This is my once a year touchy feely post. This one just popped into my head one morning this week. So enjoy, don't enjoy..............But Happy Holidays!
I got out of bed the other day.as usual, everything hurt..................back, shoulders, hips, neck and of course the feet...........the freakin feet ...........it was like walking on a marble floor (not marble as in the stuff Rome was built on but the little round suckers - the ones that feel like, well like you're walking on marbles)!
My stuff hurts from a hundred years of baseball, 10 surgeries, atmospheric pressure, cold weather everything hurts! I Anyway, I begrudgingly got out of bed and WHO pops into my head...................freakin Randy Craft! Yea, Randy Craft, I know what the?.................the silver fox, the great extended HOF fame speaker, exceptionally smooth fielding shortstop, father freakin time..................THAT Randy Craft!
So now, Ive got Randy Craft in my head while 'm eating breakfast...............I've played baseball with Randy, against Randy and really like Randy BUT c'mon, man ..........not at breakfast dude!! Ok, I give in to it..............its in my brain, its gotta be there for a reason. Finally I realized, hey I'm getting to the age that Randy was at when we all said to each other in disbelief, "How old is he............ dude's a freak ..............guys 20 years younger cant make those plays"...........and I startled myself........ WHOA, he was 6 or 8 years older than I am NOW while he was making great plays, hitting hard line drives and running the bases like a track star.and I hurt NOW..how the hell am I going to feel in 6 years and HOW DID HE DO IT SO WELL FOR SO LONG?
I guess, I'm paying a delayed homage to the guy! Randy put his glove away last year (a glove that hes literally had since 1973 in High School). Any of you young guys reading this who have only been around for a year or two.may not know who Randy is or who the Marlins/Cubs are. Randy Craft was THE best shortstop to play in our league (all divisions). I mean, who else would anybody take at SS if they were starting a new team? It would be Randy! I cant tell you how many times a ball would be hit between short and 3rd base and I thought, "Crap, base hit"......... but then Randy would backhand the ball, straighten up and throw a strike to first base! Just shook my head so many times and thoroughly appreciated how genuinely awesome he played the SS position!
I have two absolutes in terms of who is or was the best in our league at any one position - in my humble opinion, Shook was the best pitcher for a number of reasons and Randy was the best SS..................he had great anticipation, body control, no fear of making an error, a strong and accurate arm and of course.................great hands! Here's to you brother! Miss seeing you on the field!
And while I was man-crushing on Randy, the Marlins (now the Cubs) appropriately danced into my head.............Ive been in this league 15 years - the Marlins were always been THE team to beat.................... pitching, hitting, defense, smart, together for 20+ years! Those guys were (still are) a unit a bunch of guys forged together by baseball .....................and beer!!! 20 + years.think about that Craft, Girard, Maney, Mash, Polito, Martin, Mitchell, Coons, Lochner, Reel, Ansell, Treece - how many teams that are in this league now will be together in 20 years? Other guys came and went from the Marlins/Cubs - I played two years with those guys but I was never a CUB! I was a visitor on the team.those guys were CUBS they were the originals! They were THE team to beat! Love em or hate em.GOTTA respect em!
Time goes by quickly.hard to believe were all in our 50's now - sheesh! And just like with all things in life, times does march on, it does NOT wait for anyone and time vs. man..........................time is undefeated. The majority of the league is well aware of the legend of Randy Craft and/or the Marlins/Cubs but some of the new CDMSBL crop might not be aware of the 20+ year run of the Marlins/Cubs. If you look at it strictly as a longevity thing, its really very impressive I mean, most marriages don't last 10 years..for a bunch of guys to spend 20+ years together AND have the success they've had....................THATs impressive! This is by no means a swan song no no no.. the Cubs are a strong and formidable team I would just like to take this opportunity to formally acknowledge the prominence of the Marlins/Cubs, their incredible long run and to say to Randy Craft. Cheers mate!
Happy Holidays!
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Catching throws from Randy was my pleasure for too many years to mention. As a first baseman I always liked a little challenge when catching throws. Making a good pick, scoop or extended stretch is always fun, but Randy hardly ever challenged me at first. The damn throws were almost always chest high and right on target. YAWN!
Steve's discourse on Randy brings to mind probably his best day on the field defensively. We were playing a team from Denver in the first round of the playoffs of in the Fall Classic, many moons ago. Denver must have hit 15 grounders in his direction (Jonny Martin was on his game and loved to induce grounders to Randy). He would charge, a slow roller, then steal one in the hole, and follow it up with a pirouet on a ball up the middle, with all of the throws right on target. YAWN! To amuse myself, I started doling out advice to the frustrated Dever hitters as they passed the first base bag like: "you are hitting it to the wrong guy" or "you should try somebody else". This just frustrated them all the more. You see, Denver was undefeated (5-0) in the Round Robin, and we were just 2-3, so they expected to roll over us. They didn't expect to get beat like that. They were so frustrated after the game, that they protested the game, claiming that we were obviously using an EX-PRO!
I have tons of those memories just like that of Randy and his play at short, and just wish that we were still making them. Oh well, we will all retire sooner or later. My buddy Randy just decided to go out while he was still the best SS in the league (regardless of the age division).
We just had our annual Cubbie/Marlin Christmas get together this past Friday night, and Randy was there. A great time was had by all.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of my baseball friends out there! Spring is only around the corner!
Steve, Sorry to interrupt your breakfast but thank you for the nice write up. I'm a firm believer in that your only as good as the people around you and I had the best. I couldn't ask for better teammates throughout the years. You included. As much as I miss playing, the competition and all the players I've met, my 62 yr old joints are thanking me now. Not that the nice Florida weather isn't helping too.. Thanks to Rich and my brother Mike for there comments as well. Miss you guys.
