Walter Alston--1962
Sitting with my morning cup of
coffee, I was curious to look
through a list of those players who
also enjoyed just a cup of coffee in
the big leagues. Much to my
surprise, early in the list was
managerial great Walter Alston.
Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in
1935 off of the Miami University
campus and thrust into the web of
minor league teams run by Branch
Rickey, Alston managed to play in
just one big league game. Filling in
for ejected first baseman Johnny
Mize, Alston fanned on three
pitches by Cubs hurler Lon
Warneke in what would be his lone
major league at-bat. He would also
commit one error in two chances
while handling first base duties for
the Cardinals on September 27,
1936.
Alston would show big time power in
the minors, hitting 35 homers for
Huntington (WV) of Class C Middle
Atlantic League prior to his call up.
The right-handed swinger would
also log three more minor league
seasons of 20 or more home runs,
but never played above Double-A
ball before trading his glove for a
lineup card.
Alston would eventually reach the
hallowed Hall of Fame as a
manager, guiding the Dodgers to
2,063 wins and five World
Championships in 23 seasons. And
while his big league sip as a player
came from a "tall" cup, his
managerial gulp definitely was a
"grande" size.
(12/28/09)
coffee, I was curious to look
through a list of those players who
also enjoyed just a cup of coffee in
the big leagues. Much to my
surprise, early in the list was
managerial great Walter Alston.
Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in
1935 off of the Miami University
campus and thrust into the web of
minor league teams run by Branch
Rickey, Alston managed to play in
just one big league game. Filling in
for ejected first baseman Johnny
Mize, Alston fanned on three
pitches by Cubs hurler Lon
Warneke in what would be his lone
major league at-bat. He would also
commit one error in two chances
while handling first base duties for
the Cardinals on September 27,
1936.
Alston would show big time power in
the minors, hitting 35 homers for
Huntington (WV) of Class C Middle
Atlantic League prior to his call up.
The right-handed swinger would
also log three more minor league
seasons of 20 or more home runs,
but never played above Double-A
ball before trading his glove for a
lineup card.
Alston would eventually reach the
hallowed Hall of Fame as a
manager, guiding the Dodgers to
2,063 wins and five World
Championships in 23 seasons. And
while his big league sip as a player
came from a "tall" cup, his
managerial gulp definitely was a
"grande" size.
(12/28/09)
