trivia

[crashtest]

James, I think Turk Farrell and Jim Owens were part of the Dalton Gang when they played for the Phillies in the late 50's. They got back together on the Colt .45s and totally corrupted the 18 year old Sluggo.

As far as "The Dawg", that was my recollection of Bateman's nickname, although your list may have him as Tomato Face, or maybe Pizza Face in honor of his acne scars.

I still get a kick out of Dierker's story where Snuffy (I think he was born with a cleft lip) lost his lunch because of the ripe odor of alligator poop in the whirlpool - where Turk had put the gator - exiting to puke , saying "Nod nammit, Took".

[jamesa46]

Crash-
You are right on concerning "The Turk" and Jim Owens as The "Dalton Gang" it clicked in my mind as soon as you mentioned the Dodgers.

Bateman might have been called "Dawg" too. He was also called "Peanutbrittle" because of the motley complexion.


I got some bad news from Bob Bruce concerning all of his Colt .45's memorabilia. Remember, he was in the middle of moving from San Antonio to North Dallas and because of his valued Colt .45's memorabilia from his playing days, he put it all in a huge duffle bag that he was going to take with him instead of trusting it to the mover who were packing and moving his furniture.

The duffle bag vanished from his garage. Among the many things stolen were gloves belonging to Nellie Fox and Pete Runnels that was given to him. He's pretty sure one of the movers took it but he couldn't prove it since he didn't outright see one of them take the bag. He filed a police report but - he had a lot of personal items from his Colt .45's days that are irreplaceable. I thought it pretty damn disgusting to happen to such a great guy as Bob Bruce.

Since this topic is about trivia, I kind of thought this story could be included here.

[crashtest]

James,

That is really depressing. As a kid, I remember going into Jerry Witte's garage and having him show me his equipment bag from his days with the Buffs. Remember that scene in Field of Dreams where Shoeless Joe asks Ray if he ever put a ball or a glove to his face to take in the wonderful aroma of baseball? I can still recall that smell 45 years later - a concoction of pine tar, resin and old leather. Same thing with my first game at Yankee Stadium - a whiff of cigar smoke, hot dogs, roasted peanuts and fresh cut grass. I'm sad that Bob had those memories stolen from him. May the curse of King Turk's whirlpool descent upon the head of the thief and may he die the death of 1000 mosquito bites.

[crashtest]

OK, the ex-player color guy I remember giving a post game 2 bits after the latest Colt .45 Sunday afternnon loss was Gus Mancuso. He caught for the Gashouse Gang and the NY Giants in the 30's. He appeared in 5 WS, putting up a Bagwellian/Biggionian BA of .173.

[jamesa46]

crashtest said:

OK, the ex-player color guy I remember giving a post game 2 bits after the latest Colt .45 Sunday afternnon loss was Gus Mancuso. He caught for the Gashouse Gang and the NY Giants in the 30's. He appeared in 5 WS, putting up a Bagwellian/Biggionian BA of .173.

Crash-
Only you would remember Gus Mancuso and the postgames but your right!

[crashtest]

The only guys to have worn a Colt .45 uni and end up in the Hall of Fame were Nellie Fox and Joe Morgan. In 1964, they both played second base, with Morgan getting a dozen or so games with Nellie playing the role of Biggio. I wonder how many teams have played 2 future Hall of Famers at the same position during the same season. In 1965, they switched roles. I remember walking in the parking lot at Colt Stadium after a game in 1964. A smallish guy with a big wad of chewing tobacco was walking next to me. He shot a stream of tobacco juice across my path and I stepped in the spittle. I looked up to se who had spit in my direction and, to my surprise, it was Nellie Fox. I guess, considering that Gonzo's wad of gum brought a good price on ebay, I could have gotten something for the puddle of spit on the sole of my Keds.

It is interesting that in 45 years, we will have had 4 Hall of Famers play at least one full season at second base: Fox, Morgan, Biggio and Kent. I wonder if any other teams in the past 50 years can claim something like that.

[crashtest]

Back in '62 Houston had 2 major papers, the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Post. Who were the beat writers who covered the Colt .45s for each paper?

[crashtest]

James,

Now I am confused. Gus had a younger brother, Frank who was also a catcher and who later served on the Houston City Council.

www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=61901

I could have sworn it was Gus, but maybe it was Frank who did the post-game. Maybe Gene could set things straight for us.

[sadoug]

I think a guy named gallager was the writer for the post.

[Coach]

sadoug said:

My friend barry and I used to go to all the home games in the Dome back in the '70's...One night we had "upgraded to some sweet seats right behind 3rd base about 10 rows back and proceeded to have a great time, drinking beer and heckling the umps and other team, when this guy leaned over from behind us and said " those are not your seats"...We asked how he knew that and he said, " because this is my box, I have 12 seats"...we looked a little sheepish, when he said...I havnt had this much fum all season...He left us seats at will call for the rest of the year.....we never even found out who he was.

Stories like that are what make going to the games with your friends something special.

Maybe not as special as what Jedi had to do to a vendor to get some nuts but special all the same.

[crashtest]

More Colt .45 trivia. In 1960, the batting champions in the AL and NL won the crowns with a batting average of about .320. The guy (in question) who finished second in the NL would have taken the crown but for one measley hit. Their reward? To be banished to swat mosquitos with the Colt .45s. Question: who were these forlorn sultans of swat?

[sadoug]

Pete runnels with the Red Sox..sent to the colt 45's
dont know the National league guy

[crashtest]

Who was the very first player selected by the Colt .45s in the expansion draft?

[crashtest]

Who hit the first grand slam for the Colt .45s?

[crashtest]

Who was the last Colt .45 player to touch a baseball in play? (James will get this one for sure)