The Rochester I Know; 307; Joe Altobelli

[Wyatt Doremus] Baseball for all the changes it has faced on and off the field is still essentially a simple game it drew to it in 1950 a young first baseman from Detroit. He played the simple game well enough to enjoy 18 mostly minor league seasons as a player, but it wasn't until he turned to coaching that his dreams started to come true. Red Wings fans perhaps remember best the 1971 team he guided to a Junior World Series, a team with names including, Bobby Gretsch, Don Baylor, and future screenwriter Ron Shelton. Today, Joe Altobelli talks with Bill Pierce about the Rochester he knows. [Bill] Joe Altobelli it's great having you here. [Joe] Thanks, Bill. [Bill] We've all been reading about you. Gosh! I guess since the '60's [Joe laughs] [Bill] when you first came here. Maybe as a player, maybe as a coach, but we'll get in there. But, Rochester is not your hometown, Joe. Where did you grow up [Joe] I was born and raised in Detroit and ah the memories of Detroit are growing-up there and playing in sandlot ball and playing some form of Little League ball. And remembering that my dad brought me out

to the ballpark when I was 5 years old. [Bill] Was your dad a ball player? [Joe] No, he was not he played soccer; he played a little soccer. He was a small guy and he was quick he could run. [Bill] Uh uh. [Joe] But soccer was his game although he enjoyed watching baseball. He didn't play much, but I had older brothers that did. [Bill] Ah ha. [Joe] And be- between my older brothers and my dad, I- I got to see quite a few Detroit Tiger games in in my young days. [Bill] So your inspiration was the Detroit Tigers. [Joe] No doubt, I can name you the Tiger team when I was 8 years old, I guess, that would be when I and in the 1940 team and [Bill] Yeah, who are - who are a couple of the [Joe] All I can name, well Hank Greenberg was on thst team [Bill] Ah, oh yeah. [Joe] was on an outstanding player, drove in 160 some runs one year. They had a guy named Eddie Mail that played second, they had a guy named Skeeter Webb playing short, they had Pinkie Higgins playing third base; they had Aaron Robinson and Bob Swift were catchers. [Bill] OK you remember [Joe] Doc Kramer [Bill] But did you ever play for the Tigers?

[Joe] No, I worked out with them ah when I graduated from high school. I worked out with quite a few clubs and the Tigers were one of them. [Bill] How could you work out with the Tigers as a high school player? Is that something [Joe] Ah thing special at that time you. [Joe] No after graduating you could there were there [Bill] Ah. [Joe] weren't the ah the rules in baseball then were that whoever could attract you to their team could sign you. There was just a bunch of free agent signings in those days. There was nothing like the draft when I was finishing-up in high school. [Bill] So you're obviously a good high school player. [Joe] Ah. Yeah. [Bill] Teams wanted you. [Joe] I think I was yes. [Bill] And the Tigers didn't want you? [Joe] Oh yes they did, but-- [Bill] Who who won out? [Joe] Funny story was that there was a was a gentleman that used to come to the ballpark and watch me play and he'd get there early like I would and he hit me some ground balls and talked to me about baseball and he was trying to land a job as a scout with one of the major league clubs and ah actually the morning I was supposed to go to Detroit with my dad to sign, he came to my home early. My dad went to work

and he was going to go to Tiger Stadium and meet me there. But this gentleman came to the house begging me to go to Cleveland with him. And so I got in the car, I felt obligated to him and I got in automobile. My dad was awfully mad at me, but I went to work out with the Cleveland Indians for 4 days and they liked what they saw enough to send someone home from the office with me to kind of kind of get the mad out of my dad, [Bill] Really. [Joe] so to speak. [Laughter] [Joe] And ah did that's exactly what I did. [Bill] So Dad thought of you as a traitor for going to the Indians? [Joe] Probably, that's exactly ah what what transpired, and, of course, the guy that-- the initial guy that used to help me on the field. [Bill] Who was that? Do you remember? [Joe] Well, actually it was Laddie Plassic and ah [Bill] He was the scout that lured you to Cleveland? [Joe]Yes, and he got a job after that and ah I don't have ah [Bill] So you were his tryout in terms of his scouting career? [Joe] Kind of, kind of, in fact, there were 2 of us after he got me he got another fella

