Finally Made it...Camelback Ranch

After driving 800+ miles and heading straight to Camelback Ranch, I am exhausted.  There is so much to write, but I'm dropping fast for lack of sleep.  They say a picture paints a thousand words.  I'll have to trust that old saying and post some pictures before I turn in.

Camelback Ranch is an awesome facility.  The game rained out, but I was able to be there early enough, (thanks for the suggestion Roberto), to head out to the minor league fields and see some intra-squad games and chat with former Dodger stars.

At night we went to Salt River Fields at Walking Stick, (another fantastic place), to catch the D-Backs-Dodgers.

On to the pictures...I'll post the long details tomorrow night.

Steve Yeager was very accomodating

Minor League Intra-squad game before the rain arrived

John Ely stopped for everyone, a very nice young man

Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch Monday night

My brother Taylor shares a laugh with Sweet Lou Johnson 

What's in a Nickname? Sometimes a lot...

Orel even signs now with the "Bulldog" inscription

There is nothing like Baseball Nicknames.  No sport identifies its players with them like the grand old game.  Often these aliases pinned on a player identify him for his career.  I find it interesting how they occasionally develop.  Sometimes they are just a passing fancy and the names just stick, (i.e. Penguin, Killer, Red, Rocket).  Other times they slowly develop over time as a player grinds out a career and fans get to see a personality or side of him that brings the nickname forward, (Mr. Clean, the Iron Horse, Sarge, Captain Video, Full Pack, the Human Vacuum Cleaner).  I have seen fans try too hard to make a nickname stick.  Look at the attempts of bloggers to drop “Bison” on Matt Kemp for instance.

Now I know that on Dodgerthoughts.com, the origin of Kemp’s nickname has been discussed at length.  If I recall correctly, it was Don Sutton announcing a game for Atlanta and he made a reference to Kemp comparing him to a Buffalo as he ran the bases.  After that, bloggers ran with it and amended it to “The Bison,” the more correct version of that animal that roams the North American continent.  With Kemp originally from Oklahoma, a plain state that is known for Bison, it appeared to be a perfect fit.   Over the years, dodgerthoughts posters have proudly made periodic references to the use of Kemp’s nickname when it appeared on the air or when he answered to it at one of his public appearances or in national publications.  They love the fact that they got the ball rolling on that one.  Perhaps that’s why baseball is such a great fan sport, because they play a part in identifying a player for his career with a moniker.

"The Bison"

When Orel Hershiser hit the scene in ‘83-84, Bud Furrillo who then hosted the Dodgertalk radio talk show, made an attempt to label him as “Dr. O.”  I thought it was a real clever nickname.  First off, Hershier was known for putting O’s up on the scoreboard, and it went well with his unusual first name.  If you look at the career that Orel subsequently had, “Dr. O” would have been an accurate fit with the consecutive shutout innings streak and all.  Unfortunately for Bud, his efforts to pin that name on him died a quick death when Tommy Lasorda had a say in it.

I’ll never forget that interview that Furillo had with Tommy when Lasorda said something along the lines of “No way, he’s bulldog!”  “Bulldog?” Furillo questioned, “You’re kidding, right Tommy?  Dr. O is perfect for him,”  To which Lasorda replied, “Nope, Bulldog it is.  I want him to have the confidence out there that he’s a tough pitcher, a bulldog, a guy that doesn’t give in, a loyal player that fights, that’s as tough as nails.”  And I got it.  Here was Orel Hershiser, a pencil necked geeky looking guy, that threw a nasty sinker.  His physical appearance made him look like he should be in one of the leading roles of “Revenge of the Nerds.”  

Lasorda, in his master motivator role, was attempting to raise up Hershiser’s self esteem.  He also wanted to build his reputation around the league, as a tough competitor.  A fighter, a guy that would pitch inside, a hurler with confidence.  Any title, (such as “Dr. O”), that could conjure up the images of a player that was scholarly or cerebral in a sense, would dismantle the image that Tommy wanted the league to have of Hershiser, that of a tough competitor that wouldn’t hesitate to send you some chin music now and then.  And I have to hand it to Tommy...it worked.

