Why Have You Gone, Carl Morton?

Originally signed by the Braves

Tom House, the pitching guru, made an admission that he took steroids in the 70's while playing for the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, and Seattle Mariners. What struck me from the 2005 article is he said that he and other "pitchers" were doing it to keep up with the competition. Not only roids but HGH. This was in the 70's! When Frank Thomas accused pitchers of taking roids about 2002, everyone thought it was sour grapes or just impossible because pitchers are throwing the ball while hitters are hitting. House's teammates joked that they weren't beaten but "out-milligrammed." Okay, it could be one guy and he could be not telling the truth. But I have always had this Arsenio Hall thing of "hmm" of certain players when I started reading this book called Baseball 1977 in 1982 which featured players from 1976 with bios of All-stars, rookies, and managers then basic stats of top players to mediocre ones in hitting and pitching.

Cincinnati Reds pitchers from the 1976 championship team just disappeared from sight. Gary Nolan, Rawly Eastwick, Will McEnaney, Jack Billingham, Pat Zachry and Don Gullett, gone. Yeah, some went to other teams but only one pitched after 1981. The 1979 Reds had two pitchers remaining from the '76 team, Fred Norman and Pedro Bourbon. Fred was the oldest player during that championship. While his teammates became mediocore (Billingham the exception), Norman maintained his consistency of 10 or more wins from 1973 to 1979. He finished his career with Montreal in 1980 at 38, going 4-4. Also in 1976, Mike Cuellar, who pitched so well with the Orioles in years past, went 4-13, traded to the Angels in 1977, and released by the Angels in '77 after going 0-1 with an era of 18.90. Earl Weaver said he gave him more chances than his wife when he went 4-13. John Montefusco, Ron Bryant, Randy Jones (Brent Strom), Bill Campbell (he pitched some more years but wasn't the same), Wayne Garland, Ken Holtzman, and Mark Fidrych. Done or mediocore after '76. But the one guy that really gets me is Carl Morton. MLB Network needs to do a show like Bill Kurtis' Cold Case, A&E stuff, and VH1 behind the music. When they do, his should be the first feature.

Rookie year. 

I came across him when I bought this book called NL Rookies of the Year. What struck me was that I heard about Ted Sizemore '69, Bake McBride '74, Earl Williams '71, John Matlack '72, and so on before I even read the book. Yet, no mention of him. That was true of co-winner with Zachry, Butch Metzger '76. Carl won it in 1970. He was 26 years old and was in the Braves organization until the expansion draft of 1968 where the Montreal Expos picked him. After that great season of '70 where he won 18 and lost 10, he had two subpar years and was traded to the Braves in 1973. With the Braves, he won 15, 16, and 17 games for the next three seasons. After a 4-9 record in '76, he was done despite signing a 100,000 contract from Ted Turner. I figured he started old and age caught up him. I found out later that he got traded to the Rangers in 1977 and was cut in spring training. Wow! I mean, you would think somebody would give him a chance to redeem themselves but apparently he couldn't because he tried to play in the Rangers' minor league system and was cut by the Pirates in spring training of 1978 .

What really struck me was his early death at the age of 39 in 1983. I mean baseball players don't die that young unless of some tragedy like drug overdose, accidents, or violence. He died while jogging near his parents house. Now, football players, yes, but baseball? Pitchers? Now, Tom House article opens up a can of worms because he mentions that not only he took steroids that horses wouldn't take but amphetamines and anything he can pop. In his confession, he doesn't mention cocaine or marijuana. However, he does mention that steroids was the additional cause of his knee surgeries (5 on the right and 2 on the left) because he gained so much weight from it. Studies show that it causes strain on your heart.

