I got to my room and stuck my key in the door and it didnt open. I said, "Why would you want to do that? Dempsey didnt want to start anything on the plane but when the team arrived at the hotel in Milwaukee, Sudakis started in again and a fight ensued. Thanks to the Tigers' Todd Jones, shown in the rain delay video above, this week's Flashback Friday could only be about one thing: Rick Dempsey's "Baseball Soliloquy in Pantomime." Daniel Okrent describes Dempsey's efforts: He was an intense man, who concentrated mightily on the game. That was Orels [Hershiser] last pitch that season. Wayne Bryant. I just wanted to put it behind me and get to my managing career. He is remembered for one in particular, when he committed a baserunning gaffe that led to a 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Yankees in August 2003. Thats not really me.. Early in June, on a late-night bus ride home to Bakersfield from Riverside, Dempsey held court for the first time. He held it until the next day before the gag was exposed. [7][13][14][15], In 1987, Dempsey became a free agent and signed a contract to play for the Cleveland Indians. There was a chopper to the mound and he was on third and Im thinking I cant block this guy. This is what were going to do, I told him. Otherwise, he said, he would have to use his gun. I know how to do it, but it takes a while to get a rhythm and timing for the game and your ballclub. Dempsey would wait until the tarp was nice and drenched, like a giant Slip-N-Slide. To Dempsey, baseball, and Bakersfields place in it, is not a humorous matter. But instead of doing a Babe Ruth pantomime, I did one of Robin Yount hitting two home runs in the last game of the 1982 season at Memorial Stadium. While he loved playing with Munson and for Martin, Dempseys stay in New York was just about over. Earl Weaver was known for many things, among them his temper and penchant for getting ejected from ballgames. It was a lot of fun. Covered a Mets-Astros doubleheader in 1987 and never looked back. Handled pitchers well, loved to slide on wet tarps during rain delays. Now Dempsey as an Os Extra announcer? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 6. It was really foreign to me, Dempsey said. He and Billy were a lot alike. No wonder television wanted him. Nfl Football Players. Loved it! The ball was worth $6.5 million. Dempsey also served as an Oriole color commentator in 2000 and began another stint in 2007, as the studio analyst for O's Xtra on MASN, the cable channel that carries Orioles games. He did this a few more times in his career, once in '82 at Milwaukee with a Robin Yount jersey on, pretending to be Yount hitting a homer. [6], For the next ten and a half seasons, Dempsey would remain as the Orioles' starting catcher. Dempsey was let go in 2021 as part of the massive layoffs by MASN. October 21, 2019 | 00:01:51 Rick Dempsey's famous bit in 1977 where he runs around the infield tarp during a rain delay in Fenway and then slides home Baltimore Orioles Season 2019 Stewart, wearing Jim Palmer's jersey and a pair of tan underwear over his uniform pants, came out to the mound. It proved pivotal in Baltimore eventually securing a 3-1 win. @busfield google "Rick Dempsey rain delay" for the greatest o's rain delay moments of all time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your browser doesn't support the HTML5 CANVAS tag. Friday, May 22, 2009. Once, after the pitcher had again been racked, Dempsey mentioned that trend to another teammate as they trotted off the field. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. $269.99. We ended up winning the World Series with what was the worst team, on paper, in history.. I sat there on the bench and started one game. Then I ran off the field, and that was it. From that point on, every time it got gray or cloudy everywhere we went, one of the team officials would call me up and say, "Can you do your pantomime of Babe Ruth?" Then, after a while, I pretty much came to terms with the fact that were developing here. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. It felt like I hit whipped cream.. No matter the ball remained secured in Komminsks glove; his body landed outside the field of play, and Ripken was rewarded with a home run all the same. Babe Ruth used to be with the Red Sox. [1] He played more games as a catcher than any other player in Orioles history (1230). He retired in November 2020. He didn't have a good season, hitting .231/.311/.323 with four homers in 128 games. Dempsey became the Orioles starting catcher in 1978 and held that position for a decade, helping the Orioles to the World Series in 1979 [they lost in seven games to Pittsburgh] and then again in 1983. The downside is that he set my expectations too high for what I should reasonably expect of a catcher. Dempsey, 73, is semi-retired and living in California. Rick Dempsey Rain Delay Theater, Part I Sept. 30, 1977 A singular figure in Orioles lore, Dempsey remains beloved to this day as much for his personality as for his on-field accomplishments. He told me I did a great job. Consider his "rain delay theater" a blend of both, and one of the more famous comedy bits in MLB history. No, says