Remember Chuck Cottier, who played second base for the Senators from
1961 to 1965? In 1995, he served as the bench coach for the Orioles
under manager Phil Regan.
About a week or so after Cal Ripken, Jr., broke Lou Gehrig's
consecutive game streak, I was on the field at Oriole Park before a
game in my role as a reporter for a Washington radio station. I was
talking with Chuck about our gloves: which manufacturer's did he use,
the last glove I bought for myself, etc. I told Chuck that I would
bring my glove to the park the next night for him to see.
My glove made its Oriole Park debut the next night as I took it onto
the field with my microphone and tape recorder. I showed it to Chuck,
who said, "Put your camera (my camera? What did he think I was, a
fan?) in the dugout and let's do some pickups."
For those who don't know, pickups are usually done in spring training
without gloves. A coach rolls a baseball either to the left or to the
right of the player. The player then rushes in the direction of the
ball, bends over to pick it up, and tosses it back to the coach, who
then rolls it in the opposite direction. This helps firm up the
player's midsection and cures Dunlap's Disease (as in "my belly done
lapped over my belt").
At first, Chuck didn't roll the ball beyond my reach because I was able
to just bend over in the direction of the ball in order to pick it up.
Then he started to roll the ball so I would have to chase it. We did
this for what seemed (to me) to be quite a while until I felt ready to
collapse. I begged off continuing and he had a chuckle.
This took place to the left of the Orioles' dugout during the early
batting practice session when all the extra men take their swings. A
short time afterwards as I was sitting in the dugout, Oriole third
baseman Jeff Manto jogged by me and said, "You're playing shortstop
tonight!" I laughed and knew I'd had a great day.
When I saw Chuck in the Oriole Park press box last season (he was an
advance scout for the Yankees), he greeted me and asked if I was ready
to do some pickups. My response? "Let's go!"
Also by Dave Howell
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Copyright © 2003 by Dave Howell. Posted March 2, 2003.
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