House says he came clean when he went back to school during the off-season and read the dangers about drugs. Today, he is a spokesperson about playing clean. But I have to wonder, how much is he telling the truth about who used and who didn't? But when he says 6 or 7 on each baseball staff either used steroids and HGH, it doesn't sound like sour grapes. I wonder how many hitters and position players were doing them? I guess it was impossible for hitters because they have to hit the ball while pitchers can throw the ball back in '76? I'm hoping Carl was clean on that staff and that Mr. House wasn't including him. Likewise, that heart attack was just that. But like then, I'm scratching my head a bit.

I Talked to Pauline Betz

Her famous cover from 1946

With this 2011 Wimbledon commemorating Billie Jean King's 50 year anniversary of her first grandslam title in doubles, I thought they should have honored Pauline Betz who died in late May of that year. Maybe, they will at they will at this year's U.S. Open.

When I got into tennis history research, I learned about Pauline from a Billie Jean King book when she wrote about great female tennis players from the past. Thanks to internet you get a lot of info but I didn't really trust those things. She was a war-time player who made the front page of Time Magazine. Her best year was 1946 when she was won Wimbledon, U.S. Amateur (Australia was too far so didn't play), and lost in the finals at the French to Margaret DuPont. Due to World War II, she could only play tournaments in the United States at the time. Won a lot of U.S. Amateur Titles. She was banned from amateur tournaments when she hinted that she might turn professional on a letter.   As a pro, she was pretty much undefeated but with less competition. However, she did beat Althea Gibson when she was 5 months pregnant at the age of 40 in a exhibition and lost to her in 2 hour match a few months before.

All these things made me do one of the craziest things but now looking back probably my favorite. I "talked called" her at some home she was staying for elders in Maryland. I had googled some article about a private school and it featured an article about her coaching there for many years. The article mentioned about where she was staying. I decided to make a phone call and boy was I nervous. The first time, it didn't get through but it got there the second time. She ended up talking to me.

I can't really remember what I said but I had so many questions. I only remember a few like was Pancho Gonzales the best tennis player, you saw?  She mentioned about Jack Kramer and then I mentioned about Don Budge (she copied his backhand). Likewise, I mentioned about her coaching Darlene Hard and she modestly said that she really didn't do anything. Finally, I asked her about her daughter going with the last name of Addonizio from the shortened Addie (her husband was Washington Sports writer, Bob Addie).

I  felt envious and threatened by her accomplishments. Word is that she was actually the first woman to beat Bobby Riggs when he was in his prime in private.  Likewise, Jack Kramer both in a practice session. She had a great backhand but a weak serve. Won a tennis scholarship to play on a men's team at Rollins. Her coach Eleanor "Teach" Tennant said that she had the heart of a "stevedore."  She won many titles except a grand-slam titles in doubles (she like the baseline, bad overhead). Off the court, a great academic, piano player, tournament bridge master, and took courses to take apart a car engine. Renaissance woman.

All these factors contributed to her being a great champion and help her hang socially with the guys as they called her "Bobbie." Gossip columnists followed her as she dated Jack Dempsey, Spencer Tracy, and friends with Katherine Hepburn and heiress, Barbara Hutton. However, she had bitter rivalry with her opponents of Margaret Osborne (later DuPont) and Louise Brough who received  favors with cash and lavish gifts from William DuPont Jr. He sponsored women's amateur tennis tour duing that time. Pauline never wanted to date him because he was a jock wannabe who was unathletic. As a result, Pauline had to sleep on the floor while Louise and Margaret got nice rooms in their tours.

Eventually, Pauline was banned from amateur tennis which ran the majors of Australian, French, Wimbledon, and U.S. until 1968 when professionals were allowed in those tournaments (Australia in 1969).  She simply wrote a letter to a friend that she was thinking about it. She played on a tour with Jack Kramer a former amateur and a pro player running the events with Bobby Riggs. They played everywhere in unusual arenas like basketball courts and dining places. It was deemed a failure because Pauline was too good and no opponent could match her for many years. Jack Kramer remarked that "a women's sports can never survive, its not competitive enough."

