R I P Rocky Colavito :

[MikeGarcia]

[marzoumanian]

In August 1968 I had just turned 13. I was listening to the Yankees on my transistor radio that I had won in a writing contest when I was 7. They were losing to Detroit (I believe) and Ralph Houk decided to bring in Rocky to pitch the last couple of innings. This is why I love baseball: the Yankees rallied, won the game, and Rocky got the win!
I was at a show decades later and decided to get his autograph. I brought up that game as he signed my ball. He remembered it fondly and smiled.
What a sweet man. RIP, Rocky, and thanks for giving a teenager a very fond memory as he listened to his little transistor radio.

[GeoPoto]

Farewell, Rocky. My only Rocky:

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[MikeGarcia]

Originally Posted by marzoumanian

In August 1968 I had just turned 13. I was listening to the Yankees on my transistor radio that I had won in a writing contest when I was 7. They were losing to Detroit (I believe) and Ralph Houk decided to bring in Rocky to pitch the last couple of innings. This is why I love baseball: the Yankees rallied, won the game, and Rocky got the win!
I was at a show decades later and decided to get his autograph. I brought up that game as he signed my ball. He remembered it fondly and smiled.
What a sweet man. RIP, Rocky, and thanks for giving a teenager a very fond memory as he listened to his little transistor radio.

.. I recall , maybe wrongly , an anecdote from long long ago , that he was one of a very few players to have played the most different positions in one day of baseball ?? Like maybe a doubleheader in which both games went into extra innings ?? And he played infield and outfield and the battery ?? Anybody aware of that as a " stat " ? Thanks.

[jingram058]

He hit the last home run ever at Russwood Park. The ballpark's grandstands, mainly wood, burned completely down that night after an exhibition game between the Indians and the White Sox.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by MikeGarcia

.. I recall , maybe wrongly , an anecdote from long long ago , that he was one of a very few players to have played the most different positions in one day of baseball ?? Like maybe a doubleheader in which both games went into extra innings ?? And he played infield and outfield and the battery ?? Anybody aware of that as a " stat " ? Thanks.

Colavito only played outfield positions and 1B, but he did pitch for Cleveland and the Yankees. 5.2 total innings—never let up a run.

[Gorditadogg]

He was a great player in his prime. I remember him at the end of his career with the White Sox. Sox were hoping he could help them make a run, but he had nothing left in the tank by then.

[Balticfox]

Very sad.



He was one of my very favourite players when I was a kid. His name was magic to me. The Indians should never have traded him.

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

Farewell, Rocky. My only Rocky:

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PSA mislabeled that panel, it’s actually a 1965.

[GeoPoto]

Yeah. I knew that. I actually have two Rocky's.

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[AustinMike]

Very sad news!

I've been a Mantle fan since 1960, but never had a chance to see him play live (other than TV) until 1968. We were at Beale AFB in northern California and my dad took my brother and I to Oakland to see the Yankees. It was a beautiful, sunny Sunday. There was an old-timers game before the Yanks-A's. Got to see the three DiMaggio brothers in the outfield. Then, the main event - Yanks vs. A's. Much to my chagrin, Mantle didn't start. Much to my horror, he never got in the game. I could only see him walking around in the dugout.

But, although I was/am disappointed I didn't get to see Mantle play, I did see the best throw I've ever seen. Campy Campaneris was on 2nd base. There was a long line drive to Colavito who was playing in left field. He fielded it on one hop and made a perfect throw to home plate to get Campy. Due to seeing that throw, I wasn't as disappointed at not seeing Mantle play and I became a Colavito fan.

I've always wanted to get an autographed photo with Mantle and Colavito, both in Yankee uniforms, but this is the best I've been able to find so far.

Mantle Austograph with Colavito.jpg

RIP Rocky!

[gonefishin]

I always loved the name! He and Maris shared a lot of the same path in their early years. I'm lucky to have a couple of autographed items from those years, and a couple of my favorites are an original Stark autographed drawing from 1993, and an autographed 1957 Sohio by both Colavito and Maris.

RIP Rocky!

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by marzoumanian

In August 1968 I had just turned 13. I was listening to the Yankees on my transistor radio that I had won in a writing contest when I was 7. They were losing to Detroit (I believe) and Ralph Houk decided to bring in Rocky to pitch the last couple of innings. This is why I love baseball: the Yankees rallied, won the game, and Rocky got the win!
I was at a show decades later and decided to get his autograph. I brought up that game as he signed my ball. He remembered it fondly and smiled.
What a sweet man. RIP, Rocky, and thanks for giving a teenager a very fond memory as he listened to his little transistor radio.

