Change of decades

[Rob D.]

My favorite Sheffield-as-a-teammate-story:

There was a long-standing tradition in El Paso (for all I know they might still be doing it) that when a Diablos player hit a home run, after he crossed the plate, he'd walk along where the stands meet the field with his helmet and fans could come down and place dollar bills in it. Depending on how popular of a player you were, the importance of the homer and how many outs there were when you hit it, you could easily collect $100-$300, which was significant on a Double-A salary. (A guy named Alan Cartwright, who played in El Paso a few years before me, once hit a home run to win a game in the bottom of the ninth on the night when there were Fourth of July fireworks after the game. Because the fans weren't going anywhere, he was able to collect money for nearly an hour and came back to the clubhouse with nearly $1,000.)

Anyway, as cool as this sounds (and it was very cool), the first time you do it you feel like an idiot. It's just so surreal. You almost feel like you're begging. But the fans expect players to do it, because it gives them a chance to show their appreciation in an "up close and personal" way.

Well, the first time Sheffield homered at home, he didn't re-emerge from the dugout to collect his money. I think his exact words were, "F**k it, I ain't going out there." Worse, he sent a batboy out with a helmet. The fans started booing, and both papers in town made a huge deal of it the next day, one running the headline "Sheffield snubs fans."

The next night, upon going to the parking lot after the game, Sheffield found that someone had vandalized his car, which happened to be the latest model Trans Am -- red and gold with just about every option -- that his uncle Dwight Gooden had bought for him. Major crap hit the fan and culminated the next day with Sheffield calling Milwaukee's farm director and demanding they move him to another team.

Sadly, that request wasn't honored.

[barrysloate]

Sheffield really hasn't changed after all these years...Rob, could you tell back then that he was going to be a star?

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Sheffield really hasn't changed after all these years...Rob, could you tell back then that he was going to be a star?

Yes, but to be honest, I also thought Gregg Jefferies was a can't-miss guy.

But Sheffield had so much raw talent age 19, you figured that a tragedy was the only thing that was going to keep him from having a long major-league career. His arm, though wildly inaccurate, was amazingly strong. And his bat was so darn quick, even with that excessive waggle he did, not many fastballs got past him. This has become a cliche in describing hitters, but the ball really did sound different coming off his bat compared with other players.

[barrysloate]

Gregg Jefferies was actually pretty good for a few seasons...but overall his career was a disappointment.

[Anthony S.]

I played against Gregg Jefferies in American Legion back in 1985. He was on the San Mateo team (either that or Burlingame -- my SF suburbs coagulate with age). So was Scott Chiamparino -- that was a good team. I was on the SF team. The first time we played them I was amazed by his bat speed. He hit 2 or 3 absolute seeds. He also booted 2-3 grounders at short, though. I was supposed to pitch against them the following Sunday. My senior prom was the night before, so I showed up for the 10 am bus on Sunday morning having not slept and still in my tux. Coach took one look at me and sent me home. Turned out that Jefferies had signed with the Mets in the interim (I think he was taken around 20th overall in the first round) and left, so I'd never find out just how far he could hit my decidedly weak stuff.

[toppcat]

The most surprising name to me on the 4 decade list is Mike Morgan. Wow, I had no idea he was around that long.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

My favorite Sheffield-as-a-teammate-story:

There was a long-standing tradition in El Paso (for all I know they might still be doing it) that when a Diablos player hit a home run, after he crossed the plate, he'd walk along where the stands meet the field with his helmet and fans could come down and place dollar bills in it. Depending on how popular of a player you were, the importance of the homer and how many outs there were when you hit it, you could easily collect $100-$300, which was significant on a Double-A salary. (A guy named Alan Cartwright, who played in El Paso a few years before me, once hit a home run to win a game in the bottom of the ninth on the night when there were Fourth of July fireworks after the game. Because the fans weren't going anywhere, he was able to collect money for nearly an hour and came back to the clubhouse with nearly $1,000.)

