He then played the second half of the 67 campaign with the White Sox and finished his career in 1968 with the Dodgers and Yankees. And Tuesday he was back in Cleveland, traveling with dozens of family members and friends from his Reading, Pennsylvania, home and elsewhere. Kuenn had a minor injury early in the season, he hit .308 for the Indians, but was traded away at the end of the year. He was released by the Yankees on September 30, 1968[5] and retired as a player. Home Run Derby. He also recalled winning a game in relief for his roommate with the Yankees, Steve Barber, against Detroit in August 1968. I bounced it off a table at a card show and it hit the ceiling. The best result we found for your search is Rocky A Colavito age 70s in Marshfield, MA. It goes back to what Sean wrote. [37], Colavito was involved in the 1983 pine tar game and was ejected for arguing the umpires' decision to negate George Brett's home run and call him out, which would have given the Yankees the win;[38] the decision was later overturned, the game was resumed a month later with the Royals in the lead as the result of Brett's home run, and the Royals won the game.[39]. It just isnt done. Browse Dictionary Quizzes Money Video. Colavito played in all of Cleveland's 162 games without committing an error (274 chances),[26] but did not win one of the three AL Gold Glove Awards for an outfielder. He was born on August 10, 1933. He also homered in the second game. He had three children with his wife Carmen Perroti, whom he married in 1954. That makes him worth remembering, so it's good to have a full biography on the shelves. [29] Not only did he face down Al Kaline and Willie Horton, he further vexed the Tigers by scoring the winning run for the Yanks in the eighth inning. Just click here to subscribe. Permit me, if you will, to wax a bit nostalgic about one of the few men to have worn the uniforms of both the KC Royals and their Kansas City big-league predecessors, the Kansas City Athletics. Rocky Colavito, a former Royals coach and As player, remains one of the most memorable persons to have graced Kansas City baseball. I called Colavito and read him Seans email, asking for his advice. It took herculean efforts from the likes of Joe Gazzo and his educational lectures at the Baseball Heritage Museum and marketing efforts from Randy Mintz and the passion of fan Ida Pocci who watched him play as a young girl. Colavito told reporters before the game his greatest memory as an Indian was hitting those four home runs. He wore a #6, #7 or #21 jersey during his MLB career. [31] He was a hitting coach for the Kansas City Royals during the 1982 and 1983 seasons. He was the type of player you just don't trade, especially not for a three-years-older singles hitter . Lane, whose reputation as a wheeler-dealer earned him the moniker Frank "Trader" Lane in the sports press, further irritated fans by saying, "What's all the fuss about? He finished the season batting .276 with 21 home runs, and was tied for runner-up in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. In that second game, I went 1-for-3, hit a three-run homer, and scored twice and we won again., On playing for the Tigers in the home opener in Detroit: The first year in Detroit was rough for me because I had left a place and a team that I loved and the fans in Cleveland loved me. They have three children, four granddaughters and a great grandson. Both appealed and served six months of probation. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He has never been forgotten. In 2001, Colavito received a huge ovation at the introduction of the Indians' All-Century team.[44]. There are also a lot more home runs today. But talk to fans, and they dont recount the home runs as often as they do the stories of a player who spent time with fans, never shying from them, never big-timing them. When Colavito stranded a runner, Falls would give him an "RNBI" (Run Not Batted In). After awhile, almost everyone stopped calling, said Colavito. [7] In 1956, he started the season playing in the Pacific Coast League, once showing off his throwing arm by hurling a ball over the center-field wall, 436 feet (133m) from home plate. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The Yankees expressed little interest in him, and the Philadelphia Athletics had to bow out due to financial problems. I really would have liked never giving up a hit. And I cherish respect, Colavito said. The Rock. Before the ceremony, Colavito visited League Park with family and some committee members. He dropped out of school at sixteen while trying to break into the majors. I took one of the new baseballs apart. Pluto wrote a sequel, Burying the Curse, in 1995, after the Cleveland Indians won their first American League Championship in 41 years that season. Colavito hit .274, with 164 hits, 34 home runs, 31 doubles, and 102 RBI for the A's. December 1959. I remember that in the second game I hit a homer against Mickey Lolich., On the game today: Baseball is baseball. In honor of those home runs a Major League record held by multiple players four rose bushes have been planted at the park near the statue. $0.34. His relationship with fans helped make him the most popular of the 64 As. Rocky grew up in The Bronx as a devoted fan of the New York Yankees, particularly Joe DiMaggio.By age nine he was playing semipro baseball, and he dropped out of school at age 16 to pursue a baseball career. The Plain Dealer. He also was selected for his eighth All-Star Game. Autographed copies $90. The deal, a complicated three-way transaction between the As, White Sox and Indians, returned Colavito to Cleveland, the city that rebelled when the Indians traded him to the Tigers years before. Hundreds of people packed the park to see the statue unveiled.