Smith just beginning to burn on the bases

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – Down in the Cincinnati dugout, the man whose powerful throwing arm always put fear in the hearts of would-be base stealers leaned forward and watched intently as Lonnie Smith, perhaps the fastest runner to wear a Phillies uniform in more than two decades, stole second base for the third time yesterday afternoon.

Johnny Bench shook his head and wondered if it wasn't just a matter of time before everyone playing this speed-hungry game would a world-class sprinter.

"That kid Smith might not have it so easy if you were in there," said the teammate next to Bench. He had obviously not taken into account the slow delivery of the Reds' pitcher. Bench knew it was making catcher Joe Nolan's job close to impossible.

There are some things you just can't stop," replied Bench. "Give an edge to guys who run like Smith and it's going to be hard times for a lot of young catchers coming up to the majors."

During his career, Bench never doubted his ability to gun down the speedsters.

Most roadrunners relied strictly on their own raw ability. The ones who learned to run with their heads as well as their feet were the ones to fear.

At the moment, Smith represented a potential problem for any opponent, a troublemaker on offense who changed the tempo and strategy of a game simply by getting on base. Yet, it might be just the beginning.

"The more I run, the more confident I feel," explained Smith. "It's kind of like a hitter. You get into a groove. Stealing becomes easier.

"I'm still a little hesitant running against pitchers I haven't seen before. But, I'm getting to know them. I figure that if I play every day, I'd be able to steal between 40 and 60 bases a year. I don't plan on going after 70 to 100 steals a year."

The difference between a player with 40 stolen bases and the record-setters like former Cardinal great Lou Brock isn't speed. And, as soon as Phillies rightfielder Bake McBride gets a chance to sit down and talk with Lonnie, that's the message he's going to pass along.

"When Lou and I were in St. Louis together, I knew he couldn't be that much faster than me," recalled Bake with a smile. "So, we timed each other. We measured and counted our steps in the dirt. We checked out everything and darned if I didn't run from first to second just as fast as he did.

"But you know what? He stole all the bases. There was one reason: He knew when to run. I still haven't learned."

There is a tendency among some people in baseball to explain such success by saying Brock was born with the instinct to know the exact instant to break for second base. The truth is, Sweet Lou became the best by making a lifetime project out of studying pitchers.

"He'd sit there in the dugout with a stopwatch, timing all kinds of things... how long a certain pitcher took during his delivery, how long it took for the ball to reach the catcher, how long the catcher took to release the ball. He had a formula in which he knew that if he started to steal at a certain point against some pitchers, it was mathematically impossible for him to be thrown out," said Bake.

"Right now, Lonnie Smith is going on pure, raw speed. If he studies the pitchers and works on getting a better lead off the bag, stealing will get easier and easier for him," he added.

Lonnie has already altered his running style to avoid the "skating" strides that tripped him up in the past. By lifting his knees higher, he no longer runs right out from under himself on Astro-Turf.

Smiling as a locker room guard handed him his infant son along with the message, "She says, 'You do the changing!'" Lonnie admitted he could be even better in the future.

"I haven't even stolen a base off Johnny Bench. I haven't worked up enough nerve to try," he said.

Bench grinned when he heard about that "Tell him to hurry," said Johnny with a chuckle. "Pretty soon, I'll be leaving town."

He didn't look sad about that. Not at all.

Snider recalls Brooklyn glory

By Gary Stein, Gannett News Service

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Here in a quiet mountain village where the passing of time doesn't mean much anyway, the old Boys of Summer had another moment of glory yesterday.

And it might be one of their last.

"It was one of baseball's greatest eras," sighed former Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine. "But, yeah, it's possible that Duke may be the last to get in."

Duke Snider, one of the greatest of the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1950s, finally was inducted into the Hall of Fame after waiting through 11 years of eligibility.

Another star outfielder, Al Kaline of Detroit, was also inducted after being elected in his first year of eligiblity. Two others – former Phillies outfielder Chuck Klein and former Boston Owner Tom Yawkey – were inducted posthumously.

But the star of the show was the Duke – and no one knew him better than Erskine, who roomed with Snider when both first came up to Brooklyn in the late 1940s.

"Duke wasn't wild like a lot of people say, but he was young and full of zip," said Erskine, one of several former Dodgers among the thousands who jammed into the Hall of Fame to watch the impressive ceremonies. "He wasn't afraid to have a good time.

"Duke was moody. In a lot of ways, he was a spoiled brat. Pee Wee (Reese, former Dodger shortstop) was kind of like his uncle. He would take Duke out for a few beers, and tell him to get with it. And Duke would listen.

"Duke wasn't a bad guy. The thing he was always battling was this thing about potential. People always felt he should be so great. It was a real rock to carry."

Snider may not have been flawless, but there weren't many who could play up to his standards.

He finished with a .295 career batting average and 358 homers. Yesterday, in his greatest moment, he couldn't resist a chance to talk about the 1955 Dodgers, who won Brooklyn's only world title.

