****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.
By Chas
I was known for being a pretty fine defender at my position, but not quite exceptional enough to ever win a Gold Glove. Or, maybe it’s just that my timing was poor. Two of the guys who beat me out for the award combined for 13 of them in their careers. So, maybe I was just overshadowed.
Speaking of overshadowed, I was a 10-year starter for my primary team, but I was also the backup to two more prominent names during my 20+ year career.
Early in my playing days, I was the backup to a guy whose career ended pretty tragically, although I had already moved on before that happened.
Near the end of my career, I backed up a guy who went on to manage our team’s nearest geographic rival to their first ever World Series championship.
But, like I said, I had a pretty solid career myself. Sure, I was more known for my defense, but it was my offense that garnered me World Series MVP honors. It was one those series where it was tough to pick an MVP, though. My team won rather easily, and I batted close to .400, although I only drove in only two runs.
That was actually the second of three World Series I played in. We lost a heartbreaking 7-game series the first time around, letting a 3-games-to-1 lead slip away in the process. I played in every game of those two series, but in my third trip to the Fall Classic, I played in only two. We won that one rather easily as well, but if not for some first-game heroics that included perhaps the most famous pinch-hit of all-time, who knows how that one would’ve turned out.
I played for six different teams in my 24 years in the bigs, and had aspirations to be a major league manager post-career, but I haven’t quite reached that goal, although I’ve managed at AAA and spent time as a first and third base coach at the major league level. I suppose the dream is not completely dead yet, although last year I was passed over for the job leading the team I played most of my years with. That, in fact, might have been my last chance.
Who Am I?
The Orioles lost to the Pirates in ’79 after leading 3-1.
Okay the 2 teams that I can think of that blew 3-1 leads in the World Series are the Baltimore Orioles(against the Pirates) and St. Louis Cardinals (against the Royals). tthe catcher for the O’s was Rick Dempsey. Had a pretty long career and I think made a stop through Rochester.
I know he has coached for them, and I think was passed over for their managerial spot. But I am not sure how the tragedy part comes in to play. Not sure if I have the right position. Not sure if I am sure.. 🙂
Somebody help!! 🙂
Focusing on that section about most famous pinch hit HRs in the World Series … I’m thinking that was Kirk Gibson’s shot off of Eck … so this guy must’ve been a Dodger in ’88 near the end of his career.
Off to the showers … need some soak time 🙂
Smitty … BRILLIANT … Rick Dempsey must be it … he played for the Dodgers in late ’80s!!! Nice work!
Since this one was apparently easier than I expected (Rick Dempsey is the answer, although he never played nor did he manage Rochester), can we up the ante a bit and challenge you guys to guess the answers to the clues:
1. Who are the two catchers with 13 combined Gold Gloves who beat out Dempsey for the award?
2. Who is the catcher befallen by tragedy who Dempsey was a backup for early in his career?
3. Who was the catcher who Dempsey backed up late in his career, a guy who went on to manage a nearby geographic rival to their first World Series win?
Nice job, Smitty. Nice assist, Casey.
I believe part of the answer for 1 is Thurman Munson. For Question 3 that would be Mike Scioscia.
Hmmm…interesting answer. Correct on 3, wrong on 1.
Would the other part of Question 1 be Jim Sundberg? I am just shooting from the hip on these.
Dempsey caught 90 or more games from 1977-86. Munson won the Gold Glove from 1973-75. The two guys I’m talking about won 7 of the 10 GGs from 1977-86. A third guy won the other three, but they were his only three. Bonus points for getting him too.
Jim Sundberg is correct.
Lance Parrish of the Tigers was a darned good catcher and probably won a handful of GGs.
Is the answer to Q #2 Thurman Munson? I think Dempsey had some time with NYY before going to the O’s … not sure if the dates line up.
Bingo! That’s why Smitty’s previous mention of Munson as one of the answers to question #1 was so interesting. Dempsey was Munson’s backup before being traded to Baltimore.
Lance Parrish is the third guy who won Gold Gloves during Dempsey’s time. He’s not one of the two who combined for 13 GGs, though. Sundberg won 6 and another guy won 7, but only two during the time that Dempsey was a starter.
That hint was a little flawed, admittedly.
Carlton Fisk
Nope…only one GG for Carlton Fisk, in 1972.
John Wathan
Casey, I find the fact that you guessed John Wathan without a question mark to be quite amusing. The idea of answering John Wathan with any degree of certainty to a question that implies greatness (or even very goodness) is pretty humorous. 🙂
No, it’s not John Wathan.
I could have said Brian Downing. Or, better yet, I could have just looked up the answer and taking away the chase.
Casey, good clue with the guess of the former Angel, Brian Downing. But I think it was possibly another part-time Angel … Bob Boone. If I’m right, you get the assist.
Casey, I wasn’t making a joke at your expense as much as I was chuckling at the lack of a question mark with that particular answer. It’s as if you giving a matter-of-fact answer, even though I know that wasn’t your intention. It’s all in good fun, really.
Yes, Brian Downing (as a Gold Glover) would’ve been funnier. Much better hitter than Wathan, of course, but certainly no Gold Glover.
Wally, Bob Boone is the answer. Nice job. Another assist for Casey.
Casey is the “point guard” on this WAI, dishing the assists with “reckless abandon”!
That’s cuz he can’t shoot straight. So he better be good at passing the rock 🙂
Actually, Dempsey played in Rochester…when the Orioles used to play their annual exhibition game against their Triple-A affiliate, Red Wings. Imagine that stars showed up for an exhibition.
I would rather take a guy that is handing out assists, than a ballhog asking for a time change!!
🙂
Thanks Casey – I knew I remembered Dempsey coming through here a few times. I believe I may have his autograph on a program
I did mean that Dempsey was passed over for the O’s job not the Red Wings, but I was typing fast this morning on my way out the door. It was a little confusing.
Great conversation guys!