and ah in that picture you saw earlier we both had tremendous seasons at Daytona Beach. Actually, I signed as a pitcher-- first baseman, but because of the year I had with the bat my first year that they didn't want me to pitch anymore. [Bill] So Cleveland sent you to Florida. [Joe] Daytona Beach [Bill] Daytona Beach and you played for them. [Joe] I had -- they had was Class D ball in those days; they had a lot of ball clubs in those days a lot of major league teams had over 20 minor league teams. They would have ah 2 or 3 Class D teams, maybe 2 B teams, a couple of A teams, 2 or 3 Double-A teams and some [Bill] A long road to the top. [Joe] True. [Bill] Now did you have to take that long road? [Joe] I kind of took a short cut, but I played [Indistinct]well, I had such a good year [Bill] Uh uh. [Joe] my first year. I jump from D ball to A ball my second year, [Bill] So you jumped over B and C. [Joe] That's right I didn't have to play B or C ball and ah

the guy who managed the club that year was a guy named Kirby Farrell who was an ex first baseman himself. And he took a shine to me and he just wanted me as his first baseman. So I made a big big jump to the Eastern League, the Eastern League now is Double-A, but at 1 time it was Class A. [Bill] That was Reading [Joe] Reading, [Bill] Reading, Pennsylvania. You're there a year. [Joe] I played there 2 years. I played there in 1952 and '53 and then Kirby Farrell got got the job in Triple-A ball with Indianapolis and I omitted Double-A and went right to Triple-A with him again.[Laughs] [Bill] To to Minneapolis [Joe] Well, Indianapolis, [Bill] Indianapolis [Laughs] [Joe] not to Minneapolis, although Minneapolis used to be in the league in the American Association along with St. Paul. [Bill] Before they were a major league team. We, ah yeah, we had some fine ball clubs, the Cleveland Indians in those days had tremendous pitching. So, as a result, when the pitching is strong at the major league level, it usually is as strong at the minor league level. We had guys like Herb

Score and Sam Jones that pitched at Indianapolis, as a matter of fact, Herb Score broke a a strikeout record. [Bill] They couldn't get a shot at the Indians because there was no room for them and [Indistinct] good pitchers [Joe] Yes, and well what happens with a major league manager is when you have a good lookin' pitcher like a Herb Score or a Sam Jones, What you try to do is figure out how much you're going to be able to use them on your big league club. If you're only going to use them once or twice a week, he's better off pitching in Triple-A ball getting those innings in ah because that's the type of things that certainly make him better once he arrives, you know. [Bill] Well you're jumping ahead you're not only a good player; you're obviously a savvy manager [Laughter] too, as you've demonstrated later on by that last by that last statement. We've got to get you to Rochester because this program is about the Rochester [Joe] You bet. [Bill] You know. So we'll get here sooner or later. So let's. move quickly now from ah Indianapolis to, where did you go next? You let's see, you were in Canada for a while.

[Joe] Well, I played in five-- for five different clubs in the internationally alone. I played for Montreal and Toronto, Toronto in '59 and Montreal in '60. [Bill] That's before when they were an international league. [Joe] That's right, that's before they went major league. And then '61 I ah I went to Syracuse, believe it or not, and they belonged to the Twins and I stayed there a half a year and then went to Minnesota and in '62 I went to Omaha and became property of the Dodgers, in '63 the Dodgers loaned me to the Rochester team. [Bill] That's still can you still do that-- loan players? [Joe] Well, in those days you could. So they loaned me to Rochester. [Bill] This is 1960 [Joe] '63 [Bill] Now was that your first visit to Rochester, '63? [Joe] Well, actually I played here in '56, but I was with Indianapolis and we played the we played the Rochester team in the Junior World Series. [Bill] It was probably just another town. [Joe] No, ah ah I'd heard a lot about it and as a matter of fact ah Columbus was in the American Association in those days, and Rochester kind of

