ROCKY COLAVITO was my childhood hero back in Michigan in the He is one of the greatest baseball players in Cleveland Indians history. It was hard work, real labor, Colavito said of the business in which he partnered with his father-in-law. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Sunday, February 26, 11:03PM. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. This season, the Indians lead the majors with 10 complete games. Shipping, Payment & Auction Policies. Rocky Colavito had a .266 average over his career. Indians great Rocky Colavito has found contentment in Reading, In the three-way deal, the Indians gave up some future stars pitcher Tommy John, outfielder Tommy Agee and catcher John Romano. Had it stayed fair He would have been the only player to hit 4 Homers in a MLB Game twice! Pete Ward started in left field with Rocky Colavito in right. What a better way to add on to the already-fantastic All-Star Weekend set for Cleveland this year than by celebrating one of the Indians' best players of all-time in Rocky Colavito. His return to Cleveland had inadvertently added a new chapter to the Curse saga. He can be enshrined by the Veterans Committee. As a side gesture lets not forget Bill Madlock to go into the Hall. 4 homers in one game .He hit 45 homers in 1961. How much more attention would that have been? But while he lives only 10 minutes from the old ballpark where his career blossomed with the Reading Indians, he seldom goes. Rocky Colavito was one of my biggest boyhood heroes but when he was with the TigersI lived in Sault Ste. (Age 22-031d, cant say enough about a wonderful man.rocky rose. . Though he was a TIGER at the time, the CLEVELAND Fans gave him a standing ovation for his feat after he ended up grounding out to 2nd. Don't live on what you did as a player. On Tuesday morning, I sat next to my husband at breakfast as he bemoaned all the coverage of Prince Harrys new book, " Spare ." (Incidentally, Colavito had the most poetically rhythmic name in pro sports: Rocco Domenico Colavito.) That same year, at 35, he retired. In July 2016, the board of directors for the Baseball Hall of Fame announced changes that all but shut the door on players who made their greatest mark before 1970. Sweet Lou Piniella and the 1978 New York Yankees, when he pitched and won a game for the Yankees, the 10 best players not in the Hall of Fame, Maury Wills: Barnstorming with Jackie Robinson and Luke Easter, Analyzing Maury Wills impact on baseball through stolen base opportunities, The most-deserving players not in the Hall of Fame: Right fielders, The most-deserving players not in the Hall of Fame: Center fielders, Does he belong in the Hall of Fame? vs. BOS 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, Rookie Status: - 100% polyester heavyweight "Double Knit" fabric. Rocky Colavito had 374 home runs over his career. How Much Should I Charge For Wedding Photography, Rocky Colavito was born on Thursday, August 10, 1933, in New York, New York. on a day that will live in infamy , they traded Rocky Colavito to the Pennsylvania Gov. Does he belong in the Hall of Fame? from the SABR BioProject, More Rocky Colavito Pages at Baseball Reference. To me, Colavito falls into a class of players who might have been Hall of Famers had they kept up the pace from the first half of their careers, rather than falling almost completely off the map around 30. As long as deserving players like Roger Maris, Rocky Colavito, Dale Murphy, Don Mattingly, not to mention the Steroid Era players, are not included then I consider it a joke. If rocky and dale had been in New York or LA they would be in the hof. It was hard for me, Colavito said. On Tuesday morning, I sat next to my husband at breakfast as he bemoaned all the coverage of Prince Harrys new book, " Spare ." Rocky is a genuine gentleman. Rocky Colavitos 374 career home runs are impressive, but in combination with his other numbers, he is on balance still a Cooperstown outsider in my estimation. I saw the ball good in Cleveland, he said. Rocky made it even more special by hitting 4 Homers in a Doubleheader the very next day as Only 35 years old at the time of his retirement, Colavito almost certainly could have hung on for another year or two. Rocky Colavito was one of my biggest boyhood heroes but when he was with the TigersI lived in Sault Ste. The people of Cleveland still have so much affection for Rocky that I figured this was made to order for an All-Star Game, Sommer said. For 83-year-old Rocky Colavito, it could very well end any hope of him being enshrined in his lifetime. Come on. That birthday visit, in particular, was the trip that erased any lingering hard feelings. I loved hitting there.. 