Now I know there are some good nicknames in other sports.  I won't deny that, but I would argue that baseball has the best and most clever ones.  It sometimes gets to the point that a player is so identified with his nickname, that many don't know their real name.   How many baseball fans know that Pee Wee’s first name is Harold or that the Babe's first name is George?

Below I have categorized many baseball nicknames that have been popular over the years.  I know there are many more, but I provide this list to just give the reader an idea of the vast expanse of handles that have been dropped on so many ballplayers over the years.  Some have negative connotations, some positive, some are obscure references, others very creative and clever inventions.  It's remarkable to see how many have been identified with an animal or food (but Is there a more perfect nickname for Ron Cey than “Penguin?”).   See how many you can identify with a certain player or those that should be added.  

Penguin

Anarachy references: The Riot, Wild Thing

Animals: Penguin, Cobra, Catfish,Crazy Horse, Goose, Big Cat, Rooster, Moose, Rabbit, The Hawk, the Silver Fox, the Gerbil, Fat Toad, the Vulture, Kangaroo, Big Bird, Bid Donkey, Bison, The Flea, the Rat, Big Puma, Bull, the Goat, Mudcat, the Iron Horse, Turtle, Crab, the grey Eagle, Turkey, Eagle Eye, Baby Bull, Chicken Man, Fly, Ducky, Rhino, Octopus, Black Cat, Roadrunner, Rooster, Gnat, the Shark

Zimmer has a few nicknames, one of them happened to be "The Gerbil"

Automobiles: Cadillac

Body Parts: The Lip, Schnozz, Three Finger, Tomato Face, Bug Eyes, Foots, Legs, No Neck

It's easy top see why Walt Williams was known as "No Neck"

Cartoon Characters: Popeye. Wimpy, Kung Fu Panda, Captain Hook, Goofy, Baby Huey,  Mighty Mouse, Woody

John "the Count" Montefusco poses for a photo at Dodger Stadium

Criminals, Monsters and Villians: Killer, the Hit Man, Billy the Kid, Vlad the Impaler, Ivan the Terrible, Eric the Red, Jack the Ripper, Murderer’s Row, Hackman, the Beast, Mugsy, Mr. Murder, Zombie, the Freak, Werewolf, the Count, the Terminator

Dance Steps and Music Genres: Cha-Cha, Disco, Salsa

Dates: Mr. October, Mr. November, Mr. May

Hall of Fame umpire Doug Harvey with his known as "God"  on the diamond.

Diety: God

Dog related: Mad Dog, O-Dog, 3-Dog, Crime Dog, Hit Dog, Bull Dog, Mutt

Bill Madlock was with the Dodgers in '85-86.  Known as Mad Dog

Ethnicity and Geography related: Frenchie, the Mad Hungarian, Louisiana Lightning, the Flyin’ Hawaiin, Dutch, the Flying Dutchman, the Georgia Peach, the Old Roman, Giambino, Hollywood

Fictional Characters: the Joker, Godzilla, the Killer Tomato, Candyman, Uncle Fester, Mr. Clean

Foods: Peanuts, Cookie, Big Mac, Candy, Soup, Lasagna, the Georgia Peach, Pie, Cakes, Cracker, Taffy, Spud, Shake n Bake, Fruit Loops, Lettuce

Cookie wore some very stylist glasses in 1975.

Footwear or lack of footwear: Boots, Shoeless Joe, Spikes

Geology: Bedrock, Rock, Rocky

Hair Color and hair style: Whitey, Red, Rusty, mullet

Little Rascals characters: Spanky, Butch, Pudge, Dewey

Military Titles or Law Enforcement Titles: the General, Crime Dog, Sarge, the Captain, Chief, Sheriff, the little Colonel, Little Sarge, Major

Moods and mannerisms: Happy, Slow

The often forgotten Alejandro Peña, a solid Dodger pitcher from '81-'89.  He led the league in ERA (2.48) in 1983.  He was referred to as "Slow" by his teammates because it adequately described how fast he moved from place to place.  His fastball was anything but slow though.

