RandBall guest post: A potato retrospective
Posted on May 9th, 2008 – 3:17 PMBy Michael Rand
Stensation received an email recently from a student at Carleton who introduced a name we were not familiar with: Dave Bresnahan. This Bresnahan character, in 1987, was involved in one of the wackiest baseball plays we can imagine; a year later, he had his number retired for it. So as not to spoil everything else, we will let Stensation take it away. Please take question 2 seriously and give the young man some feedback in the comments. Here we go:
I’ve been contacted by a Carleton College student enrolled in a baseball ethics course for an opinion on the following matter which occurred during a minor league baseball game in 1987 between Double A Williamsport and Reading:
With a runner on third the Reading catcher, Dave Bresnahan, went to the dugout to replace his glove, and then after the next pitch threw a potato over the third baseman’s head into left field. The runner ran from third to home and was tagged out. He was ruled safe once the umpires figured out what was going on. Bresnahan was ejected, fined $50, and released. His team then had a special promotion on the last day of the season, admitting any fan with a potato for $1. They even brought Bresnahan to the park to autograph the potatoes.
Let’s ask Randball Nation to respond.
1) We want to know where classes like this were during our college days. Baseball? For credit? The biggest scam we were able to pull was getting a math credit out of a 1xxx level map reading class. Oh — and getting credit for being a part of a research class on death and dying. We got to watch Six Feet Under all semester.
2) What do we think of the potato incident itself and the subsequent punishment and promotion? Do we think the level of play, in this case double A, matters at all? The minor leagues are known for some wacky promotions and entertainment, so is this different than if it were done at the major league level?
Help a Carleton kid out.
Let’s also note that Memorial Day will mark the approximate 20-year anniversary of Bresnahan’s No. 59 being retired. Somehow, we envision Carlos Gomez being involved in even more outrageous play at some point this season. Speaking of which, the podcast is up.
24 Responses to "RandBall guest post: A potato retrospective"
It sure would have been a great promotion on Knoblauch’s return. Potato’s go way farther than batteries.
That’s believed to be the actual potato in question pictured above, btw. Some kid fished it out of the trash after the umpires were done inspecting it.
1. History of Cleveland was pretty good. That and my entire MBA was projects I was going to have to do for work anyway, except for the projects that involved studying the marketing of beer (extensive primary research).
2. The punishment was appropriate, and the celebration was too. It’s minor league baseball, people. If it happened in the majors, do the same thing, INCLUDING releasing the player permanently for making a mockery of the game.
I can see ejection and fine, but release? That’s too harsh. If I were him I don’t think I would’ve returned for their promotion.
A big promotion celebrating the incident you released me for 2 months ago, you say?! Well hey! That sounds just…No.
For another view of the potato in question, click over to the podcast. It’s also a nice shot of a Strib sweatshirt, too.
As far as the question: at the time of his release, Bresnahan was hitting .150 and had struck out in 1 of 4 at-bats at Williamsport. I support the ejection and the $50 fine for any player; I can also get behind releasing a .150-hitting catcher that’s dumb enough to make a mockery of the game.
The promotion wasn’t out of line, either - it’s funny, which is the benchmark for all good minor league promotions.
Wait a second… we’re talking about a Carleton student here. They’re the smartest in the state. *cough* As an alum of a “second-tier” MIAC school (St. John’s), I’ve spent years hearing how much smarter Carls (and Oles and Scots) are than us Johnnies. Because I know my place (insert eye roll here), I don’t dare try to impart feedback and/or knowledge to someone who is so much better than I. This unnamed Carl can think through the ethics of this quandary his- or herself.
Personally I’d rather go with Stu’s Deep Fried Mystery Stick night. Or who ever that other guy is that thought of the Adult Friendly Section.
Agree with Jon 100%. The release was appropriate because the catcher was expendable in the first place.
COW votes?
When do we get the answers to the Stulamatt questions on the Schur post?
Also, is the potato also preserved in his drug testing sample? Short on jars that day or something?
For another view of the potato in question, click over to the podcast. It’s also a nice shot of a Strib sweatshirt, too.
Zing.
COW vote: AZGG if she’ll actually write one; if not, give it to David Minnesota.
I, too endorse Dave for COW. And mr hootie, I wrote most of the four announcer question.
I’m voting for Jon for the sweet comparison of a certain “blogger” and said potato. The resemblence is striking.
JON 4 COW
Stu: I resemble that remark. I’ll be the third vote for Dave MN. I still have my COW-to-be-named-later post in my back pocket. Wait for it.
I’ll vote for Stu for COW due to the typically solid performance, not only here but also on the Twins live blog on Thursday.
Before I cast any vote for anyone, my question for Stu, Dave, Jon or AZGG is:
Has your driver’s license been revoked for two years without your knowledge due to underpaying a speeding ticket?
This will be the core issue for Minneapolis Strib readers for years to come. We’re not concerned with what’s going on in Myanmar or Lebanon. I want… need… to know if our COW candidates are in good standing with their DMV before I cast a vote.
Ah, right, the Stulamatt questions:
Matt wrote the playoff announcer question, as he stated. Stu crafted in their entirety the Bad News Bears and Morgan thinks Beane wrote Moneyball questions and had a major thematic assist in the Rainn Wilson, Liz Phair, Rumsfeld and Castino question.
Has your driver’s license been revoked for two years without your knowledge due to underpaying a speeding ticket?
Ramon, I’m in such good standing with the DMV that they moved my DMV location out of the basement of a AAA building into an area with huge windows. Windows that look outside.
The AAA in SLP finally moved that logjam upstairs?
Joe Morgan’s an idiot. Everyone knows Terry Ryan wrote “Moneyball”.
ramon - I believe I stand alone on the DMV issue among the candidates. As stated previously on this blog, my AZ license is good through 2036. Ask yourself if my opponents can say the same thing?
That said, aren’t you tired of the same old razor-sharp wit and hilarity Stu has to offer? A vote for Dave MN is a vote for change! (That didn’t come out right, Dave).
Yeah, because, if there’s anything we need less of it’s razor sharp things. I mean, where’s the love for the dull, nicked up wit? Wit that might cut your face?
A vote for change!! I’m all for it. Never seem to have enough when I pull up to the parking meter.
“I mean, where’s the love for the dull, nicked up wit? Wit that might cut your face?”
Or legs Dave. Ask AZGG. But I’m with ya.