16 GOLD GLOVES the most by any pitcher! It's nice to have great teams in Cleveland again! Rocky (#21 from 1965-67) was still miffed when asked about it just a couple of years back. I just did it . No one cares about when you pitched. But Mike McNally, the farm director, told me to check the pitchers.. CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A statue honoring Cleveland Indians legend Rocky Colavito was unveiled Tuesday at Tony Brush Park in Little Italy. In 1960, the Indians traded star right fielder Rocky Colavito. Graded PSA Mint 9. he would have stayed on one or two teams.anyway he didnt need to pad his stats with peds and could pitch as well all he lacked was speed(flat feet) have written many of these comments and the hof are a bunch of jerks.i met rocky in 1974 in tex.he was coaching for clev. Are you looking for Sold Out available on sale? Yea, they will probably put in Bonds, Clemens, and McGwire before Mad Dog will even be considered. he was wonderful.talked to me for a half hour signed my cards at no charge and let me walk him to his car.he signed a topps 1964 super he said whats your name i said its rocky.he said whered you get that name i said i got it from you.i still have the card it says to rocky best wishes rocky colavito i plan to be buried with it.it was great to know that my hero was and is a wonderful man.he made me feel like i was 10 again. September 28, 1968 Web1958 Topps Rocky Colavito. Why: The Hall of Fame has no shortage of recentlyretired candidates these days through the Baseball Writers' Association of America, with stars such as Greg Maddux, Ken Griffey Jr. and Pedro Martinez sailing through on their first try with the writers in recent years. Colavito, a native of the Bronx and a fan of the Yankees while growing up, always had a large rooting section whenever he returned home. Same style jersey "Rocky Colavito" wore in 1965 while playing for the "Cleveland Indians". These packs have been in storage since 2003 and are now available to the bidding public. To me, Colavito falls into a class of players who might have been Hall of Famers had they kept up the pace from the first half of their careers, rather than falling almost completely off the map around 30. In his 1994 book, The Curse of Rocky Colavito: A Loving Look at a Thirty-Year Slump, Pluto suggested that the trade, made by Indians general manager Frank Lane to blunt Colavito's popularity and end his salary demands, led to a 34-season stretch where the Indians did not finish the season within 11 games of first place, from 1960 to 1993. I got letters from parents thanking me for teaching their kids discipline.. That same year, at 35, he retired. I always sincerely, deeply appreciate you being here for me. The then Indians fired manager Bobby Bragan in 1958. They married and by 1956, he was a full-time Indians outfielder and fan favorite. No small feats those. Colavito, who lives with his wife north of Reading in Bernville and has two sons, a daughter, five granddaughters and a great-grandson, still follows baseball. Juniper ? WebChoose your channel and watch what's on now! A Cleveland scout discovered him at a 1950 semipro game. When he retired he was third in the AL for lifetime homeruns by a right-handed batter. Asked whether Score would have been a Hall of Famer if not for his injury, Colavito carefully considered his words. by David Laurila. Another thing was his outfield play . The Rock, now 74, sits in a tree 28 feet above the ground with a bow and a carbon arrow, and a netted hat to keep out the bugs. Do you have a blog? That birthday visit, in particular, was the trip that erased any lingering hard feelings. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Lot 0022B, Jan 02, 2023. Rocky Colavito 1961 Topps #330 Baseball Card. These are genuine 12 card packs with 6 cards hidden in the middle. His biography, Rocky Colavito: Cleveland's Iconic Slugger" (McFarland, 2019), takes a timely look at a virtuous figure who current players could learn a lot from emulating. In fact, theyve done it twice, 1920 and 1948, and they also lost to the New York Giants in the 1954 World Series. If the Hall uses what Rogers Hornsby used to judge to judge great palyers5 great years in MLBRocky would be in and so would quite a few othersAlso quite a few would NOT!Too much attention is paid for lifetime achievements and not enough for defenseJim Kaat is one big example280 wins! Make your reputation as a good broadcaster. By allowing only a double to Kaline and two walks during his 2-2/3 stint Rocky Colavito has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. Legends usually inspire curses. This book celebrates his Hall-of-Fame broadcasting career with stories from Joe and dozens of fans, media colleagues, and players. To me. since 1960 when madman Frank Lane traded Rocky Colavito to the Tigers. And 41 in Cleveland. A lifetime batting average of .266, 374 career home runs and 1,730 hits dont seem sufficient for Cooperstown, and several of the players Colavito charts most closely to offensively fall into the good-but-not-great category: Boog Powell, Norm Cash, Frank Howard. With my leg, he said, it's just an extra effort. If he did not have the competition