Occupations: The Gravedigger, the Professor, the Gambler, the Barber, Cowboy, Pizza Man, Doc, the Chief Justice, Miner

Parcel Delivery Companies: Fed Ex, UPS

Plants/Trees: Cactus, Sycamore, Redwood

Politicians, Monarchs, Rulers: the Mayor, el Presidente, the Sultan of Swat, Chairman of the Board, Little Napoleon, King Carl, the Wizard, Prince Hal, King Felix, El Duque, Senator

Religious Occupation: Preacher, Deacon, Reverand, the Evangelist, Parson

Known as "Deacon," Vernon Law was a fine pitcher for the Pirates from 1950-67

Short People and youthful looks: Pee Wee, Wee Willie, Schoolboy, Kid, Tiny 

Space Related and aviation: the Jet, Rocket, the Spaceman, Blue Moon

Spanish: El Caballo, El Presidente, El Enano, El Toro, El Guapo, El Duque, Papi, El Pulpo, Arriba, Manito, Matador

"El Presidente," Dennis Martinez

Speed and Velocity related: Rapid Robert, Bullet, Express

Super Heroes: Batman, Mr. Incredible, Flash, Zorro, Iron Man, Incredible Hulk

Three Stooges Characters: Chipper, Moe, Curly 

Tools, cleaning or construction materials: Hammer, Scrap Iron, The Human Vacuum Cleaner, Hoover, Ropes, Oil Can, Nails, Black and Decker

The Human Vacuum Cleaner, Brooks Robinson

Toys: Scooter, Toy Cannon, Skates, Cabbage Patch

Transportation, Means of: The Yankee Clipper, Tug, Big Train, “D” Train

"Big Train," Walter Johnson, the first Hall of Famer with Southern California roots

TV Show Personalities and Celebrities: Fonzie, Fat Elvis,

Vices: Full Pack, Smokey Joe, Smokey

Weather related: the Tornado, Hurricane, the Human Rain Delay, Storm, Cyclone

Others:  Boomer, Pops,  The Big Hurt, Ballgame, Charlie Hustle, Stretch, Gonzo, The Unit, Dusty, Murph, Toothpick,Tom Terrific, Lefty, Tank,, Junior, T-Rex, Inky, Sweet Lou, Sparky, , Eye Chart, Caveman, Wally World, Straw Man, Country, Shooter, Woody, Cool Papa, Dizzy, Knucksie, Little Poison, Big Poison, Devil,  Bonehead, Captain Video

Tony Gwynn, known as "Captain Video"

Vero vs. Camelback Ranch - Have We Lost Something Special?

So I was working on this piece on Vero Beach with a St. Patrick’s Day angle and then I got to surfing the Dodger blog world and I noticed that Steve Dilbeck at the Times had pretty much written about what I had started.  He did an excellent job as always.  So rather than trash my post and start over.  I tweaked it a bit and went in a different direction with it.  This isn’t the first time I have run into this predicament.  Such is the world of a blog writer.

3/17/2008, Dodgers final St. Patrick's Day at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL

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Here we are, St. Patrick’s Day, a joyous occasion during the O’Malley years at old Vero Beach, Florida.  But those days are over.  The green Dodger cap brings memories to me of an era that has come and gone.  When the Dodgers left Vero, I understood the arguments made by the McCourt ownership to move to Glendale, AZ.  Even Dodger treasures such as Tom Lasorda and Vin Scully said it was time to move.  But now I wonder.

Camelback Ranch game, March 2, 2001.  Where is everybody?

After viewing the stands at Camelback Ranch of televised pre-season games, I have a hard time believing the attendance figures.  Having been present at Vero Beach Spring Training at least five times in my lifetime, I can tell you that the place didn’t always fill up either, but Camelback Ranch looks like a ghost town these days.

Did the Dodgers throw away 50 years of an amazing legacy for nothing?  How could you not feel the tradition of Campy, Jackie, Pee Wee, Sandy, 3-Dog, Tommy Davis, Duke, Big D, the Garv, Penguin on those grounds?  That place was special, and they spruced it up in the last few years too. It was state of the art and had the old ballpark feel as well.  I get sick when I think of how the McCourt group left that little town empty handed and without a tenant after they had invested millions into upgrading the place.  Years and years of good relations were spoiled.  And to top it off, the McCourt ownership threatened to file suit against them if they continued to use the Dodgertown name.  That was just plain wrong.

