Detroit Tigers Quiz: 1) Most games, career? 2) Most homers,
season, lefthander? 3) Who are the only two 200-game winners,
post-1930? 4) Longest hitting streak? Answers below.
Charlie Daniels
Daniels was born in 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina. The
son of a lumberman, there really weren”t a lot of musical
influences in his house growing up, unlike all the other stars we
have profiled over the years, it seems. But Daniels took up the
guitar on his own and by the time he was 21, he formed a group
called the Jaguars which played Southern bars and roadhouses
for the next 10 years.
[At the time he decided to pursue music full time, Daniels was
working in a creosote plant. In a display of his character, Charlie
asked to be laid off instead of a black employee who had a
family to support and was about to get a pink slip.]
The Jaguars disbanded in 1967 and Daniels was able to use a
connection in Nashville to gain a lot of session work. He was
developing a great reputation as one of the better pickers around
and he earned a comfortable living. Eventually he also got into
the producing end of the business and was intimately involved in
the success of the Youngbloods of “Get Together” fame.
Then in 1971, Charlie started the Charlie Daniels Band (CDB),
modeling it after the Allman Brothers, with 2 drummers and twin
lead guitars. Perfecting his own brand of “raunch and roll,”
Daniels music is harder to define than even the other Southern
rockers of this era. It was a little blues, jazz, country, bluegrass,
boogie, and hard rock, all rolled into one. And by 1973, CDB
had its first hit with “Uneasy Rider,” a top ten takeoff of the
popular movie, “Easy Rider.” Just like Marshall Tucker, CDB
embarked on a grueling road schedule of 200-250 concerts a
year. But as Daniels put it, it wasn”t work, they simply enjoyed
it.
As much as anyone of his generation, Charlie Daniels had an ear
for catching the political winds of the country and in 1975 he had
his second big hit with “The South”s Gonna Do It Again.” And
like his good friends with Marshall Tucker, Daniels was a big
supporter of Jimmy Carter, gaining an invitation to play at his
inauguration along with the boys from Spartanburg.
In fact the connections between not just CDB and Marshall
Tucker, but also Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers were
many. They constantly opened for each other”s concerts and
you”d always find Daniels jamming with the others when it came
time for them to take the stage. His fiddling was one of the
highlights of any show. In addition, due in large part to his
massive build, 6”4″ and put together like a lineman, as well as
his involvement with all the Southern rock groups of this era,
Charlie earned the nickname “Godfather.”
He also didn”t like to use others” tunes, preferring his own work.
The best example is when he mentioned to the boys at Marshall
Tucker that he wanted to name his next album “Fire on the
Mountain.” MT”s George McCorkle then wrote a song by the
same title, thinking Daniels would use it. Charlie turned it down,
but kept the album title, and McCorkle and Company turned the
tune into their own hit. [After a few beers, I bet you can get
some folks on this one.]
In 1979 Charlie Daniels really busted into the big time
nationwide with the album “Million Mile Reflections” and the
single, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” the latter peaking at
#3. [Personally, this is my least favorite CDB tune. “Carolina”
being my own top pick.] And then in 1980 Charlie took
advantage of the mood surrounding the Iranian hostage crisis to
come up with the #11 “In America.” Two years later, he scored
another political hit with “Still In Saigon.”
While Daniels had been a Carter supporter, he was drawing
increasing attention for his conservative, right-wing views,
particularly following the release of the album “Simple Man” in
1990. The title cut called for the lynching of drug dealers, and
for rapists and child abusers to be left in swamps, where they
would be gnawed to death by snakes and alligators. Many were
not exactly amused. [The editor, on the other hand, not only
finds it amusing, he also thinks it makes perfect sense. CD for
President!]
Daniels replied to his critics: “I come from a long line of blue-
collar folks, farmers and timber people. That”s how my mind
operates.(While I write) I think about how it will affect
working class people.”
Yup, something tells me Charlie Daniels wouldn”t have too
many good things to say about Lizzie Grubman. Rather, he”s
another that warrants consideration for the Bar Chat Hall of
Fame. Friday, the Allman Brothers.
[Sources: “Southern Rockers,” Marley Brant; “Country Music:
The Encyclopedia,” Stambler & Landon; “The Rolling Stone
Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll”]
Johnny Mac”s Baseball…the Phillies
A few weeks ago we covered some franchises that were easy to
root for, even if success was somewhat limited, like the Boston
Red Sox. Over the next few Wednesdays we will take a look at a
few that are far tougher to get fired up over. Two current
franchises that jump to mind are the Philadelphia Phillies and the
Chicago White Sox. I apologize to the fans of those 2
organizations, but the truth hurts. Neither of these teams have
the history, heartbreak or roster of great players of the Cubs or
Red Sox.