Dempsey, a Crespi High graduate. Catcher who won World Series titles with the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers during his 24-year career. The people in Milwaukee just loved it. Whether he was entertaining during rain delays or fronting his lip-syncing four-man Orioles band on the field while Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" blared from the Memorial Stadium public-address system, Dempsey endeared himself to the Baltimore faithful. In Wilton, residents dig their way out after 7 inches of snow falls. Not only that, but the teams and Major League Baseball said they didn't want players running around on the tarp because somebody could get hurt and cost someone a lot of money. Here he is, with the Bakersfield Dodgers, and in his very first season as manager, his is the worst team in the Class-A California League. The Orioles won 10-3. He went on for more than an hour, Lund says. Then, about halfway down the third-base line he would start his slide, which would hydroplane him down the tarp and across home plate, where he would call himself safe. They wanted me to stay but they said I wasnt going to play. 17, 1980Now for one a bit less good-natured, but that will live forever nonetheless. In 1995, Dempsey worked as a field reporter for ABC's coverage of the All-Star Game from Texas.'. ThePostGame - Wed, 19 Apr 2017 . As climate changes, climate anxiety rises in youth. Advertisement If these rain-delay antics have a godfather, it is probably Rick Dempsey, the one-time Orioles catcher, who back in the early '80s brought out a comical home run trot around. But I learned how to handle a good staff with Baltimore and ended up being the everyday catcher for 10 years. Really. Hes still looking for work even though he says that being on the road with a team at any level these days is pretty much out of the question. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. Oh, that Rick Dempsey. (Photo by: Ron Kuntz Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images). I ran out there, and people started to cheer a little bit just because I ran out on the tarp. He would even pantomime the pitching. Chass, Murray. He had the best record in the league at throwing out base stealers, and had mastered the rest of a catchers defensive repertory as well. Dupree was a pitcher. While he was long an Orioles superfan and ballpark fixture, the 1979 World Series thrust Hagy onto the national stage. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). Dempsey, of course, inherited their genes, and thus went on to stuff towels in his shirt during a 1977 rain delay at Fenway Park, imitating Babe Ruth and sliding across the tarp on his padded stomach. That was one of the saddest days for me ever. He appeared in eight games, had nine at-bats and collected one hit, a single against the White Sox on July 6. Yes, that's where it all began. Guys were telling jokes, kind of ripping on each other and getting loud, recalls Ed Lund, Bakersfields catcher and a St. Francis High graduate, and he just kind of slowly walked back down the aisle and listened. Max Power With the worst record in minor league baseball. He felt that he still had the skill behind the plate to guide a pitching staff; it was just a matter of finding the right landing spot. While Dempsey had a long and storied career some folks just cant get over the fact that he was the guy who ran around in the rain. Dempsey occasionally must be reminded that he is dealing with a cast of mostly teen-agers. Rick Dempsey Rain Delay Theater, Part IIOct. Crazy things have happened during rain delays in the past (i.e.- Rick Dempsey), but this video might just put them all to shame. Flashback Friday: Rick Dempseys Rainy Days, Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game. Top 40 Orioles of All Time: #20, Rick Dempsey. 5. He added that Ripken took a liking to him and polished him up behind the plate. The first guy to come up to me in the locker room was Harmon Killebrew, Dempsey said. The work ethic that was so prevalent during Dempseys playing days remains. He talked about players and the things theyd done.. Dempseys line for the season was just about what he told Claire it would be. I said, "Well, that might be pretty cool, Sparky.". John Rikard Dempsey (born September 13, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player. Your email address will not be published. The lone bench player for New Bedford at the start of the game was infielder Dan Haugh, who, along with pitcher Aaron Messier, did their best Rick Dempsey rain-delay imitation. Camden Chat - Fri, 14 Feb 2014 . Not dark, just different. Tonights rain delay in the World Series brings one name to the mind of most baseball fans: Rick Dempsey. On this night, Haller was wearing a microphone as part of his participation in a documentary about umpiring in the Major Leagues. Only Gene Kelly ever sang and danced better with the water turned on. Best coffee city in the world? He glanced at me with a smirk. No one ever interviewed me about being the Dodger manager but my name showed up in the L.A. Times about it and that upset someone, so I left the Dodgers. During his season with the Brewers, Dempsey made two relief pitching appearances, giving up three hits and one run in two innings pitched. New York came calling, Dempsey said. Just e-mail your list of the 12 greatest L.A. Dodgers, ranked in order, to houston.mitchell@latimes.com. Today. