My mother was a junior at Holy Name when the school was still in Cleveland when they traded to get Colavito back. She remembers the school announcing over PA system in the middle of class that he was coming back. He was THAT big in Cleveland.
Side note: Am I the only one that was shocked that Stengel only won 100 one time? I know it was the 154 game schedule, but I had to go look it up to make sure it wasn't a mistake.
I was surprised to see a reference to Bernville, PA, a place I've visited numerous times, but not to see Rocky.
My wife and I used to take the kids to Koziar's Christmas Village every year. Sadly, we kept them alive long enough for them to become teenagers and hence they are now too cool to bother with such childish things, even to humor us. 🤷♂️
Thanks, Joe. You've added to my memories of Rocky. As a lifetime Tiger's fan, who grew up in upstate NY, who saw his first game in 1959 as a 9-year-old, and whose love for the Tigers was cemented in the 1961 season, Rocky was a big part of my baseball fan formation. The heart of that line-up was Kaline, Colavito and Cash. Yes, I practiced the Colavito stretches and pointed the bat at the pitcher. It was the year of the M&M boys in NY. Maris broke Ruth's HR record. The season was all Detroit and NY until Labor Day and then the Yankees turned that year into one of its greatest. My favorite baseball trivia question has always been: "In 1961 Maris and Mantle set the homerun record for teammates in a single season with 115. In that same year a different set of teammates combined for more RBIs than Maris and Mantle. Who were they?" It was the C&C boys from Detroit. Colavito had 140 and Cash had 132 to surpass Maris and Mantle by 1.
Very similar feelings, though you're a little older than I am. The difference, of course, in the Tigers getting rid of Rocky is they had Horton, Northrup and Stanley heading to the majors to patrol the outfield.
Although he writes brilliantly regardless of format, I've always considered obits/eulogies to be Joe's foremost talent. He has an uncanny ability to select the moments that best exemplify the person
Yes, well, Rocky was 5-6 yrs. before my time w Cleveland sports. '64 i started collecting bb cards and reading about Cleveland sports. But Rocky was still talked about! Fortunately, the Browns won in '64 and i was hooked. Loved the Tribe. They still had some pitching come up in the mid-60's. McDowell, Tiant, John, came up in '63, and Hargan. Alas, they were all gone by '70 or so. In some ways, Cleveland Sports tales are a lot like Old Fishing tales - "the ones that got away".
As a young man (ages 10-20) Rocky Colavito seemed to be a matinee idol turned ballplayer. A larger than life player. Loved looking at his baseball cards. No thought about whether he was in or out when it came to the HOF. Just a fan boy. Now I look back and think we really do need a Hall of Very Good. I mean a real (at least on paper) Hall where we vote in perhaps 10 players a year and keep them in our HOVG, with removal only when they move up to the real HOF as Dick Allen and Dave Parker did by VC vote this year. We need to remember the really good players who fell just short and celebrate them, perhaps with reminder stories on their birthdays. R.I.P. Rocky Colavito. In my mind you are one of my original 10.
Your idea describes the existing Hall of Very Good, created by the Pro Football Researchers Association, almost to a tee. The only difference being that the players remain in the HOVG when they’re voted into the HOF.
Old time Washington fans prefer "Oklahomans" to "Commanders" or "Commies" or whatever. The name Oklahoma is a Choctaw Indian word that translates to "red people":
Love your story. Wonderfully written as always. I was 7 when he was traded to the Tigers, just beginning to follow baseball. Brings back so many memories. He was my first baseball hero. Copied his pre at bat stretching routine. Remember my Dad yelling “God dammit, he overthrew the cut off man AGAIN!!!”. In the HOF if he plays his whole career with Cleveland. Damn shame he didn’t.