 The Dodgers were the only game in town in Vero Beach and they were treated well.

Yes, Vero Beach had it’s drawbacks.  There wasn't much to do there.  Very few restaurants and hotels.  It was isolated from most other Florida Spring Training sites for the most part, (with Viera and Port St. Lucie being the closest other locations).  Probably the players felt that fans had too much access to the players, but that had changed a bit since the remodeling.

My son, (14 years old at the time), poses with Rick Monday at a walking trail in Vero Beach.  Such encounters were common at the old Dodger Florida home.

Meanwhile, Vero Beach sits void of a Major League team.  Most of the Brooklyn fans are slowly passing on to the big Dodger in the sky.  The Dodgers over the years had been slowly losing their fan base in the Florida home.  Games against the Mets and Red Sox at Vero would be filled with visiting fans, and the gift shop for the Red Sox game would be stocked with Red Sox hats and jerseys.

Now, granted, I haven’t been to Camelback Ranch yet, so I can't give an eye witness picture of the new Arizona home,  (I’m going next week, and will be there from March 21-25).  But CR is a shared facility and not uniquely a Dodger site.  At Vero, you could find a shady tree to sit under to seek refuge from the heat, (something that you don't have at CR).  But best of all, you could just wander from field to field and watch the players practice and interact with each other, just a few feet away.  Or you could meander over to Maury and watch his bunting drills.  And when players finished on the practice fields, there would always be several that would stop and sign for the fans.

Camelback Ranch, 2011

One thing that was promised of the fans was that the same access to players and practice fields would be available.  I hope that's the case.  The Dodgers, the only west coast team that continued to make their spring home in Florida, had communicated the need to bring spring training closer to their L.A. home.  I really don't see the crowds that I expected heading out to Glendale from L.A.

Here at the local baseball paraphernalia shop that I frequent in Giants country, I have been told that Giant Spring Training game attendance is at an all-time high popularity and that fans at his card shop have complained that they can't get near the Giant players.   I guess that's to be expected with them coming off the championship year.   I haven't heard that complaint from Dodger fans and based on the photos I am seeing on-line, it looks like you can get up close to the players.  I'll give my opinion on this next week.

Billboard Wars

All the billboard banter over at Roberto’s VinScullyisMyHomeboy.com, got me to thinking of a crazy billboard controversy here in the San Francisco Bay Area several years ago.  It was the year 2000 to be precise, when they were opening the new ballpark.

In 4 or 5 locations in San Francisco, white billboards with the words “Go Dodgers” started popping up.  The uproar was quite amazing.  Talk shows addressed it.  TV News had spots on them.  They turned out to be a gimmick of Fox Sports Net, cable sports channel.  

As the weeks went by, the billboards would change with mock defacements.  The next week it would be plastered with tomatoes, then followed by  a mock defacement with mud, then grafitti, followed by lettuce, ice cream, and eggs.  You get the picture?  After about a month into the season, the bottom of the billboard had the Fox Sports Net logo with the message, “We know the feeling.”  Some had the statement, “Different Park. Same attitude,” in reference to the Gants changing ballparks.

Funny thing is that before the mock defacements took place, some Giant fans had already started taking matters into their own hands and had begun vandalizing the billboards.

I wish I had had the foresight to take pictures of the billboard at the time.  My searches over the internet for it have come up empty.  That was until I found out who the advertising agency for Fox Sports Net was.  

It was the firm of Wolfe Doyle Advertising, Inc.  A simple search engine query produced their website and 11 years after this add campaign, they still proudly post it on their website under Print Campaign Services that they provide.  They post graphics of the billboards, not actual billboard photos, but the messages they conveyed.  If the purpose of advertising is to get attention, this firm nailed it.  Their statement on the add campaign is as follows:

“To fire up fans about the upcoming SF Giants’ season on Fox Sports, we placed outdoor boards across from the Giants ballpark with a headline that rooted on the opponent for their home opener, the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Subsequent boards revealed the true message and who was delivering it.”

Original message, week 1

Subsequent billboard change

Final billboard

Funny thing was that Fox owned the Dodgers at the time.

