He was famous for his rain delay performances, in which he emerged from the dugout in stocking feet onto the tarpaulin covering the infield and pantomimed . He was one of the all-time nicest guys in the world. The coaches thought I might run a four-minute mile by the time I was a senior but I said no, I wanted to be a right fielder when I was a junior.. A missed sign might cause a player $10, a stiff penalty for a minor leaguer on a $1,000-per-month salary. And plotted. The only other time I did it was at Memorial Stadium in early July 1978. Some day, Dempsey hopes, they might say the same thing about him as a manager. I wouldnt tell them that stuff. See About archive blog posts. We didn't know if we were going to play the game or not. Jack Cust goes swimmingAug. But at least he is gathering good material and having a few good laughs, right? The Orioles were 1-23 (yes, you read that right) at the time, having returned home to Fantastic Fan Night at Memorial Stadium after what was statistically the worst start in baseball history. The next time he would see Minnesota would be as a visiting player. These guys here are just babies. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. So, to pigeon-hole Dempsey as simply the guy who ran around in the rain would not do justice to someone who was one of baseballs most durable and dependable players for 24 seasons. Today. One punch. Had one beat writer from another newspaper threaten to kill him in an elevator at the winter meetings. He is famous for being a Baseball Player. He wrote for the Long Beach Press Telegram and Orange County Register before joining The Times in 1982 and won an Associated Press Sports Editors award for investigative reporting on betting scams. Dempsey has been part of the game for nearly six decades, starting out as a Minnesota farmhand in the late 1960s before embarking on what proved to be a remarkable journey. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images). Baseball Library dot com has a nice bio piece about Dempsey. Sudakis was traded to the Angels after the season. 3.4K views, 33 likes, 5 loves, 3 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Here's to the Night: Rick Dempsey has officially been dethroned as the king of the rain delay. Copyright (c) 2017. Whether he was entertaining during rain delays or fronting his lip-syncing four-man Orioles band on the field while Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" blared from the Memorial Stadium public-address system, Dempsey endeared himself to the Baltimore faithful. The downside is that he set my expectations too high for what I should reasonably expect of a catcher. He has been teaming with Jim Hunter and Tom Davis during this time hosting the "O's Xtra" pre- and post-game shows on MASN 30 minutes before and immediately after each game. The Dodgers longest winning streak of the season is three. We got to the World Series and I caught the last pitch and gave him the ball. He would even pantomime the pitching. Players would keep a box of crackers and cheddar cheese in the clubhouse . You could tell he was in his element. At Bakersfield. Rick Dempsey Rain Delay Theater, Part I Sept. 30, 1977 A singular figure in Orioles lore, Dempsey remains beloved to this day as much for his personality as for his on-field accomplishments. He has been teaming with Tom Davis for 4 years hosting the "O's Xtra" pre- and post-game shows on MASN 30 minutes before and immediately after each game. The mic caught every word. List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades, 100 Best Percentage of Baserunners caught stealing 1956-2007, Catcher Encyclopedia, "For Catchers, The Name of the Game is Defense", "Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame at MLB.com", Orfalea, Gregory. Let me talk to you for a half hour and if it doesnt work out, Ill go home and retire. When I was with the New York Yankees before I got traded in 1976, I was in right field, speaking with relief pitcher Sparky Lyle. He told my mother dont change the furniture in my room because Id probably be back in six weeks. My brother [who was his ride] was a high hurdler so I became a miler on the track team and ran a 4:36 mile. October 21, 2019 | 00:01:51 Rick Dempsey's famous bit in 1977 where he runs around the infield tarp during a rain delay in Fenway and then slides home Baltimore Orioles Season 2019 Hiserman has been Sports editor of The Times San Fernando Valley and Orange County editions. Football League. Sure, you remember Dempsey. I thought that was kind of cool, that he got so many different sections at Yankee