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Another sad day came when it became apparent that Dempseys time in Baltimore was over. On the franchise. Dempsey, a catcher . Dempsey hit .293 with seven homers and 61 RBIs in 73 games and was named as the leagues Rookie of the Year. Manager Earl Weaver #4 and catcher Rick Dempsey #24 of the Baltimore Orioles stands on the mound to make a pitching change during an Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. 7. Dempsey broke his thumb and missed the rest of the season. . Thanks for sharing your memories, Enchanting Sunshine. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. Baltimore became the first visiting team to win Games 3, 4 and 5 since 1961, when the New York Yankees did so vs. the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. [9] It was one of Dempsey's greatest disappointments of his playing career. Rick Dempsey was a catcher for 24 MLB seasons and MVP of the 1983 World Series in which the Orioles beat the Phillies. He assumed the bullpen coach position in the 2006 season, replacing Elrod Hendricks who the team intended to reassign to another position in the organization before his death. During the rain delay NESN was playing Rick Dempsey rain delay Highlights which is always great, but on screen graphic said it was 1980 , while watching Boggs etc in the dugout. Mike Hiserman is former Sports editor of the Los Angeles Times. I didnt even know who the heck he was. Dempsey moved behind the plate for his senior season and hit a team-leading .466 to earn All-Camino Real League honors. The organist started playing "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head." Dempsey first performed his act during a rain delay at Fenway Park in 1977, well short of the YouTube and DVR generation. Last game of the season!". It ran its course and that was it.. He made it fun. They put the tarp down at the end of batting practice, and by then it was raining pretty heavily. It started to rain and everyone left the field and when they covered it up, there was one baseball on the tarp. [16] After only one season with the Indians, he became a free agent once again and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he would be a member of another World Series-winning team in 1988, this time as a backup catcher to Mike Scioscia. Dempsey grabs the mic1986Dempsey turned his act musical in 1986, when he serenaded a rain delay crowd to Chuck Berrys classic Johnny B. Goode. Soon, Dempsey & the Invisible Orioles Magic Band was born, complete with Eddie Murray and Floyd Rayford on the drums, Mike Boddicker on bass and John Habyan and others handling backup vocals. October 7, 2012. They split the two games and Baltimore won its final two games to win the division. I came over with Scott McGregor, Rudy May, Tippy Martinez, who had the best curveball ever, and I learned how to call a game from Jim Palmer. Dempsey ended his career in 1992, at age 42, with eight more games as a Baltimore Oriole. Nfl Teams. 3, 1982Back by popular demand, Dempsey revived his pantomime performance for the Memorial Stadium faithful in July 1978, and reprised it with a twist on the final day of the 1982 season against Milwaukee. I loved it at eight years old and told my mother I wanted to be a professional baseball player, Dempsey said. For me, languages are fascinating. Baseball Players. "No, really! This was Dempsey at the height of his rain delay powers, his one-man show at Fenway Park in 1977 when he pantomimed Babe Ruth, dashed around the tarp-covered diamond and ultimately plunged headfirst into home plate. 22. All of a sudden, the people in the stadium started pounding on the grandstands with their feet. Which is why such a swing of emotions unfolded when Indians center fielder Brad Komminsk seemed to take a home run away from Ripken Jr. on this September night at Memorial Stadium, only to have his momentum carry him over the center-field wall. Players would keep a box of crackers and cheddar cheese in the clubhouse . 3.4K views, 33 likes, 5 loves, 3 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Here's to the Night: Rick Dempsey has officially been dethroned as the king of the rain delay. Baltimore Orioles, Baseball, Books, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, New York Yankees, Rick Dempsey, Robin Yount, Sparky Lyle, 'Let Them Lead' Beloved Fourth-Line Grinder Earns Magical Moment, Tony Parker: Tough Love From Gregg Popovich 'Sometimes Bordered On Abuse', Thomas Morstead: From Wrong Side Of Minneapolis Miracle To Star Of Kids' Book, Nicklas Lidstrom's Crowning Moment At The Olympics In 2006, Copyright 2023 Sports Media Ventures, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He was an interim manager while playing in Puerto Rico in the early 80s. They'll love that!". He hit .239 in 43 games. Then he started telling jokes, and then stories about the big leagues. