May 8th, 2008
Remembering Pat Santarone
When I was a kid, I could recite the names of every player on the Orioles. I had trouble remembering mine – and that still happens under certain circumstances – but I had the roster memorized every year. However, I also could identify the head groundskeeper, which probably separates me from a lot of kids today
(Nothing personal, Nicole Sherry. It’s all those darned video games. They’re too distracting. And don’t get me started on Wii).
The news that Pat Santarone died earlier this week of natural causes at his Montana home brought back a flood of memories. I never met the man, but what fan of the team didn’t know about his tomato-growing contests with manager Earl Weaver? And how he was so respected within the industry that other groundskeepers would consult him for advice?
I spoke with Weaver, Jim Palmer and Rick Dempsey yesterday for a story that ran in today’s Sun, and Boog Powell returned my call earlier today (he was attending to business in Ocean City yesterday and didn’t get my message until late at night). These men truly loved Santarone, and the stories they tell would keep you glued to your seats for hours.
Major League Baseball should have awarded a Gold Glove to Santarone, the way he’s credited with making life so much easier for Brooks Robinson, Mark Belanger and the rest of the crew. He kept the infield rock-hard, as the players wanted it – and as the Colts despised it. But that’s how Santarone made sure the football cleats didn’t tear it up so badly that the baseball team suffered.
“He always smoothed it out much better at third base than first base,” Powell said, laughing. “I always got on his (butt) about that.”
Powell said he used to beg Santarone to water down the area around first, especially when Oakland’s fleet-footed shortstop, Bert Campaneris, came to town. Powell’s spikes would be covered in mud on a sun-splashed day.
Tags: clubhouse, games
14 Responses to “Remembering Pat Santarone”
LED, IED, what’s teh difference?
props for the comparison notes at the bottom. Very informative.
I was a vax user for years. I like unix more than OpenVMS though.
What a liberal.
Her legacy: To date, $25 million has been appropriated for the Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund, and more than $14 million for similar activities in Afghanistan.
His series “Free to Choose” online.http://www.ideachannel.tv/
That is not a hair related question
I still hear right wingers saying “It’s not really as bad over there as the media paints it.”I just don’t know what to say.I see the media rolling over and laying down afraid to be excluded from the next government propaganda session.Helen Thomas said it best “Where is everyone?”
Kucinich fans should read this.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day set aside each year by the LGBT community to remember and memorialize those who were killed as a result of anti-transgender hatred and prejudice, also known as transphobia.
Great little machine. I remember playing ‘Ghostbusters’ on one of those many years ago. Good times!Yes, I am officially old.
Let’s get all misty about Pinochet, while we’re at it…
NEVAR FORGET