Jones antics in Detroit bring back memories of Baseball Soliloquy in Pantomime, http://www.youtube.com/v/13dUZTSf_lM&hl=en, Thanks to the Tigers Todd Jones, shown in the rain delay video above, this weeks Flashback Friday could only be about one thing: Rick Dempseys Baseball Soliloquy in Pantomime.. He started the 1976 season as Munsons backup but was dealt to Baltimore in a blockbuster deal on June 15 that also saw Tippy Martinez, Rudy May, Scott McGregor and Dave Pagan headed to the Os in exchange for Doyle Alexander, Ken Holtzman, Grant Jackson, Jimmy Freeman and Elrod Hendricks. For relief from baseball pressures, he would take it upon himself to be the club entertainer. Dempsey joined the Air National Guard in 1969, which allowed him to continue playing for much of the summer and he played well back in the Midwest League, hitting .364 in 151 at-bats. Let me talk to you for a half hour and if it doesnt work out, Ill go home and retire. After throwing out several runners in his first start against the Red Sox on June 22, Dempsey had gained an in with his manager. Rick Dempsey of the Baltimore Orioles at bat during a game from his 1985 season with the Baltimore Orioles. Ask Dupree about Dempseys other side. Debbie Ray. Which leads to this piece on Rick Dempsey's rain-delay entertainment: I used to listen to him and Jim Palmer battling. 13, 1969In this rare footage, a glimpse into the inner workings of the Orioles clubhouse when Frank Robinson ran it -- and its Kangaroo Court. "Hey Rick," I shouted, "I saw your rain delay act at Fenway back in 1977!". No one ever interviewed me about being the Dodger manager but my name showed up in the L.A. Times about it and that upset someone, so I left the Dodgers. They wanted a lefty hitting catcher and I became Thurman Munsons backup guy. He had the best record in the league at throwing out base stealers, and had mastered the rest of a catchers defensive repertory as well. This is what were going to do, I told him. I went and I got that baseball to throw it to the fans and I was in my socks slipping all over. I know how to do it, but it takes a while to get a rhythm and timing for the game and your ballclub. Mike Scioscia and I got a lot of accolades for turning the staff around. But still there was a conflict with Weaver. 16 from Two Runs or More, The Start of Rookie League Ball in Bluefield. He wrote for the Long Beach Press Telegram and Orange County Register before joining The Times in 1982 and won an Associated Press Sports Editors award for investigative reporting on betting scams. Dempsey's dad was a Vaudeville actor and his mother was a Broadway star. [1] He played for 24 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1992, most prominently for the Baltimore Orioles where he played for 10 years and was a member of the 1983 World Series winning team. He played both ends of a doubleheader the next day. Thanks for sharing your memories, Enchanting Sunshine. Same deal -- it was a rainy day, and Babe Ruth called his shot. 4. So Rich Dauer came running in as I was drying off and said, "Demps, they want you to come back out there! Pictures of a book signing event at Barnes & Noble in Bel Air featuring former Baltimore . John Rikard Dempsey (September 13, 1949 - ) played major league baseball for 24 seasons as a catcher for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers. They packed their guts with pillows to mimic the Hall of Fame duo in absurdist, legendary style. One time, they batted out of order. [2] He usually did not make a large contribution offensively. That decision wasnt final, though. 3.4K views, 33 likes, 5 loves, 3 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Here's to the Night: Rick Dempsey has officially been dethroned as the king of the rain delay. Basketball Players. Sudakis was traded to the Angels after the season. 6. He retired in November 2020. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I went into the managers office and said can you send me somewhere where I can get the opportunity to play? There is another side. Required fields are marked *. It was great.. It was a reaction, but what a punch. While playing for the Dodgers in 1990, he became involved in a brawl with Phillies' center fielder Lenny Dykstra, who took exception to Dempsey's fraternization with the home plate umpire. I loved everything about him, especially the way he would pick off every would be base-stealer. Rick Dempsey Found 137 people in Texas, Florida and 44 other states. Twenty-two Flags over the Bronx Ride the Iron Horse, take a cruise on the Yankee Clipper and visit the Seraglio of the. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say. [7][13][14][15], In 1987, Dempsey became a free agent and signed a contract to play for the Cleveland Indians. They either dont hit, dont pitch, dont field or dont run the bases properly. So, I went back out to the tarp and did Babe Ruth hitting the homer. I was dragging three pieces of luggage and a hang up bag across the parking lot. He played under Orioles manager Earl Weaver starting in 1967. So as I skated around the tarp, everyone started to sing with me. Thoughts from Brewers Nation or Is It "The Bre Flashback Friday: One of the "Forgotten Birds", Comeback Win No. [11][12] Dempsey posted a .385 batting average along with a .923 slugging percentage in the five-game series, and won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, one of six catchers to have won the award. He also appeared in six games for the Yankees before embarking on a journey that would last another 18 years in the Major Leagues. Hes had that singular focus since he was a youngster growing up in California and starring in local Little and Pony Leagues. It was a Catholic high school so the priests helped me a little but with my grades so Id be eligible to play sports. Then he started telling jokes, and then stories about the big leagues. I yelled and screamed and Fred told me we want you to be Rick Dempsey and not Earl Weaver. I went into the clubhouse and was drying off because it was pretty wet out there. [19] He is the uncle of former major league catcher Gregg Zaun. A missed sign might cause a player $10, a stiff penalty for a minor leaguer on a $1,000-per-month salary. He possessed a cannon for an arm and was a magician who helped guide some of the games greatest pitching staffs to a pair of World Series titles, picking up a World Series MVP for himself along the way. If you ever saw it, youd never forget it. This time they won, topping the Phillies in five games with Dempsey earning the Series MVP after hitting .385 with four doubles and a homer. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. Still, it took time for Dempsey to get any consistent playing time. It seemed to Dempsey that the team was usually leading when Dupree came in and trailing by the time he came out. We dont make the big money yet.. . [2] In 1997, he was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame. After his tenure with the Orioles ended in 1986, Dempsey signed with Cleveland for the 1987 season, where he did little and was released in October. 20; No. And plotted. [7] He was a durable player, only going on the disabled list twice in his career. Within a week he crashed. I hit him, Dempsey says. I forget the game, but it was a month or two ago and there was a lengthy rain delay. The Yankees had already won the division because the Red Sox eliminated us on Friday, and we knocked them out of it with a win on Saturday. Dupree crumpled to the dirt in a heap, several bones in his face fractured. While Dempsey never hit higher than .262 during his decade as Baltimores starting catcher, his presence behind the plate and in the clubhouse made him the perfect veteran leader, especially as Palmer wound down his career and retired. Rick Dempsey was a catcher for 24 MLB seasons and MVP of the 1983 World Series in which the Orioles beat the Phillies. Get some baseballs and get back out on the tarp." Just e-mail your list of the 12 greatest L.A. Dodgers, ranked in order, to houston.mitchell@latimes.com. I told him I wished he wouldnt fly, that he was a baseball player. Chass, Murray. All of a sudden, the people in the stadium started pounding on the grandstands with their feet. Copyright (c) 2017. It was tough for a while, Dempsey says. Thats where I made my mark. He will enter 2006 as the bullpen coach, replacing Ellie Hendricks. During his season with the Brewers, Dempsey made two relief pitching appearances, giving up three hits and one run in two innings pitched. The next time he would see Minnesota would be as a visiting player. Dempsey, of course, inherited their genes, and thus went on to stuff towels in his shirt during a 1977 rain delay at Fenway Park, imitating Babe Ruth and sliding across the tarp on his padded stomach. I was 40 years old but I knew I could still play, Dempsey said. Dempsey does tell them stories. In 1995, Dempsey worked as a field reporter for ABC's coverage of the All-Star Game from Texas.'. The mic caught every word. They say, "That's the guy who ran around on the tarp." Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Whats interesting is that the idea to perform in the rain was actually Sparky Lyles and not Dempseys. I got it signed by everybody. 31 - RickDempsey, Friday Bird Droppings: Where Adley and Grayson put on a show. He spent it in the press box with the Bakersfield broadcast team, doing color commentary. One of his most infamous umpire interactions came in the middle of an eventual 9-3 win over Detroit, when first-base umpire Bill Haller called a balk on Os pitcher Mike Flanagan. 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Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. He went to Spring Training with Baltimore in 1992 and didnt make the club, getting cut the last week of camp. The Yankees are winning the division and Im sitting here in Baltimore, 12 games out.. Think throwing a no-hitter got you a free pass in those days? Questions, compliments, or complaints can be sent to Matthew Taylor at roarfrom34@gmail.com. Included in that group are Jeff Suppan, Sean Gilmartin and Ryon Healy. Elliott: After trading away Jonathan Quick, Kings make more deals ahead of trade deadline, After four decades, trainer Ed Moger gets his first Triple Crown starter, An exclusive look at details of Chip Kellys two-year contract extension from UCLA, His shoe game is pretty tight. Why Dodgers hope Miguel Rojas play matches his swag, Rats in the laundry? He was a one-man diversion during a rain