Ripken's first At Bat

ronsantohof · 03-07-2004, 01:49 PM

Cal Ripken Jr. remembers his first major-league start, which came against the Royals: “In my first at-bat, Paul Splittorff had two strikes on me. The next pitch was a fastball that I chopped over the mound. When it got over Splittorff's head, there was a clear lane for that ball to go to center field. There was nobody in sight. I just knew that the ball was going to bounce into center field for my first major-league hit.

“All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Frank White came into the picture. He backhanded the ball, jumped up in the air and threw to first for a great play. He threw me out by a millisecond. I ran back to our dugout and Ken Singleton said, ‘Welcome to the big leagues. That's Mr. Frank White.'

“It took me six or seven more at bats before I finally got a hit.”

When you talk about the great defensive second basemen, you start with Bill Mazeroski and end with Frank White. Don't bother with anyone else.

Rasmuth · 03-07-2004, 02:05 PM

And he eventually became a decent hitter too! (Frank White that is)

Ervinmagicsmall · 03-07-2004, 02:49 PM

Wow, a Frank White love thread. Who's gonna start the Tony Fernandez one?
Also I'm thinking that I may go ahead and bother with Ryne Sandberg and Robbie Alomar, but that's just me.

Teflon · 03-07-2004, 03:52 PM

I saw Ryne Sandberg in a fair number of games during his career thanks to WGN. While he was an outstanding hitter my perception of him as a fielder was that he made plays on what he got to - but seemed to cover a lot less territory and take a lot fewer chances on difficult plays than a Frank White type of fielder. I would be hesitant to rank Sandberg as one of the elite second baseman only on his fielding. All-around value, yes. Hitting, certainly one of the best all-time with Hornsby and Joe Morgan. Fielding - not so much.

congobeast · 03-08-2004, 04:24 PM

Ah, but you can't forget Dodgers great Steve Sax... dink-and-dunk hitter without peer... and good lord. That man could throw to the fellow in the sixth row box seats like nobody's...

..what?...

...That's a bad thing?...

Uh... never mind. Forget I said that.

Gastric ReFlux · 03-08-2004, 04:27 PM

This reminds me of a funny story I heard about Chuck Knoblauch...

AnotherAlias · 03-08-2004, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Teflon
I saw Ryne Sandberg in a fair number of games during his career thanks to WGN. While he was an outstanding hitter my perception of him as a fielder was that he made plays on what he got to - but seemed to cover a lot less territory and take a lot fewer chances on difficult plays than a Frank White type of fielder. I would be hesitant to rank Sandberg as one of the elite second baseman only on his fielding. All-around value, yes. Hitting, certainly one of the best all-time with Hornsby and Joe Morgan. Fielding - not so much.

And didn't Sandberg start his Cub career 0-23?

He had some great accuracy with his throws, too.

JML · 03-08-2004, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gastric ReFlux
This reminds me of a funny story I heard about Chuck Knoblauch...

Don't... do it...

Ervinmagicsmall · 03-08-2004, 11:15 PM

Alomar--10 gold gloves
Sandberg--9 gold gloves
White--8 gold gloves

Doesn't necessarily mean that White is worse than the other two, but I think it does throw some doubt on the proposition that the last great defensive second baseman was White.

Big Willis 16 · 03-08-2004, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JML
Don't... do it...

Good call.

ronsantohof · 03-09-2004, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ervinmagicsmall
Alomar--10 gold gloves
Sandberg--9 gold gloves
White--8 gold gloves

Doesn't necessarily mean that White is worse than the other two, but I think it does throw some doubt on the proposition that the last great defensive second baseman was White.

Alomar's always been over-rated and I don't put a lot of stock in Gold Gloves because some of the strangest decisions throughout history.

03-07-2004, 01:49 PM	#1
ronsantohof Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dermot, KS Posts: 197	Ripken's first At Bat Cal Ripken Jr. remembers his first major-league start, which came against the Royals: “In my first at-bat, Paul Splittorff had two strikes on me. The next pitch was a fastball that I chopped over the mound. When it got over Splittorff's head, there was a clear lane for that ball to go to center field. There was nobody in sight. I just knew that the ball was going to bounce into center field for my first major-league hit. “All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Frank White came into the picture. He backhanded the ball, jumped up in the air and threw to first for a great play. He threw me out by a millisecond. I ran back to our dugout and Ken Singleton said, ‘Welcome to the big leagues. That's Mr. Frank White.' “It took me six or seven more at bats before I finally got a hit.” When you talk about the great defensive second basemen, you start with Bill Mazeroski and end with Frank White. Don't bother with anyone else. __________________ Guilt or innocence, that's not my job. It's my duty to pick up scum-sucking punks like yourself who are accused of a crime. A jury of twelve really stupid people who are easily swayed by rich, fat-cat, slimy lawyers, who'll do anything but tell the truth, will sit in judgment of you. It's as American as a burrito. Eschew obfuscation.

03-07-2004, 02:05 PM	#2
Rasmuth All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Upstate Western NY Posts: 1,760	And he eventually became a decent hitter too! (Frank White that is) __________________ http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=250426

03-07-2004, 03:52 PM	#4
Teflon Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 154	Sandberg I saw Ryne Sandberg in a fair number of games during his career thanks to WGN. While he was an outstanding hitter my perception of him as a fielder was that he made plays on what he got to - but seemed to cover a lot less territory and take a lot fewer chances on difficult plays than a Frank White type of fielder. I would be hesitant to rank Sandberg as one of the elite second baseman only on his fielding. All-around value, yes. Hitting, certainly one of the best all-time with Hornsby and Joe Morgan. Fielding - not so much.

03-08-2004, 04:24 PM	#5
congobeast Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 469	Sax Ah, but you can't forget Dodgers great Steve Sax... dink-and-dunk hitter without peer... and good lord. That man could throw to the fellow in the sixth row box seats like nobody's... ..what?... ...That's a bad thing?... Uh... never mind. Forget I said that. __________________ (The Boys of Summer) Cleveland Indians 1929-?? (All-Forum Baseball Dynasty) Pittsfield Hillies 2000-?? "I would walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball." Pete Rose

03-07-2004, 02:49 PM	#3
Ervinmagicsmall Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Illinoiz Posts: 67	Wow, a Frank White love thread. Who's gonna start the Tony Fernandez one? Also I'm thinking that I may go ahead and bother with Ryne Sandberg and Robbie Alomar, but that's just me.

03-08-2004, 04:27 PM	#6
Gastric ReFlux Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Member #3409 Posts: 8,350	This reminds me of a funny story I heard about Chuck Knoblauch...

03-08-2004, 11:15 PM	#9
Ervinmagicsmall Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Illinoiz Posts: 67	Alomar--10 gold gloves Sandberg--9 gold gloves White--8 gold gloves Doesn't necessarily mean that White is worse than the other two, but I think it does throw some doubt on the proposition that the last great defensive second baseman was White.