Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Cleveland fires GM McPhail
Lopez becomes GM; stays as manager
By Herk Creston
Cleveland Plain-Dealer
October 28, 1963
The war is over.
No, not the 1963 season--a war of epic proportions for the Cleveland Indians.
And not the 1963 Mulcahy Cup Finals--a war unmatched in the long history of the PWBL.
The war just ended is the civil war waged for control of the Cleveland front office. Lee McPhail lost and was fired this morning by owner Max Salzman. His replacement as Indians‚ general manager is the man who survived the internal struggle--Al Lopez, the field boss who never gave up on his players and whose quiet leadership guided them through a most difficult season.
Lopez will remain as field manager, with the recently retired Albert "Red" Schoendiest brought aboard as "bench coach." In that role, Schoendiest will be something of an "assistant manager." Dominic DiMaggio, a former ballplayer and brother of Joe DiMaggio, has been hired as assistant general manager. Lopez and Schoendiest will ramrod the Indians' effort in the upcoming draft.
"Lee McPhail served this organization well," Salzman said in a prepared statement. "But philosophical differences emerged over the course of the recent season to the point where both Lee and I thought it was time to part ways."
McPhail was the Tribe's second GM, having replaced Branch Rickey a few seasons ago.
Internal differences surfaced during the summer, when the Indians suffered through a disastrous June and early July--at one point losing 26 of 34 games. McPhail never blamed the well-respected Lopez--something akin to heresy in the world of PWBL baseball. Instead, he blamed the players and sought to dismantle the team, trading catcher Gus Triandos and outfielder George Alusik to Pittsburgh and young shortstop Zolio Versailles to Chicago in exchange for draft picks and roster filler. At the time, it was widely known that Lopez opposed both moves, insisting that the team still could contend. Ever the gentleman, Lopez refused to make his displeasure public.
Nevertheless, McPhail responded to Lopez's private arguments by demoting pitcher Dean Chance to Sacramento and by actively shopping veteran hurlers Ken McBride and Turk Farrell. Oddly, McPhail publicly lambasted Farrell at the same time he tried to trade him. Not surprisingly, no team stepped forward with a deal McPhail thought serious. Both pitchers were pulled off the market after Lopez personally appealed to owner Max Salzman.
More significant, it was rumored that McPhail was working on a deal to ship Henry Aaron back to St. Louis--a rumor that Cardinals' officials denied but was never put to rest by Cleveland management. Lopez apparently threatened to quit over the possibility that Aaron might be traded.
Meanwhile, Lopez--aided by Schoendiest and coaches Leo Durocher and James "Cool Papa" Bell and by veteran players such as Wally Moon--went about the business of restoring the team's shattered confidence. Chance was returned from the purgatory of the Pacific Coast League and rookie Dennis McLain returned to Sacramento. Chance pitched well upon his return, while Farrell began to regain control of his curve.
In perhaps his greatest achievement, Lopez kept McBride from imploding as trade rumors swirled through the summer, along the way repairing damage done to the staff ace's injured pride. As a result, the 28-year-old hurler experienced his best season, winning 17 games, and then starting two games in the semifinals. He started twice more in the finals and was slated to take the hill for the seventh and deciding game when a sore arm sidelined him at the last moment. Farrell was tabbed as his replacement. Despite the aching limb, McBride eventually pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
Lopez also made the best of the hand he had been dealt by McPhail. He pasted utilityman John Goryl into an effective shortstop platoon with newly acquired Dick Howser to fill the hole left by Versailles's departure, and engineered the promotion of catcher Hank Foiles from Sacramento to work behind the plate with Ed Sadowski and the inexperienced Jesse Gonder. He also installed the red-hot Aaron into the leadoff spot, giving him more chances to bat and also to help spark the offense with his underrated speed.
The change likely cost Aaron the Players League Triple Crown since it diminished his chances to drive in runs. But it increased his impact. Aaron compiled one of his best seasons, leading all the PWBL in home runs and also winning the Players League batting title. He also led the league in stolen bases.
Most of all, however, Lopez provided leadership, using his quiet but forceful personality to marginalize McPhail both in the clubhouse and with upper management. He constantly reminded his players that the Lemon Division did not have a New York or a Pittsburgh or a Houston or any other dominant team. It was, he repeated daily, wide open for the taking. His confidence in himself, and in his players, became infectious. Aaron couldn't do it alone. He needed help, and you could see that help form day-by-day, as sure as you can see a summer storm gather at the far end of a prairie. Along about August, Chuck Hinton, Gordy Coleman, Jerry Adair, Al Weis, and their teammates began to believe in themselves again.
The rest, as they say, is remarkable history.
