Cincinnati Reds Short Story Page

It Was Broad Enough

When Charlie Dressen was playing third base for Cincinnati, he constantly tried to tell the pitchers how to pitch. Ray Kolp, a better-than-fair pitcher in his day, became extremely irked over Dressen's suggestions and crisiticms. One morning he went to the ball park early, hauled Dressen's shoes from his locker, and had pitching plates adjusted to both shoes.

Dressen took the hint. He devoted himself to third-basing after that and left the pitching to the pitchers (Salsinger, 1950, 60).



Open and Shut Case

Ernie Lombardi was reputed to be the slowest runner in the big leagues, a reputation well justified. In one game Ernie lumbered from second to third on a long outfield fly and was called out by Umpire Beans Reardon although he had beaten the throw by a few feet.

Lombardi protested the decision but Reardon stopped him with: "Listen, Whirlaway. I've known you for a long time and I know you ain't that fast. The only way you could have beat the throw to third was to leave second base before the catch and so you're out. And I mean out." (Salsinger, 1950, 86)