Books and articles about Vic Power

Power was a stylish, exuberant, showboating first baseman who won seven Gold Gloves. The righthander made all catches one-handed with a wide, sweeping motion. He frequently led AL first basemen in every fielding category. After leading the American Association with a .349 BA in 1953, the black Puerto Rican joined Elston Howard as the first black players on the Yankees' roster, but Power was traded to the Athletics before the season began. A good contact hitter, he batted over .300 three times in his dozen ML seasons. Although not a big basestealer, he stole home twice in one game against Detroit in 1958.

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RELATED LINKS Submissions » The Top 100 Greatest Indians » Major League Leaders Who Weren't: 1961's Unbalanced Schedule by Fred Worth Ask The Experts » When Roger Maris was traded from Cleveland to Kansas City, what other players were involved? Around the Web » Ex-Twin Vic Power dies at 78 from startribune.com » Vic Power, Former Gold Glove Winner, Dies from newsday.com » Vic Power from historicbaseball.com » Vic Power from baseball-reference.com » Vic Power, First Baseman With Flair, Is Dead at 78 from nytimes.com (11/30/05) » Vic Power: A Baseball Odyssey from philadelphiaathletics.org » Vic Power from thediamondangle.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

A quick-witted wisecracker, he was once arrested for jaywalking in the South. "I thought the `Don't Walk' sign was for whites only," he told the judge. "I've seen so many of those signs in this town." (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 3, 1927: Doc Gautreau of the Boston Braves steals home twice in a game against Brooklyn to tie the major-league record. This feat will not be repeated until Vic Power does it in 1958. » October 13, 1953: The Yankees buy the contracts of black players Elston Howard and Vic Power from the Kansas City Blues. » December 16, 1953: In a ten-player trade, the Yankees send 1B Vic Power, infielders Jimmy Finigan and Don Bollweg, OF Bill Renna, C Jim Robertson, and P John Gray to the A's. Philadelphia packs veteran 1B Eddie Robinson, Loren Babe, P Harry Byrd, and outfielders Tom Hamilton and Carmen Mauro to New York. Byrd, who won 26 games in two years for the A's, will never match his wins in New York. The stylish Power, the American Association batting leader in 1953, will win seven Gold Gloves and make the All-Star team four times. » June 13, 1956: Vic Power and teammate Tim Thompson of the Athletics go 5-for-6 in a 13-4 win against the Senators. » June 15, 1958: The Indians trade OF Roger Maris, 1B Preston Ward, and LHP Dick Tomanek to the Athletics for 1B Vic Power and SS Woodie Held. Insiders fear the worst: that A's president Arnold Johnson will follow script and put Maris in Yankee pinstripes. » August 14, 1958: Vic Power steals home in the eighth inning and again in the 10th to give the Indians a 10-9 win over Detroit. Power becomes the first AL player since l927 to steal home twice in the same game. He will have only three steals all season. » June 25, 1961: Vic Power is the base runner on 1B in the bottom of the 9th, when Chuck Essegian pinch-hits a single. Power, thinking it is a home run, waits to shake hands with Essegian, and is forced at 2B. Detroit and Jim Bunning win, 6–3, then Cleveland takes the nitecap, 4–3. » April 2, 1962: The Twins trade P Pedro Ramos to Cleveland for 1B Vic Power and P Dick Stigman. » May 10, 1962: Minnesota Lenny Green and Vic Power hit back-to-back home runs off Cleveland's Jim Perry to start the game, tying a ML record. Cleveland comes back to win 9–4. It'll be another nine years before two leadoff batters in the American League belt homers, and it will be Perry teeing up those as well. » October 12, 1963: In the first (and last) Hispanic American major league all-star game, the National League team beats the American League 5–2 at the Polo Grounds. The game features such names as Minnie Minoso, Tony Oliva, Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, Julian Javier, Felipe Alou, Luis Aparicio, and Zoilo Versalles. Vic Power receives a pregame award as the number-one Latin player. NL starter Juan Marichal strikes out six in four innings, though reliever Al McBean is the winner. Pinch hitter Manny Mota drives in two against loser Pedro Ramos. » July 11, 1964: Vic Power of the Angels is fined $250 and suspended 10 days for spitting on ump Jim Honochick after a close play during a doubleheader loss to the White Sox 7–4 and 6–1 the previous day.