Stadium involved in that. I told him I can go home and start my managing career and that Id be okay, Dempsey said. I loved everything about him, especially the way he would pick off every would be base-stealer. For relief from baseball pressures, he would take it upon himself to be the club entertainer. Included in that group are Jeff Suppan, Sean Gilmartin and Ryon Healy. Best coffee city in the world? I saw Thurman a couple of days before he crashed the plane, Dempsey said. The Orioles potential superstar battery got off to a great start in their first spring pairing. Im going to catch the last pitch and Im going to give you the ball.. The long-time Baltimore catcher, however, proved over the course of his career, which encompassed parts of four decades, that he was more than one of baseballs most memorable characters. Baltimore became the first visiting team to win Games 3, 4 and 5 since 1961, when the New York Yankees did so vs. the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. I ended up doing that routine three times. People remember those gags during the rain delays, Dempsey says, toweling off in his office after catching in the bullpen. When I was a kid, 'This Week in Baseball' hosted by Mel Allen would occasionally. The lone bench player for New Bedford at the start of the game was infielder Dan Haugh, who, along with pitcher Aaron Messier, did their best Rick Dempsey rain-delay imitation. It wasnt all bad for Dempsey, though. He possessed a cannon for an arm and was a magician who helped guide some of the games greatest pitching staffs to a pair of World Series titles, picking up a World Series MVP for himself along the way. WHO IS Rick Dempsey? Dempsey was a darn good catcher too, mostly with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. Mike Bordick, Rick Dempsey On What 2020 Season Will Offer For Orioles PressBox. So as I skated around the tarp, everyone started to sing with me. 16, 2003Remember Cust, the left-handed slugger who had a productive four-year run with Oakland in the late 2000s? May 31, 2020 - Three-time AL Cy Young winner, six-time All-Star, and eight-time 20-game winner Jim Palmer turned 70 years old on Oct. 15, 2015. Later in 2006, he became the first base coach again when the team reassigned Dave Cash. Rick Dempsey was a catcher for 24 MLB seasons and MVP of the 1983 World Series in which the Orioles beat the Phillies. [21] He then joined the New York Mets organisation, managing the Norfolk Tides in 1997 and 1998. Perhaps inspired by Dempsey's motivational tactics, Jay Gibbons went 3-4 with a solo HR in Baltimore's 8-3 defeat of Tampa Bay last night. But I would like to be involved with a team in some respect.. Dempsey was back in upstate New York in 1973, spending the majority of the season with Syracuse of the Triple-A International League, where he hit .248 with 47 RBIs. It was a lot of fun. Really, hes only gone off on us once, Lund says. 20; No. When I was a kid, This Week in Baseball hosted by Mel Allen would occasionally show how Rick Dempsey entertained fans during rain delays during baseball games. The Hall of Fame pitcher played all of his 19 years in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles, winning three World Series. New team-record bonus as Orioles open 2023 international signing period, 2023 Orioles giveaways and promotions announced, Eight Orioles prospects among Baseball Americas top 100 list. In 1995, Dempsey worked as a field reporter for ABC's coverage of the All-Star Game from Texas.'. He went to Spring Training with Baltimore in 1992 and didnt make the club, getting cut the last week of camp. Got any funny rain delay stories? They wanted a lefty hitting catcher and I became Thurman Munsons backup guy. It's a danceoff! Published by Triumph Books. Soon after, his teammates arrived, quickly setting up a poker game. Advertisement If these rain-delay antics have a godfather, it is probably Rick Dempsey, the one-time Orioles catcher, who back in the early '80s brought out a comical home run trot around. He was an interim manager while playing in Puerto Rico in the early 80s. Dempsey would expand his act in the years to come, incorporating supporting actors and costume changes into his performances. $269.99. Rick Dempsey Rain Delay Dance Framed Photo 12"x15" Hammer Price: Auctioneer has chosen not to publish the price of this lot Auction Date: Nov 06, 2020 10am ET Auctioneer: Paul E. Saperstein Co., Inc. See item details . Weaver enjoyed Soliloquy and came to enjoy even more the defensive skills Dempsey developed. So Rich Dauer came running in as I was drying off and said, "Demps, they want you to come back out there! In Wilton, residents dig their way out after 7 inches of snow falls. But as she often did, Morganna stole the show. 13, 1969In this rare footage, a glimpse into the inner workings of the Orioles clubhouse when Frank Robinson ran it -- and its Kangaroo Court. I went and I got that baseball to throw it to the fans and I was in my socks slipping all over. Claire called me a few years ago and asked me if I wanted to do a talk with him at the Oakmont Country Club, Dempsey said. We could have sold it, split the money and been very happy., Rick Dempsey while with the Los Angeles Dodgers.