The Cubs ball players all got an e-mail from Tom Maney this past week, spelling out why Tom chose this Sunday's game against the Blue Jays to be his last for the 45+ Cubs. He is going to continue on in the 55+ division, but this game was going to be his farewell to the Cubs and the 45's. It was a poignant reminder, that Father Time comes for us all.
So Jim McQuade, being the classy Hall of Fame manager that he is, put Tom in the lead-off spot, and played him at second base the entire game. Every Cub teammate, hell every teammate of Tom's loves him like a brother. He is the "BEST TEAMMATE" that I have ever stepped on the field with, and I have been on the field with some great teammates in my 26 years in this league. To a man, Each and every Cub player dedicated their efforts in this game to "win one for the dipper"!
Funny thing happened! The Blue Jays came to play, with their own motivation (inspirational leader Tom Bradley)! With John Weber on the mound, the Blue Jays took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the 5th inning. They played inspired baseball, and put a huge scare into the division leading Cubs.
Then, like a switch was flipped on in the bottom of the 5th, the Cubs bats came alive. Bryce Cutler led off with a booming triple to right center. Chris Dunn followed with a RBI double to cut the lead to 1. Mike Ferraro singled Dunn to 3rd, and then stole 2nd. Jon Martin tied the game on a grounder to second, that was mishandled for an error. A second error in a row, by the Blue Jays second baseman re-loaded the bases. Dan Hernandez delivered a pair of runs with a fly ball to left that was also mishandled.
Then the moment of the day was at hand: Tom Maney stepped to the plate with the bases loaded, and just one out. The game was still very much in doubt at 4-2, but Tom delivered a clutch RBI single to left, to advance the score to 5-2. The Blue Jays executed a perfect 7-5-2 relay to cut down Hernandez at the plate for the second out, on the play, but Tom came through in the pinch, like so many times before. Shawn Maney (Tom's younger brother) then followed, with a RBI single of his own. Mike Girard followed with a RBI double, and after the Blue Jays 4th error in the inning, Andy Hoyle contributed with a RBI single of his own, and Bryce Cutler finished what he started with a 2 RBI double. The Cubs scored 10 in the inning on 9 hits, when they had been held scoreless, with just 3 hits through the first 4 innings. The Blue Jays would score just one more run, in the top of the 6th, and the Cubs would add two more runs in the bottom half of that inning, to provide the final score of 12-3.
The only thing left was the Blue Jays final bats, in the 7th. Jim McQuade again showed his class as a manager, and with two outs called time out, to substitute Rich Garbarino at second base, for Tom Maney, so Tom could receive the farewell that he so dearly deserved! To a man, everyone stood and applauded as Tom left the field to hand shakes and hugs. With the final out recorded, the post game celebration was on and a special cooler session broke out. A good time was had by all!
A special tip of the cap to the Blue Jays as they showed tons of class AND heart on this special day. Another tip of the cap to Tommie's better half, Beth, as she came out to support her husband on this very special, and I am sure difficult day!
The Cubs will play one final regular season game against the Bombers, with first place in the regular season in the balance, and then it will be on to the playoffs, but for now we will savor this special day on the diamond with our friend and brother!
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Monday 29th of August 2016 10:03:32 AM
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Monday 29th of August 2016 10:06:13 AM
Tom Maney is one of my all-time favorite teammates! Tough, tough competitor and a class act to boot. I watched him come up big so many times my first couple of years in the 45+ Division as the Marlins won 2 titles in three years. Such a gamer. The mere sight of him all taped up and ready to play on Sundays made me want to run through a wall to win. I'll miss playing along side of him tremendously.
Tom - the one guy I look(ed) forward to seeing when we play(ed) the Cubs is you, man! Will definitely miss seeing you at the games and talking nonsense to each other! Lots of laughs!
We were teammates for a couple of years - which was awesome ........... we slept in the same room at the Maine Tournament a few years ago (what happens in Maine stays in Maine) - it was a joy to see a grown man take such pleasure in eating plastic wrapped frosted cinnamon rolls from the Mobil station across the street from where we were staying..........Too funny!
I'm sorry to hear you've played your last game in the 45's - really, the entire league's loss and don't think for one second your presence won't be missed! I KNOW other guy's feel the sane way...........But hey, you're still playing baseball ................and oh by the way, we're all going to end up playing right where we started - on Little League fields ............................only as 75 year years old jacking 201 ft. homeruns!!!
For those of you who don't really know Tom - a great baseball player, probably took more BP than Ted Williams, super tough competitor, funny as hell and a snappy dresser - Member's Only #1 member! You made playing in this league a much more enjoyable experience! Thanks Tom!
Honesty, integrity, class, sportsman and true competitor - hell, that only begins to describe Tom Maney - not only on the field, but off, too.
As I told Tom last night, he wouldn't have had a choice re: the 55s. I'd never let him retire from our Giants team.
You could tell from Girard's account of the game and from the ensuing responses that Tom is one of the most respected people one could ever meet. And I know that means more to him than the 22 championships he's been a part of over the years. And to those of us who know him fairly closely, it's no surprise that he has been elected to the MSBL National Hall of Fame and will be officially inducted in Phoenix, Ariz., in October.
The Cubs couldn't have had a more classy opponent than the Blue Jays for Tom's farewell and he couldn't have had a more classy manager in Jim McQuade.
Beth now has Tommy on Sundays and I'm sure she's elated about that. I personally thank her for sharing Tommy over the years. I'm also thankful that he remains a teammate in the 55s and that his legendary quick wit and post-game cooler sessions will continue to create memories.
I remember going to the last game Willie Mays ever played - at Shea Stadium in NYC. As Willie walked off the field for the last time, the scoreboard posted: Goodbye, yes. Forgotten, NEVER. Here's to you, 22!
Love ya'!
JimK
-- Edited by sfgiants on Monday 29th of August 2016 12:28:50 PM
-- Edited by sfgiants on Monday 29th of August 2016 12:29:21 PM
I'm so sorry that I missed Tom (the hall of famer) last game:( You know I would have been there but my daughters baby shower was the same day...best wishes to the Hall of Famer:)
