But Dipper is an Oriole, and a memorable one. During a delay in the UConn-USF game, during the Big East Tourney, both teams decided to take to the field and potentially "serve" the other squad. 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. While Dempsey never hit higher than .262 during his decade as Baltimores starting catcher, his presence behind the plate and in the clubhouse made him the perfect veteran leader, especially as Palmer wound down his career and retired. Hiserman has been Sports editor of The Times San Fernando Valley and Orange County editions. Frank Robinson runs Kangaroo CourtAug. Author of the popular blog The Bobblist, which covers everything A to Z in the world of bobbleheads. Explore. Rick Sutcliffe - Baseball-Reference.com They say, "That's the guy who ran around on the tarp." Even better than that were his rain delay antics. 2. ThePostGame - Wed, 19 Apr 2017 . He was a yeller and a screamer and he beat the fundamentals of the game into you. I cant leave her alone for that long. Flashback Friday: Of Brother Lo and "Jesus Christ Around the Horn: Talkin' Baseball, From the Beltwa Jay Gibbons Makes His Pitch to Get Back in Baseball. I used to listen to him and Jim Palmer battling. R ick Dempsey is best remembered by some for his rain-delay antics and entertaining crowds with his impersonations of Babe Ruth. Search Reddit posts and comments - see average sentiment, top terms, activity per day and more Then I "hit" the long drive to straightaway center field and started to take the home-run trot. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Tonight's rain delay in the World Series brings one name to the mind of most baseball fans: Rick Dempsey. 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. free shipping SAME DAY SHIPPING. All the pitchers enjoyed having me behind the plate. 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). Players would keep a box of crackers and cheddar cheese in the clubhouse . He is remembered for one in particular, when he committed a baserunning gaffe that led to a 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Yankees in August 2003. Dempsey first performed his act during a rain delay at Fenway Park in 1977, well short of the YouTube and DVR generation. Rick Dempsey was born on the 13th of September, 1949. I was one of those kinds of players that just pulled for all of the guys.. So as I skated around the tarp, everyone started to sing with me. Cionel Prez contributed beyond our expectations in 2022. Before disappearing into the dugout, Lowenstein reassured them hed be OK by hoisting his torso and both arms airborne in sudden, triumphant fashion. 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. I picked up the ball and didn't throw it because I wanted everyone there to start singing along with the song. I got it signed by everybody. I told him I can go home and start my managing career and that Id be okay, Dempsey said. He came to my mothers house in 1967 in Simi Valley and I signed a contract. So, I went back out to the tarp and did Babe Ruth hitting the homer. I sat there crying asking myself is this what its come to? But I held on to the ball. Still Singin' in the Rain . . . : . . . but Dempsey's Humor Dampened by He still wanted to do it, but by that time, he was too old. In his 2017 memoir, Dempsey said his antics were inspired by Sparky Lyle, whod win the American League Cy Young Award in 77 for the Yankees. I went to the summer league in 67 and played half a game every other day. Rick Dempsey Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac Rick Dempsey Stats Rick Dempsey was born on Tuesday, September 13, 1949, in Fayetteville, Tennessee. The Orioles played the next night in Yankee Stadium, earning a 1-0 victory that seemed very hollow. In 59 games with his new team, he hit .213/.275/.224, then .226/.314/.315 in 91 games the next season. Trying to advance to second after driving in the tying and decisive runs in the seventh inning of Baltimores eventual 4-3 win over Oakland, Lowenstein was struck by Jeff Newmans throw in the back of the head. Dempsey was ejected from one game for bumping an umpire. rick dempsey rain delay - peterstellpickupdropoffandmoving.com Dempsey was a darn good catcher too, mostly with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. Rich Dauer came into the clubhouse to get me and thats when it came to me. More from Best Of News - Page 2182 - CBS News Your email address will not be published. Bakersfield is not Dempseys first crack at managing. Blog Round-Up: There's Anger in the Air in Toronto, Flashback Friday: "Doubleheader Don" Aase, In Case You Were Wondering - Road Jerseys Edition. Baseball Rain Delays Are Officially Awesome - Blogger There was a chopper to the mound and he was on third and Im thinking I cant block this guy. [7][13][14][15], In 1987, Dempsey became a free agent and signed a contract to play for the Cleveland Indians. He signed with the Dodgers and played three seasons there as a backup (two of them dreadfully bad), then moved to Milwaukee to catch 61 games in 1991. 