(Getty). I saw Sparky a year or two after I did it the first time and said, "I finally did what you wanted to do." He then got the crowd to sing "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head." , Next [3], Dempsey was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round of the 1967 Major League Baseball draft out of Crespi Carmelite High School. Dempsey grabs the mic1986Dempsey turned his act musical in 1986, when he serenaded a rain delay crowd to Chuck Berrys classic Johnny B. Goode. Soon, Dempsey & the Invisible Orioles Magic Band was born, complete with Eddie Murray and Floyd Rayford on the drums, Mike Boddicker on bass and John Habyan and others handling backup vocals. Duprees glove skinned Dempseys cheek. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. Which leads to this piece on Rick Dempsey's rain-delay entertainment: Rick Dempsey and Rain Delays - The Times Have Changed roarfrom34.com/Baltim. Now that is entertainment! Loved it! They said they wouldnt pick up my option. The Yankees had already won the division because the Red Sox eliminated us on Friday, and we knocked them out of it with a win on Saturday. I got a little notoriety in Earl Weavers eyes, Dempsey said. Thats when Dempsey dressed up like old friend Robin Yount and recruited teammate Sammy Stewart to play Jim Palmer. I went out to home plate and pointed to the stands and everyone started to cheer, as if I had already hit the home run. After his tenure with the Orioles ended in 1986, Dempsey signed with Cleveland for the 1987 season, where he did little and was released in October. The team was flying to Milwaukee from Cleveland and Munson and a few other players were chiding Sudakis on the flight about Dempsey being the true backup catcher. This time they won, topping the Phillies in five games with Dempsey earning the Series MVP after hitting .385 with four doubles and a homer. Everybody just went crazy. Broncos. They were chanting, "We want Dempsey! Earl Weaver was known for many things, among them his temper and penchant for getting ejected from ballgames. Rick Dempsey always was a crowd favorite. He was drafted in the 15th round of the 1967 draft by Minnesota, and after never really catching on there (though he did make his major league debut in 1969, ten days after turning 20), he was traded to the Yankees in 1972. It ended when the second baseman and right fielder pulled up short on a fly ball between them. Football Memorabilia. 16 from Two Runs or More, The Start of Rookie League Ball in Bluefield. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users This performance, however, differed from any before.\"I needed some new material,\" Dempsey said. He signed with Cleveland and the Indians finished with an MLB-low 61 wins in 1987. I got it signed by everybody. I was happy to get away from Cleveland, though.. I knew I could be a part time catcher for them but they had Chris Holies at the time, said Dempsey, who was eventually activated in June. After I slid into home plate, Yount came out and took his jersey back. Rick is now in his fourth year as a member of the Orioles broadcast team after spending five years on the club's coaching staff. He played both ends of a doubleheader the next day. No, says Dempsey, a Crespi High graduate. Dempsey was a darn good catcher too, mostly with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. It was really foreign to me, Dempsey said. Search Reddit posts and comments - see average sentiment, top terms, activity per day and more Presenting an unusual Rick Dempsey bobblehead that talks and plays music.Rick Dempsey was the Baltimore Orioles' catcher from 1976 to 1986, and was well loved for his sense of humor. Get ready to take over the high seas with Rick Dempsey 1983 World Series MVP is taking over the Royal Caribbean's Enchantment the of the Sea for a 5-night cruise to Bermuda! Dempsey would remain the No. Rick Sutcliffe Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com Rick Sutcliffe Position: Pitcher Bats: Left Throws: Right 6-7 , 215lb (201cm, 97kg) Born: June 21, 1956 (Age: 66-208d) in Independence, MO us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Cy Young Rookie of the Year 3x All-Star ERA Title 48 43 44 43 40 40 40 \"I got tired of the same old stuff.