Earl Battey--1967
The other night at a minor league
game, I was eavesdropping on a
couple behind me prior to the start of
the contest. It was obvious that the
lady, in her early 60s, didn't know
much about baseball, as her
husband explained who the players
were for the Columbus Clippers. Out
of the blue she mentions that the one
player she remembers growing up
was Earl Battey.
Now, I hadn't given Earl Battey much
thought in years, however it is
interesting that of all the players from
the 1960s, she remembers Earl
Battey.
Days later, I came across this card
and decided to dig into the Earl
Battey files.
Originally signed by the Chicago
White Sox in 1953, he served as a
backup to Sherm Lollar until the Sox
traded him (along with Don Mincher
for an aging Roy Sievers) to the
Washington Senators in 1960.
Handed the starting job for the
Senators Battey blossomed,
grabbing the first of three
consecutive Gold Gloves.
Battey would move with the club to
Minnesota in 1961, where he would
anchor the youthful Twins who went
on to capture the 1965 American
League Title. Along the way, the hind
snatcher was named to four All-Star
Squads, annually hitting in the
.270-.290 range with modest power
numbers.
A neck injury would slow his career
and Battey retired at age 33 with a
.270 average and 104 long balls.
After marrying his wife, Sonia, who
hailed from Ocala, Florida; Battey
earned a Physical Education degree
from Bethune-Cookman College.
From there he began teaching
special education at Ocala's Forest
High School, where he helped coach
the baseball squad for 17 years. He
would also serve as a scout for both
the Seattle Mariners and Atlanta
Braves organizations.
At age 65 Battey was diagnosed with
cancer, which ultimately claimed his
life three short years later.
Upon his passing in 2003, Battey was
remembered by his former
teammates for his superior handling
of pitchers and his wonderful gift of
telling stories.
And on a late May evening of 2009 at
Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio,
a lady remembers Earl Battey.
(5/27/09)
game, I was eavesdropping on a
couple behind me prior to the start of
the contest. It was obvious that the
lady, in her early 60s, didn't know
much about baseball, as her
husband explained who the players
were for the Columbus Clippers. Out
of the blue she mentions that the one
player she remembers growing up
was Earl Battey.
Now, I hadn't given Earl Battey much
thought in years, however it is
interesting that of all the players from
the 1960s, she remembers Earl
Battey.
Days later, I came across this card
and decided to dig into the Earl
Battey files.
Originally signed by the Chicago
White Sox in 1953, he served as a
backup to Sherm Lollar until the Sox
traded him (along with Don Mincher
for an aging Roy Sievers) to the
Washington Senators in 1960.
Handed the starting job for the
Senators Battey blossomed,
grabbing the first of three
consecutive Gold Gloves.
Battey would move with the club to
Minnesota in 1961, where he would
anchor the youthful Twins who went
on to capture the 1965 American
League Title. Along the way, the hind
snatcher was named to four All-Star
Squads, annually hitting in the
.270-.290 range with modest power
numbers.
A neck injury would slow his career
and Battey retired at age 33 with a
.270 average and 104 long balls.
After marrying his wife, Sonia, who
hailed from Ocala, Florida; Battey
earned a Physical Education degree
from Bethune-Cookman College.
From there he began teaching
special education at Ocala's Forest
High School, where he helped coach
the baseball squad for 17 years. He
would also serve as a scout for both
the Seattle Mariners and Atlanta
Braves organizations.
At age 65 Battey was diagnosed with
cancer, which ultimately claimed his
life three short years later.
Upon his passing in 2003, Battey was
remembered by his former
teammates for his superior handling
of pitchers and his wonderful gift of
telling stories.
And on a late May evening of 2009 at
Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio,
a lady remembers Earl Battey.
(5/27/09)