delay. free shipping SAME DAY SHIPPING. In Wilton, residents dig their way out after 7 inches of snow falls. Weaver had history with Haller; years earlier, hed publicly said Haller shouldnt be allowed to call Tigers games because his brother, Tom, was their backup catcher. Football Memorabilia. Catcher Rick Dempsey #24, of the Baltimore Orioles, argues the call with the home plate umpire Larry Barnett during a game on September 12, 1982 against the Cleveland Indians at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Dempsey first performed his act during a rain delay at Fenway Park in 1977, well short of the YouTube and DVR generation. He then went 2-for-12 in the ALCS against the White Sox, but then came the World Series. He quickly tossed Weaver, and Weaver responded by spewing an animated, profanity-laced tirade. Well, for that I think of him pronouncing Melky Cabreras first name as Milky. Either way, thinking of the guy puts a smile on my face. I dont enjoy retirement, he said. Manager Earl Weaver #4 and catcher Rick Dempsey #24 of the Baltimore Orioles stands on the mound to make a pitching change during an Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. [1], While he was a light-hitting player, Dempsey's lengthy major league career was due in part to his excellent defensive skills, despite the fact that he never won a Gold Glove. Which is why such a swing of emotions unfolded when Indians center fielder Brad Komminsk seemed to take a home run away from Ripken Jr. on this September night at Memorial Stadium, only to have his momentum carry him over the center-field wall. While Dempsey made the Major League roster in 1972, he didnt last long, hitting .200 in 25 games before being sent to Tacoma of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he would spend the remainder of the season. During his career, which spanned from 1969-1992, Dempsey was known as one of the best defensive catchers in the game. So, he left and 40 minutes later he came back and said you made the club. Nfl Teams. New York came calling, Dempsey said. He talked about players and the things theyd done.. Baseball Library dot com has a nice bio piece about Dempsey. Rick Dempsey: What Inspired His Rain-Delay Theatrics. I put a pillow in my shirt so I could look a little bit like Babe Ruth. Loved it! I was skating to the ball and the organist started playing rain drops keep falling my head. I saw Thurman a couple of days before he crashed the plane, Dempsey said. Rick Dempsey rain delay entertainment. But instead of doing a Babe Ruth pantomime, I did one of Robin Yount hitting two home runs in the last game of the 1982 season at Memorial Stadium. Well, there was one baseball left on the tarp, and I said to myself, I'm going to run out there and grab that baseball and get this whole stadium screaming. Thats not really me.. Quick with a quip. Broncos. He eventually came out and I said Im sorry Mr. Claire, I never give up on anything, dont make me do it now. I was in the outfield with Sparky during batting practice [with the Yankees] and he said one of these days Im going to run around the tarp and do a pantomime of Babe Ruth doing his home run, Dempsey said. Rick Dempsey and Rain Delays - The Times Have Changed roarfrom34.com/Baltim. It felt like I hit whipped cream.. 8. [10], The highlight of his career came in 1983, when the Orioles won the American League Eastern Division pennant, then defeated the Chicago White Sox in the 1983 American League Championship Series, before winning the 1983 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Then I "hit" the long drive to straightaway center field and started to take the home-run trot. I got to my room and stuck my key in the door and it didnt open. Despite a strong camp, though, Claire said he needed to send him to Triple-A for a bit until he could find a place for Alex Trevino. I said, "Why would you want to do that? Really, hes only gone off on us once, Lund says. Palmer told me I had to stand up to him otherwise hed bury me. Dave Skaggs #8 gets a hand from Eddie Murray #33 and Rick Dempsey #24 during the World Series at Three Rivers Stadium on October 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. But I held on to the ball. I wasnt a very good student. He was mentioned again as a possible candidate for the Baltimore manager's job in 2010, after the firing of Dave Trembley. [1] Dempsey led American League catchers twice in fielding percentage, twice in baserunners caught stealing and once in assists. The idea for a line of neckties, many characterized by vibrant colors and sheens, came directly from his work with MASN, where the on-air talent is expected to dress up and look sharp. Catcher who won World Series titles with the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers during his 24-year career. Funny, they don't remember that once in a while I got a hit. The Orioles won 10-3. A steady rain postponed the Milwaukee Brewers-Baltimore Orioles game at County Stadium, but it didn't stop Rick Dempsey and Sammy Stewart from reenacting the final game of the Orioles' 1982 season against the Brewers.Dempsey has developed a reputation for his slides on rain-soaked tarpaulins. [7] He became known for his exceptional ability to handle pitching staffs, his