reminded me of Columbus, of course, it switched since then. [Bill] So, you first came to Rochester 1956 [Joe] Right. But that was just for a short stay [Bill] To play a game. [Bill] for a day, right. [Joe] We only played 3 ball games here. [Bill] Played the Silver Stadium. [Joe] Played the Silver. [Bill] Do you have any any recollection of the impact the Stadium made on you? [Joe] Well, we had a tremendous ball club and I and so did ah the Rochester team. Ah they had guys like Joe Cunningham and Cot Deal was one of the pitchers, Gary Geiger Gary Geiger a few other guys ah. But, they obviously had a good team or they wouldn't have been in that situation as far as playing in the Junior World Series. I was very lucky in that series in the 4 game. We beat them 4 in a row. But in the 4 games I hit a couple of home runs and I went 3 for 3 off a Cotton Deal and Roger Maris was on our team, believe this or not, Roger Maris was playing right field for the Indianapolis Club and he was playing here in 1956. [Bill] And that year Indianapolis won the Junior,

[Joe] Junior World Series [Bill] Junior World Series. [Joe] In 4 straight games, yes. [Bill] So you are not only a player in the Junior World Series Championship, but you later on you managed. [Joe] Yes, I managed Rochester and won and and up again-- Fortunately, we won. [Bill] Now coming back to '63 now, so now you're here in '63 as what and how? [Joe] I came here as a first baseman on loan and, of course, Steve Bilko was here and so was Luke Easter. Well what happened was Darrell Johnson was the manager, and, of course, you couldn't have 3 first basemen on a Triple-A team. And I remember Darryl Johnson calling Luke Easter and Steve Bilko and myself into his office, saying "listen guys, one of you're going to have to go to the outfield" while looking at Bilko and looking at Luke Easter, I knew who was going to go to the outfield--- it was me. [Laughter] So, I got my taste for [Bill] You the only 1 who could move. [Joe] Well, I was a little quicker [Laughter] [Bill] They weren't the required speed [Joe] I was a little quicker than Luke and and ah Steve, but [Bill] Uh uh.

[Joe] But ah the thing that really hit it off was that I was over 30 years old when I came here in '63. I was 31 going on 32. [Bill] Now Morrie Silver was here then. [Joe] Absolutely. That's when I first meet Morrie. [Bill] Did you get to meet Morrie Silver? [Joe] Yeah. Yes and, of course, George Sissler. was the General Manager of the team at that time and it was George Sisler, who came to me with about a week left of the season and asked me a question about "how did you like playing for Rochester?" And I said, I liked it a lot. And and I and my exact words was "I liked it a lot. I I just wish I could have done more for the team" because we didn't we didn't make the playoffs, I believe that year. And he then George came back and said, "How would you like to play here next year?" I said, "I'd love it!" Well, he said your contract belongs to the Dodgers and Buzzy Vabaizey [?] was the General Manager then, and he said, "why don't we give Buzzie a call?" which we did which He allowed me to come back again in '64. And then in '65 I believe '65 or '66 Morrie took over the team

and I and it was Morrie who really helped me make the move here to Rochester. When he said, ah, you know, "you can stay here as long as you want as a player or a player coach or whatever." [Bill] So, that was '64? [Joe] No, it was it was in '65, I believe, because we we purchased a home here in Gates. In the Fall of '65 I moved in to my home in ah Gates and in September of 1965. [Bill] So, you knew you had a steady job for awhile? [Joe] Yeah, but the irony of it all was that when I started the season here in '66 by June I was gone and I was managing. But, I think the thing that makes me think of Rochester most is a guy like Morrie, who, and I've run into so many people that are just as kind, just as ah considerate. But, I left here as a manager in June of '66, I played half a season and ah was asked to manage the Bluefield Club by the Orioles