Being honored with her family and Billie Jean King

At the same time, she married Bob Addie and had 5 children (2 adopted). She said that she need a man who either could match her athletically or someone who didn't play sports. She did make comeback in the late 60's in doubles and local pros who played her when she was in her late 50's says that she could have given Chris Evert a run for her money. She stuck to being an instructor and a touring demonstrator. Home life proved to be difficult as described by her daughter, Kim, a poet in the San Francisco area. Her husband died in 1982 but she lived on.  Parkinson's disease eventually claimed for her many years and  her life at the age of 91.

I don't know how she will be remembered. I remember ending the conversation to her by saying that she reminded me of a biblical story of Ruth and asked her if she had gypsy ancestry due to her pointy nose from that Time Magazine cover. Whatever, dude. Regardless, I hope Billie Jean or whoever will get her organizers to bring Pauline's history to the forefront as well.

"Old School Team Ball?"

I like Lebron James. Everybody wonders what would happen if Len Bias was alive? Well, you are looking at him. 6'8 and weighs 270 with ability off the charts. Everyone wants to destroy him because of the expectation of a championship and his bailing out on Cleveland. Hell, if you had a mother like his and you found her with, well ..... I felt cheated when Len died and everybody in public put the blame on Len. Now, this same public is doing the same thing to LeBron who has played to his potential and his money.

I don't care if he chokes in championships for the rest of his career. He doesn't cheat himself or the game. Skip Bayless needs to shut-up and me, the fan. Yes, I screamed for him taking outside shots and missing them early in the shot-clock. But I cheered when he made them against the Bulls. Give Rick Carlisle credit for the Mavs toughness; something Joe Dumars doubted when Carlisle coached the Pistons and lost in the conference finals to the New Jersey Nets in 2003. Now, with Rick, my issue is him talking about old-school team basketball bull. If you do look back, the game has always had stars that failed to win. Including him.

The 1969 Lakers with Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, and Wilt Chamberlain. Jerry West got hurt and tried to play game 6 when he should have rested. Elgin didn't show up (he went to 7 Finals but wasn't the same after his knee injury in 1965), and Wilt clashed with Butch Van Breda Kolff and injured his knee in the last 7 minutes of Game 7.  The 1975 Washington Bullets with Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, and Kevin Porter. They were supposed to sweep the Golden State Warriors but they got swept. The Bullets got outplayed and outcoached. Rick Barry and his 12 bench buddies wore out the starting 5 of the Bullets. Phil Smith, Clifford Ray, Butch Beard, Jeff Mullins, Derek Dickey, Bill Bridges, and Jamal Wilkes (Keith then). Finally, you had the 1977 Philadelphia 76ers. Dr. J, World B. Free, George McGinnis, and Doug Collins. They lost to "team" Portland with Bill Walton's feet holding up long enough.  You can blame the Sixers coaching of Gene Shue, lack of ball movement on offense, and Darryl Dawkins accidentally punching out Doug Collins during a fight in Game 2. After leading the series 2-0, Doug stunk especially in the clutch, World B. was hurt and George McGinnis disappeared.  But Dr. J. scored 40 in a losing cause in Game 6 and made tough baskets as well as steals to bring cut the lead the two after Portland built a big lead. They had a chance to tie but George missed an open shot.

I don't know what Carlisle is talking about. You look at all those team that beat the stars, they didn't win the next year. Russell retired and Havlicek didn't like being the man, Barry didn't show up for Game in 7 in '76, and Bill Walton hurt his foot in the 78 playoffs, gone for good. But look at the Lakers, they won in 72 (minus Baylor) and went to another final in 73. The Bullets won in 1978 minus Porter, different coach, Dick Motta and a free agent in Bobby Dandridge. Like the Lakers, they went to another finals in 1979. Finally, the Sixers, let go of McGinnis, Shue, Dawkins and Free. Doug Collins retired due to injuries. But they went to Finals in 1980, 1982, and winning in 1983. My question is what did those so-called "old fashion teams" do. Boston had to get Dave Cowens and Larry Bird to win championships and had to wait 18 years before winning one with the stars of Garnett, Allen, and Pierce. Portland hasn't won past the first round and the Golden State Warriors are just happy to get to the playoffs.