A Response from Jerry Reuss

I sent Jerry Reuss a message to his website, letting him know of my posting and asking if I was accurate on my accounts of the pranks he pulled.  He was very nice in his response and...he set the record straight.  

No hot foots and it was Yeager and Johnstone that locked Lasorda in his hotel room with the tree.

Hi Evan,

Thanks for the tip on your blog! I appreciate the time spent reporting on my career. It's hard to believe that I retired over twenty years ago, yet the memories are so fresh I think they occurred yesterday.

I had to stop and think about the pranks that I've been given credit for. I probably ran Howe's underwear up the flagpole but I was never one to play with fire. I didn't have the patience for a hot foot. Finally, I didn't lock Lasorda in his hotel room. The credit (or blame) goes to Jay and Steve Yeager. One day, I'll tell the stories as I remember them.

I bet the stories you have in your field of law enforcement are as equally interesting as any I have. If you ever write about them and post them, let me know. I'd love to read them.

My best,

Jerry

Steve Yeager blocking the plate, 1978 World Series, Game 4.  Jerry drops the dime, it was Yeager and Johnstone that locked Lasorda in his hotel room.

And my response to Jerry about me having stories in the field of Law Enforcement is:  Yes, there are a lot of them, but unfortunately I’ll have to keep them under wraps until I retire.  There may be a book in there somewhere, but I’m not sure that there would be enough interest in it.  Though the story about a coworker almost blowing his hind quarters up while sitting on the toilet was kind of interesting.  (He cleaned the the commode with rubbing alcohol first, sat down to do his business, and then lit a smoking pipe.  Kaboom!).

A thank you to Jerry Reuss for taking the time to answer my email.  Hopefully he writes a book one day.  I can only imagine the great stories he could tell over his 4 decades in the game.

What a Difference Two Years Make

Two years ago I looked at the Dodger lineup and thought, “wow, this lineup is scary!”  (Furcal, O-Dog, Manny, Ethier, Loney, Kemp, Blake, Martin).  Now I look at it and think, “wow, this lineup is scary!” (Furcal, Blake, Ethier, Kemp, Uribe, Loney,Gibbons, Barajas).  Identical quotes, absolutely different meanings.

Today, the Dodgers enter Cactus League play with a 5-14 record.  Is it time to get nervous?

Here are a few reasons to be worried:

• Aaron Miles is hitting over .300. Meaning he’s probably the last utility infielder to make the squad.  The best option, Ivan De Jesus, isn’t going to get a shot it appears.

• The outfield defense is a BIG problem.  I have harped on this to no end.  Tony Gwynn Jr., has had a good Spring, but it’s still up in the air if Mattingly will start him.  If he does, Mattingly is penciling him in left field while Kemp remains in center and Ethier in right.  Everyone knows with those three it should be Ethier in left, Kemp in right and Gwynn in center.  Yet, Ethier hasn’t sniffed left field and Kemp hasn’t played an inning in right.  This isn’t a good sign.  After watching the Cubs-Dodgers game from Las Vegas yesterday, I saw that Kemp is still failing to take good routes to the ball and getting bad jumps.  And Gibbons in left showed that every fly ball in his direction is an adventure.

• Now that hitters are getting their timing back and are catching up to the pitchers, Dodger starting pitching is beginning to get hit.  Bad outings from Kuroda, Lilly, Billingsley and (gulp) fifth starter candidate Redding in the past few days may be a concern, unless they are simply working on some experimental pitches and mechanics.  Quotes from Lilly and Billingsley seem to indicate otherwise.  They are just having difficulty throwing the ball in specific locations.

• Casey Blake has one hit all spring and is now out with a back injury.  That could mean Uribe starts at third and Carroll at second.  (Perhaps not a bad option).

• Garland is out with an oblique problem, Padilla went under the knife with an impinged nerve in his elbow.  Even if they are only out 6 weeks,  they'll have to start over and go through Spring Training all over again.  Most likely their earliest effective return would be June.  And that's a "best case" scenario. 

• The 5th starter options are: John Ely and Tim Redding.

Here is one reason to not be worried:

• It’s Spring “Freaking” Training!  As I walked into the office today, a Cub fan co-worker started giving me the business about his Cubs winning in Vegas.  All I could say was, “you are aware that it was a split squad Spring Training game, right?”

