CLEVELAND, Ohio – With the debut of the Indian home on Monday, I started thinking about Rocky Colavito.
He was my favorite player when I grew up. Perhaps my most memorable home debut was in 1965. That was when my father took me out of school so that we could watch the game. Colavito had just been traded back to Cleveland, after spending the previous five years in Detroit (1960-63) and Kansas City (1964).
“That was perhaps my favorite opening,” said Colavito. “I hit a home run. Leon (Wagner) hit two homers. We won. I was so excited to be back in Cleveland. “
When I called Colavito on Friday afternoon, his memory was excellent, as is often the case. The Indians defeated the Angels, by 6 to 5, in 10 entries. Wagner’s homer in 10th place won the game.
Colavito had been traded by former GM of the Frank Lane Tribe (“A real scoundrel,” he recalled) for the Tigers just before the 1960 season. He never wanted to leave Cleveland. He missed Cleveland. He was “thrilled” to be traded back to the team in 1965.
“Here is a strange part of the story,” said Colavito. “I ran to Lane at the old Hollenden Hotel in the city center. He was looking for someone, in town for the game. “
Colavito said Lane said to him, “(Kansas City) traded you back with Cleveland because (the owner) Charlie Finley didn’t want to negotiate a contract with you.”
Who knows if that was true.
Former Indian Rocky Colavito, who has hit 190 home runs in eight seasons in Cleveland.The Plain Dealer
IT WAS ABOUT MONEY
But as I wrote in my book, The Curse of Rocky Colavito, one of the reasons why Lane negotiated with Colavito before the 1960 season was a $ 5,000 contract dispute. In 1959, Colavito led the American League with 42 home runs. He also drove in 111 races, with hits of 0.257 (0.849 OPS). He was an All-Star and ranked No. 4 in the MVP vote.
Colavito was 25 years old and already had 139 career homers. He received $ 28,000 in 1959. He asked for $ 45,000. Then he lowered his price to $ 40,000.
Lane told reporters, “Rocky was just 0.257. It hit 0.303 the previous year. I’m not even sure he deserves a raise. ”He dismissed those homers and RBI by insisting on their” excessive eliminations “. Colavito fanned 86 times in 664 plate appearances. This makes it a contact hitter by current standards.
Colavito ended up signing for $ 35,000. Lane was still furious that Colavito wanted $ 40,000. This fueled trade.
Colavito thought about all that and more when he saw Lane before his 1965 home debut. It was as if his ex-boss was chasing him.
Sister De Montfort and Rocky Colavito with their children Parmadale in 1965.Cleveland Plain Dealer
THE FIRST OPENER
In 1954, when Cleveland was winning 111 games, Colavito was hitting 38 HR with 116 RBI in Class AAA Indianapolis while hitting 0.271 (0.924 OPS). That was not enough for him to make the majors in 1955. Back in the AAA class, where he 30 HR with 104 RBI, hitting 0.268 (0.861 OPS).
After hitting 68 homers in the previous two seasons of the AAA Class, he finally opened the year in Cleveland. He was 22 years old on April 20, 1956, the date of the tribe’s debut at home. They beat Detroit 3-1, Early Wynn playing a full game. Colavito did not play.
He was in and out of the lineup. The Tribe decided to send him back to the minors – again.
“I told them I wouldn’t,” said Colavito. “I went to the press booth to watch the game with the writers.”
General manager Hank Greenberg met him there and asked Colavito to reconsider the return to minors.
“I said ‘change me’,” recalled Colavito. “I loved Cleveland. That’s where I wanted to play. But if they didn’t want me, change me. I didn’t deserve to go back to the minors again. “
Colavito felt an affinity with Greenberg, a right-handed hitter (331 HR career) who was from New York – like Colavito. Greenberg asked Colavito to give him three weeks to resolve an escalation problem, so he would be back in Cleveland.