In short, stars may not get you championship but you need them to contend for one, consistently. Nowitzki is one but putting pressure on one player maybe a bit too much to go to another final much less winning it. Give LeBron a chance. He will make the adjustments or will tell management to do so just like Elvin Hayes, Dr. J, and Wilt Chamberlain did. Joe Dumars did that by getting Rasheed Wallace in 2004 for coach Larry Brown who got rid of Rick Carlisle, the year before. "Star Carlisle?"

Guys who should be in the Hall

Dandridge with Milwaukee 

For some reason, this guy is not in the Hall. I think its a shame. He averaged 18.5 pts per a game been on two championships, played great defense, and could score at will. He had better stats than Bill Bradley who had help too. Rick Barry criticized him for not being a good passer but he wasn't soft like Rick under the boards and he was shorter and skinnier than Rick. Great swing man who played great defense on George Gervin, Dr.J, and Dennis Johnson on route for his Washington Bullets team winning it in 1978 (no help defense then). He had better stats than Bill Bradley and went to more championship finals than him. Bradley was a swing man too a decent one but Bobby was better scorer, rebounder, and defender.

He has been tagged like Chris Bosh with the Miami of being two and a half men. In Milwaukee, it was Kareem and
Oscar with Bobby and in Washington, it was Elvin and Wes. But if you look at the games closely, he always got the ball in the closing minutes of a game. Just look at the 1979 Eastern Conference Finals vs. San Antonio, Game 7. Who hit the game winning basket? 6'7 Bradley got his shot blocked by the 6'4 Wes in the 1971 Eastern Conference Finals. Bobby D. Got to put him in.

I say Ray Guy has the biggest injustice of all time when it comes to the Hall. This guy has won three Superbowl's, specialized punting as we know today (no more offense line guys kicking), and revolutionized punting with his ability to pooch and boom kicks. People remember Jack Squirek intercepting that Joe Theismann's pass near Washington's own goal at the end of halftime. But they don't remember Ray Guy's pooched the punt for 27 yards to pin them at that goaline. If he decided to boom kick and the ball hit the end zone, maybe Washington would have decided to run out the clock or be in better position to score. Oh, what about that snap that almost went over his head and caught it with one hand.

This is besides his All-Pro years, his athletic talents (could throw 70 yards, throw a 100 mph baseball , and played defensive back in college), and his own invention of hang time punts, he changed the game. He made punting an art and a science. Just take a look at Youtube with his instrutions on punting.

The Final injustice is Maury Wills. This man revolutionized the game with his base stealing and defense in the 60's. He proved that you didn't have to hit home runs to be a star. Ty Cobb did this as well as others in the early dead ball era. But Ty never won a World Series while Wills won three of them. Likewise, Wills played the infield and still spiked guys on the bases while Cobb played the outfield.  As Sandy Koufax said, "Before Maury, it was a bunch of slow white guys playing."

As a minor-leaguer with Seattle Rainers

Would we see a Lou Brock, Rickey Henderson, Omar Moreno, Davey Lopes, Bake McBride, Tommy Harper, Mickey Rivers, or Vince Coleman? Luis Aparicio came before him and stole bases but Aparicio didn't start a trend because Maury proved that stealing bases can win pennants over power on a consistent basis. The Dodger teams that he played on beat the slugging Giants of Mays, McCovey, and Cepeda to win pennants in 63, 65, and 66. He came into the league very late but has better batting average than the Hall guys of Mazeroski and Aparicio as well as Ozzie Smith and Phil Rizutto. Better fielder than Pee Wee Reese. With the exception of Maz, those guys only won one World Series. In short, Maury Wills is a champion like Bobby Dandridge and Ray Guy.

