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Nostalgia Tidbit: There was so little exposure to professional sports. In the 50’s, if you even had a TV, you could only see one baseball game each week on Saturdays on one channel. The announcers were Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese. They were a couple of good ole boy former players. It was fun to watch. You may have had two or three camera angles. Otherwise, you could listen to a few games on radio. So, the thought of a real live pro baseball team coming to our little town was a BIG DEAL!
Chapter 8
The Sunday Hitter
The baseball park was only a few blocks away from
the house. The Birmingham Barons, a minor league
baseball team for the Detroit Tigers, were coming to
town for their spring training season. The big deal was
that they were going to play the Tigers in our little
town. Word got out that they would need bat boys. I
was one of the first in line. Can you imagine what an
honor to be a batboy for Al Kaline, Harvey Kuhen,
Rocky Colivito, and the “Sunday Hitter” Charlie
Maxwell!
I made it. I was a batboy for the Detroit Tigers! I
remember it like it was yesterday even though it was
over 50 years ago.
That Sunday morning, the day of the game, I had
awakened early in anxious anticipation of what was to
come. In only a few short hours I would be in the same
dugout as those potential Hall of Famers. The morning
air was cool and crisp that February morning in Central
too early- before the gates ever opened. As we
typically did in those cases I climbed over the fence
and there I was, the very first one in the park. I ran the
perfectly lined bases pretending all the while I was
being cheered on by the roaring fans.
The park was expected to be at capacity, and then
some, for the very first time in the history of Connie
Mack Field. Capacity would be at least around 100 or
so! Now don’t laugh, in Auburndale , Florida
50’s, that was a major part of the local population and
they would be there for this historic sporting event.
Finally the time came for both teams to come out and
warm up. Each team had two batboys and I was one!
As the Tigers came out of the locker room, I couldn’t
believe I was actually there. It felt like an out of body
experience. It didn’t take me long to realize we had
been tricked. I didn’t recognize any of the Tigers. Then
I saw Charlie Maxwell, known in those days as the
“Sunday Hitter”.
During that time in his career he was on a home
run rampage the previous season and hit a bunch of
those home runs on Sundays. There he was, bigger
than life, taking a few swings. Later I learned that this
was the Tiger’s B Team and Charlie was with them
because he was nursing an injury. They said he might
pinch hit but that would be it. I guess the A Team had
more important places to be that day rather than play
before a capacity crowd of over 100 at Connie Mack
Field.
Even though everybody was disappointed that the big
names didn’t make it, the crowd got into the game and
seemed to enjoy every minute of it. I truly enjoyed it as
I chased bat after bat.
Charlie was on the bench, so I got to stand near him
and actually talk to him. He was a good guy!
Finally in the top of the ninth inning, Charlie Maxwell
came to the plate to pinch hit for the pitcher, Johnny
Tifton. The crowd was eager to see Charlie show why
he was known as the Sunday Hitter. It was as if all the
disappointment over the A Team’s no show had faded
and finally all would truly get to see one of the best
home run hitters of the time step to the plate. I handed
him his bat. He stepped to the plate. The first pitch
came down the middle. He swung ,barely tipping the
ball into a looping popup to the first baseman. It wasn’t
even a major league popup.
So much for the Sunday Hitter that day at Connie
Mack Field!
Watching Charlie on TV after that experience gave me
a feeling of having been part of the big time for a brief
moment in the life of, at that time, one of the greatest
home run hitters in major league baseball. Do you
recognize his name?
Check the record books! He really did exist!
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