“I trusted him,” said Colavito. “He kept his word. I went to (Class AAA) San Diego and he brought me back to Cleveland when he said he would. “
In 1956, Colavito played 101 games, hitting 0.276 (0.903 OPS) with 21 HR and 65 RBI. He was runner-up to Luis Aparicio in the title of Rookie of the Year of the American League.
Frank Lane (left) followed Hank Greenberg (right) as general manager of the Indians in 1957. Lane was hated by Rocky Colavito, while Greenberg was loved by the former Tribe star.Cleveland Plain Dealer
LET’S TALK CONTRACT
After the 1956 season, Colavito asked for a $ 3,000 raise. Greenberg responded with $ 1,500. Colavito talked about his 21 HR and his excellent debut year.
Greenberg came back with this offer, “I’m going to give you the $ 1,500 raise. And I’m going to give you another $ 1,500 when you play 100 games for us (in 1957). “
“When I played my 100th game, I went straight to his office,” said Colavito. “Hank looked at me and said, ‘I know why you are here.’ He then said (traveling secretary) Bob Gill, ‘Give Rocky the $ 1,500 check.’ Hank Greenberg was the greatest general manager I have ever had. He was always a man of his word. “
Rocky Colavito is behind the Herb Score during his introduction to the Indians’ Hall of Fame at the then Jacobs Field in 2006. The Plain Dealer
ROCKY COLAVITO TODAY
Colavito’s voice sounded loud as we talked for a long time on Friday. He lost his right leg below the knee on August 11, 2015.
“The day after my 82nd birthday,” said Colavito. “Diabetes.” He talked about learning to walk with his prosthesis.
“I get along really well,” he said. “But I am slow. Then again, I was always slow. “
He laughed.
He talked about the lack of Herb Score, the former pitcher and announcer of the Tribe. Score died in 2008 at the age of 75, after a series of strokes.
“We were roommates for seven years, from the youngest,” said Colavito. “We were as close as friends can be. When I joined the team in 1956, I told everyone that Herb would win 20 games. He was 20-9 that season. “
Colavito knows the Score statistics as if they were his own. When the blows cost Score his ability to speak, Colavito would still call his old friend on the phone and they would talk and laugh. He reached 374 HR with 1,159 RBI in 13 seasons, hitting 0.266 (0.848 OPS). That was in 1956-68, when the rules favored pitchers and they dominated. Seven times, he reached at least 30 HR in one season.
Now 87, Colavito will be honored with a statue in Little Italy. He has lived in the same house outside Reading, Pennsylvania, for 39 years.
“I love it,” he said. “I heard that they were going to put him in front of the stadium, but that’s a good thing. I really liked that. Cleveland will always be special to me. “
The Talkin ‘Tribe Opening Day event will take place virtually on April 5, 2021 from noon to 1:30 pm, featuring Indian sports writers and columnists from cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Tickets can be booked here. Also, join our VIP Experience and have the opportunity to mix with former Cleveland Indians players and more. There are only 150 tickets available for this exclusive experience and tickets can only be won through our sweepstakes.
RECENT TERRY PLUTO COLUMNS
Scribbles from the opening day of the tribe: Good throw, bad hit, Luplow ahead?
How many games will Tribe win this season?
When it comes to the concerns of the Cleveland Indians, what are we missing out on?
Terry’s Talkin ‘Browns: Let’s take a look at Andrew Berry’s moves
What do the spring cuts say about the tribe?
What happened to Cavs & Andre Drummond?
Talking to myself about Jake Bauers, Bobby Bradley and The Tribe
Bradley Zimmer is the best option in the central field?
Terry’s Talkin ‘Browns: Andrew Berry’s Defensive Makeover
Fanatics launched facial masks for the Cleveland Indians, with sales benefiting two charities. See details and product links below.
New Indian masks for sale: this is where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed facial covers for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a pack of 3 ($ 24.99). All MLB proceeds are donated to charities.