which is the Orioles' Rookie team. So, I took that job as a manager and a lot of times when a ball player leaves a city he's somewhat forgotten especially, by front office people, or whatever, but not in my case. Morrie called me after that and said "we're going to have a day for you," [Bill] Really. [Joe] to ah ah I've already cleared it with the Orioles. We're going to have somebody take over your club for a day or two, and you're coming to Rochester on August the 23rd." And that was in 1966 and I came and they they presented me with a day and they gave me an automobile, you know, on the-- when you get an automobile in a minor league town it's like having a major league day and for some reason [Bill] Pretty rare. [Joe] Oh yeah. The obvious thing that-- And then ten years later, my last year as a manager here I was presented with another automobile so I had two cars given to me in a 10-year span as a player and a manager and and not that that's the big thing, [Bill] Yeah, but it the recognition [Joe] but the thought behind it

[Bill] Well, yeah. [Joe] Actually, a guy like Morrie Silver really made me a bigger guy than what I really was 'cause usually if fans see you, you know and say, "Boy, this guy got a car, he must be a heck of a player." I don't know if I was that good a player. I could play, but I don't know how good I was. I don't know if I was deserving of the cars. But, nonetheless it happened to me here. And those are real special moments for me and a guy like Morrie, even though he's gone he he he comes up and talks to me quite a bit. [Bill] Maurice Silver died in 19-- [Joe] I believe it was '74 [Bill] 1974, so it was while you were manager then because you [Joe] Yes, absolutely. [Bill] managed in what '71 to '76. [Joe] Yes, '71 through '76. Yes, 6 straight years, yeah. [Bill] Morri Silver is a legend. I've I never met him and the Stadium is named after him you know [Joe] Absolutely. [Bill] You gave me some indication of what kind of a kind, thoughtful person he was. [Joe] Hm mm. [Bill] But what was he what was he like as a as an owner there I mean didn't he-- [Joe] Well, he was

[Bill] Didn't he raise Cain with you when you lost games or anything? [Joe] He could get mad, but, but he never, you know, he did it in words rather than in facial expressions. He was a well he was very unique. As a matter of fact, he taught me a lot about maybe life in general. A lot of times a ballplayer, his his days and weeks and months during the baseball season are all locked into the stadium. You know, and he taught me things-- I can recall when ah we'd go to spring training, he would invite not only 1 or 2 couples to dinner. He would invite maybe 4, 5, or 6 couples to dinner. And he would watch and if one couple wasn't in the conversation he would quietly get up from his chair and move toward that couple without letting them know anything, get over there start them in the conversation. Once they got involved in the conversation he would quietly walk back to his seat.

He had a knack ah that that would make you feel he would have been a success no matter wha- whatever road he would have taken. He had that kind of uh you know that kind of foresight about him. [Bill] I regret I never had an opportunity to to meet him. Sounds like a very caring person. [Joe] I guarantee if you would have met him [Indistinct] [Bill] Ok, now what other, you've met other people in this town because obviously, you know, you had your day a couple times. [Joe] Oh I have. [Bill] You've met other people, any other people come to mind that come across-- [Joe] Well [Bill] the path here that [Indistinct] [Joe] I think one of the big groups that got me involved in Rochester, you know, usually when you're in the big leagues some cities, some other city or your- your city will call you back to do a banquet. In the minor leagues that doesn't happen very much, but it happened after my first year, the Ninth Ward. Guys, guys that I'm going to mention are really fellows that are not not, like Morrie have passed away since, but there are guys like John de Caesar,