Joe, I’m a few years older than you and started following the Indians with my Dad and brother beginning in 1958. I remember watching games against the Tigers in the early 60’s and remember my dad railing about Trader Frank Lane and the worst trade in Indians history. Seeing the heart of the Tigers batting order being Al Kaline, Rocky, and Norm Cash. Years later, I was the Sports editor of my High School Student Newspaper, invited to a press conference offered by the Indians to kids like me around NE Ohio. There I met and talked with my favorite Indian, Rocky Colavito. He was such a gentleman. He was so patient, answering all my questions, no matter how dumb some of them were. He was as nice a person as I’ve ever met. Rest in peace, Mr. Colavito
There's also this: a month before his finale, Rocky won as a pitcher by hurling 2 2/3 innings in the first game of a doubleheader against the Tigers, then homered in the second game. Headline in The Ithaca Journal the next day: "Now Detroit Knows Why They Say, Don't Knock the Rock" Below is a photo of Colavito on the mound, warming up in relief of Steve Barber. He'd pitched three innings in a game for Cleveland in 1958.....his career on the mound: 5 2/3 innings, zero earned runs allowed.
All-Time Great Name club, plus a really terrific career. Fittingly, his last home run came against the Indians---four days before his whiff against Lonborg ended it. Pitcher was Mike Paul, and you can see Rock's final season, game by game here:
I am a little older than Joe - I was nine when Colavito was traded away. I was trying to be a Cleveland fan in one of the eras of Yankees dominance, but that told me to be done. I was convinced the Indians would never be better than 4A again, and I wasn't (at least for a long time) wrong.
I first started following my Tigers in the early 1960’s - Colavito would come to the plate and stretch with his bat, sometimes the announcers would call him “Rocky Calisthenic” 😊 RIP
My mother was a junior at Holy Name when the school was still in Cleveland when they traded to get Colavito back. She remembers the school announcing over PA system in the middle of class that he was coming back. He was THAT big in Cleveland.
One odd thing about baseball history: everyone who hit 45 home runs in a season before 1961 is in the Hall of Fame.
But then there are three players from 1961 who aren't: Roger Maris, obviously, and Colavito and Jim Gentile.
Expansion. First of 3 that decade
Definitely changed perspective
Great tribute, as usual.
Side note: Am I the only one that was shocked that Stengel only won 100 one time? I know it was the 154 game schedule, but I had to go look it up to make sure it wasn't a mistake.
I was surprised to see a reference to Bernville, PA, a place I've visited numerous times, but not to see Rocky.
My wife and I used to take the kids to Koziar's Christmas Village every year. Sadly, we kept them alive long enough for them to become teenagers and hence they are now too cool to bother with such childish things, even to humor us. 🤷♂️
https://koziarschristmasvillage.com/
Thanks, Joe. You've added to my memories of Rocky. As a lifetime Tiger's fan, who grew up in upstate NY, who saw his first game in 1959 as a 9-year-old, and whose love for the Tigers was cemented in the 1961 season, Rocky was a big part of my baseball fan formation. The heart of that line-up was Kaline, Colavito and Cash. Yes, I practiced the Colavito stretches and pointed the bat at the pitcher. It was the year of the M&M boys in NY. Maris broke Ruth's HR record. The season was all Detroit and NY until Labor Day and then the Yankees turned that year into one of its greatest. My favorite baseball trivia question has always been: "In 1961 Maris and Mantle set the homerun record for teammates in a single season with 115. In that same year a different set of teammates combined for more RBIs than Maris and Mantle. Who were they?" It was the C&C boys from Detroit. Colavito had 140 and Cash had 132 to surpass Maris and Mantle by 1.
Very similar feelings, though you're a little older than I am. The difference, of course, in the Tigers getting rid of Rocky is they had Horton, Northrup and Stanley heading to the majors to patrol the outfield.
Not quite a Hall of famer - but better than Dave Parker.
Thanks, Joe, I was hoping you would write about Rocky. Great article about a great player!
