By Edwin Cooney
It isn't always snowing in Detroit when the Tigers open their season at home in "the Motor City," but it was in 2021. Thus, in the third inning (I believe), when Tiger veteran slugger Miguel Cabrera lashed a ball into deep right field, he thought he’d only hit a double. Thus as he popped up and out of his slide into second base, he was covered with snow. As it turned out, Señor Cabrera didn't really have to slide as it was a home run, not a double! By the way, it was Miguel Cabrera's 483rd career blast and his 120th as a Detroit Tiger. Quite a way to begin the season!
That very day, while playing in Denver, the Dodgers hit a home run that wasn't. Dodger infielder Justin Turner was on base when teammate Cody Bellinger, batting left-handed, hit a pitch to the opposite field that baserunner Turner was sure the left fielder caught. So, as he should, Turner who had just rounded second, headed back to first base before the left fielder could throw the ball back to first and get him out as part of a double play. Meanwhile, Bellinger, who was sure it was a home run, rounded first and headed for second base. Looking over, he saw Turner heading back to first and realized both he and Turner were in trouble. Baseball rules say that if a batter passes a base runner, the batter is automatically out. Hence it was so because the Rockies' left fielder actually never touched the flying baseball. It merely touched his glove and sailed into the stands. After considerable discussion among the umpires, however, the play was termed a single and a run-batted-in because, after all, Bellinger had legitimately made it to first base. By the way, the Colorado Rockies defeated the World Champion Dodgers that day 8 to 5! (Note: Unfortunately, I can’t document this as I write, but two very prominent home run sluggers named Ruth and Gehrig both experienced an event similar to that of Bellinger and Turner around 1932.)
Zany events often occur on opening days. My favorite one occurred on Opening Day 1945 when the Pirate's shortstop Frankie Zak, after walking to open the game, called “time out” at first base to tie his shoe just as teammate Jim Russel hit one into the right field stands. Thus, Russel’s homer didn't count because the first base umpire granted Zak's request for the time out. The Pirates eventually lost that Tuesday, April 17th home opener, 7 to 6. Perhaps thereby increasing Zak’s embarrassment, Frankie was rewarded by Hall of Fame player and manager Frankie Frisch with a pair of buckled shoes! Embarrassing as this surely was, Frankie Zak, a native of Passaic, New Jersey, unlike most of the folks he ever knew, actually made it to the major leagues. In spite of his most infamous day, it’s my guess he was glad to have had that experience. Zak was born on Wednesday, February 22nd, 1922 and died just before his 50th birthday, Sunday, February 26th, 1972, in his native Passaic.
Baseball is a wonderful institution. Sometimes it's ahead of American culture as it was in 1945 when Dodger President and General Manager Branch Rickey signed Jackie Roosevelt Robinson to a major league contract. (Note: His middle name Roosevelt was for Teddy, not Franklin.) Jackie’s life was and remains a legitimate inspiration in that it invites each and every one of us to encourage “justice for all.”
The really significant news to come out of this first week of the season is baseball's decision to move the All Star Game out of Atlanta in the wake of the State of Georgia's determination to limit the access of Blacks and other minorities to vote in state and federal elections. The details of that decision are not fodder for examination here, but baseball's sense of priorities is both topical and even admirable!
I'm sure that men named Rickey, Robinson and Aaron would be highly pleased.
ME TOO!
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
EDWIN COONEY
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