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rsdsharp

(11,088 posts)

10. Thank you, sir! Earl Battey was my hero as a kid.

Tue May 27, 2025, 06:18 PM

May 27

The article shows him with the Rawlings HOH-X I mentioned earlier.

I got to meet him once, when I was about 10, and got his autograph. His left hand (glove hand) was twice as thick as his right. He had a cannon for an arm. He picked 7 guys off third base in 1962. Show me somebody today who throws out 58% of runners attempting to steal in a season — any season.

I was taking a break from taking a deposition one day, and got to talking to another attorney. He was older than I, and mentioned he had played third base for Colorado Springs. He had played with my hero, and said he was a nice guy.

His career was cut short by bad knees and a goiter which caused his weight to fluctuate. His normal playing weight was about 225, but at one point it ballooned to 260.

RIP Earl Jesse (“Smokey”) Battey.

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My old infielder's glove. It's handled many a softball grounder. It still can catch, just I can't hardly throw anymore. [View all] George McGovern May 27 OP

That's so great that you still have it. I lost my black Roger Clemons glove years ago. dem4decades May 27 #1

You bet dem4decades! A baseball glove can't help but bring memories. George McGovern May 27 #2

Donate the unused gloves to a boys athletics depart. of a local school magicarpet May 28 #17

What a beautiful old glove, my dear George! I think it worked in many a game. CaliforniaPeggy May 27 #3

Thanks Peggy! Yes, wisdom is good! George McGovern May 27 #6

Lots of good times, there, Allan! SheltieLover May 27 #4

Ywlcom! You are correct! Ty!! George McGovern May 27 #7

My daughter used to sleep with her catcher's mitt SheltieLover May 27 #11

HAH HA HA I'm laughing out loud SheltieLover! Thank You! George McGovern May 28 #14

Yw SheltieLover May 28 #15

If you grew up in NE Iowa in the early sixties, like I did, you were probably a Twins fan. rsdsharp May 27 #5

Beautiful mitt! Well, I grew up in Connecticut rsdsharp. Worshipped the "damn Yankees". George McGovern May 27 #8

Thank you, sir! Earl Battey was my hero as a kid. rsdsharp May 27 #10

Around that time my hero was Bobby Richardson, 2nd base--man for the Yankees. George McGovern May 28 #12

Allan, I played mostly played catcher, but I also played some first base. rsdsharp May 28 #16

GREAT photos, George! Diamond_Dog May 27 #9

YW my friend! TY! Please see my reply above to rsdsharp and the part about George McGovern May 28 #13