\"About 45 minutes after the game was to have started, Dempsey ran onto the tarp and slid across the infield. Oh, that Rick Dempsey. [1] Dempsey spent a few more seasons shuttling between the Twins and their minor league teams, before being traded to the New York Yankees for Danny Walton on October 31, 1972. I didnt even know who the heck he was. The Orioles played the next night in Yankee Stadium, earning a 1-0 victory that seemed very hollow. Duration: 35s. Included in this is the famous Rick Dempsey. Personable. Dempsey would wait until the tarp was nice and drenched, like a giant Slip-N-Slide. Dempsey became the Orioles starting catcher in 1978 and held that position for a decade, helping the Orioles to the World Series in 1979 [they lost in seven games to Pittsburgh] and then again in 1983. Dempsey also served as first base coach for the Orioles for several seasons, first as a third base coach in the 2005 season after bench coach Sam Perlozzo was promoted to interim manager. Despite a strong camp, though, Claire said he needed to send him to Triple-A for a bit until he could find a place for Alex Trevino. I went up the line a little and he knocked the living shit out of me. Spent eight years at MLB.com, more than half of that as the Mets beat writer. (Photo by: Ron Kuntz Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images). He was mentioned again as a possible candidate for the Baltimore manager's job in 2010, after the firing of Dave Trembley. [1] He ended his career with a .988 fielding percentage. Handled pitchers well, loved to slide on wet tarps during rain delays. They wouldnt even let me warm pitchers up in the bullpen. Thats where I made my mark. Knowledgeable. After his playing career ended, Dempsey became a minor league manager in the Los Angeles Dodgers organisation, winning the 1994 Pacific Coast League championship with the Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes. In the midsts of the downpour two younger doofs decide it would be cool to sit out in the bleachers, in the rain. In 14 World Series and 11 playoff games, he batted .303 (20-for-66) with 11 runs, 11 doubles, 1 home run, 7 RBI, 1 stolen base and 7 bases on balls. Blog Round-Up: There's Anger in the Air in Toronto, Flashback Friday: "Doubleheader Don" Aase, In Case You Were Wondering - Road Jerseys Edition. There, he would pantomime Babe Ruth hitting a home run, complete with called shot. Babe Ruth used to be with the Red Sox. Another sad day came when it became apparent that Dempseys time in Baltimore was over. Sports Baseball. I think I've met just about every person who was there. Dempsey, a catcher . The first guy to come up to me in the locker room was Harmon Killebrew, Dempsey said. When we got back to Baltimore, I was dropped off at a hotel on I-695 and went to the desk to get my key. [citation needed]. It was pretty neat because my teammates kept throwing me balls so I could keep tossing them into the grandstand. The next year I went to Wisconsin Rapids and didnt hardly play at all. The secretary had gone home and it was dark outside. 3, 1982Back by popular demand, Dempsey revived his pantomime performance for the Memorial Stadium faithful in July 1978, and reprised it with a twist on the final day of the 1982 season against Milwaukee. "Players Swap Memories of Yankees-Orioles 10-Player Trade", "Rick Dempsey Looks Back on his 24 Seasons as a Big League Catcher", 1979 American League Championship Series at Baseball Reference, Rick Dempsey post-season batting statistics, "Rick Dempsey: His Career Survives Fires of Combat", "You're Looking at One for the Ages Here", Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rick_Dempsey&oldid=1132443572, Florida Instructional League Twins players, American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela, World Series Most Valuable Player Award winners, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, September 23,1969,for theMinnesota Twins, September 27,1992,for theBaltimore Orioles, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 22:38. You know what I'm going to do? Rick Dempsey played for 24 years, with 3. Dempsey contacted Claire and was hired to manage in the Dodgers farm system. No matter the ball remained secured in Komminsks glove; his body landed outside the field of play, and