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Cardinals Teammate Diering Wasn’t Surprised By Joe Garagiola

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Joe Garagiola was baseball’s first Bob Uecker.

The former catcher transformed baseball TV broadcasts.
Always funny, always smart, always himself. Even a boring,
one-sided game would be fun with Joe behind the mike.

Even beyond his retirement years, Joe kept spinning great baseball yarns.
Just Play Ball
is still classic Garagiola. It’s a book worth reading.

Chuck Diering debuted with the Cardinals in 1947. Being
a fellow St. Louis native allowed him to know Garagiola well.
Diering wrote:

“I wasn’t surprised because Joe was always a good speaker when we attended affairs at times.

“Being a catcher, he always had lots of time to talk to other players and have stories to tell.”

The secret to Garagiola’s success? All that squatting around!

Chuck Diering Gets the Last Laugh Against Orioles Teammate Bob Turley

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Chuck Diering owns charter membership in the Baltimore Orioles.

One of the first-year players in 1954, Diering won Most Valuable Player honors with the club. Was that Baltimore’s top prize that year? Diering explained:

“It was quite an experience. We were not a good team, older players and weak at bat.

“The fans accepted us very well and supported us.

“I was happy to receive MVP award. I was hoping to win new Caddie for Most Popular Player. I still have trophy. Bob Turley won car.

“He probably doesn’t have car now. I still have trophy.”

Tomorrow: Diering gives his theory on Joe Garagiola’s success!

White Sox catcher Don Wheeler’s Summer Job

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“See ya, Mom. Time for work.”

“What time will you be home, son?”

“That depends on how many innings we go.”

A decade ago, I tried tracking down all Minnesota-born baseball players. I found Don Wheeler, oddly nicknamed “Scott.” I asked him about his start in pro ball as a Twin Cities boy before there were Twins.

“I played with the Mpls Millers in 1948: I lived at home that year.”

Talk about the summer job of your dreams! Playing for pay before adoring hometown fans?

Nevertheless, Wheeler wanted to note his pride at one year in the majors.

“It was a great experience to play for the White Sox in 1949. In those days I wish the pay could have been what it is today.”

Wheeler became part of a baseball tradition in Minneapolis. Author Stew Thornley documented the team’s rich history in his pioneering book On to Nicollet: The Glory & Fame of the Minneapolis Millers

In his book and inspiring website, Thornley notes that 15 future Hall of Famers wore the Millers uniform.

I’d guess that Wheeler, who died in 2003, prized that White Sox memory to the end. He stuck with the organization, never to see another day in the majors after 1949. The White Sox released him at the start of the 1956 season.

(Photo courtesy of Stew Thornley)

Two Questions For Autograph Set Collectors

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For anyone working to complete an autographed card set, I applaud you. It’s not an easy or fast task.

However, I’ve got to ask two questions, based on the online comments I see from frustrated through-the-mail collectors.

1. Are you sending only one card? I see the “he didn’t sign” or “he kept my set card” all the time. Sending one card means you’ll get your most desired card back if the person signs.

2. Are you explaining that you’re working on a goal of a completed set? The guy you’re contacting knows about goals. He worked to make the majors. He worked to keep his job. Every day included a goal for him.

For older sets, I’d think a collector could add, “If you’re unable to autograph the card enclosed, I’d be grateful if you could return it, so the card could go back in my set.” You might convince an on-the-fence signer that way.

Think it’s impossible to praise a cup-of-coffee player, someone with sad stats from a too-brief stay in baseball? Try pointing out that this person wore a major league uniform AND became one of only 660 people to appear in that year’s set. Not everyone who plays in a season gets in that year’s Topps set, right?

(Maury Wills just seconded me on this one…)

Oriole Jim Pyburn’s Humble Homers

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Jim Pyburn’s career in Baltimore whizzed by in a mere 155 games. From 1955-57, he couldn’t find a permanent home in the O’s lineup. He’s remembered as one of the team’s many pre-Brooks Robinson third basemen.

Pyburn surprised me with his answer to my letter. I asked if he could supply details on his most meaningful home run.

He belted all three on the road, the first against Dick Brodowski in Washington April 27, 1956. Pyburn followed with a two-run shot against White Sox hurler Gerry Staley June 20.

Nearly a year later, Pyburn’s last career homer (a two-run dinger) supplied the winning margin in a 4-1 win in Detroit.

He chose to reply in just one word:

“LUCKY”

Thanks again to Retrosheet.org for its valuable insights into another career.