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com. I wanted that second one as much or more than the first because no one has ever done it twice., On pitching 2 innings in scoreless relief for the Yankees against the Tigersand getting the win:When I was signed by Cleveland, they originally saw me as a pitcher and I wish I could have played outfield and pitched. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. McLain and Horton who spent 1963, their first year in the Majors, playing with Colavito on the Tigers showed support. It was an unforgettable Colavito trademark. He hit a short fly ball to left center that I think Joe Pepitone should have caught. In 60 games for the White Sox that season, Colavito managed to get 42 hits with 3 home runs and 29 RBI. Watch for up coming events. The A's had finished in last place with a 57105 record. He hit .287 that season, and placed fifth in the MVP vote after leading the AL in RBI (108) and walks (93). I rarely struck out three times in a game. Whats on your mind?, Being honest is OK, as in this comment: Im not sure what to say, but Im here for you.. United Press International, Lodi News-Sentinel, Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 03:05, List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball single-game home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders, "Rocky Colavito at the Cooperstown Expert", "Rocky Colavito Stats (Miscellaneous Items of Interest)", "1956 Awards Voting, AL Rookie of the Year Voting", "Rocky Colavito 1958 Game by Game Pitching Logs", "Leagues split two All-Star Games played in 1959", "MLB Batting Champion as Recognized at End of Year", "Al Kaline Stats (Miscellaneous Items of Interest)", Cleveland Indians: Looking back at the re-acquisition of Rocky Colavito, "The Starting Nine, The Rawlings Gold Glove Awards", "Rocky Colavito enjoys the reflected spotlight from Josh Hamilton's four-homer spectacular", Former Tribe Manager Joins Staff of Royals, Howser and Colavito: Appeal is Successful, Pine-Tarred and Feathered: After Grousing and Litigating, the Yankees Lost the Resumed Endless Game, "Rocky Colavito Stats - Baseball-Reference.com", "Colavito still The Rock despite recent health issues", "Top 100 Greatest Cleveland Indians Players", "Rocky Colavito to attend statue unveiling today; event to be live-streamed in Cleveland", Cleveland Indians Press Release, July 11, 2006, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rocky_Colavito&oldid=1141445452, September 10,1955,for theCleveland Indians, September 28,1968,for theNew York Yankees, 6-time AL All-Star (1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966), 2-time AL Total Bases Leader (1959, 1962), 30-Home Run Seasons: 7 (19561962, 1964, 1966), 40-Home Run Seasons: 3 (1958, 1959, 1961), 100 RBI Seasons: 6 (1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965), 9 All-Star Games (1959-2, 19612, 19622, 1964, 1965, 1966), ML Fielding Percentage Leader as Right Fielder (1965), ML Fielding Percentage Leader as Outfielder (1965), Four consecutive home runs in one game (1959), Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 03:05. In March 1968, he was purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the White Sox. With two runners in scoring position, Colavito connected and sent the ball sailing over the Tigers' bullpen. Its unfair to compare eras because the ball is livelier and is traveling 30 or more feet farther. Some highlights of Colavito's amazing career: 1956: Rocky clouted 21 HRs, 65 RBIs, 55 runs scored, a Slugging Average of .531 and an OPS of .903 in just 322 At Bats! Another time when Colavito was in a batting slump and the Tigers fans started razzing him for it, he threw a ball he barely caught in left field over the right-field light tower and roof. Al was a super athlete, really a super star. The winning pitcher on the day was Rocky Colavito. He is the author of more than 30 books, including The Curse of Rocky Colavito (selected by the New York Times as one of the five notable sports books of 1989), and Loose Balls, which was ranked number 13 on Sports Illustrated's list of the top 100 sports books of all time. Rocky Colavito discusses his 4-homer game on June 10, 1959 before hitting a long home run in the 1986 Old Timers Game. He dropped out of school at sixteen while trying to break into the majors. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And I am absolutely honored and overwhelmed by all of you guys, all of my family, all of friends that are here, that they came. Readers speak out, When life is turned upside down, a caregivers opens her heart. It was very cold that day but it was unbelievable to see so many banners brought by Indian fans into the ballpark that said things like Welcome home Rock, and We will miss you Rocky.' 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