"We didn't like the Yankees," Snider grinned. "We disliked being bridesmaids to them... it ate at us for a long time.

"So many guys had role on that team. Pee Wee, well, all I can say is he deserves to be here. Erskine, he was the guy who kept things on an even keel in our room.

"Then there was the greatest competitor I've ever seen – Jackie Robinson. Roy Campanella was a stabilizer. He kept us loose. There are stories I could tell about him and Don Newcombe, and they're all true.

"I was lucky to be a part of that era. That was the Golden Era of baseball as far as I'm concerned."

From that Dodger era, Snider now joins Campanella, Robinson and Sandy Kouf ax in baseball's shrine. Barring a change of heart from the voters, no other Brooklyn Dodger will gain admittance.

"Pee Wee ought to be in," said Erskine.

"And I'm concerned about Gil Hodges. I think the Dodger representation in the Hall of Fame will be hollow without him, but I don't know if he'll ever get in."

Campanella and Koufax were among 23 Hall of Famers on the podium as Snider received his plaque.

"I want to thank God," Snider said, "for putting me in his master plan to be a Brooklyn Dodger and to be in the Hall of Fame."

For Hodges and Reese, the plan appears to be different. Hodges, who managed the Mets before his untimely death due to a heart attack, came close to election on a couple of occasions, but continues to slip back in the voting. Reese never really came close, and now is eligible only if voted in by the Veterans' Committee.

Kaline spent his entire 22-year career in Detroit, compiling 399 homers, 3,007 hits, a .297 batting average and a reputation as one of the most stylish and graceful players ever to compete.

He was steady but unspectacular, and, after, becoming the youngest batting champion ever in 1955 (age 20) when he hit .340, Kaline never approached that figure again.

But he was durable, dangerous and consistent. And he became one of only 10 men to be nominated to the Hall in the first year of eligibility.

"Sometimes I feel I'm one of the luckiest people in the world," said Kaline, who was in tears while making his speech to the crowd. "For 22 years, I was able to make a living playing a game that was my life."

Unlike Snider, who helped his reputation with many World Series appearances, Kaline appeared in only one in 1968, when at the age of 33, he hit .379 and led to Tigers to a seven-games decision over St. Louis.

Lonnie’s Larceny Leads Phillies Over Reds 8-4

Philadelphia 8, Cincinnati 4

By Harry Hoffman, Press Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA – Mrs. Smith’s lively lad Lonnie is something special. All the rookie left fielder did Sunday to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat Cincinnati 8-4 at Veterans Stadium was reach first base his first three times at bat, steal second each time and score.

“I’ve faced a lot of these pitchers, especially the young ones like Bruce Bereyni (Reds’ starter and loser) in the minors. That gives me an edge when it comes to stealing bases. It’s a lot tougher to go when you don’t know anything about the pitcher’s habits,” Smith said.

Smith had two singles and a walk and helped set up two RBI for number two hitter Pete Rose, who is enjoying his new role in that hitting slot.

“Lonnie’s speed helps create a lot of situations for the team that are good and are necessary now that Greg Luzinski is out,” Rose said.

“No longer can we depend on the long ball to get the offensive job done. He gets us running or hitting and running and it keeps the other team on edge.”

Sunday, Smith started the bottom of the first by walking against Bereyni. He stole second went to third on an out by Rose and scored on a double down the third base line by rightfielder Greg Gross, playing for the ailing Bake McBride.

“We no longer can wait around for big innings to happen. We have to go out and scrap for runs any way we can get them,” Phillies Manager Dallas Green said. “Lonnie has the green light most of the time. Fact is, we’ll be working with him to steal third more in the future.”

The Reds, who won the season’s series from the Phillies 7-5, tied the game off winner Nino Espinosa, 2-2, in the second on singles by George Foster and catcher Joe Nolan.

Smith put the Phillies back in front to stay in the third. He sliced a checked swing single to right, stole second and scored on one of Rose’s three singles.

“I’ve been around long enough. I don’t have to be selfish up at the plate,” Rose said. “I usually take a pitch anyway, and that gives Lonnie the chance he needs to go. But if he’s running and I get a good pitch, I’ll hit it. If it goes somewhere, Lonnie can score from first like he did the other night.”

The Phillies needed only three hits to score six runs and put the game away in the fifth inning.

This time Smith started the action by beating out a bunt toward the pitching mound. When he stole second it was his 10th straight successful steal and gave him 20 in 23 attempts. He leads the team despite the fact he was a part-time player before Luzinski went on the disabled list.

Once again Rose scored Smith with a single. Gross and Schmidt walked to load the bases. Cincinnati Manager John McNamara brought right hander Mario Soto in to replace Bereyni.