Ripken was rewarded with a home run all the same. Top 40 Orioles of All Time: #20, Rick Dempsey. I had to do it at least once at home. Dec 11, 2006 17,921. I went around the bases and slid into home plate, making a big wave as I sloshed across the tarp. Im 175 pounds and hes 235 with world-class speed. After that, the fans didnt want to leave, it was incredible. Dempsey also served as an Oriole color commentator in 2000 and began another stint in 2007, as the studio analyst for O's Xtra on MASN, the cable channel that carries Orioles games. While Dempsey had a long and storied career some folks just cant get over the fact that he was the guy who ran around in the rain. For example - "C'era una volta" means "Once upon a time" in Italian and "I yli dago i . While he loved playing with Munson and for Martin, Dempseys stay in New York was just about over. The clubhouse is right underneath the seating section, so it was deafening when people starting kicking their feet in unison and yelling my name. He told me he bought a new plane. [1] Dempsey was known for being one of the best defensive catchers of his era. In 2001, Dempsey was named the first base coach, replacing Eddie Murray. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. He was also named a first team NYPL all-star and lauded by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. Debbie Ray. Football Poster. Rick Dempsey Rain Delay Theater, Part IIOct. Ricky Dempsey, 64 Also known as Ricky Dempsy Ricky Demsey Ricky Demps Has lived in Gulf Breeze, FL Pensacola, FL Little River, AL Pace, FL Related to John Staley, 67 Karen Staley, 65 Kyle Staley, 39 Alicia Staley, 44 View Profile Ricky Dempsey, 37 Has lived in Mineola, TX Alba, TX Albert, TX Irving, TX Related to William Strebeck, 95 Call 1-800-GAMBLER. He said, "I want to do a pantomime of Babe Ruth calling his home run and then I'll run around the tarp and slide, and that will be the end of it." In 59 games with his new team, he hit .213/.275/.224, then .226/.314/.315 in 91 games the next season. Mar 28, 2014 - Rick Dempsey rain delay entertainment. Managing, he says, is like batting. Weaver had history with Haller; years earlier, hed publicly said Haller shouldnt be allowed to call Tigers games because his brother, Tom, was their backup catcher. Fox ought to track down footage of it and show it during Game 5 on Tuesday, which is also expected to be rained out. The place was packed because we were still playing for second place. Palmer had been doing commercials for Jockey underwear, so Sammy wore briefs outside of his uniform pants. Thanks to the Tigers' Todd Jones, shown in the rain delay video above, this week's Flashback Friday could only be about one thing: Rick Dempsey's "Baseball Soliloquy in Pantomime." Daniel Okrent describes Dempsey's efforts: He was an intense man, who concentrated mightily on the game. So, I went back out to the tarp and did Babe Ruth hitting the homer. Dempsey spent all of 1974 with the Yankees, serving as Munsons backup for most of that time. On his team was a fellow named Mike Dupree. [7] He became known for his exceptional ability to handle pitching staffs, his strong throwing arm, and for his agility behind home plate. Dempsey is quick to admit that bettering himself in sports, not academics, was his main focus while attending Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino. He did this a few more times in his career, once in '82 at Milwaukee with a Robin Yount jersey on, pretending to be Yount hitting a homer. They wanted me to stay but they said I wasnt going to play. No one ever interviewed me about being the Dodger manager but my name showed up in the L.A. Times about it and that upset someone, so I left the Dodgers. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Then I "hit" the long drive to straightaway center field and started to take the home-run trot. I went into the managers office and said can you send me somewhere where I can get the opportunity to play? View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. During his career, which spanned from 1969-1992, Dempsey was known as one of the best defensive catchers in the game. He met Cal Ripken, Sr., who Dempsey called the greatest catching coach. Daniel Okrent describes Dempsey's efforts: Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game, SI Recognizes the Anniversary of Murray's 3,000th hit, Flashback Friday: Rick Dempsey's Rainy Days, Bird Bloggers Taking Shots from Cubbie Loyalists. