The Catchers Mitt
By Johnny Orsino

Johnny Orsino was a catcher playing (1961-1969) for nine years in the Major Leagues for the San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, and the Washington Senators. He played in the 1962 World Series with the Giants vs. the Yankees. In 1967 while with the Giants he hit the fifth home run to set a Major League record against Cincinnati with five home runs in one half inning. The others were Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Felipe Alou, and Jim Davenport. Johnny invites you to stop by and talk baseball with him evenings at the Marco Polo Resort Poolside Cafè.

After more than 30 years since putting on a uniform of a professional team, I still treasure the memories and feelings I experienced during the 15 years playing professionally. Sharing these memories and feelings is something I enjoy. Now that the baseball season is in full swing there is always someone to talk baseball with. During these discussions, many questions arise. "Were the players in my era as good as or better than the players of today?" "What was it like playing with and against the great players of the era?" "Who was the best centerfielder, Mantle or Mays?".and so on.

Recently, I read "We Played the Game", the inside story of the best years (1947-1964) of baseball history---as told by the top 65 players of that era. Author Danny Peary spent years traveling the country gathering the first hand histories of this magic era.
As he mentions in his accounts of the times, it's easy to realize why the game is a far cry from the one that captivated postwar America half a century ago. There were no designated hitters back then, no artificial turf, no indoor baseball, no quarrelsome players' strikes and/or owners' lockouts, and no spoiled multimillionaires with .240 batting averages. Nor were there playoffs to cheapen the World Series or "wild cards" to demean the integrity of the regular season.

In the forties, fifties and sixties, we sat in the afternoon sunshine and watched the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams. Stan the Man, and rapid Robert Feller. all of whom, by the way, spent their entire careers with one team.and with role models like them, it was no wonder just about all the sports idols of kids growing up were baseball players. We used to be familiar with the players' bios not their contracts; we memorized their stats, not their salaries.

Earning a living and providing for their families was always a priority for professional athletes. But with rare expectations the players of this era from Hall of Famers to bench warmers, played mostly for the sheer love of the game.

With only 16 major league teams, it was a thrill to be one of only 400 leaguers in the world. A world when salaries were artificially depressed by the notorious reserve clause that hog-tied every player to one team for the duration of his career.

There is no doubt in my mind that the players of today are extremely talented. I believe they have a much more advanced workout ethic. The strength training, with the expectation of the use of steroids, has improved players' production significantly. The team concept was more prevalent years ago. Today it seems the individual is the priority. The "agents" arrival on the scene certainly has changed the atmosphere and attitude.

Last June I was invited to the 40 year reunion of the 1962 San Francisco Giants World Series team. Twenty-one of the twenty-five players showed up for a great week of renewing old friendships and reliving old memories. The 1962 Giants had to be one of the greatest teams of all time. A team that had 5 "Hall of Famers". Willie Mays , Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, Willie MaCovey and Gaylord Perry. Even the great Yankee teams never had 5 "Hall of Famers" on the team. Playing with these great players and against the likes of Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle. Sandy Koufax and so many others was a dream come true.

As Danny Peary reminds us, this era seemed simple, innocent, and peaceful. The old parks stood proudly, the grass was green and real, most games were played in the sunshine, and even played baseball in Washington, D.C. Most catchers were chubby, most first baseman were chunky, most second baseman were short, most shortstops were swift , and most third baseman were solid rocks. Right fielders had rockets for arms, center fielders could run like the wind, and left fielders were usually in the line up because of the bats. Yogi supposedly read comics and chugged Yoo Hoo, and the equally popular Campy smiled infectiously and proved his words about to be a boy at heart to play the man's game. Mantle hit tape measure homers. Willie made his basket catch and let his hat fly off. Snider became royalty while Ted and Stan the Man got hits every time up. DiMaggio exhibited class. Bob Feller threw gas and Bob Lemon, Robin Roberts, and Warren Spahn won and won. Big Klu flexed his muscles. Aaron had grace and Clemente had style. Ernie smiled through the losses. Brooks demonstrated a Hoover at third base. Maris passed Ruth, Willis passed Cobb; Minoso got chunked; Koufax dominated; Drysdale and Gibson intimidated; and on and on. The umps got booed; managers got fired and were recycled elsewhere; teams stayed intact year after year; and the Yankees won too may pennants for those of us who weren't their fans.

I have to agree with the great Hall of Famer Ty Cobb when he was asked by a young reporter a few years before he died, "Were the players better in his era or today" or better yet, having hit over .400 three times and having a lifetime batting average of .366, what would he hit if playing today." He hesitated slightly then responded, "I feel very confident I could hit .330." The reporter obviously shocked knowing Ty's records and his vanity asked why he felt he would only hit .330. He answered quickly, "Well, I'm 66 years old."


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