Follow Dave Ginsburg on Twitter@Ginzy3. Camden Chat - Fri, 14 Feb 2014 . At the 1980 winter meetings, while Harry Dalton was trying to sort out the complexities of his trade with St. Louis, Baltimore general manager Hank Peters told Whitey Herzog, We wouldnt trade Dempsey and [then backup] Dan Graham for Simmons even up. Meanwhile, the rest of the Oriole offense was generating enough runs to let Weaver, after platooning Dempsey with Graham in 1980, learn to live with Dempseys mild bat (Dempsey knew Graham was a good hitter, but also felt Danny couldnt catch his own butt with both hands). Rick Dempsey Rain Delay Theater, Part ISept. Baseball Players. Dempseys line for the season was just about what he told Claire it would be. Rick is now in his fourth year as a member of the Orioles broadcast team after spending five years on the club's coaching staff. I went to the summer league in 67 and played half a game every other day. Sep 26, 2022 #79 Almonte is entertainingly bad in the field. He glanced at me with a smirk. Covered a Mets-Astros doubleheader in 1987 and never looked back. P.S.-- Dont forget, theres still time to vote in the 12 greatest L.A. Dodgers of all-time balloting, results of which will be revealed Friday night. October 7, 2012. Dec 11, 2006 17,921. 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. He liked the fact that I always went to the games when I told him I would and they gave me a shot. Gross tubs? In this conversation. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In addition, he serves as a game analyst for occasional games on MASN. For example - "C'era una volta" means "Once upon a time" in Italian and "I yli dago i . I got a little notoriety in Earl Weavers eyes, Dempsey said. Once you master that, all youre left with is the game itself. The secretary had gone home and it was dark outside. Dempsey spent all of 1974 with the Yankees, serving as Munsons backup for most of that time. 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. They split the two games and Baltimore won its final two games to win the division. We dont make the big money yet.. Good thing the man has such a great sense of humor. Rick Sutcliffe Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com Rick Sutcliffe Position: Pitcher Bats: Left Throws: Right 6-7 , 215lb (201cm, 97kg) Born: June 21, 1956 (Age: 66-208d) in Independence, MO us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Cy Young Rookie of the Year 3x All-Star ERA Title 48 43 44 43 40 40 40 With the worst record in minor league baseball. Dempsey, who said he strives to be aggressive like Billy, smart like Earl and a motivator like Tommy, tries to be philosophical. The work ethic that was so prevalent during Dempseys playing days remains. 17, 1980Now for one a bit less good-natured, but that will live forever nonetheless. [1] He played more games as a catcher than any other player in Orioles history (1230). Redskins. That decision wasnt final, though. They quarreled over how to pitch to batters and over virtually any other subject. Hiserman has been Sports editor of The Times San Fernando Valley and Orange County editions. He spent it in the press box with the Bakersfield broadcast team, doing color commentary. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Sports Legend Revealed: Was Jack Lambert ejected from a game for hitting a quarterback too hard? He has been teaming with Tom Davis for 4 years hosting the "O's Xtra" pre- and post-game shows on MASN 30 minutes before and immediately after each game. 16, 2003Remember Cust, the left-handed slugger who had a productive four-year run with Oakland in the late 2000s? 30, 1977A singular figure in Orioles lore, Dempsey remains beloved to this day as much for his personality as for his on-field accomplishments. Otherwise, he said, he would have to use his gun. Consider his "rain delay theater" a blend of both, and one of the more famous comedy bits in MLB history. 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. Then I got traded to the Orioles, and the next year, on the final day of the 1977 season, we were playing the Boston Red Sox for second place. 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. But '83 is what it's really all about with Dempsey as a player. Palmer told me I had to stand up to him otherwise hed bury me. You know what I'm going to do? [3], Dempsey was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round of the 1967 Major League Baseball draft out of Crespi Carmelite High School. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images). Thoughts from Brewers Nation or Is It "The Bre Flashback Friday: One of the "Forgotten Birds", Comeback Win No. But as with so much art, nothing beats the original. But Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays. $269.99. [19] Dempsey fared well offensively in postseason play. He played for Billy Martin, Earl Weaver and Tommy Lasorda and, along with Tim McCarver and Carlton Fisk, is one of only three catchers to play in the Major Leagues in four decades [1969-92]. He opened 1968 with Wisconsin Rapids of the Class-A Midwest League but was there for 11 games before moving to Auburn of Class-A New York-Penn League. Dempsey had become a Dodger coach for those two years, and he was hanging out atop the dugout steps before the game. But whatever, he's Rick Dempsey. But Dipper is an Oriole, and a memorable one. I have my grammar school sweetheart and well be married 54 years in February. 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. In 2001, Dempsey was named the first base coach, replacing Eddie Murray. 