RIP Dock Ellis

So, in other words, Steve Nicosia would have hit against you, Buck?

 

Yep. And Ott knew it.

 

You weren't the only one. Buddy Harrelson rubbed people the wrong way so did Larry Bowa. Back then shortstops were the pipsqueaks with a lot of talk, no bat and decent gloves.

 

I think it was less rational than that. Something like, I thought he looked ugly on his baseball cards.

 

Yeah. Foley suffered from Larry Bird disease.

 

Where the hell was that photo taken? An American Legion field?

 

Close. Shea Stadium.

 

If a base stealer was going to be safe, Foli had an unerring knack for getting tangled in the slide and falling on the guy. In other words, if they weren't going to get the out, they could at least plant a knee in his ribs. That baseball card photo is pretty close to what he'd do.

Foli was one of those weird guys who was really quiet and overtly religious, but had a terrible temper. There were times when he'd go nuts on an umpire and it would take three teammates to drag him away.

 

Foli once hit for the cycle.
I remember when he came up how the Mets were very high on him. Yet they traded him away I believe along with Ken Singleton for Le Grande Orange aka Rusty Staub.
Incidentally, I think Foli's son, Dan, was a pitcher with the Washington Nationals' AA franchise in Harrisburg, Pa.

 

First pick, first round in 1968. Just a few picks above some guy named Munson.

 

Foli was a stud during his high school days in California, no question about that. Made it to show at 19.

 

Gene Lamont was drafted ahead of Johnny Bench.