Roberto Hustled

I just got the DVD of the 1960 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees. There are two DVD's one with Game 7 in which Mazeroski hit that game ending homer and the other showing highlights of that game and the series.  Likewise, you had players of both teams discussing what went on during the series as well as the season. You had about 5 players discussing from the Yankees and about 3 or 4 from the Pirates. The Yankees from the losing side had interesting points of view with so many anecdotes. While, the Pirates was blase about their win.

You had one player talk about how Casey Stengel was actually fired before the series started and realizing that, he kind of managed in a loose manner. He discussed about putting a starting pitcher to face Mazeroski in Ralph Terry instead of Ryne Duren or Luis Arroyo who was warming up in the 9th. It wasn't just that game but others in which they lost. Like why Whitey Ford started game 3 instead of 1? The key discussion from both teams was Yankees pitcher, Jim Coates, not hustling to first base off Roberto Clemente's grounder in Game 7.  Both teams are unanimous that was the key play and the blame goes to Jim Coates. However, I beg to differ on who is to be blamed.

For one, the infield at Forbes Field was terrible, look what happened to Tony Kubek in Game 7. You just didn't know where the ball was going even if its hit right to you. It hit a pebble! The Pirates Dick Groat had a hard time fielding shots that were hit to him. Balls appeared to have a nice bounce only to end up gaining speed and movement as it got closer to him. Matter of fact, it happened twice which were counted as hits. Roger Maris considered one of the best even made an error. First baseman, Dick Stuart didn't play that game for the Pirates due to his fielding issues but Moose Skowron did. Jim Bouton said he was a bad fielder in his book Ball Four in which Moose responded that he didn't need to do that because he knew. But Moose can hit but so can Dick.

I first came across Jim Coates from a Danny Peary book of Cult Baseball Players in which he interviewed Vic Power and talked about how he use to try to intimidate him as well as Minnie Minoso. Coates had a reputation of throwing at hitters and he seemed to pick on black hitters.  Likewise, there was an interview with Ryne Duren who mentioned about Casey Stengel, years later, saying he made a mistake of putting Coates in there instead of Duren.  Other Yankees teammates like Bob Turley said that Casey should have been fired a year before and "was losing it" due to old age.  Bouton called Coates "Lurch" for his height and stiffness with bad fielding hands.

But if you look at the play, the hit by Clemente was a high bouncer and Clemente was moving real fast. Both Skowron and Coates kind of froze of who was going to get that ball because it was hit between the pitcher's mound and the first-baseman. Moose didn't charge fast enough for Coates to get behind him and Coates didn't go after the ball after contact was made and took a poor angle towards first like he was going to get the ball. They almost ran into each other. Bottom line was both did not communicate of who was going to make the play. That was due to the speed and hustle of Roberto Clemente.

Blame: sluggers and hard-throwers who can't field? That goes to Stengel for not putting fielder when you have a big lead as well a pitcher but how did he know that Clemente was going to be up. Had the ball not hit Kubek, it would have been a double play and Clemente would probably have hit in the 9th inning. Yet, he did bring in Coates after Bobby Shantz gave up an RBI to Dick Groat but didn't switch off Skowron. Look closer. Up to that point, Clemente didn't have a good game and was 0-3. He popped up, grounded into a double play, and grounded back to the pitcher.

Up to that point, Clemente was thought to be surly and if things didn't go his way, he would pout and wouldn't hustle on plays. Teammates like Mazeroski mentioned this. He didn't go back on the homer that Yogi Berra hit over the screen but stayed still nonchalantly. During his first five years there, he was injured and not playing up to his potential of 1956 in which he hit over .300. 1960, he really blossomed into the hitter and player that everyone saw in him but there was still doubts about his toughness and tenacity. Scouting reports believed that Clemente was afraid and anxious of inside pitches, was a bad-ball hitter who swung at everything without discipline, and didn't trust no one.

