Stu’s Hunt Down: Larry Hisle
Posted on March 27th, 2008 – 11:59 AMBy Michael Rand
Name: Larry Hisle
Claim to Fame, Minnesota: an outfielder for the Twins in the mid-‘70s, Hisle put together a tremendous 1977 season. Subsequently, at least one young Twins fan would get his first exposure to concepts like “contract year,” “hometown discount,” and “the Minnesota Twins are happy to let their best players go when they get too expensive.” Ended up signing with the Milwaukee Brewers in the offseason for an outrageous sum of $3.1 million for six years.
Claim to Fame, Everywhere Else: had an even better 1978 for the Brewers, finishing third in the MVP race behind Jim Rice and Ron Guidry. Sadly, he blew out his rotator cuff in 1979, and that was pretty much it for his career. Was also the very first designated hitter.
Where He Is Now: holds the title of Manager of Youth Outreach for the Brewers. Examples of his work in the Milwaukee area can be found here and here. Sounds like a perfectly decent human being.
Glorious Randomness: Hisle’s hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio, is also home to country singer Earl Thomas Conley. I bring this up only because Conley’s discography contains the song, “I Have Loved You Girl (But Not Like This Before),” which has to be in the conversation for Finest Country Song Title with a Parenthetical (of All Time).
8 Responses to "Stu’s Hunt Down: Larry Hisle"
I believe the country music genre has cornered the parenthetical song title market. Just a few titles I can think of (while reminiscing about riding with my dad in his 1972 Ford LTD listening to WDGY):
“Don’t Come Home A Drinkin (With Lovin on Your Mind)”
“She Got the Gold Mine (I Got the Shaft)”
“She’s Acting Single (I’m Drinking Doubles)”
“Dropkick me Jesus (Through the Goalposts of Life)”
That may not be a real title. But who cares?
Of the 16 songs on George Jones’ “The Hits” CD*, a full 25% of the titles contain parentheticals. Of those, “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” is the hands-down favorite.
*Said CD received as gift, still in shrink-wrap.
*Said CD received as gift, still in shrink-wrap.
Uh huh. First one hasn’t worn out yet?
+1 to Clarence Swamptown and Brandon, respectively, for coming up with the two that I immediately thought of as well.
Earl Thomas Conley’s most famous song is arguably “Brotherly Love” - a duet with Keith Whitley.
Keith Whitley was married to Lorrie Morgan. Keith (shockingly) died of alcohol poisoning.
Keith’s death sent Lorrie into a downward spiral, where she began a romantic relationships with Troy Aikman (and also former presidential candidate Fred Thompson).
/Trying to tie this whole thread back into sports.
“I’d Rather Have a Bottle in Front of me than a Frontal Lobotomy”
Brandon - Pretty sure that’s a real song. I think my lady friend’s dad sings it in his quartet.