Nice reminiscence. Don't see the term "transistor radio" come up much anymore. I'll bet the Generation Whatevers have never seen one in action. A mainstay of my '50s youth.

Rocky Colavito was the drawing card when the Indians came to Yankee Stadium. For starters had that great name. There were certain players who were popular if only because the way their moniker rolled off the tongue. Ted Kluszewski, Rip Repulski, Orlando Cepeda. Rocco Colavito. Plus he looked like a movie star right out of West Side Story. Went to many Yankee games and usually sat in the lower right field grandstands hard by Gate Six. As a result I got to see close up guys like Rocky and Al Kaline, Jackie Jensen and Roger Maris patrolling the starboard garden. No highlight reel recollections to report but happy memories all the same.

RIP Rocky Colavito

[The Detroit Collector]

Rip

[JLange]

Sad to see Rocky pass. Rocky Colavito cards and memorabilia are on every Cleveland collector's wantlist.

[MarcosCards]

For us who cheered for the Tigers in the early 1960’s — we loved Rocky Colavito. To pull his 1962 Topps batting cage card would make you temporary king of the neighborhood. Who remembers his back-stretching maneuver with his bat? Classic Rocky.

[JollyElm]

1964colavitostandupnonperforated.jpg

Here's a cool card to add to the thread, a 1964 Topps Stand-Up Colavito without any perforations.

Rest in peace, Rocky. Never heard a bad word about you.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Rocky. Never heard a bad word about you.

I heard he consented to play for the Yankees in his declining years though....

[Lucas00]

A solid player. Seemed like a nice person to fans as well.

[Balticfox]

There must though have been some kind of knock against Rocky Colavito during his playing days. After all, he was traded six times during his playing career and three of those times occurred before he turned 31! He had a total of 83 home runs and 224 RBIs in 1958 and 1959 but the Indians traded him to the Tigers after the 1959 season. He had 45 home runs and 140 RBIs in 1961 but the Tigers dealt him to the Kansas City Athletics after the 1963 season where they kept him for only one season despite his 34 home runs and 102 RBIs!

Granted only in 1958 did he have a batting average above .300 so he wasn't very good at hitting the ball where it was pitched but neither was he terrible at making contact. Admittedly his triples and base stealing stats show that he lacked speed but GMs were typically willing to overlook that detail if a player was capable of hitting the long ball on a regular basis.

So what was the knock against Colavito?

[Chris Counts]

To be fair to Rocky, the first trade he was involved with was done by "Trader Frank" Lane, who was simply addicted to trading. And it was famously considered his worst trade. The next two trades he was involved with also turned out great for the teams that acquired him. But he slumped a bit in 1966 before slumping badly in 1967, and by 1968, he seemed to have little left. The last couple trades seem like Hail Marys by teams hoping to revive his career.

Originally Posted by Balticfox

There must though have been some kind of knock against Rocky Colavito during his playing days. After all, he was traded six times during his playing career and three of those times occurred before he turned 31! He had a total of 83 home runs and 224 RBIs in 1958 and 1959 but the Indians traded him to the Tigers. He had 45 home runs and 140 RBIs in 1961 but the Tigers dealt him to the Kansas City Athletics after the 1963 season where they kept him for only one season despite his 34 home runs and 102 RBIs!

Granted only in 1958 did he have a batting average above .300 so he wasn't very good at hitting the ball where it was pitched but neither was he terrible at making contact. Admittedly his triples and base stealing stats show that he lacked speed but GMs were typically willing to overlook that detail if a player was capable of hitting the long ball on a regular basis.

So what was the knock against Colavito?

[brian1961]

Balticfox---- There was no knock against the Rock; he sadly suffered at the hands of the Cleveland Indians idiot general manager, "Frantic" Frank Lane. Lane could get bent out of shape for reasonable requests by a player, and dumb ass Lane would trade 'em, just like that. Cleveland's fans were SO bloodshot-eyes enraged at Lane they hung him in effigy.