of the likes of Mantle, Killerbrew, Gentile, Maris, etc he may have had more home run, slugging and rbi titles. Upcoming Auctions Auctions Near Me How Auctions Work | Get pre-approved to bid live. Then theres Colavitos teammate from the Indians, Minnie Minoso. Your email address will not be published. A Bronx native who in the . It was not claimed that Colavito placed the curse, and he has denied doing so. He is 85 now, retired and missing a portion of his right leg that circulation problems claimed. Groundbreaking for the statue took place Tuesday morning at Tony Brush . Found inside Page 182He said, 'You're a broadcaster now. All were solid members of their teams in their day, but if every man like this were to be honored, the Hall of Fame would mushroom in size and become watered down to the point Id be devoting columns here to whether or not Reggie Sanders deserved induction. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. CLEVELAND One of the most popular players in Cleveland Indians history was honored on Tuesday when a statue of Rocky Colavito was unveiled and dedicated . 60s ! The right fielder went into rapid decline after 1966, bouncing between four teams his final two seasons, though as noted here recently, Colavito had a moment in the sun his last year in the majors, 1968, when he pitched and won a game for the Yankees. Not just a homer , but homers . All were solid members of their teams in their day, but if every man like this were to be honored, the Hall of Fame would mushroom in size and become watered down to the point Id be devoting columns here to whether or not Reggie Sanders deserved induction. An inside, in-depth look a fascinating baseball life, from small-town sandlots to the World Series. Required fields are marked *. With my leg, he said, its just an extra effort. He even had the tickets and did not go. Cleveland youngsters formed fan clubs and swarmed him for autographs. Colavito was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 10, Superior Distributors will be Rocky Colavito. Prior to the publication of Pluto's book The Curse of Rocky Colavito, there had been another explanation for the Guardians' difficulties, one that came after the 1954 World Series but preceded the 1960 Colavito trade. Fans in Cleveland were outraged by what they saw as the betrayal by the Indians' general manager, Frank Lane. Ted Kluszewski is another player like this from Colavitos era. That's three pretty damn good ballplayers, he said. With his flat feet and long, slow stride, it was almost comical watching Rocky try to run. A Bronx native who in the 1950s and 1960s became one of the sports brightest stars and perhaps the most popular Cleveland Indian ever, Colavito has lived for decades in virtual anonymity near Reading. You just Dont Knock THE ROCK !! Green called Mark Sommers book, Rocky Colavito: Clevelands Iconic Slugger the turning point in bringing a respectful hat tip to Colavitos life and career. Colavito tried broadcasting and scouted for the Yankees, but when his father-in-law grew ill in the late 60s, he headed for the mushroom buildings on the Temple farm. A lifetime batting average of .266, 374 career home runs and 1,730 hits dont seem sufficient for Cooperstown, and several of the players Colavito charts most closely to offensively fall into the good-but-not-great category: Boog Powell, Norm Cash, Frank Howard. In 1959, the Sporting News named Colavito the player most likely to break Babe Ruth's 60-home run mark. Despite that initial classification, Colavito was strictly an outfielder during his first professional season. In Colavito's prime, big Municipal Stadium crowds cheered him wildly. No small feats those. You did what you had to do and you got your hands dirty.. Those were the days when the old ballpark on 33rd Street in Baltimore was not so cozy for sluggers. We were partners for the purpose of growing mushrooms and I learned to buy manure, spawn, top soil, how to spray for red mites, how to work the dirt.. I had hard feelings toward Frank Lane, he said. Rocky may fall a little short in getting in, but is should be remembered what an excellent right fielder he was having excellent range, a great arm and setting the record as the first outfielder to have an errorless season. Kevins 160-acres of stunning Rocky Mountain property features two lakes, a main house and two guest homes nestled outside of Aspen, Colorado. I always felt bad that he didnt get a job in baseball. You did what you had to do and you got your hands dirty.. And beginning in 1964, he started to bounce around from Kansas City to a second stint in Cleveland to the White Sox, Dodgers and finally the Yankees. California residents do not sell my data request. WebBrowse 79 rocky colavito stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. I always sincerely, deeply appreciate you being here for me article title an inside, in-depth a! 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