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 Storm Davis, John Shelby, and series MVP Rick Dempsey would reach the 1988 World Series, Davis with the Oakland Athletics and Shelby and Dempsey with the Los Angeles Dodgers . Presenting an unusual Rick Dempsey bobblehead that talks and plays music.Rick Dempsey was the Baltimore Orioles' catcher from 1976 to 1986, and was well loved for his sense of humor. The decade wasnt always great, though. 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. Tommy [Lasorda] had a little heart attack around that time and there was a lot of speculation as to who would replace Tommy. When Spring Training rolled around in 1988 Dempsey was at Vero Beach with the Dodgers. Dempsey may have gotten along with Martin and Martin with him but Martin was fired after the season and Dempsey found himself in the Double-A Southern League in each of the next two seasons. Elliott: After trading away Jonathan Quick, Kings make more deals ahead of trade deadline, After four decades, trainer Ed Moger gets his first Triple Crown starter, An exclusive look at details of Chip Kellys two-year contract extension from UCLA, His shoe game is pretty tight. Why Dodgers hope Miguel Rojas play matches his swag, Rats in the laundry? Just when it appeared as if Dempsey began to heat up at the plate, he went 3-for-9 with four RBIs in the previous two games, he was bowled over by Kansas Citys Bo Jackson in a home-plate collision on July 21. 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. In the new book If These Walls Could Talk: Baltimore Orioles, Dempsey and writer Dave Ginsburg share this and many otherbehind-the-scenes stories about the team. He didn't have a good season, hitting .231/.311/.323 with four homers in 128 games. After his playing career ended, Dempsey became a minor league manager in the Los Angeles Dodgers organisation, winning the 1994 Pacific Coast League championship with the Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes. It has to be tough on him. I said, "I don't think it's going to work this time.". Questions, compliments, or complaints can be sent to Matthew Taylor at [email protected]. I got along with him really well.. 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. "Hey Rick," I shouted, "I saw your rain delay act at Fenway back in 1977!". Date: July 23, 2009 Score: Chicago White Sox 5, Tampa Bay Rays 0 Site: U.S. Cellular Field Pitches (Ks): 116 (76 strikes) Game Score: 93 In 2009, Buehrle, a durable soft-tossing lefty, threw his team's first perfect game in 87 years. I was one of those kinds of players that just pulled for all of the guys.. 2015 Topps 1976 Original Buyback #272 Rick Dempsey: $1.08: 2017 Topps Rediscover Topps Buyback Bronze #593 Rick Dempsey: $1.33: 2017 Topps Rediscover Topps Buyback Silver #593 Rick Dempsey: $4.53: Search Inventory Selling History By Set By Player By Set By Player Social About All Sports Baseball Basketball Football Golf . 7. 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. It's a danceoff! Players would keep a box of crackers and cheddar cheese in the clubhouse . He was a yeller and a screamer and he beat the fundamentals of the game into you. [21] He then joined the New York Mets organisation, managing the Norfolk Tides in 1997 and 1998. Dempsey was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 23, 1969, with the Minnesota Twins. Pinterest. 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. [citation needed]. Mar 28, 2014 - Rick Dempsey rain delay entertainment. I thought that was kind of cool, that he got so many different sections at Yankee Stadium involved in that. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2020-2022 BallNine, llc. He was the new Dodgers GM and I waited in his office at 2 p.m. His secretary told me he was in a meeting and that he would come out and get me when he was done. It is supposed to bring joy, every night a chance to escape for nine innings. That was so embarrassing to start one game all season long. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The long-time Baltimore catcher, however, proved over the course of his career, which encompassed parts of four decades, that he was more than one of baseballs most memorable characters. [1] He ended his career with a .988 fielding percentage. The people were screaming as if I had just hit a home run to win the seventh game of the World Series. Despite a strong camp, though, Claire said he needed to send him to Triple-A for a bit until he could find a place for Alex Trevino. Think throwing a no-hitter got you a free pass in those days? Doncha just bet hes having a hoot about this? Weaver enjoyed Soliloquy and came to enjoy even more the defensive skills Dempsey developed. He is 43 now, and trying to remain patient. [1] When Scioscia was injured during Game 4 of the World Series, Dempsey took over behind the plate for the remainder of the Series, collecting an RBI double in Game 5. ThePostGame - Wed, 19 Apr 2017 . View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. [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. Wayne Bryant. WHO IS Rick Dempsey? Thanks for sharing your memories, Enchanting Sunshine. Dempsey spent 1991 with the Brewers and hit a respectable .231 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 147 at-bats. Dempsey eventually did go home but not before he appeared in 40 games for Minnesotas affiliate in the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League. Just opened in Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Dempsey's Brewpub and Restaurant! Category: Sports. Dempsey moved behind the plate for his senior season and hit a team-leading .466 to earn All-Camino Real League honors. [8] In the 1979 World Series, the Orioles won three of the first four games against the Pittsburgh Pirates and seemed to be on the verge of winning the championship, when the Pirates, led by Willie Stargell, rebounded to win the final three games. He went on for more than an hour, Lund says. JCizzle Member. The man who used to entertain the crowds at old Memorial Stadium with rain-delay impersonations of Babe Ruth pigeon-toeing around the bases, complete with ample gut padding and head-first slides . Jones' antics in Detroit bring back memories of "Baseball Soliloquy in Pantomime", 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.". 