Anyway, as cool as this sounds (and it was very cool), the first time you do it you feel like an idiot. It's just so surreal. You almost feel like you're begging. But the fans expect players to do it, because it gives them a chance to show their appreciation in an "up close and personal" way.

Well, the first time Sheffield homered at home, he didn't re-emerge from the dugout to collect his money. I think his exact words were, "F**k it, I ain't going out there." Worse, he sent a batboy out with a helmet. The fans started booing, and both papers in town made a huge deal of it the next day, one running the headline "Sheffield snubs fans."

The next night, upon going to the parking lot after the game, Sheffield found that someone had vandalized his car, which happened to be the latest model Trans Am -- red and gold with just about every option -- that his uncle Dwight Gooden had bought for him. Major crap hit the fan and culminated the next day with Sheffield calling Milwaukee's farm director and demanding they move him to another team.

Sadly, that request wasn't honored.

Great story...They used to "pass the hat" in Lincoln back in the 1950s. The year Dick Stuart hit 66 homers he said he made more money from passing the hat than he did in salary.

Dan

[Robextend]

Rob, who was a bigger star on your Diablos team...Sheffield or Greg Vaughn?

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by Robextend

Rob, who was a bigger star on your Diablos team...Sheffield or Greg Vaughn?

Rob,

That's a question I used to get asked a lot. I think the majority opinion was Sheffield, based simply on raw ability. They both had strong seasons, and without looking it up, my sense is that Vaughn probably had better numbers that year. But Sheffield had more tools. Vaughn, with that long swing he had, benefited greatly from playing in the Texas League's Western Division, which had the best hitter's parks (by far). To his credit, he made the necessary adjustments as he rose up the ladder and ended up having some great seasons in the majors.

As a side note, I always thought Vaughn begrudged all of the publicity that Sheffield received, and honestly, he couldn't be blamed for that.

[Robextend]

That's very interesting; Vaughn and Sheff were close:

Vaughn hit 28HR and batted 301 in 505abs

Sheffield hit 19HR and batted 314 in 296abs

This is around the time I seriously started to follow baseball (I am 28) and I see some familiar names on that roster including Bill Spiers, Doug Henry, George Canale and Randy Veres.

Thanks for responding Rob...

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by Robextend

That's very interesting; Vaughn and Sheff were close:

Vaughn hit 28HR and batted 301 in 505abs

Sheffield hit 19HR and batted 314 in 296abs

This is around the time I seriously started to follow baseball (I am 28) and I see some familiar names on that roster including Bill Spiers, Doug Henry, George Canale and Randy Veres.

Thanks for responding Rob...

Here's a tidbit about George Canale: He and I golfed together a lot (he was a very good golfer). In baseball, he hit left-handed, and he golfed right-handed. I golf left-handed, and one day on the course we were messing around, and he asked to borrow one of my clubs.

He took three swings left-handed and whiffed every time. And looked bad doing it. I was amazed. How could someone who was a really good left-handed hitter, plus a really good golfer, not be able to hit a golf ball left-handed?

George also was the best fielding first baseman I ever saw up close.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Great stories, Rob. Do you think Sheffield just didn't like the "begging" aspect of passing the hat, or was his so-called snub just that? I honestly wouldn't blame anyone for not wanting to take the fans' money.

By the way, I'm glad you got over your Tom Hume phase.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

Here's a tidbit about George Canale: He and I golfed together a lot (he was a very good golfer). In baseball, he hit left-handed, and he golfed right-handed. I golf left-handed, and one day on the course we were messing around, and he asked to borrow one of my clubs.

He took three swings left-handed and whiffed every time. And looked bad doing it. I was amazed. How could someone who was a really good left-handed hitter, plus a really good golfer, not be able to hit a golf ball left-handed?

George also was the best fielding first baseman I ever saw up close.

When I entered Kindergarten they had no idea what hand I was because I didn't favor one over the other...they forced me into a righty, but I still do a lot of things left handed that I can't do right handed...and some things I do with both hands just depending on how I feel. I sometimes even switch the mouse on the computer to the left side.