Monday, September 30, 2013

#79 Dick Schofield

About the Front: Dick Schofield doesn't appear to be very sure of himself as he dances off of third base. Maybe he forgot his contact lenses and he can't make out the coach's signals. FYI, the "S" patch on his left sleeve is in honor of attorney William A. Shea, the namesake of Shea Stadium.

About the Back: NASA has had a team of scientists working around the clock for 27 years to figure out how Schofield ever hit 13 home runs in 1986.

Triple Play:

1. His father, who also went as Dick (or "Ducky") Schofield, was an infielder for the Pirates, Cardinals, and five other teams from 1953 through 1971. The younger Schofield is also the uncle of current Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth.

2. Dick was valued for his glovework at shortstop, leading his league in fielding percentage four times.

3. He has coached in the Diamondbacks and Angels organizations and spent 2013 serving as hitting coach for the Reds' AA Pensacola club.

11-Year-Old Kevin Says: If I were a less mature child, I'm sure I would have taken great prurient glee in the father-son nickname combination of Ducky and Dick. If.

Bill James Said: "He's not Phil Rizzuto, and when he broke his forearm and the Blue Jays got Tony Fernandez to replace him he disappeared forever from the Blue Jays' starting lineup."

On This Date in 1993: September 30. Pittsburgh's Tim Wakefield blanks the Phillies on four hits and six walks in a 5-0 victory. It is the first time Philadelphia has been held scoreless in 174 games, a new National League record. It's also Wakefield's last game as a Pirate. The 26-year-old knuckleballer will spend the 1994 season at AAA Buffalo, and the Pirates will release him in the spring of 1995. He'll latch on with the Red Sox, for whom he will win 186 games over the course of the next 17 years.

2 comments:

  1. Who would have thought he would have become a hitting coach?

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  2. Matthew - It makes me think of Jim Palmer's classic dig at Earl Weaver: "The only thing you know about pitching is that you couldn't hit it."

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