John Romano ah. They they brought me to this banquet and they invited my wife and I and paid for our flight and all and showed us just a great time. [Bill] And this was the banquet in the '60's or the '70's? [Joe] No, this was the banquets in '63 [Bill] In '63 [Joe] And when I started doing the Ninth Ward Banquet. And I did those for quite a few years. They were involved in Little League Baseball and they would give their little trophies away and here I came, you know, from Detroit into Rochester to do that banquet. And then after the banquet we would go over one of their homes and just have a tremendous time, they were very very personable people and they were very heartwarming people. I mean and and we really loved it, as a matter of fact, I recall saying to myself that while I was managing here about the third or fourth year that I was going-- that I probably was having the best years of my baseball career here. [Bill] Hm mm. [Joe] And that's that's probably very true. To live and and a win as many games

as we did in the 6 years I was here, You know, [Bill] I want to go back to that in a minute. [Joe] It makes you happy. Go ahead. [Bill] You mention these wonderful people. Are there any people like that left in the Rochester community? [Joe] Absolutely, sure there are. [Bill] [Laughs] All right. right I want to be sure. [Joe] I might not want to give them the big headline name right now, [Laughs] No, there are a lot, the fact of the matter's that's what I love about this area is 'cause I know there are there are a lot of people who go that extra mile. I mean we there is so many community-conscious people who do so much for charities and I'm involved in a in a charity. Ron Ricotta who who heads the a the golf outing with the major league players' alumni who does so much for the Special Olympics, ah um called on a daily basis to do career days at high schools. And that's another reason why I enjoy living here because my children got a great education. I thought the school systems were outstanding. And ah I just have a real big feeling for

this area. [Bill] Joe, we we go back to your early days here briefly because you came up through Daytona, Reading, Indianapolis and somewhere along the line you got married, I'm not sure when or where, but it had to be tough. Now we know you were you weren't making you were not signing million dollar contracts in those days. [Joe] It's true. [Bill] So, you you had an off season you played baseball, not quite half the year [Joe] Hm mm. [Bill] So, so how did how did you get along? [Joe] I worked in Detroit, as as a matter of fact in Rochester, and in Detroit I had jobs like a um I worked in the steel warehouse. I worked in a regular warehouse where I unloaded semi trucks and and a boxcars, railroad boxcars [Bill] Kept you in shape [Joe] I worked for High[Indistinct] I worked on the milk route ah, I was a time keeper for a company in Detroit. Here I pumped gas. I worked for I worked as [Bill] Here in Rochester? [Joe] Yes. And I [Bill] This is while you're playing ball [Joe] went to work in the recreation in the

City. When I first moved here I worked, I worked for the Town of Gates. I was a, I, you see this the snow we had last winter. Ah I used to I used to be a wing man on a truck I used to ah help the mechanic put the police cars in Gates together. By that I mean drilling the holes for the spotlights, the hole for the turret up on the top and then test drive them for 'em and we put the front disc brakes on it. So I've done a lot yeah. I've done a lot of work, but in my day you had to have a second job or a job after the season was over. [Bill] Uh uh. Now after you now after you became manager here what in '71 [Joe] I sold cars [Bill] You sold cars. [Laughs] [Joe] for 6 straight winters as a manager. [Bill] As a manager manager of the Rochester Red Wings [Joe] [Indistinct] Pontiac [Bill] Now as general manager what do you have to do during the off season? [Joe] Well, you do more during the off season and yeah, because right now we're in the process of you have to get programs out, you have to get scorecards out to the printers this, that, and the other thing; have to get season

seats sold [Bill] A year round business [Joe] So it is a year round business, there's no there's no downtime at all, the other. [Bill] We missed one of the highlights. You you came here to to manage in 1971 [Joe] Correct. [Bill] And you won the Junior World Series the first year here as a manager. What a hit you must have made and How did that come about? [Joe] Well, [Bill] Usually it's a building program. [Joe] I guess I was lucky, I got-- I had been managing ah 5 years, that's yeah I managed 5 years in the minors before I got the job here. I managed 2 years in Rookie ball: 1 year in A and 2 years in Double-A and finally, got the job in '71 and I tell you what it was just an outstanding year. We didn't start out so good, but we finished very very strong. We were 32 games over 500 for the season and then we won 2 rounds of the playoffs and then went 7 games against a good Denver team. [Bill] Who who who now who did you play in the playoff you were against. Who did you win the Junior World from? [Joe] Well, we won the Junior World Series from Denver.

