1984 All Star Game Honorary Captains: Willie McCovey & Hank Greenberg

It's the All Star break and I get to add to my collection of Honorary Captains.

The 1984 All Star Game was played in Candlestick Park and representing the National League was hometown hero Willie McCovey. A first ballot Hall of Famer in 1986, Stretch's resume is extensive: Rookie of the Year in 1959, NL MVP in 1969, All Star Game MVP in 1969, six time All Star, and the list goes on. He was the 12th player in MLB history to hit 500 home runs. He was only the second after Ted Williams to hit homers in four decades. Not only did the Giants retire his number 44 but when the new ballpark was built they renamed China Basin to "McCovey Cove" which is just outside the  right field wall.

Representing the American League was Hank Greenberg. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1956, the career stats don't tell the whole story of this two time MVP. He was originally classified 4F in the draft for supposed "flat feet". He requested to be re-examined and was drafted into service in 1941 and received an honorable discharge just 2 days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He re-enlisted and served until June of 1945. Overall he served 47 months, the longest of any Major Leaguer. He missed all of the 1942,43 and 44 seasons, and most of 1941 and 1945. When he returned for the latter part of the 1945 season he hit .311 and in 1946 he led the League with 44 homers and 127 RBIs. Who knows what numbers he could have put up with the addition of over 4 seasons added to the prime of his MLB career.

The 1984 All Star game itself was won by the NL 3-1. Three of the four runs scored were from solo home runs by Dale Murphy, George Brett and the All Star Game MVP Gary Carter. The win went to Expos pitcher Charlie Lea. Rich Gossage of the Padres got the save. The loss went to former Southern Illinois Saluki, Dave Stieb of the Blue Jays.

1984 Topps Stadium Statues: Orioles vs. Tigers

A.L.D.S. Edition

Camden Yards is home to a who's who of Oriole greats: Ripken, Murray, Palmer, Weaver, Brooks and Frank Robinson. It is also home to a statue of a young Babe Ruth who was born and raised in Baltimore and played for the 1914 Minor League Baltimore Orioles. I like the statue of Jim Palmer for not only the signature leg kick but also that great '70s hair.

Comerica Park in Detroit has statues of Tigers greats above their retired numbers along the left-center field wall; Gehringer #2, Greenberg #5, Kaline #6, Newhouser #16, and Horton #23.  There is also a statue of Ty Cobb who played before the Tigers had numbers on their uniforms. Missing is a statue of Sparky Anderson whose #11 was retire in 2011. 

I am a fan of Greenberg for more than just his Hall of Fame career. First he was part owner and Vice President of the 1959 pennant winning White Sox. Another reason to admire the man was his contribution in World War II.  In 1940 Greenberg was the AL MVP.  When he was initially drafted by the Army  he was listed as "4F" he requested to be re-examined and was deemed fit. He missed mist of the 1941 season then was discharged 2 days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He immediately voluntarily re-enlisted. He served nearly 4 years at the peak of his playing career. He returned to baseball in 1945 and hit .304 with 2 homers and 7 RBIs in the World Series helping the Tigers defeat the Cubs in what is still the Cubs' most recent Series appearance. 

1933 Tattoo Orbit Hank Greenberg

Detroit Tigers CTNW Fan Favorites #3

Hank Greenberg hit .301 with 12 homers and 87 RBIs in 1933, his rookie season. He would go on to win 2 MVPs and 2 World Series titles with the Tigers. He led the league in homers and RBI's 4 times each. Although he hit 331 homers in his career, he also served 45 months in the Air Force between 1941-1945. Those years were book-ended by 40+ homer seasons in 1940 and 1946. Many speculated that had he not volunteered to serve he would be in the 500 Homerun Club.

His career after he retired from playing is just as impressive. He teamed up with Bill Veeck in the front office with the Cleveland Indians, then again with the White Sox in 1959. He and Veeck also partnered in an unsuccessful attempt to be the first owners of the expansion Los Angeles Angels. He was a minority owner when Bill Veeck repurchased the White Sox in 1975.