A sacrifice fly by Garry Maddox scored Rose. Manny Trillo, who walked four straight times, was given an intentional base on balls An unintentional walk to Ramon Aviles, playing shortstop for injured Larry Bowa, forced home the inning’s third run. Then catcher Bob Boone capped the outburst with a three-run double into the left field corner.

Meanwhile, Espinosa was finessing his way by the Reds. He allowed only three hits and the one run in the second inning before the Reds reached him for three singles and a run in the sixth. Then Green went to Ron Reed, who picked up his seventh save.

Reed did allow two runs in the eighth on singles by Dave Collins and Foster and a double by Dan Driessen. Reed also gave up a single to Nolan in the ninth. But then second baseman Trillo started a double play to end the game and improve the Phils’ record on this long home stand to 7-3 with three games still ahead against St Louis.

Bench Strength Doesn’t Wane, But Catching Time Might

Tales of Hoffman by Harry Hoffman

PHILADELPHIA – At age 32, John Bench is tired but not worn out Twelve straight years of catching 100 or more big league games have overworked his back muscles and locked his knees in a pressure chamber.

However, the leader of the Cincinnati Reds is not thinking about calling it quits. But after this season, as he helps the Reds challenge for another division title, Bench is planning to cut down on his work behind the plate.

“It has been written I want to stop catching altogether,” Bench said Sunday while resting as the Phillies and Reds completed their season's business.

“That is not so.  However, I’d like to catch a lot less than 100 games while spending time playing other positions. As the years go on, it gets tougher and tougher to go back there ana get the good job done night after night.”

John has done the good job as well as any catcher in the history of the game. At the end of 1979, he had a career defensive mark of .991 which is less than one point behind the National League all-time record set by Johnny Edwards. Bill Freehan, who did his catching for Detroit, holds the big league record of .993.

Bench has combined his defensive prowess with one of the more potent bats in the game. Starting this season he had hit 332 career homers. So far this year he has added 15 and has slipped by Yogi Berra to become number one in homers hit by a player while catching.

Berra, with 358 career homers, is still ahead of the 347 swatted by Bench. However, Berra hit many of his blasts while playing in the outfield.

“I guess I can say now hitting a lot of home runs has always been important to me and I am very proud of being the all-time Cincinnati leader,” Bench said. “When my back was really hurting last year I thought my power hitting days were over. Fortunately, it has come back about as strong as ever. I am very thankful for that.”

Bench’s 15 homers so far this season tie him for leadership on the club with George Foster. He also has 43 RBI and is hitting .268, which interestingly enough, is his career average.

Yesterday was a day game after a night game and Manager John McNamara gave Bench the day off with Joe Nolan doing the catching.

“A day off now and then helps keep the bat alive,” Bench said. “But I don’t like watching from the bench too often. That’s why I know it never will be easy for me just to turn and walk away from this game. As that guy on “Saturday Night Live” says, baseball has been very good to me.’’

John Bench has also been very good for baseball. The 10-time All-Star will be whisked into the Hall of Fame once he becomes eligible. A lot of National League pitchers will much prefer facing Bench in the Hall of Fame archives rather than from a batter's box.

Diamond Fever

Many Are Called, But Few Are Phils

By Joseph Capella, Press Correspondent

VINELAND — The notice advertising a Philadelphia Phillies tryout camp said to bring a glove and baseball shoes.

It didn’t mention anything about “God-given talent” but that was what was really needed by the more than 200 prospects who showed up Sunday morning at Landis Park to display the skills which might earn them at least a second look by the Phillies’ organization.

After that second look… well, anybody can dream.

There were enough dreams running around under the relentless August sun to fill Veterans Stadium. But there wasn't much of what the Phillies’ scouts were looking for.

“Running and throwing, gentlemen, running and throwing — that’s what we’ll be watching for.” This was the theme of the introduction given those who had come from all over New Jersey and beyond by Elmer Valo, former major league outfielder and currently scout and field instructor for the Philadelphia club.

The prospects, ranging in age from 16 to 27, were first grouped by position played — pitchers and catchers, infielders, outfielders. Each was asked to run a 60-yard sprint — the distance between home plate and second base. A time of seven seconds or better earned a runner an asterisk on his registration card.

The next event put a player at his normal position to give the scouts an opportunity to evaluate fielding and throwing abilities, especially the throwing aspect.

“We’re just looking for the guy who can run and throw,” explained Joe Reilly, eastern supervisor of scouting for the Phillies. “We can’t teach speed and we can’t teach strength — a player has to have that before we can do anything with him.”

Put another asterisk on the registration card of the player zipping low-flying ball across the field.

And that was about it — two areas in which to make an impression on the men wearing the red Phillies’ caps. While Valo conducted a 10-minute hitting clinic, the other scouts huddled to check over the registration cards for a double asterisk, signifying a prospect who had the basic tools of the game.

About 25 names were called to stay for a chance to hit or pitch to those hitters. The others were thanked for their time and effort.

Two local players, Dave Anderson and Wilfredo Rodriguez, were among those asked to stay.