Friday 5: Ed Herrmann

Major League Baseball has decided to make Opening Day a weekend-long event this season.

And so far...I kinda like it.

One guy that took part in his fair share of Opening Day festivities is former big league catcher Ed Herrmann

HOVG: You took part in a number of Opening Days and for six straight years (1971-1975) found yourself behind the dish and in the starting lineup. What’s the feeling of taking part in that first game of the season?

HERRMANN: Butterflies, adrenaline and finally the anxiety of starting the new season that you've been waiting for since the last day of the year before…at least until the first pitch and at bat. The anxiety never quits about what will happen for the rest of the season.

HOVG: Is hearing your name on the PA the same when it is in front of more than 30,000 at home at Comiskey Park as it is when the crowd is a third of that size and it is the middle of August?

HERRMANN: Actually, you really don't listen to the PA announcer. Your mind is working on the pitches that you will see and your ability to beat the pitcher at that at bat.

HOVG: Most of your Opening Day starts were on the road. What’s a better atmosphere as the visiting team…taking the field in front of 7000 in Kansas City or the close to 60,000 that you played in front of in Cleveland in 1975?

HERRMANN: It's always great to play in front of a lot of spectators. The atmosphere is better and you stay in the game a little easier because of the noise.

HOVG: Opening Day traditionally features the best pitchers and faced a number of them. How do you go from Spring Training to preparing to square off against the likes of Jim "Catfish" Hunter (1971) or Nolan Ryan (1974).

HERRMANN: In Spring Training, you are working on different aspects of your game to get you better. When the season starts, you revert back to what got you to the big leagues and to the opportunity to start. Facing "Catfish" was a lot harder than catching him as I did for the Yankees. Facing Nolan, I enjoyed the battle better than any pitcher I ever faced because he was so competitive and so was I.

HOVG: From supporting the children’s book A Glove of Their Own to helping raise money for your local American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life…anyone who follows you knows you’re super active in the community. What do you have going on next?

HERRMANN: Right now, in support of the American Cancer Society, my family and I are walking in the 24-hour Relay for Life on April 30 in San Marcos, California. To raise money for the event, our team "Strides of Hope" is holding a Facebook ON LINE Baseball Memorabilia Silent Auction ACS Fundraiser. I have autographed baseballs from Hall of Famers, photos, hats and books donated by the players and the writers specifically for this event. Anybody interested in helping, can friend me on Facebook. To find out more about the Relay, visit www.relayforlife.org/sanmarcosca and search for Ed Herrmann. Once this event is over, I have the Joe Niekro "Knuckle ball" Foundation to help with aneurysm awareness, "The Greatest Save" a national child safety education program, and charity golf tournaments in between.

Ed Herrmann played eleven seasons in the bigs and was selected to appear in the 1974 All-Star Game. In 922 big league games, he hit .240 with 80 career home runs. Since leaving the game, “Hoggy” has worked as a scout, tutor, coach and a manager of youth teams ranging in age from 13 through college.

Chuck Tanner (1928-2011)

I'm not sure why...but whenever I picture baseball managers, I always think of those from my formative years.

I blame that primarily on the Topps company who, during the 1980s, used to put their grizzled mugs on baseball cards.  Last year, the baseball world lost three managers that appeared in the 1983 Topps card set...Ralph Houk, Clyde King and Hall of Famer Sparky Anderson.

Friday...my heart sunk when I read this tweet from former Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Tommy Lasorda.

Rest in Peace Chuck Tanner. I loved you like a brother. You taught me a lot about managing, and I always appreciated it.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette, the manager of the 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates, died Friday at his home in hospice care after a long illness. 

Tanner was 82.

Prior to his managerial career, Tanner played eight seasons (1955–1962) for four different teams...the Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels.  In 396 games, the outfielder batted .261 with 21 home runs.

While with the Braves, Tanner hit a home run in his first big league at-bat on April 12, 1955...the only Braves player to accomplish the feat in Milwaukee.

But he was best known as a manager...having managed four teams from 1970 to 1988.  Over those 19 seasons...Tanner's overall managerial record was 1352-1381.  His 711 with the Pirates ranks him fourth on the franchise's all-time list.

You'll read plenty of quotes from Tanner's former players over the next couple of days...but I think Ed Herrmann (who played for Tanner from 1970 to 1974) summed it up well.

