Re: I Think I'll Go For A Walk - Death Pool Thread
Meanwhile the "Chicago National League Ball Club" and its fans were suffering. Then they brought in the man Babe Ruth described as "the all American out," Leo Durocher to manage, and things began to improve. Those late 60's and early 70's Cubs teams had four HOFers, and even though they didn't win a title, were consistent contenders, something most Cubs fans (certainly me) had never experienced.
In his first year as manager, '66, Leo made some of the changes that would bring great success to the North side, like bringing Ferguson Jenkins out of the bull pen. But they were a year away from contending, and finished dead last. I was at a game in September when they were 32 (or was it 132?) games out of first. To amuse himself, Durocher had taken to coaching 3rd base. There were fewer than 1,000 in attendance (actually very cool because you could talk to the players and they'd answer). I was sitting in the low boxes behind 3rd. Cubs had 2 outs and a man on 3rd, Billy Williams at the plate. He hit a towering fly on the infield. The Cubs runner broke for the plate, but Leo motioned him back to the bag, where he took the baserunner's stance--left foot touching the bag. Legs bent. Hands on thighs. The popup came down, literally a couple of feet away from his feet. The runner stood his ground as the 3rd baseman (IIRC Dick Allen) tried to get to it. Umpire calls runner out for interference. This gets Leo up in his face, pointing out that breaking for home with 2 outs is a convention, not a rule. And interpreting the interference rule that way would mean in a situation where the infield fly rule didn't apply, his guy would have to move off the base, thus giving himself up for a double play.
Okay, that argument ends. Next half inning, Leo sends Billy Williams out to lead off. Plate umpire (IIRC Augie Donatelli) says he can't bat, he was out during his last at bat. That brings Leo out. Walking very slowly to the plate. Where he extends 4 fingers and sticks them in the umpire's face like a Marine DI. And he says to Donatelli (remember, nobody in the park, you could very clearly hear what he was yelling) "You @#$%^^&& (insulting word for Italian Americans)!@#$%^^&. 15 years in the @@#$%^& major leagues and you can't count to @#$%^& three?" You (insulting word for Italian Americans) @#$%^^&*. If my man is out at 3rd to end the previous !@#$%%^ half inning, then how is Williams out, too? That's 4 #$%^&*&* outs you (insulting word for Italian Americans) (sexual activity reference)." All the while Leo had those four fingers right up in the guy's face. This went on every half inning for most of the rest of the game. And Leo never got tossed.
One of the best days I ever spent at the Friendly Confines.
