Herzog has method for MLB replay
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| ART VOELLINGER PHOTO Former Master's champion Bob Goalby, left, and former Cardinals Manager Whitey Herzog, recall more than golf at the June 16 Belleville American Legion Field Golf Classic at the St. Clair Country Club in Belleville. In 1947, Goalby and Herzog played high school baseball against one another during a season when Goalby was a catcher for the state champion Belleville Township Maroons and Herzog an outfielder for New Athens. |
"I would have liked it in '85," said Herzog in terse reference to the blown call of umpire Don Denkinger in Game 6 of the 1987 World Series won by Kansas City.
Rather than rehash that event, the former Cardinals manager and future Hall of Famer explained why he favors instant replay today."Why not get it right," said Herzog. "All they've got to do is put someone in the booth like they do in the National Football League, and let them monitor the game."
"They could use a retired umpire, and if he sees something he thinks should be reviewed, including plays on the field, then do it. But that doesn't mean there will be something every game."
As a challenge to those opposing replays because it would lengthen the time of games, Herzog noted the 2 1/2-minute interruptions that come with TV commercials during games.
"The time of games isn't going to be affected," said Herzog...
Coincidentally, former MLB catcher Cal Neeman, a regular at Herzog golf events in previous years, was linked to one of the home run calls that led to replay concerns this season.
On May 19, Geovany Soto of the Chicago Cubs hit what was ruled an inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning of a 7-2 victory at Houston. Even though TV replays showed the blast striking above a yellow line marked on the left field wall, it initially was not ruled a home run.
Fortunately, the decision became moot because as the ball ricocheted off the wall and away from Houston outfielders, Soto circled the bases with the first inside-the-park home run by a Cubs' catcher since June 17, 1959, when Neeman hit one against Pittsburgh's Harvey Haddix...
Unable to attend this year's Legion Classic due to a twisted knee, Neeman said he has received several phone calls to his Lake St. Louis home regarding his 1959 achievement.
"We were at Wrigley Field with two men on base and the score tied in the bottom of the eighth," said Neeman. "I hit a little hump-back line drive to left field where Bob Skinner was playing and must have thought the game was in the ninth inning and over if he did not catch the ball."
"He dove for it, and after he didn't catch it, he began jogging toward their dugout as the ball rolled toward the left field wall. Apparently, their center fielder Bill Virdon saw Skinner and he (Virdon) also headed for their clubhouse."
"I could tell that I could get to second base, but then I saw our third base coach waving his arms. Dick Groat, their shortstop, ran out to retrieve the ball, and when I got to third base, I just kept running."
After picking up the ball, Groat threw to home plate where Neeman slid in safely with a three-run, inside-the-park homer. "It was like other inside-the-parkers," said Neeman. "Usually, there's something strange that happens."
EXTRA INNINGS: Herzog referred to Neeman as "one heck of a high school basketball player" at Dupo and then pointed to Ray Rippelmeyer of Valmeyer as another.
Herzog, Neeman, and Rippelmeyer all have ties to the old Washington Senators with other former Southwestern Illinois players, catcher Ken Retzer of Edwardsville and first baseman-outfielder Marion "Bud" Zipfel of Belleville.
Like Neeman, Herzog was originally signed by the New York Yankees, but due to trades, played in the big leagues with the Senators in 1956 and '57. Neeman concluded his MLB career with Washington in 1963 and was a roommate that season with Retzer, whose D.C. seasons of 1961-64 included being a teammate of Zipfel in '61 and '62...
Former Belleville American Legion Manager Barney Elser recalled playing in the minor leagues in the 1950s and in an exhibition game in Des Moines, Iowa, when Neeman was with the Cubs.
Elser also referred to 1947 when prior to the start of the season, Bob Goalby volunteered to catch for the Belleville Township High School Maroons who won the state title that year.
"He was a darn good pitcher, but we needed a catcher," said Elser of Goalby, who joined his son Kevin Goalby and Mike Ryan, Bill Riley and Bill Hopkins in the Classic where they finished second in the championship flight...
Former Cardinals' catcher Glenn Brummer of Swansea was among the celebrities at the golf event whose proceeds go to the reduction of the debt of the Herzog Field at Citizens Park.
Best known for his steal of home plate during the Cardinals 1982 championship season, Brummer recalled a different play at the plate after noting the recent injury of Cards' catcher Yadier Molina.
"I took a throw from (outfielder) Lonnie Smith in a game at Busch Stadium and hit Gary Carter (of Montreal) so hard with my tag that his helmet flew all the way to the foot of our dugout," said Brummer...
Retzer recalled playing against the late Dick Howser in a game in Kansas City when the infielder threw a shoulder into the catcher, causing him to drop the ball.
"I told him to never do that again, and he didn't," said Retzer.
19TH HOLE: Classic champions were: Championship Flight: Mike Leopold, Mike O'Malley, John Cunningham, Chris Loesche, and celebrity Chuck Diering; "A": Marcia Mahoney, Tracy Mahoney, Terry Boyne, Gary Becker, and John Costello; "B": Pete Vogel, Tim Boyce, Larry Rhutasel, Jim Wenneman, and Vern Holtgrave; closest to hole: Mike Harres on No. 2, Tim Gehrig on No. 13.
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