Posted on 02/09/2022 12:57:03 PM PST by FLNittany
My Dad has bone marrow cancer, and though it has sort of gone away, we all know it's coming back, and he has to remain on his chemo meds. He played MLB back when there were 16 teams.
He hit cleanup behind Willie Mays for a bit w/ the SF Giants, and wound up trade-bait and finally quit - making $5,600/year being a LH pinch hitter w/ no place to play.
He also coached Little League (in Williamsport of all places), and touched a lot of lives through the years - which I didn't really realize until later in life. Kids that didn't have what I had. I was a kid myself, so I didn't know.
I'm putting together a little golf outing for him in May to bring some of these guys together. I'd rather see them having fun and beers and golf w/ him than to see them at his funeral some day - that does no one any good.
I think Tanya nails this song, and people should live by the words she beautifully sings for the most part.
Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you have on?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDJ_qieca_s
LH pitcher hitting cleanup behind Willie Mays
He actually was a pitcher before he signed w/ the Giants. Irv Jeffries told him to be a first baseman/right fielder. Problem was the OF was littered w/ Alou brothers + Willie Mays, and 1B was to become McCovey’s position. Not to mention Cepeda was right behind him at Tacoma.
Says he was a pinch-hitter, not a pitcher.
That is a great history you have, what a gift your Father was to a great many people. If he played, I likely watched him. Where did he come up? A lot of the Giants started out in Tacoma, playing minor leagues. I met Willie McCovey there. I delivered papers to him, and sat on his stoop as he smoked. My dad met him, and they shared a love of baseball It has been 60+ years, but I remember his name as Dusty Rhodes. I could be wrong as I was about 9 years old. We went to the Tacoma ballpark and watched the Giants minor league team several times with them. Baseball was an ENORMOUS pleasure back before the money and fame went to those blessed with talents heads.
I know your dad wasn’t that clean up batter, but Dusty played for the Brooklyn Giants and in SF. He was a pinch hitter. I am just riffing here. The memories are sweet. I hope the ones of your father are as sweet to you.
Leo Durocher: “Anytime you see a fielder get under a ball and pound his glove - even in Little League - you know he’s going to catch it. I have seen (Dusty) Rhodes pound his glove and have the ball fall twenty feet behind him.” - Leo Durocher in Nice Guys Finish Last (1975)
I think I set him straight. Regardless, it’s all good.
It’s not about my Dad, but about the song and its meaning.
What a good kid you are!
Correction, my thoughts ran together.
I delivered papers to Dusty Rhodes, and sat on his stoop as he smoked and reminisced
...sorry, count on me to foul up a story. Maybe it was the tears in my eyes as I thought about my dad, and now yours.
This is the correction
I delivered papers to him, and sat on his stoop as he smoked. My dad met him, and they shared a love of baseball
Always liked her. Was at a baseball game in the early 90’s, and she came out and sang the National Anthem - the crowd went wild.
Not nearly as good as a Father he's been to me. But I try.
Desn’t seem to be in Baseball Reference. Maybe she means minor leaguer?
If you want to doxx someone, try harder. My Dad is all over baseball reference. I’d give you hints, but that wouldn’t take away from the fact that you seem to think this post was about him, not the song and actual meaning of it.
Maybe you should actually listen to it.
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