The Phillies go all the way back to 1883, when they were known
as the Quakers. The name fit, because as their 17-81 record
suggests, they didn”t put up much of a fight. They remained
without a pennant for 30 years, rarely contending. Probably their
most recognizable player in the early years was Big Ed
Delahanty, a slugging first baseman with a reputation as a
drinker. He walked off (or was thrown off) a train one night in a
stupor, never to be seen again. The Phils did manage to win a
pennant in 1915, behind the pitching of all-time great Grover
Cleveland Alexander, but were beaten easily by the Red Sox, 4
games to 1. Alexander won the lone game for the Phils. Nobody
knew it at the time, but he would be the last Philly pitcher to win
a World Series game until the truly mediocre Bob Walk in 1980,
a mere 65 years later.
After consecutive runner-up finishes in 1916 and 1917, they
embarked on a run of futility unmatched by modern man. From
1918 through 1949 they finished third once, fourth once, fifth
twice, sixth 4 times, seventh 7 times and dead last 16 times. 27
times in 31 years they finished sixth or worse in an 8-team
league.yuck. The attendance figures were as abysmal as the
record. They rarely drew over 300,000 people a year, some
years failing to get over 200,000 (that is an average of about
2,000 a game). They did have some decent hitting clubs,
although the pitching more than compensated for any offensive
prowess. They hit .315 as a team in 1930, scoring 944 runs.
Slugging outfielder Chuck Klein hit .386 with 40 homers, 59
doubles, and 170 ribbies, Lefty O”Doul hit .383, and shortstop
Pinky Whitney hit .342 with 117 RBI.yet they managed to go
52-102 for another last place finish. Maybe the 6.78 team ERA
contributed a bit.
The 1950 Whiz Kids broke up this stretch of horror. Coming out
of nowhere, the young Phils beat the Dodgers down the stretch to
claim their first pennant in 35 years. Robin Roberts and Curt
Simmons anchored the starting staff and Richie Ashburn, Del
Ennis and Eddie Waitkus led the offense. Waitkus was an
interesting guy, having been shot in the chest during the 1949
season by a strange woman in a hotel room. He is generally
thought to be the inspiration for the book “The Natural” by
Malamud. Waitkus worked hard to get back to the majors, and
was a big contributor to the 1950 club. The real wild-card on
this team, however, was relief pitcher Jim Konstanty. A relative
nobody up to that point, the 33-year-old journeyman went 16-7
with 22 saves and a 2.66 ERA working solely out of the bullpen,
enough to be named the NL”s MVP (there was no Cy Young
award at the time). In a surprise move, manager Eddie Sawyer
named him to start Game One of the Series against the defending
champ Yankees and Vic Raschi. Konstanty acquitted himself
well, but the Phils lost a tough one, 1-0. Allie Reynolds then
bested Roberts in Game Two, 2-1. The Phils were getting the
pitching, but couldn”t get anything against the New York hurlers.
Eddie Lopat won Game Three, 3-2, and Whitey Ford completed
the sweep in shutting Philadelphia down again, 5-2.
The Phillies then took another 30-year nap before the next
pennant. In between, they managed another bevy of last place
finishes, as well as one of the great late-season collapses in
history. Gene Mauch took over the club in 1961 and promptly
went 47-107 (losing 23 straight at one point). He did put a
decent club together in the next few years, mixing homegrown
talent, Chris Short and Dick (don”t call me Richie) Allen, with
veterans acquired in trades like Jim Bunning. The 1964 squad
led the league from the start, holding a 6 and a half game lead
late in the year. But they then proceeded to lose 10 straight and
blow the pennant to the Cardinals. Mauch seemed to panic down
the stretch, continually pitching Bunning and Short on little rest.
They never fully recovered from that collapse, and didn”t
contend for 10 years. Meanwhile, the fans tired of Allen,
eventually running him out of town. Think what you will of
Richie, but the man could hit. He had one of the great rookie
seasons ever in 1964 (.318, 201 hits, 125 runs, 29 homers), and
was a productive player his entire career, winning an MVP award
with the Chicago White Sox in 1972.
Danny Ozark took over as field general for the Phillies in 1973
and helped put together a contending club. He even brought
Allen back for a few seasons, and surrounded him with players
like Mike Schmidt, Bob Boone, Larry Bowa and Greg Luzinski.
Perhaps the biggest move, however, was acquiring Steve Carlton
from the Cardinals for Rick Wise. Carlton and Schmidt would
anchor the club for many seasons to come. They won the East in
”76, ”77 and ”78, but lost the NLCS each time. Then in 1980
they captured their one and only World Series title. And that was
a real roller coaster of a post-season.
Meeting the Astros in the NLCS, it went the five game limit,
with the last 4 contests going into extra innings. Down 2 games
to 1 and heading back to Houston, the Phillies trailed 2-0 going
into the 8th, scored 3 times to take the lead, allowed Houston to
tie it in the 9th, and then won it in the 10th.
