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February 11, 2021
Thoughts About Leo, Jackie, and Willie
Things Could Have Been So much Better…
It’s really a shame Leo Durocher wasn’t around to run interference for Jackie Robinson in 1947. Actually, it’s more than a shame, it’s an outright tragedy. What a disservice Happy Chandler did to Jackie Robinson and the game of baseball when he suspended Leo for no good reason at the start of the 1947 season. Branch Rickey had hand-picked Jackie Robinson to break the color line and he knew Leo was the one man who could ease his difficult transition into the majors. I often think about how different things would have been for Jackie if he had Leo at his back at this crucial time.
Leo getting on Jackie about his weight in 1948
Instead, the role fell to the nondescript Burt Shotten. Jackie was left virtually alone to fend for himself. If anyone had tried to abuse Jackie while Leo was around, they would have been hearing about it from him, big time. Leo would have been in their faces firing back in a heartbeat. I don’t think he would have let anyone get away with abusing his star player.
Leo and Willie
Also, I think Leo deserved entry into the Hall of Fame if for no other reason than the way he handled a frightened and homesick rookie named Willie Mays in 1951. I wrote about it last year. Here’s a couple paragraphs from the post. I can’t help getting emotional every time I think about the scene:
“Leo had his faults…lots of them. As many players hated his guts as loved him. But, as I’ve been saying for a long time, in spite of what you might think about him and his accomplishments on the field, his greatest and most lasting contribution to baseball was taking a young, homesick African-American named Willie Mays under his wing in 1951 and mentoring him during his difficult transition into the major leagues. In doing so, Leo allowed Mays to blossom into arguably the greatest player in the history of the game. I don’t know if there was anyone else around at the time besides Leo Durocher who could have done this.
I always love to think about the wonderful scene in the Giants’ clubhouse after rookie Willie Mays got off to his disastrous 0-12 start (which eventually extended to 1-26). Giants’ coach Freddie Fitzsimmons saw Willie sitting alone in front of his locker crying. “Leo,” Franks said, “I think you better have a talk with your boy over there.”
Willie Mays and Leo Durocher
What would have become of Willie Mays if Leo wasn’t there to console him at this crucial time? I still get goose-bumps whenever I think about it. Leo went over to Willie and asked him, “What’s the matter, son?” Willie turned to his manager and with tears streaming down his cheeks, replied:
“I don’t belong up here…I can’t play here…I can’t help you Missa’ Leo. Send me back to the minors.”
Leo smiled, patted Willie on the back, and simply said:
“Look son, I brought you up here to do one thing. That’s to play center field. You’re the best center fielder I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been around a long time. As long as I’m here, you’re going to play center field. Tomorrow, next week, next month. As long as Leo Durocher is manager of this team you will be on this club because you’re the best ballplayer I’ve ever seen.”
[Yep, I’m getting choked up again! -GL]
The rest, as they say, is history. On his 13th at-bat, Willie hit a homer over the left-field fence off Warren Spahn who later joked, “I’ll never forgive myself. We might have gotten rid of Willie forever if I’d only struck him out.”
What a great story and what a great scene!
To close, I have to include a couple of my favorite quotes about Leo:
“Leo Durocher was like my father away from home.”–Willie Mays
“Leo Durocher has the uncanny ability to make a bad situation worse.”-Branch Rickey
And here’s one right from the horse’s mouth:
“I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a f***in’ zebra. I’m the manager of this team, and I say he plays.”
As I said, love him or hate him – and there was plenty on both sides – Leo played a major role in a couple of baseball’s most critical moments. And I think he came through with flying colors.
Gary Livacari
As always, we enjoy reading your comments
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Good post Gary. Willie was the greatest baseball player I ever saw play in person. Saw him play in the Mid 50’s at Wrigley field. I got his auto and a batting practice ball from him. He loved to play. He was exciting to watch just like Jackie. At the end of infield practice he went and played shortstop.
Nice story…thanks!
Love the Leo quotes, Gary.
I was there when Mays came up in ’51-and despite the tough start there was never a doubt he was the real deal. Willie exploded baseballs all over the park, but all too often straight to the glove of an opposing fielder.
In center field, fans had the wonderful secure feeling that he’d catch everything. And he did, if the ball stayed in the park!
A terrific, unassuming kid with an infectious enthusiasm for the game. But when the Giants moved to the coast Mays felt he wasn’t appreciated as he had been in New York. He developed a small chip on his shoulder.
When I had the opportunity to interview him in ’73 and then was fortunate to work with him on a car commercial in the mid-80’s, he was pleasant enough but very guarded.
Hope “The Say Hey Kid” is OK in his golden years.
Thanks Bill…great info. I always love the personal stuff like this.
Hey Bill- Can you help me out on one thing? What at-bat was it when Willie hit the homer off Spahn? In the post I said his 0-16 streak extended to 1-26. Then I say he hit the homer on his 24th at-bat. Is that correct? I figured you should know! Thanks, from your friendly editor
Well, I didn’t want to rub it in, Gary, you’re such a nice boss. I had made a slight correction on a previous post.
Willie went 0 for 12, in a three game series with the Phillies. Then, on his 13th at bat, he unloaded a rocket that cleared the left roof at the Polo Grounds. As you know, that missile was off the great lefty Warren Spahn.
Mays then failed to hit safely in his next 13 plate appearances, making it 1 for his first 26 official at bats. From that point on he batted close to .290, with 19 more homers.
Just to make sure, I checked the box scores of those games for accuracy.
But that in no way diminishes a great article (even Mays and Durocher got it wrong). And the Leo quotes are worth the price of admission!
Best, Bill
Thanks Bill…I don’t feel so bad, like you said, even Willie and Leo got it wrong! But I knew I could count on you to set the record straight! Look for a bonus in your next check. Oh wait, I forgot…! Haha! YFE (short for “Your friendly editor).