strong throwing arm, and for his agility behind home plate. But I learned how to handle a good staff with Baltimore and ended up being the everyday catcher for 10 years. Not dark, just different. The decade wasnt always great, though. I never let anybody steal bases, I never missed a runner that I had a half decent chance to throw out and I never missed a ball in the dirt., he MVP of the 1983 World Series Baltimore Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey (r) talks with ABC's commentator Reggie Jackson (C) while Orioles owner Edward Bennett Williams (L) is on the phone in the Orioles locker room after the Orioles defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in game five of the 1983 World Series, October 16, 1983 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. October 7, 2012. Santarone would pour a layer of vinegar over the mix and let it set for a few days, then drain it and do the same with oil. He speaks warmly about memories of attending drive-in movies with his parents and how, in between features, he was consumed with the highlights of Dodger games that were shown on the big screen. But Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays into interpretive theater. But Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays into interpretive theater. Consider his "rain delay theater" a blend of both, and one of the more famous comedy bits in MLB history. 22. One punch. In 14 World Series and 11 playoff games, he batted .303 (20-for-66) with 11 runs, 11 doubles, 1 home run, 7 RBI, 1 stolen base and 7 bases on balls. It bites into your day, especially when you think about rent and food, says Matt Filson, the teams left fielder. Not only that, but the teams and Major League Baseball said they didn't want players running around on the tarp because somebody could get hurt and cost someone a lot of money. He ended up hitting .304 in 19 playoff and World Series games for Baltimore. Baltimore Orioles, Baseball, Books, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, New York Yankees, Rick Dempsey, Robin Yount, Sparky Lyle, 'Let Them Lead' Beloved Fourth-Line Grinder Earns Magical Moment, Tony Parker: Tough Love From Gregg Popovich 'Sometimes Bordered On Abuse', Thomas Morstead: From Wrong Side Of Minneapolis Miracle To Star Of Kids' Book, Nicklas Lidstrom's Crowning Moment At The Olympics In 2006, Copyright 2023 Sports Media Ventures, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The next year I went to Wisconsin Rapids and didnt hardly play at all. Dempsey knew that he wanted to keep playing. Category: Sports. Sammy had a way of playing with the ball, flipping it with his hand, that added a nice touch. Here he is, with the Bakersfield Dodgers, and in his very first season as manager, his is the worst team in the Class-A California League. Some too-early Week 1 spring training reactions. Tonight's rain delay in the World Series brings one name to the mind of most baseball fans: Rick Dempsey. The place was packed because we were still playing for second place. Im 175 pounds and hes 235 with world-class speed. Rick Dempseyof the Los Angeles Dodgers attemptsto catch a foul ball at Dodger Stadium circa 1988 in Los angeles,California. Covered a Mets-Astros doubleheader in 1987 and never looked back. 3. I got along with him really well.. They said come in Friday, well have a meeting and put you someplace but I showed up for the meeting and they didnt and that was the end of it with me and Baltimore.. Gross tubs? Once you master that, all youre left with is the game itself. 17, 1980Now for one a bit less good-natured, but that will live forever nonetheless. [6], For the next ten and a half seasons, Dempsey would remain as the Orioles' starting catcher. He then did an exaggerated Ruth home-run trot around the bases, sliding into each base and falling when rounding third. Next on her target list: Cal Ripken Jr., who would later homer in the Orioles 9-4 win over Texas. Youth is most often blamed, and it is a legitimate excuse. No wonder television wanted him. He told me he gave that ball to the Hall of Fame. Dempsey is quick to admit that bettering himself in sports, not academics, was his main focus while attending Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino. We had a day off in Minnesota and the Yankees were in the same hotel. While he was long an Orioles superfan and ballpark fixture, the 1979 World Series thrust Hagy onto the national stage. Weaver enjoyed Soliloquy and came to enjoy even more the defensive skills Dempsey developed. Either way, thinking of the guy puts a smile on my face. We want Dempsey!" Only Gene Kelly ever sang and danced better with the water turned on. He then got the crowd to sing "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head." When Spring Training rolled around in 1988 Dempsey was at Vero Beach with the Dodgers. You know what I'm going to do? A nice guy, that Dempsey. [4] After two seasons in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut late in the 1969 season for the division winning Twins managed by Billy Martin, however he didn't qualify for the postseason roster. Source: Okrent (1985), Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game, p. 246.
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