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Roy Sievers

Does Jerry Casale Remember Ted Williams?

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You bet!

Jerry Casale sent a thoughtful letter addressing his debut, the integration of the Red Sox and one famous teammate.

“The first game I pitched in the bigs was my favorite. I hit a home run and struck out Roy Sievers three times, who was quite a hitter.
I was in heaven after every win.”


Casale was busy becoming Red Sox Rookie of the Year in 1959. Was the Red Sox integration a distraction, with media, pickets and the arrival of Pumpsie Green?

“I really never gave it any thought over Pumpsie Green. I think he was just another player on the team.”


Most of all, Casale took notice of the nearby superstar in the clubhouse.

“The second biggest thrill was playing with the great Ted Williams, as I had my locker next to his the last two years. He was a very special guy and I loved him. He helped me plenty.

Thanks,
Jerry Casale”


Thank you, Jerry. Thanks, too, to the dream team at http://www.retrosheet.org/. Check out the Casale player page. Jerry is a humble guy with superb handwriting. He didn’t include that his first-start dinger was a THREE-RUN BLAST! Plus, that one was of only FOUR career homers.

Roy Sievers, St. Louis Cardinal?

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Long before spring training, the Hot Stove League of my mind
battled the Iowa winter. Instead of forecasting baseball 2010,
I pondered several possibilities of seasons past.

One “what if?” that’s called to me has been the
case of Roy Sievers.

The five-time All-Star finished his career with 318 home runs and 1,147 RBI.

The 1949 American League Rookie of the Year, this St.
Louis native chose the Browns over the Cardinals.
Redbirds super-scout Walter Shannon knew how talented
Sievers was. Still, Sievers slipped away.

When he did, Sievers saw his career shaped by
owner Bill Veeck.

What did he remember about considering the Cardinals?
How did Veeck inspire him?

Sievers wrote:

“Walter Shannon was a close friend of mine — watching me play ball and he even managed our baseball team (American Legion). He came out to my house every week to get me to sign with the Cardinals. Back then, the Cardinals had a great ball club — a lot of them were just starting.

My dad and I thought it best to sign with the Browns, due to the fact I could make it to the big leagues faster. As it turned out, everything worked out alright. Playing with the Cardinals would have been great. They were a good club.

Bill Veeck was a great owner to play for. He saved my career with the things he did medical wise. Sent me to the best hospital and doctor in Baltimore, John Hopkins. Doctor wrote me up in the medical books as the best operation performed on a ballplayer. Ended up playing 17-1/2 years in the big leagues.

Bill and Mary Frances were always great people. He treated players great. He knew their values. he was a showman. People loved him. All the things he did were for the good of the game.”

Since 1949, one other person has focused on “the good of the game.” Whether with the Browns or the Cardinals, Roy Sievers seemed destined to be a local hero.