Dugout Wisdom

Feb 17, 2007 @ 2:20 By 5 Comments

Jimmy Piersall, famous broadcaster with the White Sox and well-known for saying that he was “sane and had paper to prove it,” on hitting his 100th home run and running the bases backward: “That way I can see where I have been. I always know where I’m going.”
Pete Rose on the fastball of rookie Don Gullett, “Gullett’s the only guy who can throw a baseball through a car wash and not get the ball wet.” And, speaking to Tony Perez, famous teammate of Rose’s, “How can anyone as slow as you pull a muscle?”

Filed Under: Sports 5 Comments
About Scot McKnight

Scot McKnight is a recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. McKnight, author of more than thirty books, is the Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lombard, IL.

  • http://www.communityofjesus.blogspot.com/ Ted Gossard

    Yes. I love Tony Perez (my own favorite of MLB, as a fan of “the Big Red Machine”). He talked slow. And everything seemed very good. And he seemed to take everything in so much stride. Even if it was a slow stride. A great player, and deserving Hall of Famer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Perez

  • http://www.communityofjesus.blogspot.com/ Ted Gossard

    I have to add this about Tony Perez. He was the best RBI hitter of the Big Red Machine, at least for some of those seasons. And at least one year, the best two strike hitter in the entire National League. He would just go with the pitch, and in his own words, Just try to hit the ball hard.
    The Big Red Machine carries big memories for me. Even though now I don’t even follow MLB, except through Cubs and Tigers fans. (I remember watching Don Gullet beat Atlanta, 2-1. A memory that goes on. The game we watched Pete Rose take batting practice for around 45 minutes, afterwards. Good memories.)

  • http://www.timellsworth.com Tim Ellsworth

    Then there’s Willie Stargell, who said trying to hit Sandy Koufax was like “trying to drink coffee with a fork.”

  • http://www.mgroves.com mgroves

    It’s too bad Don Gullet was fired last year as the Reds pitching coach, though I’m not sure it was a bad idea.
    The Big Red Machine wasn’t really known for their pitchers, so it’s interesting to see a quote from Pete Rose about it.

  • http://churchredeemeraz.org GLW Johnson

    Gee, I was disappointed Scott, I thought the heading was a reference to Douglas Wilson