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So I went on an eBay baseball paraphernalia purchase splurge recently.  I bought the following items:

• Mitchell and Ness, Koufax Home Uniform.  (Paid $61.00 for it).  I thought that was a pretty good deal.

• Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds Jersey. (Paid $30.00 - it’s used, and an enormous size,but said to be in good condition and I don't plan on wearing it).

I’m thinking that the day will arrive once in my life that I can attend a show where Sandy is signing and I can pay a gazillion dollars to have him sign my jersey, then I’ll have it framed.  The Morgan jersey I got because he is signing here at a show in May, so I figure, why not go ahead and have him sign an authentic Reds jersey.  Hey, I couldn’t stand the Reds and Morgan, but I can’t deny he was a great player and Hall of Famer.

• 7 Bart Giamatti Official NL Balls in the boxes from 1986-89 ($51.00)

For signatures of players from that era, specifically the ’88 Dodgers.

• Jerry Reuss Autographed game used bat, with No-hit date inscribed.  (previous posting on Reuss: http://opinionofkingmansperformance.blogspot.com/2011/03/jerry-reuss-one-of-my-favorite-dodgers.html )

Jerry Reuss - One of My Favorite Dodgers

There is this great black and white photograph that I would love to post here, but it is a licensed photo by Jerry himself and can be found on his flicker account.  I recommend everyone view it.  His confident 6 ft. 5 inch frame is posed to throw to pitch in the final inning of his no-hitter against the Giants.  In the background is the imposing scoreboard showing his no-hit accomplishment.  You see the old outfield screen/wall at Candlestick and additionally in the shot is a poised shortstop Bill Russell, who is probably thinking in his mind that his error has cost Reuss a perfect game.  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43289453@N03/4015150144/

Jerry was a great Dodger and a clutch starter.  I recently bought a signed bat that he signed from an Ebay auction that he inscribed with the date of his no-hitter against the Giants in Candlestick on June 27, 1980.  I also have a cassette tape in a box stored away of Jerry Doggett’s play-by-play of the ninth inning of that no-hitter. I popped it in a tape recorder and pressed “record” when it looked like history was going to be made.  To give you some perspective of the era, it’s on the same tape of a live Doobie Brothers concert that I taped from KLOS the previous New Year’s Eve. I found it a few years ago in a box with old cassette tapes.  I believe that I kept the L.A. Times Sports section from the following day, but I need to dig through some boxes in storage to find it.

That June 27, 1980 game was a great day in Dodger history.  What remained of the 20,285 Giant fans were actually cheering on a Dodger in the ninth inning.  The game that lasted 2 hours and 13 minutes, in a 8-0 Dodger win, was narrowly close to a perfect game.  The only blemish was a throwing error by Bill Russell with two outs in the bottom of the first inning.  Reuss retired the remaining 25 batters in order.

Some other highlights from the game: Garvey and Dusty Baker homered.  Davey Lopes, Rudy Law and Bill Russell all went 3 for 5 as the Dodgers had 17 hits.

Reuss only had two strikeouts but his sinking fastball induced 17 groundouts.  Jerry threw almost all fastballs the entire game, mixing in an occasional curve and change up.  Spending a good portion of 1980 Spring Training in the company of Sandy Koufax, Reuss took to heart the philosophy that control and movement were more important that speed.  His sinking fastball became his most effective pitch.  

Following the no-hitter, some reporters were praising Steve Yeager’s game calling abilities to which Jerry jokingly responded, “It doesn’t take a Rhodes scholar to hold one finger down all night.” 

Don’t Always Trust your Internet Sources

So I  was reading about this fantastic game that I happened to watch on television.  There was a website that discusses Reuss’ career and the 1980 no-hitter, the following citation is made:  “Jerry Reuss won 18 games and had a 2.51 ERA in 1980, despite allowing nine grand slams!  The nine slams allowed were a National League record, and Reuss allowed just three additional homers that season.”

