Enter Neal Ball.
Ball is probably best known as the first player in MLB history to record an unassisted triple play, but he was a member of the Cleveland Naps and not the New York Highlanders so that doesn't really matter.
What does matter is that Ball was a shortstop who spent his childhood in Kalamazoo, Michigan and was a defensively flawed shortstop for the New York baseball team in the American League. Gee that sounds very familiar.
Ball was more or less a back-up option that filled in for shortstop on the Yankees while Kid Elberfeld was out and would become expendable when Elberfeld returned. He was sent off to Cleveland where he completed the aforementioned unassisted triple play, and then in 1912 he was traded to the Boston Red Sox where he won a World Series ring despite his only real contribution being striking out against Rube "worst starting pitcher in the Hall of Fame" Marquard.
Following that Ball would embark on his second life as a manager and wind up physically in Baltimore in 1914 where he'd come to know a future name in Yankees lore named Babe Ruth.
Ball would continue to enjoy a long career in ball thanks to his pleasant demeanor and being held in high regard by people in and around the game.
16/20
Dare to dream.
As always thanks for stopping by and take care.
Fascinating. He may have lacked in some skill but he ended up with an impressive resume.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely a good career all things considered. Most minor leaguers would kill to have one close to it.
DeleteThis is so cool, I love Kalamazoo ballplayers!
ReplyDeleteYour love for Detroit is shining through.
DeleteHaving a pleasant demeanor and being held in high regard by his colleagues are (arguably) two of the most underrated compliments an athlete can receive. I know that I value both a lot.
ReplyDeleteWhat's funny is that out of context, his quotes about Babe Ruth can be construed as being mean.
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