconventional” in the batter’s box? First of all, he wore his pants up by the knee with very low stirrups, so he already had this throwback look to him. But he seemed to carry a very large bat with him up to the plate, yet he would choke up on it like 3 inches or so. I remember thinking “Hey Rusty … Go up there with a smaller bat and you wouldn’t have to choke up”. Darned good hitter, though. Guess he knew what he was doing.
That was a good ’73 Mets team, but to me only a reminder at how GREAT and colorful the Oakland A’s dynasty was back then.
Did Rusty Staub choke up that far on the bat? I don’t recall. To me, choking up an inch or so with two strikes makes sense (for better bat control), but otherwise choking up considerably is silly and not really done anymore.
Wally’s right…find the bat that’s the right length for you and hold it at the handle, or a fraction of an inch higher if you’re hands feel more comfortable that way. It’s possible that there weren’t as many bat options back in Rusty Staub’s day, but I find it hard to believe a guy his size couldn’t find a small enough bat that he could handle. But, like Wally said, the guy seemed to know what he was doing.
Of course, Rusty Staub is the answer. I guess the hair clue made this one a bit too easy, but it seemed like it might be too difficult without it. Gonna have to step it up a notch next week. 🙂
Chas, it might have been easy, but that is the “balance” that is part of WAI. Sometimes we all know the answer, sometimes NOBODY knows the answer. Most of the time it falls somewhere in between. I think the hair color clue may have been the key, but for me only in conjunction with other clues, like playing for a record setting loser or in Canada. Nice job ! I fear next week you will find a WAI at the OTHER end of the spectrum! And, as my “bench name” would imply, I realize the ease of answering ANY question always lies in the cluing.
What’s clearly gonna be an issue going forward with Chas doing the posts and Casey now a contestant …. is that Casey’s an EARLY riser and me being in Central time zone puts me behind the 8 ball, so to speak. Heck … he was knockin’ down that answer when I still had an hour of shut-eye to go! Early bird gets the worm, I suppose.
Maybe we should have a “late day WAI” that’s put out at 10pm so I may get a chance to even things up?
I suppose I could post ’em a little later in the morning, so Wally no longer has to sing the Central time zone blues. 🙂
Chas … 6:10am Central would be ideal 😉
Oh … just did a little viewing of Rusty Staub video … he did choke up quite a bit, so memory is accurate … a steel trap!
No offense Uncle Waldo, but right now it sounds like it’s all about you…
So what’s your point?
Uh, no offense Flat Abs, but isn’t summer break over yet? Isn’t it time for you to go back to school?
Way to go Ab!!! Stay and comment as much as you want! So Casey gets one WAI and suddenly the rules have to change. Wally -I think if one of us asked for a time change, you would be right there dishing out a world of hurt. Medicine time!!
When is it not all about Wally. 🙂
Geez … it was JUST a SUGGESTION. Okay, as you were. :[
By the way, SMITTY … sure, you can chime in on this “pile-on-Wally exercise”, BUT WHERE WERE YOU when we needed a golf expert for some insight and prose on the friggin’ US Open?!?!? You know … one of the MAJORS. Heck, you sent the Masters post out like 3 weeks ahead of time you were so excited. What happened???
So given you missed the boat on that but have found the time to pile on here, you’re looking like a home run hitter who’s great at the bases empty shots in the 9th inning when we’re already up by 7, but you’re also looking like Adam Dunn when the game’s on the line. Whiff! Way to not show up when it really counts.
There …. got that off my chest.
So much for the Uncle Waldo and Cousin Smitty show. 😉