Herk Creston covers baseball for the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
By Herk Creston
Cleveland Plain-Dealer
October 28, 1963
The war is over.
No, not the 1963 season--a war of epic proportions for the Cleveland Indians.
And not the 1963 Mulcahy Cup Finals--a war unmatched in the long history of the PWBL.
The war just ended is the civil war waged for control of the Cleveland front office. Lee McPhail lost and was fired this morning by owner Max Salzman. His replacement as Indians‚ general manager is the man who survived the internal struggle--Al Lopez, the field boss who never gave up on his players and whose quiet leadership guided them through a most difficult season.
Lopez will remain as field manager, with the recently retired Albert "Red" Schoendiest brought aboard as "bench coach." In that role, Schoendiest will be something of an "assistant manager." Dominic DiMaggio, a former ballplayer and brother of Joe DiMaggio, has been hired as assistant general manager. Lopez and Schoendiest will ramrod the Indians' effort in the upcoming draft.
"Lee McPhail served this organization well," Salzman said in a prepared statement. "But philosophical differences emerged over the course of the recent season to the point where both Lee and I thought it was time to part ways."
McPhail was the Tribe's second GM, having replaced Branch Rickey a few seasons ago.
Internal differences surfaced during the summer, when the Indians suffered through a disastrous June and early July--at one point losing 26 of 34 games. McPhail never blamed the well-respected Lopez--something akin to heresy in the world of PWBL baseball. Instead, he blamed the players and sought to dismantle the team, trading catcher Gus Triandos and outfielder George Alusik to Pittsburgh and young shortstop Zolio Versailles to Chicago in exchange for draft picks and roster filler. At the time, it was widely known that Lopez opposed both moves, insisting that the team still could contend. Ever the gentleman, Lopez refused to make his displeasure public.
Nevertheless, McPhail responded to Lopez's private arguments by demoting pitcher Dean Chance to Sacramento and by actively shopping veteran hurlers Ken McBride and Turk Farrell. Oddly, McPhail publicly lambasted Farrell at the same time he tried to trade him. Not surprisingly, no team stepped forward with a deal McPhail thought serious. Both pitchers were pulled off the market after Lopez personally appealed to owner Max Salzman.
More significant, it was rumored that McPhail was working on a deal to ship Henry Aaron back to St. Louis--a rumor that Cardinals' officials denied but was never put to rest by Cleveland management. Lopez apparently threatened to quit over the possibility that Aaron might be traded.
Meanwhile, Lopez--aided by Schoendiest and coaches Leo Durocher and James "Cool Papa" Bell and by veteran players such as Wally Moon--went about the business of restoring the team's shattered confidence. Chance was returned from the purgatory of the Pacific Coast League and rookie Dennis McLain returned to Sacramento. Chance pitched well upon his return, while Farrell began to regain control of his curve.
In perhaps his greatest achievement, Lopez kept McBride from imploding as trade rumors swirled through the summer, along the way repairing damage done to the staff ace's injured pride. As a result, the 28-year-old hurler experienced his best season, winning 17 games, and then starting two games in the semifinals. He started twice more in the finals and was slated to take the hill for the seventh and deciding game when a sore arm sidelined him at the last moment. Farrell was tabbed as his replacement. Despite the aching limb, McBride eventually pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
Lopez also made the best of the hand he had been dealt by McPhail. He pasted utilityman John Goryl into an effective shortstop platoon with newly acquired Dick Howser to fill the hole left by Versailles's departure, and engineered the promotion of catcher Hank Foiles from Sacramento to work behind the plate with Ed Sadowski and the inexperienced Jesse Gonder. He also installed the red-hot Aaron into the leadoff spot, giving him more chances to bat and also to help spark the offense with his underrated speed.
The change likely cost Aaron the Players League Triple Crown since it diminished his chances to drive in runs. But it increased his impact. Aaron compiled one of his best seasons, leading all the PWBL in home runs and also winning the Players League batting title. He also led the league in stolen bases.
Most of all, however, Lopez provided leadership, using his quiet but forceful personality to marginalize McPhail both in the clubhouse and with upper management. He constantly reminded his players that the Lemon Division did not have a New York or a Pittsburgh or a Houston or any other dominant team. It was, he repeated daily, wide open for the taking. His confidence in himself, and in his players, became infectious. Aaron couldn't do it alone. He needed help, and you could see that help form day-by-day, as sure as you can see a summer storm gather at the far end of a prairie. Along about August, Chuck Hinton, Gordy Coleman, Jerry Adair, Al Weis, and their teammates began to believe in themselves again.
The rest, as they say, is remarkable history.
Herk Creston covers baseball for the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
