Memories
of Mattoon
Trying
Out for the Cardinals
When I was 16 the Cardinals
held a 3 day tryout camp at the Decatur Commodores minor
league baseball park. You were supposed to be seventeen.
Dave Wells and I lied about our ages and my mom drove us
to Decatur since I’d thrown a rod in my 1950 Pontiac.
About 300 of us showed up
for the camp and learned that they would be “cutting”
players from our ranks the first day to the point there
would only be about 30 of us to watch the third day.
Johnny Keane, who would
later manage the Cardinals, ran the camp with the
assistance of several other minor league coaches in the
organization. It had been a dream of mine since about the
age of seven to grow up and play second base for the
Redbirds.
I was confident of my
chances because I had lived, breathed and practiced
baseball since dad gave me his old ball glove soon after
he married mom when I was six. I was small for my age and
Dave told me on the way home after the second day that the
coaches had been joking about how old I really was. He
said they had decided I was twelve though they knew I was
older because of my skills. Though they doubted I was
seventeen.
Dave and I were both
invited back for the third day and were excited to say the
least. Dave played shortstop at the time, his brother
“Sonny” played first even though he didn’t go to the
tryouts and a younger brother Jim would one day sign a
minor league contract as a third baseman but I don’t
remember which team.
That night Dave and I
walked up to the Mattoon minor league team’s ballpark at
the corner of Dewitt and Logan; it was a junk yard the
last time I was home. After the game we took our time
going home which we were known to do any time we got
together.
However, this night we
lingered at the ball field at Peterson Park (it wasn’t
named Grimes Field then) and dreamed of playing in the
major leagues and got to our homes very late.
The next morning when I
went downstairs to call Dave mom told me Dave had phoned
and his dad was so mad at him he had banned him from going
today. She said her and dad were upset with me too but
knew how important the day was to me so she would drive me
to Decatur. Dad said I would be punished later.
I know I had to do
something like the dishes by myself for a week instead of
having my sister Cindy help me but I really don’t remember
what punishment dad doled out to me because the day was so
exciting for me.
I’m sure the Cardinals
signed some guys to minor league contracts but I’m not
sure. I just know Mr. Keane spoke to three of us high
school kids afterwards and said the Cards would be
watching our growth; he told us to play as much baseball
as we could, including American Legion baseball until we
graduated.
He then asked me how old I
really was and I told him the truth. He smiled and said,
“You work hard on everything about the game, don’t you?”
“Everything but hitting
home runs,” I said, “I’m not much of a power hitter but I
can get you a lot of doubles and triples because I hit for
the gaps; and I can play short, third and all outfield
positions and pitch too.”
He grinned and said,
“Concentrate on second base.”
“I do,” I replied, “Every
day of the week.”
Mom was very excited for me
when I told her the news but she did mention the fact that
though dad would be too, I would still be punished for
coming home so late the night before.
As I said earlier, I’m sure
I was punished though I really don’t remember how. I
should also add that things would transpire over the
coming weeks that would forever alter my life and my dream
of playing second base for the Cardinals. But that story
will have to appear in a future column.
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