HOF's

[>TC<]

Which Hall of Famer wore the uniforms of all four New York teams - the New York Giants, the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Yankees, and the Mets? Careerwise, he hit .284 during the regular season and .393 in World Series games


TC

[RockieBill]

Would that be The Straw Man? (Darryl Strawberry)

:confused:

[imgreat95]

rockie.. i'm not positive but i don't believe strawberry was playing in the days of the Brooklyn Dodgers.. nor is he in the HOF:biggrin:

[RockieBill]

Do'h! ...purely a knee-jerk answer - he's the only guy I know played for the Dodgers, Giants, Yanks and Mets - only about 26 years too late! (I should learn to read the question first!)

So, uhh,...is this person a player for all four teams, or did he manage or something else? (just a little hint???)

[KingFish]

Note that I consider TC to be the Trivia master. There is a method to his madness though. Notice how the phrasing of the question could mislead you into thinking the guy he's after actually played for all four teams? No, the question specially refers to wearing of the uniform. I believe it really comes down to who played or coached for the two now defunct teams and either managed, coached or played on the modern era teams?

Leo the Lip and the old Professor himself, Charles Dillon Stengel quickly come to mind as being from the right period but I just do not think they fit all of the 4 teams. Hmmm, once again the Master makes the student think it through.

I eliminated Torre, Alston, Billy Martin and at least a half dozen other guys I could think of that would span the era mentioned for one reason or the other.

It simply has to be Don Zimmer. He played for BROK, DOD's & METs.

At least that's my best shot and now my head hurts a lot!:confused:

[>TC<]

The question just says "he wore the uniforms of" not that he played for them all.


I do have a neat story involving this infamous practical joker.

While playing a game against a former team of his, he was taking some real heat from the opposing fans. He had a pitcher retrieve a small bird from out in the bullpen and put it under his hat. When he came up to bat the next time, to a chorus of hecklers, he tipped his hat to the fans and the bird flew off. The fans went into a cheer and he put his hat back on and stepped in to hit.


TC:wink:

[KingFish]

So is it Zimmer or not???

That prank sounds something like he or Casey would pull though. What a crack up.:confused:

[imgreat95]

after reading TC's story, I am positive that it has to be Zimmer.

[RockieBill]

Zim would fit the bill, except for that HOF thing. After choking spectacularly on my first attempt to answer this, I actually cracked a couple of books (do you know how small the print is in Total Baseball??? Again, I proceeded as KingFish, doing the elimination thing, and skipping right over the Professor, not noticing two stints he spent with the NYG. TC - the bird story gave it away - thanks!

Casey Stengel, The Professor, managed Brooklyn, NNY, Mets and played for NYG.

[RockieBill]

Was Zim ever affiliated with the NYG? (as a coach, or another capacity?)

[Baseball Guru]

The answer is definitely Stengel....:biggrin:

He played for the Dodgers and Giants and managed the Dodgers, Mets and Yanks....

As for Zimmer, he was never affiliated with the Giants...

[RockieBill]

Good morning, James! You're up early!

Do'h! I failed to mention he also played for Brooklyn!

[Baseball Guru]

Morning BIll...Yeah I am up early:ohno:
I had to work 9 days in a row and got up around 4:30 every morning, so sleeping to 7:30 was like sleeping in :hmm:

[KingFish]

Zim actually played for the Giants if memory serves me. Morning all

[>TC<]

It is the "Ol Perfessor" Casey Stengel. Excellent deduction gentlemen.

Did you ever hear the story of Casey plaing in an exhibition against Montgomery in the Southern League?

Before the game Casy noticed there was a storm drain in the OF. It was one of those with a grated manhole cover. Well, old Casey pulled off the cover and climbed down in the hole during a play in the infield, when no one was watching. As luck would have it, one of the next batters hit a high fly ball towards Casey. The crowd and his teamates were stunned as they couldn't see where Casey was and it appeared that there was no fielder out there. At the last minute, Casey jumped up out of the hole and ran full tilt to make a running catch, to the roars of the crowd.

What a showman!


TC

[KingFish]

Great story TC. At least I was in the right era. Missed the HOF'er but I'm sure Zim either played or coached on all four teams.:biggrin:

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by KingFish
Zim actually played for the Giants if memory serves me. Morning all

I don't believe he actually played for the Giants...He did play for the Mets in 1962 for 14 games.....Maybe thats what you were thinking of...:biggrin:

[KingFish]

I checked it out and you are right about him not playing for the Giants. Maybe I got Stengel mixed up in that. Ah well the Fish ages and the memories get all mixed together.;)