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Think throwing a no-hitter got you a free pass in those days? The Orioles told me that I wasnt going to be the everyday catcher anymore and that they didnt want to pay me for that last year, Dempsey said. Not available on OpenTable Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network. Dempsey eventually did go home but not before he appeared in 40 games for Minnesotas affiliate in the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League. Quick with a quip. Loved it! Tommy [Lasorda] had a little heart attack around that time and there was a lot of speculation as to who would replace Tommy. They packed their guts with pillows to mimic the Hall of Fame duo in absurdist, legendary style. Otherwise, he said, he would have to use his gun. And you'll have a blast at the Rick Dempsey Rain-Delay Sliding Puddle. Mike Scioscia and I got a lot of accolades for turning the staff around. Rick McCormick About Work No workplaces to show College Studied at California State University, Fullerton Class of 1985 High school Went to Corona del Mar High School Photos See all photos Others Named Rick McCormick See more Others With a Similar Name Trinity Mccormick Rusty McCormick Anastasia McCormick Angel Drop Sarah McCormick Lisa McCormick No wonder television wanted him. Other times, the players do not consider Dempsey to be so great. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Worked three years in Philly at Comcast covering the Phillies minor leagues and doing weekly TV spots. Only Gene Kelly ever sang and danced better with the water turned on. Thanks for sharing your memories, Enchanting Sunshine. [2] In 1997, he was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2020-2022 BallNine, llc. Youth is most often blamed, and it is a legitimate excuse. The end, however, was near. Dempsey, 73, is semi-retired and living in California. Yeah, its too early to draw conclusions about anything, but its not too early to feel the optimism already. Dempsey waited. In this conversation. When he retired as a player, he had three broadcasting offers. Rick Dempsey was born on the 13th of September, 1949. Which is why such a swing of emotions unfolded when Indians center fielder Brad Komminsk seemed to take a home run away from Ripken Jr. on this September night at Memorial Stadium, only to have his momentum carry him over the center-field wall. As usual, his effort was a little off. They either dont hit, dont pitch, dont field or dont run the bases properly. They wanted me to stay but they said I wasnt going to play. Check resumes and CV, arrest records, social media profiles, public records, places of employment, publications, business records, photos and videos and news . [1], While he was a light-hitting player, Dempsey's lengthy major league career was due in part to his excellent defensive skills, despite the fact that he never won a Gold Glove. He and Billy were a lot alike. Last game of the season!". You might get hurt." I took Robin's jersey. Now Dempsey as an "O's Extra" announcer? Pinterest. I signed as a 145-pound catcher and two years later I was playing in the big leagues.. Dempsey was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 23, 1969, with the Minnesota Twins. Whenever I think of Dempsey as a player, two memories come to mind: his rain delay routine and his 1983 World Series MVP. We were childhood friends, and I made him give it to me. They started chanting we want Dempsey. All rights reserved. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. I was able to catch some good pitchers. Daniel Okrent describes Dempseys efforts: He was an intense man, who concentrated mightily on the game. You can see him out on the field sometimes and you know he just wants to pull his hair out.. He told me he gave that ball to the Hall of Fame. But Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays. He signed with the Dodgers and played three seasons there as a backup (two of them dreadfully bad), then moved to Milwaukee to catch 61 games in 1991. -- Excerpted by permission from If These Walls Could Talk: Baltimore Orioles by Rick Dempsey with Dave Ginsburg. I learned the game from Thurman. The worst thing was, being manager, I had to call his wife and tell her what happened, Dempsey says. This video of Hagy conducting chants from the top of the home dugout, while more than 50,000 fans chanted along with him, speaks to the cult hero appeal he held. I think he and Brooks Robinson both had the same mother. I wanted to be like Earl Weaver. I put a pillow in my shirt so I could look a little bit like Babe Ruth. Basketball Players. Then, in the late 1980s, he moved over to play near his family's home in Agoura Hills, becoming a .