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I love odd poo poo in sports. I'm mainly a baseball guy, so this OP will be about that. However, if you have something weird and obscure to share, even a little factoid, please contribute. So long as it's interesting, unusual, and sports-related, it will be welcomed in this thread. Herb Washington Herb Washington was a former world-class sprinter who played parts of the 1974 and 75 seasons with the Oakland A's. He did not qualify for the 1972 Olympics, but it doesn't matter: Dude was fast as hell. He is significant in that he was strictly signed by Charley Finley as a "Designated Runner." He held a roster spot specifically to be a late-inning pinch-runner and base stealer. He had 105 MLB appearances without ever having a plate appearance or playing the field. In his short career he was 31 for 48 in steal attempts and scored 33 runs. He also got picked off in a crucial moment of Game 1 of the 1974 World Series. His 1975 Topps baseball card is the only one ever issued with the "pinch runner" position label. He was released in 1975 and replaced by another pinch-running specialist who could also play the outfield. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/washihe01.shtml Today, he is the owner of 2 dozen McDonalds franchises and is doing pretty well for himself. Color-coded uniforms In 1882, someone had the brilliant idea of requiring all 9 positions to wear a different, color-coded, ugly uniform. First basemen had to wear scarlet and white striped shirts and caps, while shortstops were in solid maroon. It was a very short-lived experiment and widely derided by fans. Very few pictures exist, but here is one of them: http://exhibits.baseballhalloffame.org/dressed_to_the_nines/timeline_1882.htm This might give a better visual: http://www.threadsofourgame.com/1882-cincinnati/ (sorry for the links instead of the straight up pics. My computer is being hella weird right now and I cant get into any of the photo sites) Eddie Gaedel Most of you know this one: It's the time when Bill Veeck hired the greatest midget who ever played to bat leadoff for his St. Louis Browns on August 19, 1951. Attendance was sparse and the Browns were... the Browns (much like today in the NFL). Ever the showman, Veeck had the idea to sign Gaedel, and even went so far as to actually sign him to a contract 2 days prior, which he produced when the opposing team balked at the idea. At the time there was no rule, so Gaedel had to bat. Fearing that his new player might actually take a swing, Veeck was kind of a dick and threatened Gaedel that he would be shot dead by a sniper across the street if the bat ever left his shoulder. Seeing as the ball was bigger than Gaedel's strike zone, he walked on 4 pitches and was immediately lifted for a pinch runner. Obviously, the rule was made immediately after to bar midgets from ever playing again. In an excellent troll move, after the American League President voided Gaedel's contract the next day, Veeck threatened to request an official ruling on if Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto was "a short ballplayer or a tall dwarf." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gaedel
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Feb 8, 2017 18:25
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| # ? May 6, 2024 12:34 |
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