Books and articles about Dave Concepcion

Concepcion came out of Venezuela to become one of baseball's greatest shortstops. Wearing number 13, the lithe infielder won the position in 1972 after sharing it with Woody Woodward for two seasons. In 1973, Concepcion was named captain of the Reds. The winner of five Gold Gloves, he also started five All-Star Games from 1973 to 1982, more than any other NL shortstop during that period. He responded to his eighth straight selection (ninth overall) in 1982 by winning the Game's MVP award, hitting a two-run homer as the NL won its 11th straight game.

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In 1978 Concepcion became the first Cincinnati shortstop to bat .300 since Joe Tinker in 1913. Hampered by an elbow injury in 1980, Concepcion took advantage of the Astroturf at Riverfront Stadium and developed the one-hop throw to first base to reduce arm strain. The winner of the Roberto Clemente award as the top Latin American ballplayer in the majors in 1977, he led the NL with 14 game-winning RBI in 1981, when he was the Reds' MVP. In four World Series, Concepcion hit better than .300 three times and topped .400 in the 1975 and '79 LCS. He played over 100 games at shortstop 12 straight years (1974-85) and in 14 of 15 seasons, with injury cutting into his 1973 season. Replaced by Barry Larkin in 1986, Concepcion became a dependable handyman working at all four infield positions. Only Pete Rose is ahead of him in doubles (389), games, hits (2,326), and at-bats in Reds history, and only Joe Morgan has more Reds stolen bases than Concepcion's 321. Concepcion also ranks in the Reds' top five in runs, RBI, and total bases. On his retirement, he was only 44 games away from Larry Bowa's NL record for shortstops. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 9, 1973: The Reds Johnny Bench slugs three home runs and knocks in seven runs in a 9–7 defeat of Steve Carlton and the Phillies. Bench homers in the 1st, walks in the 3rd, and homers again in the 5th and 7th. It is the 2nd time Bench has hit three home runs in a game against Carlton; the first came on July 26, 1970. Bench ties a major-league record with four consecutive homers, having hit one in his final at bat last night in the Reds 7–1 win. Despite the three homers, Dave Concepcion's 2-run homer in the 9th, off Barry Lersch, is the game-winner. » July 5, 1973: Davey Concepcion collects a triple, double and three singles to lead the Reds to a 4–3 win over the Giants. His 3rd single drives in the winning run in the 9th. » July 22, 1973: Reds All-Star SS Dave Concepcion suffers a season-ending broken ankle in a 6–0 win over the Expos. » May 4, 1975: The Giants beat the Astros 8–6 in the first game of a doubleheader at Candlestick. In the 2nd inning, Houston's Bob Watson scores what is calculated as ML baseball's one-millionth run of all time (the Philadelphia Nationals Wes Fisler scored the first run on April 22, 1876) as Milt May hits John Montefusco's first pitch to drive him home. The Reds Dave Concepcion homers about the same moment and races around the bases, but Watson, on 2B, scores first. The Reds lose to Atlanta, 3–2. » April 19, 1976: After trailing 7–1 in the 4th inning, the Reds rally to beat the Astros, 9–8. The Reds score six runs in the last three innings to win. In the 9th, Tony Perez homers and Dave Concepcion hits a 2-out, 2-run single to bring home the winner. » June 4, 1976: Davey Concepcion has five hits as the Reds whip the host Cardinals, 11–2. » August 28, 1976: Davey Concepcion hits a 2-run single in the bottom of the 9th and the Reds tip the Phillies, 8–7. » July 6, 1977: In Atlanta, the Reds outlast the Braves, winning 15–13. The Braves spot the Reds six runs, then tie it up with a 6-run 4th inning. The Braves tie in the 7th at nine apiece, but the Reds score six in the 8th inning, four on a grand slam by Dave Concepcion. Atlanta scores one in the 8th and three in the 9th to complete a wild game. » June 9, 1979: Tom Seaver fires a 3-hitter, retiring the last 24 batters, in the Reds 7–1 win over the Expos. As noted by Rhodes and Snyder in their Reds history, Dave Concepcion hits a red seat homer off Bill Lee. » July 22, 1979: In the first of two at Wrigley Field, the Reds roll over the Cubs 12–1, behind Bill Bonham. Johnny Bench ties the National League record by collecting five walks and Dave Concepcion hits an 8th inning grand slam, off Willie Hernandez to put the score in double digits. The Cubs come back in game two to win, 8–4. » July 24, 1979: In Pittsburgh, a 4th-inning call results in a 34-minute rhubarb during the Pirates-Reds game. With Buc runners on 1st and 3rd, a 3–1 pitch to Omar Moreno is called a ball, but Johnny Bench throws to 2B ahead of the runner from 1B, Lee Lacy, who is attempting to steal. Lacy is called out by Dick Stello even though Moreno has just received a walk (therefore entitling Lacy to 2B), and walks off the bag. He is then tagged out by Dave Concepcion, precipitating the argument. The subsequent protest is rejected by National League president Feeney, and the Pirates 6–5 loss is upheld. » September 11, 1979: In Cincinnati, the Reds edge the Astros, 9–8 to move into first place for good in the National League West. Dave Concepcion and George Foster hit back-to-back homers in the 7th, good for three runs and a Reds lead. » April 12, 1980: "The Mad Hungarian" Al Hrabosky has got to be really steamed as he serves up a 2-out, 2-strike, 2-run gopher to the Reds Davey Concepcion. The Reds win, 4–3 over the Braves in Atlanta. » April 29, 1981: Dave Concepcion belts two homers and two singles to drive in six runs as the Reds beat the visiting Padres, 8–5. » May 31, 1982: The Phils outbrawl the Reds to win 5–4 in 13 innings. Mario Soto holds the Phils to one hit, while hitting two himself -- Bob Dernier and Mike Schmidt -- on successive pitches in the 6th. In the 7th, Ron Reed plunks Soto, who starts for the mound with his bat. He restrained, but Dave Concepcion steps in landing punches to Reed. All three are tossed and Reds reliever Joe Price allows no hits in the 7th and 8th but is pounded for four runs in the 9th. The Phils plate a run off Bob Shirley in the 13th to win. » July 13, 1982: Reds SS Dave Concepcion hits a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning to spark the NL to its 11th consecutive win in the All-Star Game 4–1. The NL has now won 19 of the last 20 contests. » August 23, 1983: At Wrigley, Reds rookie Jeff Russell beats Fergie Jenkins and the Cubs, 4–2. Russell adds his only career home run. Dave Concepcion is called out on a steal attempt, and then is tossed out for arguing with ump Dave Pallone. He also gets suspended for three days for allegedly spitting on Pallone during the argument. » May 31, 1985: Danny Cox retires the first 23 Reds he faces before Dave Concepcion singles with two out in the 8th. Cox settles for a 2-hit 5–0 shutout. » August 26, 1985: The Reds beat the Cardinals 7–6 and use a record five players with over 2,000 hits apiece—Buddy Bell, Pete Rose, Tony Perez, Dave Concepcion, and Cesar Cedeno. » August 20, 1988: Forty-year-old Dave Concepcion steals home to help the Reds defeat the Cardinals 6–2.