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say. Dempsey also served as first base coach for the Orioles for several seasons, first as a third base coach in the 2005 season after bench coach Sam Perlozzo was promoted to interim manager. It wasn't even really premeditated, but Sammy just thought of it at the spur of the moment, went on the field, and did it. The pantomime of Babe Ruth calling his home run. Rick Dempsey always was a crowd favorite. So, he left and 40 minutes later he came back and said you made the club. [18] During his career, Dempsey caught ten different 20-game winning pitchers. One punch. The downside is that he set my expectations too high for what I should reasonably expect of a catcher. [1] Dempsey spent a few more seasons shuttling between the Twins and their minor league teams, before being traded to the New York Yankees for Danny Walton on October 31, 1972. The team was flying to Milwaukee from Cleveland and Munson and a few other players were chiding Sudakis on the flight about Dempsey being the true backup catcher. When I was with the Orioles, we were tied with the Red Sox one year on the last day of the season and we were playing for second-place money. The Orioles played the next night in Yankee Stadium, earning a 1-0 victory that seemed very hollow. Dempsey, who said he strives to be aggressive like Billy, smart like Earl and a motivator like Tommy, tries to be philosophical. Weaver had history with Haller; years earlier, hed publicly said Haller shouldnt be allowed to call Tigers games because his brother, Tom, was their backup catcher. Rick Dempsey was born on the 13th of September, 1949. [1] He played for 24 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1992, most prominently for the Baltimore Orioles where he played for 10 years and was a member of the 1983 World Series winning team. The manager not only seemed constantly to be searching for a catcher who could hit home runs (ideally from the left side of the plate); he also, until 1981, pulled Dempsey for pinch hitters rather more frequently than Dempsey preferred. So, they sent me to Auburn and I played every day.. Were getting to that age where we have to keep an eye on each other. He ended up hitting .304 in 19 playoff and World Series games for Baltimore. This is as much of an education for me as it is for them, he says. 9. He was removed from the game and carted off the field in a stretcher, while the 15,491 fans on hand at the Coliseum held their collective breath. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? When I was a kid, This Week in Baseball hosted by Mel Allen would occasionally show how Rick Dempsey entertained fans during rain delays during baseball games. [11][12] Dempsey posted a .385 batting average along with a .923 slugging percentage in the five-game series, and won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, one of six catchers to have won the award. We could have sold it, split the money and been very happy., Rick Dempsey while with the Los Angeles Dodgers.(Getty). [2] In 1997, he was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame. Dec 11, 2006 17,921. So, to pigeon-hole Dempsey as simply the guy who ran around in the rain would not do justice to someone who was one of baseballs most durable and dependable players for 24 seasons. Nov 18, 2011 73 Dislike Share Save TheHalocodplayer 8 subscribers This montage was shown during a Boston Red Sox rain delay back in 1983. While playing for the Dodgers in 1990, he became involved in a brawl with Phillies' center fielder Lenny Dykstra, who took exception to Dempsey's fraternization with the home plate umpire. You could tell he was in his element. Two people can say something totally different and it can mean exactly the same thing. I have searched far and wide across the great landscape of the Internet and have yet to find a trace of footage showing Dempsey sliding across a rain-soaked turf. Dempsey was one of the best defensive catchers in the latter half of the 20th century. Uploaded: 25 Jul, 2010. Yeah, its too early to draw conclusions about anything, but its not too early to feel the optimism already. New team-record bonus as Orioles open 2023 international signing period, 2023 Orioles giveaways and promotions announced, Eight Orioles prospects among Baseball Americas top 100 list. He is fairly certain Duprees recollection ends there too. I used to go to all the semi-pro games in Los Angeles and they played for a guy who was a scout for the Minnesota Twins, Dempsey said. Dempsey went 3-for-6 with a walk in five games. He was mentioned again as a possible candidate for the Baltimore manager's job in 2010, after the firing of Dave Trembley. WHO IS Rick Dempsey? Should the teams play become exceedingly sloppy, Dempsey might occasionally launch into a postgame tirade, but he prefers to instruct rather than belittle his players. Martin made quite the impression on the 19-year-old catcher, one that remains as vivid for Dempsey as it was 54 years ago. Now that is entertainment! He then went 2-for-12 in the ALCS against the White Sox, but then came the World Series. I picked up the ball and didn't throw it because I wanted everyone there to start singing along with the song. 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