The Sporting News
Someone from something called Hispanics Across America has a slick idea for Major League Baseball-- retire Roberto Clemente's No. 21. But I'm not buying it, and neither is Jackie Robinson's daughter Sharon. Her father's number was retired by MLB nine years ago, and it was the last good idea Bud Selig has had. "If you do it for him (Clemente,) where do you go?" she asks, "Where do you stop? Then you neglect someone and create some big controversy."Clemente is still indisputably an enormous inspiration to Hispanic athletes, and I'll add also that he was a better player than Robinson. But he wasn't first. An infielder named Luis Castro is credited today as the first Latino in the big leagues, playing 42 games with the Philadelphia A's in 1902. A number of Cubans arrived in the decade that followed, and pitcher Adolfo Luque and catcher Mike Gonzalez were bona-fide stars. (Gonzalez even managed two short stints with the Cardinals in '38 and '40.) By the time Clemente arrived in Pittsburgh in 1955, Minnie Minoso and Chico Carrasquel were perennial All-Stars, and Bobby Avila was the reigning American League batting champion. When Clemente was still securing full-time position in the Pirates outfield, Sandy Amoros was securing the '55 World Sereies for the Dodgers with a great running catch behind third base in Game 7. In '56, Luis Aparicio would become the first ever Hispanic to be crowned Rookie of the Year.
Clemente was a talented, transcendent player, one worthy of unique honor by the league, but Jackie Robinson's contribution to the game-- and to the world-- deserves to stand alone.
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Let's return to the Cardinals. It's been a while. St. Louis P-D baseball writer Derrick Gould has an interesting take on the team's trending in the free agent market...
The Cardinals do rifle players, icily swapping parts without regard for connection or previous compliments. No better example than second base, right? Tony Womack, here for a career year and gone. Mark Grudzielanek, here for a career-reestablishing career and gone. Both cashed in on their Cardinal experience for richer contracts. Womack said he wasn’t approached by the Cardinals because “they were too busy with Edgar”. Grudzielanek was, but was presented with the Cardinals “slotting” approach to second base (among other positions). There is a successful and business savvy to the emotionless approach, but it’s hard for fans – and media, to be sure — to buy the in-season love display when winter brings the frost. The agent I spoke with said the approach may have a chilling effect on the Cardinals. Free agents see how a good season there isn’t rewarded there and may opt to go elsewhere. It also makes the Cardinal reliant on the recovery of a player – a player who fits the “slot” because of an off season, an injury, a wish to reclaim a career, et cetera, et cetera – and some day that may falter. It just hasn’t. Which brings us to Junior Spivey, et. al. This ’06 roster is rich with guys looking for career traction and willing to take a short-term deal and a pay cut to get it with the obliging Cardinals. Word travels among free agents. There are obvious pluses to coming to the Cardinals. Just don’t fall in love.
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When was the last time college basketball had a player worth watching?
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We're still 10 days away from the Super Bowl so let me get ahead of the hype. This year is case in point as to why neutral sites lack the drama required of great sporting matchups. As an AP writer pointed out, imagine the road warrior Steelers against the Seahawks in their rowdy northwest environs. Expect a nice, tight game, nevertheless. I'll pick the Steelers, but I'd take the Seahawks and the points if I were a betting man.
posted by CM @ 10:02 PM
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