Game five again saw them behind, trailing 5-2 against Nolan
Ryan heading into the 8th. They came back, putting up a 5 spot,
but, like the previous effort, couldn”t hold it and the Astros tied it
up with 2 in the bottom of the inning. The Phils then pulled the
game out in the 10th, just like before. The problem in facing the
Royals next in the World Series was that the pitching staff was
now shot.
Kansas City had exorcised some demons of their own, finally
beating the Yankees in the ALCS. They had 20-game winner
Dennis Leonard rested for Game One and the Phils were forced
to counter with rookie Bob Walk, he of the 4.57 ERA (high back
then). The Royals jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead behind homers
from Willie Akins and Amos Otis. It looked bleak, but
Philadelphia had proved to be a resilient bunch. Scoring 5 off
Leonard in the 3rd, they went on to win the opener 7-6.
The Phils would go on to win the Series 4-2, behind the hitting of
Schmidt and Bake McBride, and the pitching of Carlton and
reliever Tug McGraw. The Royals” star reliever Dan
Quisenberry was roughed up, with the Philadelphia tagging him
for two of the defeats. However, I know this won”t go over big
with Phils fans, but that 1980 squad was as weak a bunch as any
who won the Series. Basically, they had but three players.
Schmidt, Carlton and McGraw. The rest of the team was pretty
mediocre. OK, don”t believe me, but ask yourself how scared
you would be to face a starting staff of Dick Ruthven, Larry
Christenson, Randy Lerch and Nino Espinosa. Well? Alas, the
fact is they won.
And they won another pennant in 1983, losing the Series to a
pretty middling Orioles team. Rick Dempsey was the MVP, for
chrissake. Philadelphia then quickly fell from contention until
that weird 1993 team went to the Series and lost to Toronto.
Don”t get me wrong, I really like that bunch, but you have to
admit they were different. They were sort of the mutant
offspring of the Bad News Bears and a biker gang. Dykstra,
Kruk, Daulton, Wild Thing Williams, Schilling.those lads
could break up a locker room or a bar with equal ease. They
didn”t stay together after that season, but for a brief time they
sure were entertaining. That was the last year the Phils
contended until now and this year”s crew has yet to prove
themselves.
There you have it.one championship, five pennants since 1883.
Long stretches of ineptitude, a good year or two, then back to
mediocrity. Plus they had perhaps three real recognizable
players in all those years (Schmidt, Carlton, and Alexander), as
well as miserable parks, including the current one which it looks
like they will mercifully tear down soon. Not a whole lot to hang
onto, is it? Next Wednesday, the White Sox.
August 2, 1876
I told this story two years ago but since we are approaching the
125th anniversary of the death of Wild Bill Hickok, it bears
repeating.
After years as a lawman, Hickok had settled in Deadwood,
Dakota Territory (near present-day Rapid City, SD), where he
spent his days drinking and gambling. [Hey, I can think of
worse, as long as you keep your bankroll.] But because of his
past, he had many enemies and he always had to be cautious.
On August 1, 1876, Wild Bill was in a poker game with local
Jack McCall. McCall lost all the money he possessed to Hickok
that evening…$110. Even though Wild Bill gave Jack some
money so he could eat, McCall swore revenge.
On August 2, Hickok was sitting in Saloon Number 10, once
again playing cards. He was uneasy because he was seated with
his back to two open doors to the saloon, but when he asked
Charlie Rich if he could take Charlie”s seat against the wall, Rich
laughed, explaining that he didn”t want to get shot in the back.
At about 4 p.m., Jack McCall entered and ordered a drink. He
then slowly walked up behind Hickok and shot him once in the
back with an old six-gun. Wild Bill fell to the ground dead, still
clutching his poker hand, aces and eights. “The Dead Man”s
Hand.” And now you know, the rest of the story.
Top 3 songs for the week of 8/2/69: #1 “In The Year 2525”
(Zager & Evans.simply awful) #2 “Crystal Blue Persuasion”
(Tommy James & The Shondels.one of the editor”s all time top
3.along with “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” and “Hello
It”s Me”) #3 “Spinning Wheel” (Blood, Sweat & Tears)
Detroit Tigers Quiz Answers: 1) Most games: Al Kaline, 2834.
2) Homers / season, lefthander: Norm Cash, 41, 1961.corked
bat. 3) 200-game winners: Hal Newhouser, 200; Mickey Lolich,
207. 4) Longest hitting streak: Ty Cobb, 40, 1911.
*By now you”ve probably seen the study which revealed that
German beer consumption is down 4% thus far this year. The
head of the brewing association said, “Some people think it”s
wrong to sit in front of the TV and drink two beers.” Maybe, but
what about four?
Next Bar Chat, Friday…Allman Brothers and more Tales from
the Deep.