(Link:    www.thebaseballpage.com/players/reussje01.php   )

I had a hard time believing that statistical fact.  I was almost certain I would have remembered Reuss giving up 9 grand slams home runs in a season with the Dodgers.  And in 1980?  His best year on the mound? He was 18-6 with a 2.51 ERA. He made the all-star team.  He finished second to 24 game winner Steve Carlton in the Cy Young voting. He led the league in shutouts with six. I couldn’t fathom him setting such a dubious record in that amazing season.

So I went through every Dodger box score on baseball-reference.com for the 1980 season.  And Reuss gave up a total of 12 home runs and only one grand slam, (to Johnny Bench on September 19th).  So that comment is completely inaccurate and I don’t know where it comes from.

Jerry started the year in the bullpen as Lasorda went with a rotation of Sutton, Hooton, Welch, Sutcliffe and Goltz.  The fact that Reuss only started 29 games probably cost him a shot at his only 20 game winning season.  Had he been in the rotation from the beginning, it is likely that the Dodgers would have won the division outright.

The Prankster

There is the classic story of how Lasorda entered his office one day and found that to his horror, every signed celebrity photo had been removed from his wall and replaced with three framed autographed photos of Jay Johnstone, Don Stanhouse and Jerry Reuss.

Then there was the groundskeeping incident.  When Reuss and Jay Johnstone put on grounds crew uniforms and raked the field between innings, only to be fined by Lasorda.  A fine that KABC Dodgertalk host Bud Furillo was able to pay off through listener’s donations.  With a lot of time to kill between starts, other Reuss exploits included:

• Running Steve Howe’s underwear up the Vero Beach flagpole
• Tying Lasorda’s shoelaces together during a TV interview causing him to fall flat on his face  
• Numerous hot foots of teammates
• Locking Lasorda in his Dodgertown hotel room by tying the doorknob to a palm tree and removing his phone so he couldn’t call for help. 

Jerry Reuss' partner in crime, Jay Johnstone

But the classic prank Reuss pulled was on Lou Piniella, then Manager of the New York Yankees.   The Dodgers happened to be playing at Wrigley for a day game.  That night, the Yankees were playing the White Sox at Comiskey.  Reuss showed up at the Yankee locker room, dropped an equipment bag on the floor and introduced himself to Piniella.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Piniella.  I’ll start or work relief, whatever you want.”

Piniella stood dumbfounded not knowing what to say as Reuss continued, “Didn’t they tell you?  You got me in a deal.”  To which Lou responded, “What deal?”  Reuss didn’t let up. “Didn’t George tell you?  We better close the door and talk.”

(I checked the veracity of this story and verified schedules from 1986.  It turns out that the Dodgers and Yankees were both in Chicago on May 6th and 7th of that year)

For a good laugh, here's Jerry Reuss, Jay Johnstone, Rick Monday and Steve Yeager performing "We are the Champions" on the SOLID GOLD TV show, 1981

A Solid Dodger, 1979-86

Reuss had the lowest ERA of any National League starter between 1980-85.  Always giving a consistent quality start, Jerry was able to pitch incredibly efficient in those years.  As a youngster with St. Louis, Houston and Pittsburgh, Reuss had a tendency to overthrow and be wild.  As a Dodger, he took a few ticks off the fastball and became a more efficient pitcher, concentrating on control and placement over blowing away hitters.

Jerry won two crucial games in 1981.  First the concluding game in the 5 game Houston Series, a 4-0 shutout that he tossed.  Second was winning game five of the World Series against the Yankees, 2-1, the final game at Dodger Stadium that year.  He was the hard luck loser to Steve Carlton in game one of the '83 NLCS against Philadelphia, losing 1-0.

Starting 201 games for the Dodgers in his 8 years with the club, I think it's fair to say that Reuss' best years were in a Dodger uniform.  Jerry is one of few players to have played in the Major Leagues in parts of four decades (1969-1990).  

Jerry started out as a Cardinal

*one additional note.  Jerry is an excellent photographer and his baseball related photos are posted on his flicker account under the name:  Everything_Jerry_Reuss

He also has an interesting website at www.jerryreuss.com

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As awful as the current Dodgers have looked this Spring Training, I am starting to get enthused over the performance thus far of Tony Gwynn Jr.  If he can hit, he can be a valuable addition to the club.  They certainly could use his defense in the outfield.