Furthermore, MANY fans swore they would never attend another Indian game again. No idle threat, this. Cleveland's 1959 attendance had been a robust 1,497,976. Lane dealt Rocky the day before the 1960 season commenced. By the end of the '60 season, total attendance had plunged to 950,000, a stunning drop of 36.5 percent. The trade triggered a long spell of mediocrity, as the Tribe would not have a winning season until 1965, when Colavito had been DEALT BACK TO THE INDIANS. ---

RIP, Rocco. You were sure a terrific player. --- Brian Powell

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Balticfox---- There was no knock against the Rock; he sadly suffered at the hands of the Cleveland Indians idiot general manager, "Frantic" Frank Lane. Lane could get bent out of shape for reasonable requests by a player, and dumb ass Lane would trade 'em, just like that. Cleveland's fans were SO bloodshot-eyes enraged at Lane they hung him in effigy.

Furthermore, MANY fans swore they would never attend another Indian game again. No idle threat, this. Cleveland's 1959 attendance had been a robust 1,497,976. Lane dealt Rocky the day before the 1960 season commenced. By the end of the '60 season, total attendance had plunged to 950,000, a stunning drop of 36.5 percent. The trade triggered a long spell of mediocrity, as the Tribe would not have a winning season until 1965, when Colavito had been DEALT BACK TO THE INDIANS. ---

RIP, Rocco. You were sure a terrific player. --- Brian Powell

Not exactly the Curse of the Bambino, but I have seen references to the curse of Colavito.

[Peter_Spaeth]

His early cards are interesting. He's Rocco in 57, Rocky in 58, Rocco again in 59, and back to Rocky in 60.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by JLange

Rocky Colavito cards and memorabilia are on every Cleveland collector's wantlist.

Hey, wow! Carling Black Label and Rocky Colavito!



How many cards are in that set?

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by marzoumanian

In August 1968 I had just turned 13. I was listening to the Yankees on my transistor radio that I had won in a writing contest when I was 7. They were losing to Detroit (I believe) and Ralph Houk decided to bring in Rocky to pitch the last couple of innings. This is why I love baseball: the Yankees rallied, won the game, and Rocky got the win!
I was at a show decades later and decided to get his autograph. I brought up that game as he signed my ball. He remembered it fondly and smiled.
What a sweet man. RIP, Rocky, and thanks for giving a teenager a very fond memory as he listened to his little transistor radio.

He also pitched 3 innings of solid relief in a 1958 game, after hitting a double as the right fielder, he hit a triple as the pitcher.

[JCM2009]

RIP Rocco.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

A solid player. Seemed like a nice person to fans as well.

What an awesome shot!! Thanks for posting!


.

[Lucas00]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

What an awesome shot!! Thanks for posting!


.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed this one!

[ajenks3378]

Still looking for an Cleveland Opening Day 1960 ticket stub…they traded him right before to the Tigers who the Tribe played that day…
If anyone has one let me know

[petersmolik909]

Rip Rocky.






ROCKY COLAVITO Signed Cleveland Indians 8x10 PHOTO Kneeling Jsa /Coa

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by ajenks3378

Still looking for an Cleveland Opening Day 1960 ticket stub…they traded him right before to the Tigers who the Tribe played that day….

Wouldn't a game program be even more of a prize?

[BRoberts]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Wouldn't a game program be even more of a prize?

Not to a ticket-stub collector.

[JLange]

Looks Like Carling Beer produced these sets of Cleveland Indians players from 1955 to at least 1961. The sets were 10 players each, and the cards are really big at around 8-1/2” x 12” or so. Rocky appears in these sets 4 times, 1957-60. He has a different pose in 1957, then the same pose for 1958-60. Here’s 3 x same pose cards 1958-60. I have not come across any 1957s in a long time, and don’t recall seeing the Rocky for sale. The Trading Card Database has the 1957 pic though so I know it’s out there!

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Hey, wow! Carling Black Label and Rocky Colavito!


How many cards are in that set?

[carlsonjok]

In April of this year, I picked up this magazine at a show for a C-note. Unfortunately, both Mays and Colavito passed this year.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by carlsonjok

In April of this year, I picked up this magazine at a show for a C-note. Unfortunately, both Mays and Colavito passed this year.

Even more unfortunate for Nellie Fox, who was born a few years before these two, but passed away... in 1975!

[Balticfox]

I have Rocky Colavito in these two 1962 releases:

Post Canadian Baseball



Shirriff Potato Chips Baseball



But because these are two of my very favourite Baseball issues, I never realized I'm sorely lacking any other Rocky Colavito cards! I'll have to add his Topps 1957, 1958, 1962 and 1963 cards as well as his 1959 'Destruction Crew' and 'Great Catch Saves Game' cards to my collection over time.