February Newsletter
By Gilbert D. Martinez
Pete Rose – a polarizing ballplayer during his playing days and long after his suspension from baseball – continues to dominate conversations of die-hard and casual baseball fans alike. A New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist and SABR member joined us on Zoom for SABR Day on Saturday to remind us of Rose’s great baseball accomplishments and the poor choices and gambling addiction that derailed his legacy.
Keith O’Brien, author of “Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball,” helped us celebrate SABR Day by explaining why now is the right time to revisit Rose’s career, the gambling scandal and his continued exile from the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
“This was a man who we only care about his fall because we cared about his rise,” O’Brien said. “One thing I wanted to do with this book is reconstruct that. Bring us back to that time when we cared and why we loved him. Bring him to the mountaintop and let him fall as he does.”
About a dozen SABR members and guests joined us for the conversation with O’Brien. The meeting was recorded is available on YouTube at this link and below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWyHnloOh6Y
Many thanks to O’Brien for previewing his book, which is scheduled to be published on March 26. He offered to share bookmarks and a signature plate for those who reach out to him with proof of purchase (please email Gilbert Martinez for more details at gmartinez46@mac.com).
You can find more information about Keith O’Brien and links to order his book on this website: https://keithob.com/
Caribbean Series in Miami
Chapter members Monte Cely and Mike Dillon are in Miami watching the Caribbean Series at loanDepot Park, home of MLB’s Miami Marlins. Monte has been sharing dispatches from Miami with the Google Group list.
“For 2024, there is a field of seven league champions – the permanent members Mexico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico, joined by invitees Panama, Curacao, and Nicaragua,” Monte wrote. “They will play a single round robin (three games daily for seven days with each team having a ‘bye’ day).”
Semifinals are scheduled for Feb. 8 and will be broadcast on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. The third-place game will be on Feb. 9, followed by the Caribbean Series Championship.
Research Spotlight
Chapter member Dan Walsh noticed that Joe Mauer’s election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame made him the second Hall of Famer, joining Paul Molitor, from Cretin High School in St. Paul. Dan posed a question and a hint for our email list: “Can you name any other HOFers who went to the same high school? Hint: Think California.”
What followed was a robust discussion with spot-on guesses and near misses. The next day, Dan shared the list with us, and included some on the horizon.
Here’s the complete list of HOF members from the same high school. Following high school and city, other notable players from the school are shown in brackets.
Walter Johnson / Arky Vaughn – Fullerton Union HS, Fullerton, CA (Vern Stephens, Steve Busby) (Note: Vern Stephens attended Long Beach Poly High School, not Fullerton)
Joe Cronin / Harry Heilman – Sacred Heart Cathedral HS, San Francisco (Dolph Camilli, Jim Gentile)
Paul Waner / Lloyd Waner – Harrah HS, Harrah, OK
Frank Chance / Tom Seaver – Fresno HS, Fresno, CA (Jim Maloney, Dutch Leonard)
Joe DiMaggio / Tony Lazzeri – Galileo HS, San Francisco (Dom & Vince DiMaggio, Bobby Brown)
Frank Robinson / Ernie Lombardi – McClymonds HS, Oakland (Vada Pinson, Curt Flood, Lee Lacy)
Eddie Murray / Ozzie Smith – Locke HS, Los Angeles (HS teammates)
Barry Larkin / Ken Griffey, Jr. – Archbishop Moeller HS, Cincinnati (Buddy & David Bell)
Tony LaRussa / Fred McGriff – Thomas Jefferson HS, Tampa, FL (Luis Gonzalez, Tino Martinez)
Paul Molitor / Joe Mauer – Cretin HS, St. Paul, MN (Jake Esch – Who? Esch is the only other major leaguer from this school, appeared in 4 games)
The Future: If Chase Utley gets elected, he will join Tony Gwynn – both played at LB Poly HS in Long Beach, CA.
If Manny Ramirez ever gets in, then he will join Rod Carew – both went to George Washington HS in New York City.
Next meeting on Sunday, March 24
With the start of spring training just days away, our next chapter meeting comes after the official start of the season with the Seoul Series. We’ll meet at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 24, at Serranos Cocina and Cantina, at MoPac and Ben White/71.
We’ll have a lot to talk about – from the Seoul Series, featuring the new-look Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, with games in South Korea to kick off the season and opening day on March 28 for the rest of the teams.
We’ll put out a call for RSVPs in early March.
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