Therefore, going on that scouting report and Coates reputation of throwing inside. It looks like its in favor of the Yankees. Coates had the count in his favor of 1-2 with 2 outs. He fouled off two pitches that was way above his head and let one go because it hit the dirt. Coates didn't throw one strike to him during the sequence. Finally, Clemente reaches out a pitch that was way outside that seemed impossible to reach much less make contact but he did and the rest is history. Credit: Clemente. Blame: American society for not understanding the cultural issues of Clemente and underestimating his heart which affected the Pirates and the Yankees.

Kerry Melville and Ted Williams history

I just looking up debates of graphite rackets to wood as well as reading this book by Jackie MacMullan When the Game Was Ours about Magic Johnson and Larry Bird from the 80's. They both have the same feel and attitude in some ways. The Archie Bunker theme song rings in my head except that it is Lionel as Magic Johnson. Now, Jackie is not a racist or a bigot but she covers up for Larry. However, she uses Magic as foil compared to athletes with issues and shortcomings concerning the American worth ethic who happens to be black. Yes, the book is about Bird and Magic and you don't want to antagonize them. Now, Jackie is a great writer but like many idealistic writers, they aren't people smart like Mary Garber. Bird and Magic got her by the .....

She does mention about Larry's idol being Kareem. However, Jackie point out about Kareem's mood swings, not wanting to signing autographs, or talk to the media. No mention from Larry. She will talk about the drugs and how Larry avoided. Larry didn't know about Len Bias and Reggie Lewis. Bring up a quote from Paul Westphal about 65 percent of the NBA used coke during his player career and the players from the 1980 All-Star team who used it. Yet, no mention about Bird's teammate, Pete Maravich and the rumors. He seemed to know Pete. Didn't he learn to pass like him. Finally, the 1985 Chelsea bar fight before the Conference finals? Jackie says something about Larry hurting his hand it in a softball game before his rookie season. Larry talks about Cedric Maxwell being out of shape when signing the big contract costing the Celtics, the 1985 NBA title. No mention of Nick Harris.

She will talk about Magic being a role model but she will mention his shortcoming concerning being a punk to Michael Cooper when he kept fouling him to get ready for the Celtics, Jud Heathcote berating him, the press talking about his lack of an outside shot, Terry Harlow beating him in one-on-one in high school, and being punked as "Tragic" Johnson in the 1984 Finals. His sex life but she justifies it as being young and stupid. But he gets redeemed with Elizabeth Glaser of all folks. Likewise, he signed a little kid's autograph when Kareem rejected that kid's offer in front of his father. Now, that kid is a big time attorney and his father is a CEO that Magic was soliciting for his company. Sign those autographs.

However with Larry, he is perfect with no redeeming flaws but accepted ones like Ted Williams's stubbornness until his Mexican ancestry was revealed. Now, .400 is just .400. Ted didn't play defense, wasn't a great family man, or a champion even though he flew fighter jets in WW II and Korea. I wonder if that is going to happen to Larry Bird? Melungeon ancestry or Native American ancestry? Will we find out the truth about Corrie Bird, that he was the worst one-on-one defender, or the woman who was suing Bird and the patrons from Chelsea's? Was it "professional mutiny" from other Celtics except for Larry and Quinn Buckner that got Bill Fitch fired?

Kerry Melville Reid (right). Like Graf?

Kevin McHale is Croatian. Quinn Buckner was "supposedly" with Bird at Chelsea's and got cut the next year. As for Cedric Maxwell, he did play for Fitch in Houston for two years. Good writing by Jackie but she got suckered big time. It happens to me all the time and to a lot of idealistic fans. Now, could Kerry Melville won all those slams, if she had a graphite racket instead of wooden one? She did like to run-around her forehand like Steffi Graf did?