"RIP Chuck Tanner," the former Chicago White Sox catcher posted on his Facebook wall.  "Best 'Players' Manager I ever played for. He was a great man."

Now that THAT'S over...the Main Event

Call me a chick, but I dig the long ball and I was really looking forward to the Home Run Derby.

Seriously…I was.

But even after an incredibly lackluster Derby (I’ll admit it, some Prince Fielder’s bombs were insane, but Brandon Inge…c’mon, man, I hit zero home runs at Busch last night), it is important to remember that as exciting as the sideshow is, the game itself is the main attraction.

This year, a record SEVENTY ONE players were selected to represent their teams in the Mid-Season Classic.

Some say it is “too many”, others say “not enough”. Should each team be represented…should “this one count”?

I can’t answer any of those.

One thing is for certain, being selected to the game is a thrill and recently I had the opportunity to get the thoughts of three former All-Stars…Ed Herrmann, Ron Kittle and Jeff Montgomery.

HOVG: Combined you were selected to handful of All-Star Games, each in very different stadiums and each with very different results. What was your greatest thrill?

JM: I really enjoyed the Home Run Derby at all of the games. My favorite experience was in Baltimore in 1993 because of the new stadium and the other festivities that took place in the Inner Harbor area.

EH: Unfortunately I was unable to make the trip to the 1974 All-Star Game because I was on crutches at that time of the year.

RK: My greatest thrill was, first, being chosen and second, playing in my home park with family and friends there.

HOVG: What is the climate like in the clubhouse…any good stories?

RK: Most of the players were with their families, so it was get dressed, sign about 25 dozen baseballs and enjoy. It was fun, not many stories…lots of rushing to do this or that.

JM: The clubhouse was very loose. I’ll never forget when Kirby Puckett put Al Gore on the spot during his visit around the clubhouse with Tipper and asked why the new administration had implemented a new surtax on the wealthy. Kirby informed him that it cost him an extra half million dollars that year alone. Al Gore was speechless.

HOVG: Ron, you dug in against Pascual Perez and Lee Smith in your lone appearance…was there anyone in particular that you had hoped you could have faced?

RK: No just looking to play and get a chance to hit. Lee Smith struck me out at 103 mph...I swung for the roof and had fun.

HOVG: Jeff, you appeared in three games…is it better to be selected as the lone representative of the team or go there alongside others?

JM: It is better to go with others, whether it be another player or someone from the organization named to the staff.

HOVG: Since the 2002 tie, the Classic is billed as "this one counts"...should it?

JM: I think most players take great pride in representing themselves, their team, and their league regardless of the stakes so I don’t think it makes much difference that it “counts” for something now.
RK: For home field advantage only.

EH: I feel the All-Star Game should be the game it was designed to be….entertainment for the spectators. Winning it should have no bearing on who is considered the home league for the World Series. I feel you should alternate each year…National, American, etc. etc.

Ed Herrmann played eleven seasons in the bigs and was selected to appear in the 1974 All-Star Game. Unfortunately, an injury kept him from making the mid-season trip to Pittsburgh. Since leaving the game, “Hoggy” has worked as a scout, tutor, coach and a manager of youth teams ranging in age from 13 through college.

Ron Kittle made the most out of his rookie season in 1983 by appearing in the All-Star Game (which was played at his home field, Comiskey Park), setting a White Sox record for home runs as a rookie and taking home the Rookie of the Year Award. Now…Kittle can be found riding his Harley, given motivational speeches and hand crafting benches. Check out his work at RonKittle.com.

Jeff Montgomery played thirteen seasons in the Majors…twelve of them with the Kansas City Royals. He is a three time All-Star, a member of the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame and their all-time leader in games pitched, games finished and saves. “Monty” resides in the Kansas City area and lends his expertise to Sports Radio 810 WHB-AM.

Since there isn’t a parade leading up to the game like there was last year (did someone mention the “last season at Yankee Stadium"?), I will not be watching the All-Star Game in real time.

No, seriously, I won’t be watching the game live as I’ll be attending the Frontier League All-Star festivities. And since I can’t avoid the endless tweets, text messages and emails regarding the outcome of game…the phone will be turned off.

And one final note…did you catch good friend of The Hall Gar “Batting Stance Guy” Ryness on The Late Show? If not, it was an instant classic.

You can watch Gar HERE.