Best Outfield Arms

[batmagadanleadoff]

I've been re-reading William Ryczek's Amazin Mets, 1962-1969 lately (skipping around the book at random) and I came across a reference to Jim Hickman's throwing arm in a passage about the first Mets-Cubs game of September 1969, played at Shea Stadium. Hostilities between the two teams had increased significantly since they last played, months ago. This was the game where Koosman famously drilled Ron Santo as retaliation for Bill Hands' knockdown of Tommie Agee, an inning earlier:

The Cubs tied the game in the sixth, but in the bottom half of the inning, Agee hit a shot between Kessinger and Santo. On any other day, it was a single, but the wet grass slowed the ball in the outfield and, Agee never hesitating, slid into second with a double. Wayne Garrett singled to right and Agee took off for the plate. In right field was Jim Hickman, now 32, but still the possessor of a powerful arm. As Agee rounded third and streaked for the plate, Hickman cut loose a strong, accurate throw to Randy Hundley. Hundley had the ball in his mitt before Agee reached the plate, and tagged him on his left side as Agee slid in through the right hand batter's box. Umpire Satch Davidson's view was obscured by Agee's body as it crossed in front of him. Davidson spread his hands in the safe sign, and Hundley leapt high in the air in disbelief. Durocher charged from the Cubs dugout. Hundley and Durocher carried on for some time, but to no avail, and the Mets had a 3-2 lead, which Koosman, throwing harder than he had in weeks, held for the last three innings.

(can't find that famous picture of Hundley leaping in protest)

[Zvon]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: (can't find that famous picture of Hundley leaping in protest)

I'm very surprised that I cant find that pic of him jumping on-line.

The one below is another view, and my first attempt at colorizing a B&W photo in 2002.


This throw below by Bo Jackson is freakin unbelievable, especially seeing that when he caught the ball, he was moving backwards.

[ashie62]

Vladimir Guerrero

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Hindsight and all, but hard not to suspect Bo was on the juice. I know he's a strong denier and all.

[Frayed Knot]

Maybe - although I get the idea that Bo was just one of those ridiculously natural/strong guys who didn't need to do much of anything to look and perform like he did. George Brett used to say that he never wanted to be back in the clubhouse can when Bo came to bat because he didn't want to miss what might happen. And then he would add a mock complaint that he never saw the guy do a single sit-up.

In either case, he would have been fun to watch over a longer career. For a guy who barely played in college and then had just 200 minor league ABs before his call-up, he was just starting to learn the sport when the injury from his "hobby" derailed both careers.