Wilbur Huckle (Split from "How Bad Was Our Namesake?...

[Guest Edgy DC]

There was a Mets prospect in the early days who never made the big squad, but became a fan favorite because of the dispatches north and a funny name. Eventually, badges supporting him for president appeared at Shea.

What was his name?

[Guest KC]

My internet search and acquire info quickly skills forbid me
from answering this trivia question.

(otherwise, of course I'd have no clue to the answer)

[Guest Edgy DC]

Here we go.



WilburHuckleforPresident.com How's that for elitest?

[Guest Edgy DC]

That image didn't work. This one is beter.

[G-Fafif]

Wilbur Huckle? Tom Seaver's roommate at Jacksonville!

From The Perfect Game by TS and Dick Schaap:

]My first year in professional baseball, I roomed with a fellow named Wilbur Huckle, who played the infield for Jacksonville. We had a rather unusual relationship. I never saw Wilbur Huckle in our room -- at least not awake. I never talked with him. I never heard him. I never ate a meal with him. When I came in at night, early or late, he was either out or asleep. And when I got up in the morning, he was always gone. He got up early and went on long walks by himself.

Apparently Wilbur gave life to the cliche about saying goodbye when you should be saying hello, or perhaps he never said hello:

]Lots of guys tried, but nobody ever beat Wilbur Huckle getting into street clothes after a game...Once, I heard, when Wilbur was playing in a lower minor league, his team was on a losing streak, and when they lost their sixth or seventh in a row, the manager started screaming at his players as they entered the clubhouse. "Sit down on the benches," he hollered. "This has gone too damn far. Just sit down and think about your mistakes. Think about your errors. Nobody's taking a shower until I say so." The manager was facing the whole team, scowling and storming, and right behind him stood Wilbur Huclke, fresh out of the shower, toweling himself dry.

Wilbur never made it to the big club, but his nephew Kevin McReynolds had a nice career.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Here's what I have on Wilbur Huckle so far:

http://leaptoad.com/mets/profile.php?PlayerCode=3E24

[Guest Edgy DC]

OK, he

1. Had a goofy name


2. Became a populist figure at Shea as early as 1964 --- presumably based on spring training dispatches or the odd spring broadcast --- despite never making the bigs


3. Was a flake


4. Was still in Jacksonville in 1967 when the greatest Met ever was coming through, and roomed with him

If that doesn't deserve a wikipedia page, I don't know what does.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Is really McReynolds' uncle?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Too late to say no. Wikipedia says he is.

[Frayed Knot]

Me suspects Greg is merely having some fun with the 'dress quickly and get outta Dodge' reputations.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Me too, but...

[Guest Edgy DC]

A Googlebook featuring pictures of sixties Met farmhands, including the hard-to-find Wilbur Huckle and Hank McGraw.

[stevejrogers]

Edgy DC wrote: A Googlebook featuring pictures of sixties Met farmhands, including the hard-to-find Wilbur Huckle and Hank McGraw.

I see no photos with a "McGraw" listed, Frank, Hank or otherwise, nor do I see a McGraw listed in the texts either.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Sign in at Google before viewing.

Hank is on page 89.

[stevejrogers]

Never mind, got it

[G-Fafif]

K-Mac and Dub-Huck aren't related. Except spiritually.