[Bill] From Denver, ah. Hm mm. [Joe] And they had to play all 7 games here because the Denver Park was been fixed for the football team and the thing that I remember most about that was how warm our fans were toward the Denver Club for having to do that. As a matter of fact, they gave the Denver team a standing ovation every evening they were introduced. [Bill] They didn't have home-- that mythical home field advantage, or whatever. [Joe] No, but they were they we'ren't the home team under those circumstances sometimes it is maybe. But, I I remember a Denver writer coming to me after the fifth or sixth game saying, "I can't believe this. I just can't believe--" [Bill] The fans were so warm. [Joe] Yeah, how good these fans are to our players. It's unbelievable. And that was true and that's another sign of Rochester. [Bill] Yeah, yeah. Joe, now here we are here in what late February and I'm not sure when this tape is going to play, but the season, your 19-- The 1993 baseball season for the Red Wings will probably be underway, so ah

whenever we show this tape maybe you'll regret this, but what does the team look like for the season? And when do you start spring training? [Joe] You know March 15th is when spring training usually begins for the Triple-A team although a lot of players are in spring training already because the balance of the 25 that the Orioles take during the season. There are 40 guys in spring training at least and 15 of those guys with them are really going to be playing at Rochester, at least. So, ah, but they have about five weeks of spring training Bill, and and then get the season started. [Bill] And where will that be? [Joe] Well, in Sarasota they will train in Sarasota, Florida which they've had for the last couple years. But we should do OK. We have a young manager, but ah then you've got an old guy like me working out with a club before the game so everything should be [Bill] You're going to work out this year? [Joe] Absolutely. [Bill] You're going to put on a uniform general manager puts [Joe] No. [Bill] on a uniform and goes out doing fun goals with a fun goal dancers[?] [Joe] Just during practice.

[Bill] Now oh in spring practice. [Joe] I just do it. No, I'll do it pre-game [Bill] Pre-game [Joe] Because by the time to game starts I have to go up and make my rounds and the sit and kind of field some of the complaints or [Bill] so if we get in [Joe] Some of the compliments. [Bill] So we get to the stadium early, we'll see you out there. [Joe] Absolutely yeah. If you come early enough, right. So matter of fact I've been thinking about maybe I having the kids ah come out with some of their coaches or something and kind of while I'm in uniform hold a little clinic for 'em maybe in hitting or fielding, not that I'm that great, but I think I know a little something. You know. [Bill] I think Joe, you know you still know a little bit about the game [Laughs] what always amazes me talking to someone like you with your background expertise. That you remember all those games and all those scores and all those players [Laughs] so well. I don't know if that happens [Joe] Ballplayer [Bill] That accurately in any other business [Joe] Well. [Bill] It's amazing. Now, give give me just a few seconds before we turn it off what whether or not Rochester is going to have a Stadium for the Red Wings and so we're not going to let you

get on the soap box [Indistinct] here, but we know he's in. But maybe just some thoughts about ah whether we should have a stadium or not, or fix Silver. But um well, what you're feeling now here it is late February 1993. Ah the last we heard was it probably would be in Greece, but what your what are your thoughts? [Joe] We live in a competitive world, Bill and with these new facilities that are going up ah around the country even at the minor league level. They're they have Sky boxes, restaurants, added rooms to take on ah maybe a batting tunnel for kids when they come to the ballpark. Ah all of these things are quite different than the stadiums that you and I remember and I think that's basically the difference and we have to stay in tune. Or, some other city will will beat us to the punch, more or less, but I think that that's the big reason we-- and parking has become very important. [Bill] Joe Altobelli

we're going to leave it there.[Laughs] I think we have your train of thought on that issue. Joe Altobelli it's been great having you here on the "Rochester I Know". Look forward to a wonderful season with you. Gosh, we're glad you're back in Rochester. I'm Bill Pearce see you next time on the "Rochester I Know." [Music] [Music] [Music]