| Don't forget if you're interested in hearing more from Ace Diamond the guitar slinging baseball singer of the baseball diamond visit him at the official ace diamond website – www.acediamond.info – you can sign up there to download free Baseball Songs and ripping baseball tales and yarns.
Well, you've probably read about (The Gowell's) Baseball Songs and Baseball Stories and we're still telling the story of the trip to Oneonta N.Y. "Larry & Dick" on their way to join the Oneonta N.Y. Penn League squad. Just after "Larry" signed a pro contract (chosen in the 4TH round of the 1967 baseball amateur draft by the Yanks.) considered one of the best drafts ever! "Dick' aka Ace Diamond also signed a free agent contract with scout Pat Colgan. Both players were assigned to Oneonta to play pro ball!
Now you probably read about the family trip (Mom, Dad Dick & Larry & their dog Lucky)arriving in Oneonta and getting the boys into their new apartment, It was an exciting time even though they got lost a couple of times they actually did arrive and couldn't wait to "Play Ball"
The next day they met their teammates from all across the country. Manager "Frank Verdi" was there to greet them .Frank was great fiery skipper, who was liked and respected greatly by the team! The 25 man roster was set and after a few days of practice came opening day at home & it was an exciting time for both brothers embarking on a professional career!
( I ) "Dick"(who was a back up outfielder)recalls one night game at Home (we had decent lighting for a minor league park) mid-July (1967) when Larry, who was a starting pitcher, was on the mound. Keep in mind he was a side-winder that ALL righties hated to face! Larry's arsenal included a great fastball and a unhittable slider & a change up!..But this "Special Night” he was simply overpowering! A fellow teammate "Johnson", a savvy draftee from the a big southern college was "perched up on the dugout steps along with most of the Oneonta team"; because we all realized Larry had "special stuff that night" ! He was throwing unbelievable smoke that night! His Brother "Dick" was a witness (from the dugout) that night. Seeing him pitch many remarkable games before, but this night "Larry" was incredible! About halfway through the game he uncorked this "one particular pitch" and "Johnson jumped up & exclaimed!! ".Guys! What was that? Did you see that pitch? What the Hell was that? .No, his brother didn't see it either and nobody else in the dugout saw it! (Just heard an "explosion when it hit the mit!” Nobody but the Catcher saw it! Wow! The batter looked stunned after being called out, carried the lumber back to the bench in a daze! We won the game, But that "ONE PITCH"(heard 'round the world" (at least around our world) That one pitch ("THE UNSEEN PITCH!)" that none of the Oneonta team saw "really made our night!"
* Special Note: Larry was on the Yanks major league roster for four years in a row (1970-1973) and broke many minor league records in his seven year career/appeared in the Majors in 1972!.."Larry" holds the all time record for most pitches in a professional game. Elmira, N.Y.(AA) 1971- a completed 14-inning win (throwing an unbelievable 242 pitches ** One spring (Early 70's) ..Major league outfielder "Curt Blefary" after an tough session in the batting cage. could be heard muttering to himself ("Garcia, Lemon, Fellar & Gowell!) Which was reported in the sports section of the N.Y.Times!
Don't forget you can hear lots of great Baseball Songs and read about baseball stories on Ace Diamond's website where he has a new album: “Playin' Ball”. To know more about the Baseball Stories and music you can log on to us at: http://www.acediamond.info |
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