Today in #Baseball History March 20,1957 - In todays issue of The Sporting News, former Pittsburgh Pirates GM – and current Pirate batting instructor (at least while George Sisler recuperates from a recent operation), Branch Rickey, – raves about Roberto Clemente, who will be seen as Rickeys most illustrious Pirate hire. The article features a classic example of bandwagon-jumping, coming in the wake of Clementes dramatically improved sophomore showing, as Rickey radically revises his initial, considerably more pessimistic prognosis made in January but which wont be made public until years later. Moreover, he shamelessly inflates his own role in acquiring Clemente, in effect stealing the credit from his longtime subordinate, pitching coach Clyde Sukeforth, the man who actually discovered Clemente last year while on assignment from Rickey to scout demoted Dodger hurler Joe Black. Ironically, just as Rickey has jumped on the bandwagon, Clemente, thanks to an off-season back injury which has somehow escaped the Mahatmas omniscient eye, is about to embark on the worst season of his career.16 years later to the day, Clemente would be the first Hispanic player elected into the Hall of Fame.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 14:36:43 +0000
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