Reds trivia

[BigDDude]

Here's another for you oldies.

The '55-'59 Reds had a guy who played a little outfield but was mostly a part-timer. But he was quite productive off the bench. They called him "Big Swish." Anybody care to guess who that guy was?

Too long ago to be Nick Swisher's dad, who of course did play. And, it's a good thing this is a very old nickname, as, to lay this on someone now, it could denote an entirely different meaning.

As for the actual answer.......?

 

[JohnU]

A rookie at age 38!

 

[JohnU]

Yeah, to "swish" these days would provoke the tea-nuts.

 

[BigDDude]

A rookie at age 38!

As this was the mid-50's, I kind of assume that this guys best ball was played in the ***** Leagues. Bob Swish Thurman. Interesting.

 

[JohnU]

I read that he was in the Puerto Rican Hall of Fame and was near the end of his career when the Reds bought his contract from the Cubs, who had no reason to use him.

http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/23f9d960

 

[chico ruiz]

any of you oldies ever see the dayton indians play at hudson field? my dad saw one of the first african-american pro basketball players play first base for those same indians in the late 40's. good hitter. could have been one of the first really good multi-sport pro athletes given the opportunity. interesting, unique, and still original nickname. i know it's not the reds, but the people in those stands took the train regularly to crosley to watch them. anyway, name that indian.

 

[BigDDude]

any of you oldies ever see the dayton indians play at hudson field? my dad saw one of the first african-american pro basketball players play first base for those same indians in the late 40's. good hitter. could have been one of the first really good multi-sport pro athletes given the opportunity. interesting, unique, and still original nickname. i know it's not the reds, but the people in those stands took the train regularly to crosley to watch them. anyway, name that indian.

Just totally spitballing, but could it have been Sweetwater Clifton?

 

[BigDDude]

I read that he was in the Puerto Rican Hall of Fame and was near the end of his career when the Reds bought his contract from the Cubs, who had no reason to use him.

Bob Thurman | SABR

So I was on he right track, just on the wrong train to the wrong destination.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

John mentioned Ernie Lombardi who is in the Hall of Fame as a Reds' player. His number has not been retired by the Reds, but he has a statue in the Crosely display in front of GABP's entrance. He wore several numbers during his career.

What number is Ernie wearing on the statue?

 

[JohnU]

any of you oldies ever see the dayton indians play at hudson field? my dad saw one of the first african-american pro basketball players play first base for those same indians in the late 40's. good hitter. could have been one of the first really good multi-sport pro athletes given the opportunity. interesting, unique, and still original nickname. i know it's not the reds, but the people in those stands took the train regularly to crosley to watch them. anyway, name that indian.

I'd guess it was Sweetwater Clifton, only because I remember somebody once saying he had a chance to play baseball but wanted the chance to play in the NBA for reasons that were obvious.

 

[JohnU]

Lombardi ... I will guess at

4

 

[JohnU]

We probably ought to not get too far ahead of the questions.
We have 2 that are still hot.

 

[JohnU]

Speaking of Lombardi ... McClymonds H.S.

Look at the list of players from that school. You have heard of some of them.

McClymonds HS Baseball Players - Baseball-Reference.com

 

[chico ruiz]

correct on nathaniel 'nat' 'sweetwater' clifton. my dad saw a lot of mlb players come through that field. great stories. i think he referred to it as duck park sometimes.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Four is correct for the Lombardi statue number.

Hudson field was also home to the Dayton Ducks, so I'd assume that's why it was referred to as Duck Park by Chico' s father.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

That very interesting. If you go to the link John provided and look at the totals for all the players from that H.S., they hit .286 collectively in nearly 45,000 PA's at the Major League level.

I don't know what they taught academically at that school, but they appear to have majored in hitting.

 

[JohnU]

Robby, Pinson and Flood are all basically contemporaries and all of them played for the Reds about the same time -- or as teammates.

Today, it's possible to see college teammates on the same field, but rarely high school guys from the same era.

 

[BigDDude]

Robby, Pinson and Flood are all basically contemporaries and all of them played for the Reds about the same time -- or as teammates.

Today, it's possible to see college teammates on the same field, but rarely high school guys from the same era.

Eric Davis & Darryl Strawberry were friends and teammates growing up, and through high school if memory serves.

 

[JohnU]

I think this one has wings.

This guy wore No. 19 before it was given to Joey Votto. He isn't still in the league as a player but he's active in broadcasting.

 

[chico ruiz]

this one i sadly actually know. i might watch too much baseball. i believe i heard this individual talking about it last year, or the year before. he could hit. couldn't hit like votto, but few can. jeff conine.