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. . Billy Martin, Earl Weaver and Tom Lasorda stories. 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. 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. Chass, Murray. The Orioles were 1-23 (yes, you read that right) at the time, having returned home to Fantastic Fan Night at Memorial Stadium after what was statistically the worst start in baseball history. No one liked you and most of the veterans were cold and didnt want to talk. \"I got tired of the same old stuff.\"About 45 minutes after the game was to have started, Dempsey ran onto the tarp and slid across the infield. Quick with a quip. Santarone would pour a layer of vinegar over the mix and let it set for a few days, then drain it and do the same with oil. I didnt get to play baseball when I was a freshman or sophomore because I didnt have a way home. Before that, Cust was briefly an Oriole, appearing in 28 games with Baltimore from '03-04. He played both ends of a doubleheader the next day. The Twins traded Dempsey to the Yankees for outfielder Dan Walton, a journeyman who would appear in 297 games with six teams over a nine-year career. Thats where I made my mark. He possessed a cannon for an arm and was a magician who helped guide some of the games greatest pitching staffs to a pair of World Series titles, picking up a World Series MVP for himself along the way. [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. 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. Dempsey was a darn good catcher too, mostly with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. Dempsey would remain the No. I did another version of it in Milwaukee one night. Whenever I think of Dempsey as a player, two memories come to mind: his rain delay routine and his 1983 World Series MVP. I didnt even know who the heck he was. I put a pillow in my shirt so I could look a little bit like Babe Ruth. Im going to catch the last pitch and Im going to give you the ball.. Included in that group are Jeff Suppan, Sean Gilmartin and Ryon Healy. In '78, Dempsey took over behind the plate, and upped his hitting to non-embarrassing levels, at .259/.327/.356 with six homers. He called a good game, too, even if not good enough for the headstrong Palmer, who insisted on calling his own, using the signs only as a medium that would guarantee both pitcher and catcher knew what the next pitch was. The Comedic Stylings Of Rick Dempsey Published on 5/9/2007 by GC When Gary Thorne is the one embarrassed at your poor choice of words, something has gone horribly wrong. While Dempsey made the Major League roster in 1972, he didnt last long, hitting .200 in 25 games before being sent to Tacoma of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he would spend the remainder of the season. I thought he was a great players manager. It was a lot of fun. Pictures of a book signing event at Barnes & Noble in Bel Air featuring former Baltimore . 1 catcher for the Orioles through the 1986 season. Instead, he chose to manage. I had to do it at least once at home. Which starters are locks for the Orioles rotation. After I slid into home plate, Yount came out and took his jersey back. With the worst record in professional baseball. Let me talk to you for a half hour and if it doesnt work out, Ill go home and retire. Sammy had a way of playing with the ball, flipping it with his hand, that added a nice touch. Yeah, its too early to draw conclusions about anything, but its not too early to feel the optimism already. He and Billy were a lot alike. [19] He is the uncle of former major league catcher Gregg Zaun. May 31, 2020 - Three-time AL Cy Young winner, six-time All-Star, and eight-time 20-game winner Jim Palmer turned 70 years old on Oct. 15, 2015. Sudakis was traded to the Angels after the season. Dempsey has been a candidate for managerial openings with the Orioles in the past, as recently as 2003 when the Orioles interviewed him for the spot that eventually went to Lee Mazzilli. Rick Dempsey and Rain Delays - The Times Have Changed roarfrom34.com/Baltim. The downside is that he set my expectations too high for what I should reasonably expect of a catcher. I went into the dugout, and everyone was laughing about it. Ricky Dempsey, 64 Also known as Ricky Dempsy Ricky Demsey Ricky Demps Has lived in Gulf Breeze, FL Pensacola, FL Little River, AL Pace, FL Related to John Staley, 67 Karen Staley, 65 Kyle Staley, 39 Alicia Staley, 44 View Profile Ricky Dempsey, 37 Has lived in Mineola, TX Alba, TX Albert, TX Irving, TX Related to William Strebeck, 95 31 - RickDempsey, Friday Bird Droppings: Where Adley and Grayson put on a show. Rick Dempsey Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac Rick Dempsey Stats Rick Dempsey was born on Tuesday, September 13, 1949, in Fayetteville, Tennessee. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. 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. Dempsey was, too, when he earned a late-season call-up to the Minnesota Twins at age 19. [2] In 1979, the Orioles defeated the California Angels in the 1979 American League Championship Series to reach the World Series. Another sad day came when it became apparent that Dempseys time in Baltimore was over. All the pitchers enjoyed having me behind the plate. 