Casey Stengel (Part One) His Playing Career & Pre Mets-Years
The five foot eleven Stengel batted & threw left-handed. He was a star athlete in high school playing baseball, football as well as basketball. He would play on semi pro baseball & sandlot leagues all around the Kansas City area.
Eventually he was offered a contract with a Kansas City minor league team that earned him more money than his father was making. Casey had a backup plan in case baseball didn't work out, he attended Western Dental school since he always wanted to be a dentist. He would later tell stories about how difficult it was as a left hander to use the right-handed dental equipment.
His dental school background also helped him negotiate a contract in baseball.
Originally, he was signed as a pitcher, but he ran fast & hit well, so he was switched to an outfielder. As a player, he always hustled & was a hardnosed player. He was a brawler who liked to drink & go out on the town in the night life.
In 1911 he was signed by the Brooklyn Superbas, who later became the Dodgers. The next year he made it to the big leagues, in his first game he had four straight base hits, walked & had an RBI.
Trivia- Nicknames: He was known as Dutch as well as Kansas City. Some stories say he earned that name playing in a poker game during a rain delay when another player commented "you finally won a hand there Kansas City". Other stories say he had K.C. stenciled on his bags. Either way, the name stuck, which led to people shortening it to KC, & that's how he became Casey.
He also first earned the nickname "Professor" when he went to rehab a shoulder injury with his old high school coach, who was now with the University of Mississippi.
In 1913 he held out for a bigger contract, then signed & became the Dodgers main centerfielder, eventually becoming a right fielder. That year the Dodgers played in the new Ebbets Field & history remembers him hitting the first HR there.
He had a public feud in the press with Charles Ebbets who wanted to cut his players' salaries & Stengle rejected two offers. He then accepted the first offer after a hold out. Although his average fell he led the team in hits, doubles triples, HRs & RBIs. That year the Dodgers dropped to seventh place.
In a famous game back at Ebbets Field while playing for the Pirates, Casey had placed a small sparrow under his cap. When he came to bat, he received some cheers as well as some boo's, he took a bow, then tipped his cap & the swallow flew away. In his own way, he had given the crowd the bird. The crowd laughed & reportedly so did the umpire.
In July of 1921 he was traded to the New York Giants along with Johnny Rawlings in exchange for Lee King, Goldie Rapp & Lance Richboug.
1923 World Series: Casey was the Giants best all-around hitter, batting.417 (5-16) with two HRs & four RBIs, in the six game Series loss.
John McGraw's Influence: While playing for Giants Hall of Fame manager, John McGraw Stengel studied the legendary manager, learning all he could. With his incredible prodigious memory, he was able to recall specific details & events adding to his baseball knowledge.
In November of 1923 Stengel was traded to the Boston Bees where he played out the rest of his playing career.
Brooklyn Manager: In 1931, he joined his old teammate & friend Max Carey who was managing the Brooklyn Dodgers, as coach. In 1934 he took over for Carey & began his 25-year managerial career. From early on the fans loved him, he would coach the third base box, entertain them & the media with his stories.
While in Brooklyn he invested in an oil field & the drug penicillin, which was new at the time.
Both investments both were successful & made him a lot of money.
Minors & PCL: After managing in Boston he managed in the minor leagues, winning a championship with the Toledo Mud Hens in 1927. During this time, Casey & his wife Edna, moved to Glendale California, where he would live until the time of his death.
AL New York Team: In 1949 his previous success got him the job as manager of the A.L. New York team. There he managed an ever-changing revolving door of high-priced players. He was never considered the greatest manager because his winning teams were usually filled with these star players & future Hall of Famers.
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In 1954 his club won the most games of his run with them, but they lost the pennant that year to the mighty Cleveland Indians. His main player in New York was the catcher he called his man, he said he never played a big game without "his man" who was catcher Yogi Berra
In 1959 the Chicago White Sox won the AL Pennant. In 1960 his team won the pennant but lost the World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates. At first everyone thought he may resign, but then the shocking announcement was made that he was fired, even after such a successful run.
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| Casey Stengel Brooklyn Superbas |
In 1911 he was signed by the Brooklyn Superbas, who later became the Dodgers. The next year he made it to the big leagues, in his first game he had four straight base hits, walked & had an RBI.
Trivia- Nicknames: He was known as Dutch as well as Kansas City. Some stories say he earned that name playing in a poker game during a rain delay when another player commented "you finally won a hand there Kansas City". Other stories say he had K.C. stenciled on his bags. Either way, the name stuck, which led to people shortening it to KC, & that's how he became Casey.
He also first earned the nickname "Professor" when he went to rehab a shoulder injury with his old high school coach, who was now with the University of Mississippi.
Casey would spend six years in Brooklyn, leading the league in on base percentage in 1914 while batting .316 with 19 stolen bases.
In 1916 he helped Brooklyn win a pennant, hitting 27 doubles, with 53 RBIs & scoring 66 runs. He was one of the league's best right fielders as well, leading the league in assists & double plays turned.
In 1916 he helped Brooklyn win a pennant, hitting 27 doubles, with 53 RBIs & scoring 66 runs. He was one of the league's best right fielders as well, leading the league in assists & double plays turned.
In the World Series loss to the Boston Red Sox he hit .364 (4-11).