Although he writes brilliantly regardless of format, I've always considered obits/eulogies to be Joe's foremost talent. He has an uncanny ability to select the moments that best exemplify the person
Indeed. Joe is obviously a prolific writer, but when he writes about his favourite players, it's just that much better.
Yes, well, Rocky was 5-6 yrs. before my time w Cleveland sports. '64 i started collecting bb cards and reading about Cleveland sports. But Rocky was still talked about! Fortunately, the Browns won in '64 and i was hooked. Loved the Tribe. They still had some pitching come up in the mid-60's. McDowell, Tiant, John, came up in '63, and Hargan. Alas, they were all gone by '70 or so. In some ways, Cleveland Sports tales are a lot like Old Fishing tales - "the ones that got away".
As a young man (ages 10-20) Rocky Colavito seemed to be a matinee idol turned ballplayer. A larger than life player. Loved looking at his baseball cards. No thought about whether he was in or out when it came to the HOF. Just a fan boy. Now I look back and think we really do need a Hall of Very Good. I mean a real (at least on paper) Hall where we vote in perhaps 10 players a year and keep them in our HOVG, with removal only when they move up to the real HOF as Dick Allen and Dave Parker did by VC vote this year. We need to remember the really good players who fell just short and celebrate them, perhaps with reminder stories on their birthdays. R.I.P. Rocky Colavito. In my mind you are one of my original 10.
Your idea describes the existing Hall of Very Good, created by the Pro Football Researchers Association, almost to a tee. The only difference being that the players remain in the HOVG when they’re voted into the HOF.
Old time Washington fans prefer "Oklahomans" to "Commanders" or "Commies" or whatever. The name Oklahoma is a Choctaw Indian word that translates to "red people":
Love your story. Wonderfully written as always. I was 7 when he was traded to the Tigers, just beginning to follow baseball. Brings back so many memories. He was my first baseball hero. Copied his pre at bat stretching routine. Remember my Dad yelling “God dammit, he overthrew the cut off man AGAIN!!!”. In the HOF if he plays his whole career with Cleveland. Damn shame he didn’t.
Joe, I’m a few years older than you and started following the Indians with my Dad and brother beginning in 1958. I remember watching games against the Tigers in the early 60’s and remember my dad railing about Trader Frank Lane and the worst trade in Indians history. Seeing the heart of the Tigers batting order being Al Kaline, Rocky, and Norm Cash. Years later, I was the Sports editor of my High School Student Newspaper, invited to a press conference offered by the Indians to kids like me around NE Ohio. There I met and talked with my favorite Indian, Rocky Colavito. He was such a gentleman. He was so patient, answering all my questions, no matter how dumb some of them were. He was as nice a person as I’ve ever met. Rest in peace, Mr. Colavito
There's also this: a month before his finale, Rocky won as a pitcher by hurling 2 2/3 innings in the first game of a doubleheader against the Tigers, then homered in the second game. Headline in The Ithaca Journal the next day: "Now Detroit Knows Why They Say, Don't Knock the Rock" Below is a photo of Colavito on the mound, warming up in relief of Steve Barber. He'd pitched three innings in a game for Cleveland in 1958.....his career on the mound: 5 2/3 innings, zero earned runs allowed.
All-Time Great Name club, plus a really terrific career. Fittingly, his last home run came against the Indians---four days before his whiff against Lonborg ended it. Pitcher was Mike Paul, and you can see Rock's final season, game by game here:
https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1968/Icolar1010161968.htm
Cleveland’s legendary sports editor Gordon Cobbledick is a first ballot All-Time Great Name club member.
I am a little older than Joe - I was nine when Colavito was traded away. I was trying to be a Cleveland fan in one of the eras of Yankees dominance, but that told me to be done. I was convinced the Indians would never be better than 4A again, and I wasn't (at least for a long time) wrong.
I first started following my Tigers in the early 1960’s - Colavito would come to the plate and stretch with his bat, sometimes the announcers would call him “Rocky Calisthenic” 😊 RIP