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. List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades, 100 Best Percentage of Baserunners caught stealing 1956-2007, Catcher Encyclopedia, "For Catchers, The Name of the Game is Defense", "Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame at MLB.com", Orfalea, Gregory. Duration: 35s. Tonight's rain delay in the World Series brings one name to the mind of most baseball fans: Rick Dempsey. Lets look at the 10 most comical moments in Orioles history: 1. Then I met Bo Jackson at home plate. One of his most infamous umpire interactions came in the middle of an eventual 9-3 win over Detroit, when first-base umpire Bill Haller called a balk on Os pitcher Mike Flanagan. After jury approval, Palmer was fined. Former Orioles catcher and 1983 World Series MVP Rick Dempsey is a member of the Orioles broadcast team after five years on the club's coaching staff. He told me he gave that ball to the Hall of Fame. So as I skated around the tarp, everyone started to sing with me. Whenever I think of Dempsey as a player, two memories come to mind: his rain delay routine and his 1983 World Series MVP. The Orioles won 10-3. 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. It was Cal Ripken Jr. who said, You can be a kid for as long as you want when you play baseball. And in the end, isnt that what the game is all about? They wanted me to stay but they said I wasnt going to play. Dempsey ended his career in 1992, at age 42, with eight more games as a Baltimore Oriole. 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 was a lot of fun because I was flexible enough to get around the field without pulling a muscle or breaking anything. I know how to do it, but it takes a while to get a rhythm and timing for the game and your ballclub. Rick Dempsey is best remembered by some for his rain-delay antics and entertaining crowds with his impersonations of Babe Ruth. In 59 games with his new team, he hit .213/.275/.224, then .226/.314/.315 in 91 games the next season. Mike Curtis Baltimore Colts. The mark Rick Dempsey left was to be forever tied in with rain delay theatrics as he basically invented the genre (go to the 4:42 mark ): If YouTube had existed at the time it would have. They said they wouldnt pick up my option. One time in Toronto, one of the Blue Jays staffers called me and asked me to do it. Oh, that Rick Dempsey. To Dempsey, baseball, and Bakersfields place in it, is not a humorous matter. Dempsey would expand his act in the years to come, incorporating supporting actors and costume changes into his performances. I never wanted to be retired; it just worked out that way. We had a day off in Minnesota and the Yankees were in the same hotel. Catcher Rick Dempsey #24, of the Baltimore Orioles, argues the call with the home plate umpire Larry Barnett during a game on September 12, 1982 against the Cleveland Indians at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. When I first got traded, I met them in Chicago and I didnt start a game for quite a while. So, I said okay, Ill play for the worst team in baseball before I play for the Orioles., Former Baltimore Orioles player Rick Dempsey leads cheers between innings during a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 9, 2014 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. While he loved playing with Munson and for Martin, Dempseys stay in New York was just about over. With that in mind, were taking stroll down memory lane to highlight the times in Orioles history that did just that. When he retired as a player, he had three broadcasting offers. -- Excerpted by permission from If These Walls Could Talk: Baltimore Orioles by Rick Dempsey with Dave Ginsburg. Author of the popular blog The Bobblist, which covers everything A to Z in the world of bobbleheads. I loved everything about him, especially the way he would pick off every would be base-stealer. There is another side. Rick Dempsey was a catcher for 24 MLB seasons and MVP of the 1983 World Series in which the Orioles beat the Phillies. [7][13][14][15], In 1987, Dempsey became a free agent and signed a contract to play for the Cleveland Indians. Dempsey went 3-for-6 with a walk in five games. All rights reserved. The hard way. While he was long an Orioles superfan and ballpark fixture, the 1979 World Series thrust Hagy onto the national stage. John Rikard Dempsey (born September 13, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player. He was mentioned again as a possible candidate for the Baltimore manager's job in 2010, after the firing of Dave Trembley. Then, after a while, I pretty much came to terms with the fact that were developing here. In Baltimore it was hard to break the ice, Dempsey said. 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. Dempsey hit .293 with seven homers and 61 RBIs in 73 games and was named as the leagues Rookie of the Year. I went to Albuquerque and won a title and had two good years there. You could tell he was in his element. Dempsey s words proved to be prophetic. My brother [who was his ride] was a high hurdler so I became a miler on the track team and ran a 4:36 mile. 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. It started to rain and everyone left the field and when they covered it up, there was one baseball on the tarp. 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. Basketball Players. Dempsey's dad was a Vaudeville actor and his mother was a Broadway star. I was in the outfield at Fenway Park on Sunday, throwing baseballs to fans in the stands who were the loudest.