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Author Topic: Oldes HOFer dies...  (Read 2532 times)

HudsonHawk

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Oldes HOFer dies...
« on: November 01, 2005, 10:58:51 am »
Didn't see this on Sunday, but Al Lopez, the oldest current HOFer died Sunday at the age of 97.

Lopez broke in with the Brooklyn Robins in 1928 and played 20 seasons with the Robins/Dodgers, Braves, Pirates, and Indians.  He ended his playing career with the most games ever caught in a career, a record that stood for 40 years.

After retiring, Lopez became a successful manager, skippering the Indians to a then-record 111 wins in 1954 and managed the last Chicago White Sox team (prior to this year) to reach the World Series, the "Go-Go Sox" of 1959.  If you don't think that's an accomplishment, just consider that from 1949-1964, those were the only teams not named the New York Yankees to win a pennant.

He is also the last surviving Major Leauge player to play a game prior to 1930.

On a side note, I once got a chance to meet Al Lopez when I was a kid.  He was a nice guy, talked to us kids for an hour.
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Ty in Tampa

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2005, 11:44:30 am »
Lopez was well-loved here in his hometown. In '92, Horizon Park became Al Lopez Park and they dedicated there a very nice bronze statue of him coming out of his crouch, going after a foul ball. Too bad they tore down that cool old stadium that bore his name.
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HudsonHawk

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2005, 12:14:51 pm »
Quote:

Lopez was well-loved here in his hometown. In '92, Horizon Park became Al Lopez Park and they dedicated there a very nice bronze statue of him coming out of his crouch, going after a foul ball. Too bad they tore down that cool old stadium that bore his name.



They tore down Al Lopez Field?  Damn, I didn't know that, but doesn't surprise me.  I spent many a summer nights there watching the old Tampa Tarpons.
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Ty in Tampa

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2005, 02:34:36 pm »
Yeah, they tore it down I think in '89. They were planning one of the many schemes to get MLB here and were seriously considering building a domed baseball stadium on the site. When the Dicketies left for Plant City, Al Lopez Field went unused so they decided to raze it. The Yankmees minor league training facility is now on the site.
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SoonerJim

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2005, 04:29:26 pm »
Quote:

Didn't see this on Sunday, but Al Lopez, the oldest current HOFer died Sunday at the age of 97.

Lopez broke in with the Brooklyn Robins in 1928 and played 20 seasons with the Robins/Dodgers, Braves, Pirates, and Indians.  He ended his playing career with the most games ever caught in a career, a record that stood for 40 years.

After retiring, Lopez became a successful manager, skippering the Indians to a then-record 111 wins in 1954 and managed the last Chicago White Sox team (prior to this year) to reach the World Series, the "Go-Go Sox" of 1959.  If you don't think that's an accomplishment, just consider that from 1949-1964, those were the only teams not named the New York Yankees to win a pennant.

He is also the last surviving Major Leauge player to play a game prior to 1930.

On a side note, I once got a chance to meet Al Lopez when I was a kid.  He was a nice guy, talked to us kids for an hour.



More karma, Lopez lived long enough to see the ChiSox win the WS. I guess some things were meant to be. Is Bob Aspromonte available to give us karma next year?
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jasonact

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2005, 04:57:06 pm »
Quote:

More karma, Lopez lived long enough to see the ChiSox win the WS. I guess some things were meant to be. Is Bob Aspromonte available to give us karma next year?



Nothing against Aspermonte, but I don't think we want his kind of karma. The Colts/Astros were not pretty while he was with them (due to no fault of his own).
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cuban

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2005, 07:01:52 pm »
Lopez caught Walter Johnson once. That's freakin' old.
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Andyzipp

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2005, 09:12:54 pm »
And Jim was his American Legion coach.
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JimR

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2005, 01:05:16 pm »
Johnson's coach, not Lopez.
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Curly

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2005, 03:14:23 pm »
Quote:

And Jim was his American Legion coach.



ROTFLMAO!
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homer

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2005, 03:26:43 pm »
Curly- Speaking of laughing asses off, your avatar is pure greatness.

Jim Rome had The Old Man on his show last Thursday, and before he brought him on he replayed a clip from his tour stop in Austin. He asked Ryan about Speedbag heading for the hill and what was going through his (Ryan's) mind. Nolan said...

"In my 27 year career, I?ve had 3 guys come at me like that. The first was Willie McCovey (6'4", 210)and the second was Dave Winfield (6'6", 220). I was relieved to see it was a small guy coming at me."

Robin Ventura (6'1", 198)
Nolan Ryan (6'2", 195)
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Curly

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Re: Oldes HOFer dies...
« Reply #11 on: November 03, 2005, 02:59:32 am »
Oh...so then you probably saw me falling all over myself.  They had that out at the Dell Diamond...it was over 100 degrees that day and the beers were flowing freely...kinda like the wet t-shirt contests.  Anyhow when the old man made his turn, I was just about horse, and on my third folding chair of the day.  You'd think an aluminum chair could handle a 230 pounder jumping up and down on it better than it did.  Oh well, at least we got to throw down with some OU dumbass that decided to make his presence know near the front...it was a shame watching them drag his drunk ass out.  I wish he would come back out, that was a great day long tailgate.
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