He had a public feud in the press with Charles Ebbets who wanted to cut his players' salaries & Stengle rejected two offers. He then accepted the first offer after a hold out. Although his average fell he led the team in hits, doubles triples, HRs & RBIs. That year the Dodgers dropped to seventh place.Casey was traded to the Pittsburg Pirates for two seasons (1918-1919) but was not happy there.
In a famous game back at Ebbets Field while playing for the Pirates, Casey had placed a small sparrow under his cap. When he came to bat, he received some cheers as well as some boo's, he took a bow, then tipped his cap & the swallow flew away. In his own way, he had given the crowd the bird. The crowd laughed & reportedly so did the umpire.
Casey was then traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for parts of the next two seasons. He had another contract dispute & refused to report. When things were settled he suffered through injuries & was no longer a young player.
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| Stengel 1923 World Series: NY Giants |
He was more of a part time player & pinch hitter by this time, playing for Giants Manager John McGraw. He arrived at the end of the 1921 season. The Giants won three pennants & two World Series in the three years Stengle was on the club.
In 1922 after the Giants George Burns in order to get back Henie Groh, Casey got more playing time as a regular & Casey batted .368 in 84 games.
1922 World Series: This was the second straight & first two Subway World series in New York history. The Giants won both of those first two match ups. Stengel injured his led in the Game #2 & went 2-5 in the first two games before getting side lined.
1922 World Series: This was the second straight & first two Subway World series in New York history. The Giants won both of those first two match ups. Stengel injured his led in the Game #2 & went 2-5 in the first two games before getting side lined.
In Game #1 at the Bronx ballpark, Stengle hit a game winning top of the 9th inning, inside the
park HR, breaking a 4-4 tie & putting the Giants up for good in the 5-4 win.
In Game #3 he hit a HR over the right field porch, scoring the only run of the game, as Art Nehf out dueled Sad Sam Jones 1-0. As Casey rounded the bases, he blew kisses to the fans & snubbed his nose to the AL New York's team bench.
This didn't go over well with, the AL. team or Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis who was at the game & later fined Stengle. AL New York club owner Jacob Ruppert wanted him suspended but Landis replied: "Casey Stengel just can't help being Casey Stengel."
In Game#4 he had two hits, two walks & two RBIs in an 8-4 Giants loss. Stengel also drove in a run in the final game, which the Giants lost.
park HR, breaking a 4-4 tie & putting the Giants up for good in the 5-4 win.
In Game #3 he hit a HR over the right field porch, scoring the only run of the game, as Art Nehf out dueled Sad Sam Jones 1-0. As Casey rounded the bases, he blew kisses to the fans & snubbed his nose to the AL New York's team bench.
This didn't go over well with, the AL. team or Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis who was at the game & later fined Stengle. AL New York club owner Jacob Ruppert wanted him suspended but Landis replied: "Casey Stengel just can't help being Casey Stengel."
In Game#4 he had two hits, two walks & two RBIs in an 8-4 Giants loss. Stengel also drove in a run in the final game, which the Giants lost.
He would use all this information to become one of baseball's all-time winning managers.
In November of 1923 Stengel was traded to the Boston Bees where he played out the rest of his playing career.
Career Stats: In 14 seasons he hit .284 with 1219 hits 60 HRs 182 doubles 89 triples 131 stolen bases 575 runs scored & a .356 on base % in 1277 games. In the outfield he had 147 assists with a .964 fielding% in 1183 games.
In 1934, Giants manager Bill Terry stated toward the end of the season "Is Brooklyn still in the league?" which made Stengel furious. He got back at his old Giants team, when his Dodgers beat them in the last two games of the 1934 season, making them lose the pennant to the St. Louis Cards- Gas House Gang. He stayed at the helm in Brooklyn for three seasons finishing under .500 each time, there he never higher than fifth place.
Both investments both were successful & made him a lot of money.
Boston Manager: In 1938 he began a six year stay as manager of the Boston Bees. The Bees became the Boston Braves in 1941. In Boston he had four straight seventh place finishes & he was fired during the 1943 season.
In 1943 when he & Edna were on a trip to New York, he was hit by a taxi cab, injuring his leg. In the hospital he suffered a staph infection & would always walk with a limp from afterward.
While in California he managed the Oakland Oaks in the Pacific Coast League. In 1948 the Oaks had their legendary Championship season, the team was called "Nine Old Men" behind Stengel the manager. Casey was inducted into the Pacific Coast League's Hall of Fame.
Casey had his core of these players for many years & went on to win five straight World Series. He won seven championships & ten pennants in twelve seasons there. He has managed the most World Series games (64) & had the most World Series wins (34) of any manager in MLB history.
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Quotes- Casey Stengel: "He'd fall in a sewer & come up with a gold watch".
Some of the other All Stars like Mickey Mantle were drinking too much & not taking care of themselves. He wanted more focus on the game.
Some of the other All Stars like Mickey Mantle were drinking too much & not taking care of themselves. He wanted more focus on the game.
In 1959 the Chicago White Sox won the AL Pennant. In 1960 his team won the pennant but lost the World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates. At first everyone thought he may resign, but then the shocking announcement was made that he was fired, even after such a successful run.
Quotes- Casey Stengel: "I'll never make the mistake of being 70, again".
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