R I P Rocky Colavito :

[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.