It happened in an 11-inning loss to the White Sox in Yankee Stadium. In the 7th inning of a tie game, Meachem stood on second base, and Yogi's kid, Dale, was on first. Rickey Henderson belted a drive to the CF wall, deep enough to clear the bases. But Meachem slipped near third, leaving he and Berra to reach home plate almost simultaneously. The relay throw beat them, and catcher Carlton Fisk tagged Meachem to his right, then Berra to his left - a ridiculous double-play that made the SportsCenter highlight reel for months, and which caused owner George Steinbrenner to belch up a small child.
It was cruel. It was vindictive. It was everything old George stood for. The Yankees would finish second - back then, runners-up missed the playoffs - and the developmentally arrested owner blamed Russia, Russia, Russia, Meachem, Meachem, Meachem. Eventually, they would trade him for an outfielder named Bob Brower.
In 1985, Hal would have been 16.
An impressionable age, eh? I've often wondered how folks reacted to a gangly teenager whose last name stood out like a forehead wart. Somebody should write a chapter in a book about this father-son relationship - (listening, Hoss?) - especially when it comes to divergent styles of management.
As we slog through Aaron Boone's eighth year at the helm - no ring to show - I suppose you could say that the Yankees have changed, eh?
Hal is happy to sit back, count the money, and leave the team to his Rasputin, Brian Cashman. Clearly, he has no interest in firing people, in re-committing the sins of the father.
There will never be another Bobby Meachem incident, and maybe that's for the better?
Which brings me to Anthony Volpe.
Insert sigh here.
Last night, Volpe went 0-4 - again - prompting Boone to gush the usual tripe about "good swings" - (he hit a long fly) - and proclaim fealty to Volpe in much the way that White House cabinet members talk about a certain leader. It's clear that the Yankees intend to go with Volpe at SS through September, regardless of how he straddles the Mendoza Line.
I think Hal Steinbrenner simply remembers his unease, his embarrassment, from watching his dad toy with the lives of otherwise righteous human beings.
Frankly, it's commendable that the son strives for a better legacy in treating the hired help.
But right now, Volpe's walk-up song should be "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy."
Listen: Like most Yank fans, I love Volpe. I desperately want him to start hitting, to settle the infield, to become a Yankee linchpin at SS for the next 10 years. I want for some Yankee blogger in 2055 to look back on this time - as we are doing on Bobby Meachem - and thank the juju gods for staying loyal to Volpe.
But but BUT... the cringes are happening, closer and closer. The Yankees can stomp the Nats and White Sox, but the team cannot absorb another 0-20 against Houston or Toronto. Volpe is one more brain fart from disappearing, and in NY, that's a bad place to be. (See Torres, Gleyber, 2024)
I gotta believe that Hal starting to feel uncomfortable. Volpe better not slip while running the bases.
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8 comments:
Brilliant piece, Duque, blending history, insight and soul. It's all there. It's all right there in front of us. Thank you.
I don't love Volpe. He seems kind of arrogant and doesn't admit his mistakes. He can't deny that his offense is terrible because the numbers don't lie. He can't deny that he has 17 errors, and the season still has five weeks or so to go. But he doesn't think his bonehead plays ARE bonehead plays, and Boone defends all of them, no matter how boneheaded.
On the old Yankees, you know, in the 30s, 40s, 50s, kids like him would be drummed out by the players themselves. The World Series bonus money made a difference in their lives, and they didn't want some lamebrained kid fucking up their chances of getting it. These days, it's just a matter of pride and a fancy ring. The money is already in the bank before October.
Of course, we had managers back then instead of the idiot we have now.
We had lifers for managers then.
I had erased the Berra/Meacham covfefe from my memory banks. Thanks for re-uploading it.
Re: Volpe, I think the team has finally awakened. Boone’s drivelous postgame comments mean nothing. Yes, he’ll continue to start for now. For now.
The Siren of Stats, Katie Sharp reports:
Anthony Volpe has a .031 OBP over his last 10 games (33 PA, 1 H, 0 BB) That's the 2nd lowest OBP by a Yankee non-pitcher in ANY 10-game span (min. 30 PA). The lowest is .029 by Dave Fultz in 1905.
When you’re in Dave Fultz territory, you’ve reached the bottom of the bottom.
So Volpe is a historic Yankee after all.
Always and Forever
I can easily see “Dave Futz” on a premium Yankee tracksuit or other swag.
"I've never seen anything like it," said Yankees manager Billy Martin, shaking his head. "It was like watching a car crash in slow motion – you know it's going to be bad, but you just can't look away."
The play in all its glory is here, along with a nice photo of Billy Martin in the manager's office with Bill Madden (at least I think it's Bill Madden):
https://bleedingyankeeblue.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-worst-yankee-running-play-ever.html
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