Poseurs (‘50s Version, Non-Pitching Division)

Last week, we looked at some pretty piss-poor pitching poses.  This week, we’ll look at the other guys on the diamond.  And there are plenty of opportunities to look stupid there too, whether batting, catching, fielding, managing, or just posing for a portrait.  Here we go …

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I have a funny feeling the photographers loved Marv.  “Pretend it’s sneaking around a pole, Marv.  That’s right.  Is it goin’ out or ain’t it?  Perfect!”  [click]

Marvelous Marv Throneberry was the living symbol of the ineptitude of the early Mets.  He couldn’t field, he couldn’t hit, and he couldn’t run.  Perhaps the most famous of many stories told about him is when he hit a triple but was called out for not touching first.  When Casey Stengel came out to argue, one of the umps told him, “Casey, I hate to tell you this, but he also missed second."

“Hold on, my head’s on a little loose.  Let me make sure it’s on good and tight.”  Alternatively, this could be Phil’s preferred pose for a high pop-up straight up the shoot.  Gotta protect the ol’ noggin.

Phil Masi had a long career, primarily as a backup catcher.  He’s most well known for a controversial pickoff call in the 1948 World Series.  He was the runner, and was called safe, though later photos seemed to show just the opposite.  He revealed that he was indeed out only on his deathbed.

It’s a little know fact, but in addition to cats and jackals and falcons, the ancient Egyptians also worshipped catchers.  Here we have a statue of the god Delmar. 

Del Crandall was one of the better catchers of the ‘50s.  He won four Golden Gloves, caught three no-hitters, and made the All-Star team eight times.  His 45% caught stealing rate ranks eighth all time.  Not a bad hitter either.

And this is Bastet, the cat god.  Note the resemblance.

“Ooh, ooh, throw it to me!  Over here, guys, over here!”

You may know Alfonso better as “Chico.”  He was actually quite a trailblazer.  He was the first of a long line of Venezuelan shortstops – Luis Aparicio, Dave Concepción, Ozzie Guillén, Omar Vizquel – and also was the first Latino to make it to the All Star game.  Hopefully, someone there did indeed throw him the ball.

Poor managers.  Poses are even more limited for them.   Basically, managers just stand there.  At the top step of the dugout is a very popular location for this.

Hall of Famer Bill here got a little creative.  I hope he’s not sharing anything too secret here.  I have a funny feeling the other team might be able to hear him.

When I coached, one of my favorite things to emphasize was to “get your butt down!”  I had exercises like the “crab walk” and fielding while sitting on a bucket to bring the lesson home.  Looks like Nellie would have passed with flying colors. 

Actually, isn’t this one of the more difficult yoga positions?  I think it’s called the “ready fielder” or something like that.

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Why so fey, Nellie?  Why so fey?

And here;s Nellie hustling his little tail off, with his mouth full of chaw, and with his mouth full of more chaw.

* - author has this card