Chapter Five: John McSherry
January 11, 2010 by Editor
Filed under Dress Blues and Tennis Shoes
March 21
John McSherry visits us in camp today. Big John is a National League umpire, and few can imagine him doing anything else. In the off-season, he serves as chief field instructor for the umpire schools. He was Charlie’s and my instructor, and now he’s come to see us. Mostly he’s come to see Charlie. [...]
Chapter Four: Fraternizing
January 2, 2010 by Editor
Filed under Dress Blues and Tennis Shoes
March 17
Charlie has a facility for banter with black ballplayers that I lack with most white players. It’s as though they’re members of a secret club, with a secret language. Actually, Charlie speaks two languages. When he meets my white, middle-class parents, he sounds like Eddie Haskell greeting Beaver’s parents. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Boga. [...]
Chapter Three: Rosie
January 1, 2010 by Editor
Filed under Dress Blues and Tennis Shoes
March 14
Lounging around the motel pool this evening, I thought of spring training two years earlier, this very motel. Charlie and I were rookies, Bill Rosenberry the crew chief. “Rosie” was one of the many unforgettable personalities that litter the baseball scene—in his favorite expression, “a piece of work.”
I see him sitting outside room 13, [...]