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. Quick with a quip. Ricky Dempsey Phone Number, Address, Age, Contact Info, Public Records Doncha just bet hes having a hoot about this? Rick Dempsey: What Inspired His Rain-Delay Theatrics. He was one of the all-time nicest guys in the world. No matter the ball remained secured in Komminsks glove; his body landed outside the field of play, and Ripken was rewarded with a home run all the same. Top 40 Greatest Orioles of All-Time - 2014, Ill take For The Home Team for $400, Alex. He told me he gave that ball to the Hall of Fame. It seemed to Dempsey that the team was usually leading when Dupree came in and trailing by the time he came out. We didn't know if we were going to play the game or not. 2023 Orioles vs. projections: Cionel Prez. Watch. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies after brain aneurysm, Harvard-Westlakes Bryce Rainer fires out 92-mph fastballs in first start since 2021, UCLAs senior trio has persevered in restoring Bruins to national prominence, Hes taken the next step: How Boogie Ellis found his game as USCs point guard, Even after Gavin Lux injury, Andrew Friedman hints at patient approach with roster, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, Sheriff says, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Best coffee city in the world? Finally, using his best Mexican bandito accent, he ordered the men to drop their money on the table and leave the room. In a 24-year career, Dempsey played in 1,765 games, accumulating 1,093 hits in 4,692 at bats for a .233 career batting average along with 96 home runs and 471 runs batted in. During his career, which spanned from 1969-1992, Dempsey was known as one of the best defensive catchers in the game. Rick Dempsey Still Loyal To Orioles, But MASN Situation - PressBox Then, in the late 1980s, he moved over to play near his family's home in Agoura Hills, becoming a . One time, they batted out of order. Rick Dempsey signs his new book in Bel Air - Hartford Courant 1. Earl Weaver was known for many things, among them his temper and penchant for getting ejected from ballgames. The ball was worth $6.5 million. 16, 2003Remember Cust, the left-handed slugger who had a productive four-year run with Oakland in the late 2000s? He wrote for the Long Beach Press Telegram and Orange County Register before joining The Times in 1982 and won an Associated Press Sports Editors award for investigative reporting on betting scams. 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. You can see him out on the field sometimes and you know he just wants to pull his hair out.. Yeah, its too early to draw conclusions about anything, but its not too early to feel the optimism already. He would even pantomime the pitching. He appeared in 77 games, hit .251 [42-for-167] with seven homers and 30 RBIs. He would go and hang out with the players, drink with them and do all that stuff. A story Dempsey might want to tell his Bakersfield team. I ended up doing that routine three times. But at least he is gathering good material and having a few good laughs, right? It felt like I hit whipped cream.. [2] In 1997, he was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame. Rick Dempsey rain delay entertainment. A steady rain postponed the Milwaukee Brewers-Baltimore Orioles game at County Stadium, but it didn't stop Rick Dempsey and Sammy Stewart from reenacting the final game of the Orioles' 1982. Perhaps inspired by Dempsey's motivational tactics, Jay Gibbons went 3-4 with a solo HR in Baltimore's 8-3 defeat of Tampa Bay last night. Bakersfield is an equal-opportunity loser, having blown games in almost every way imaginable. Rick Dempsey - BR Bullpen Just e-mail your list of the 12 greatest L.A. Dodgers, ranked in order, to houston.mitchell@latimes.com. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. Scorecard - Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com A nice guy, that Dempsey. They knew that if anyone got in trouble, I was the one who was going to end up paying for the balls. Lets look at the 10 most comical moments in Orioles history: 1. It has to be tough on him. He was drafted in the 15th round of the 1967 draft by Minnesota, and after never really catching on there (though he did make his major league debut in 1969, ten days after turning 20), he was traded to the Yankees in 1972. I got to my room and stuck my key in the door and it didnt open. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Then he grabbed a bat and beckoned for a pitcher. Ask Dupree about Dempseys other side. Copyright (c) 2017. You could tell he was in his element. For relief from baseball pressures, he would take it upon himself to be the club entertainer. Pictures of a book signing event at Barnes & Noble in Bel Air featuring former Baltimore . [2] In 1979, the Orioles defeated the California Angels in the 1979 American League Championship Series to reach the World Series. 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. This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. -- Excerpted by permission from If These Walls Could Talk: Baltimore Orioles by Rick Dempsey with Dave Ginsburg. When I was with the Orioles, we were tied with the Red Sox one year on the last day of the season and we were playing for second-place money. 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. I have searched far and wide across the great landscape of the Internet and have yet to find a trace of footage showing Dempsey sliding across a rain-soaked turf. I sat there on the bench and started one game. 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. Redskins. The idea for a line of neckties, many characterized by vibrant colors and sheens, came directly from his work with MASN, where the on-air talent is expected to dress up and look sharp. True story. Broncos. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say. [18] During his career, Dempsey caught ten different 20-game winning pitchers. 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. DisneyExaminer is proud to present MagicClass with Rick Dempsey, Senior Vice President of Disney Character Voices. It was tough for a while, Dempsey says. "Everyone tells me that," he replied . Baltimore Orioles, Baseball, Books, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, New York Yankees, Rick Dempsey, Robin Yount, Sparky Lyle, 'Let Them Lead' Beloved Fourth-Line Grinder Earns Magical Moment, Tony Parker: Tough Love From Gregg Popovich 'Sometimes Bordered On Abuse', Thomas Morstead: From Wrong Side Of Minneapolis Miracle To Star Of Kids' Book, Nicklas Lidstrom's Crowning Moment At The Olympics In 2006, Copyright 2023 Sports Media Ventures, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Personable. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. Hes had that singular focus since he was a youngster growing up in California and starring in local Little and Pony Leagues. There is another side. Dempsey went 3-for-6 with a walk in five games. A steady rain postponed the Milwaukee Brewers-Baltimore Orioles game at County Stadium, but it didn't stop Rick Dempsey and Sammy Stewart from reenacting the final game of the Orioles' 1982 season against the Brewers.Dempsey has developed a reputation for his slides on rain-soaked tarpaulins. It was a lot of fun. I hit him, Dempsey says. Tonights rain delay in the World Series brings one name to the mind of most baseball fans: Rick Dempsey. I wanted to manage for the Orioles and I talked to [general manager] Roland Hemond and the farm director to see where they could place me. Dempsey had become a Dodger coach for those two years, and he was hanging out atop the dugout steps before the game. All rights reserved. Loved it! That was one of the saddest days for me ever. After his tenure with the Orioles ended in 1986, Dempsey signed with Cleveland for the 1987 season, where he did little and was released in October. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users Shed been hopping over railings to peck MLB stars for years, and had already planted lips on the likes of Fred Lynn, Steve Garvey, Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Don Mattingly and others. See About archive blog posts. I took two mighty swings, twisting my body as far as it would go. They wanted me to stay but they said I wasnt going to play. I know how to do it, but it takes a while to get a rhythm and timing for the game and your ballclub. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. [9] It was one of Dempsey's greatest disappointments of his playing career. Rick Dempsey played for 24 years, with 3. Rick Dempsey Phone Number, Address, Public Records | Radaris The Business of Baseball: In Praise of Peter Angelos? Dempsey hit .293 with seven homers and 61 RBIs in 73 games and was named as the leagues Rookie of the Year. If the Dodgers are anything, it is young. Still, they were the classiest organization I was ever a part of.. Dempsey was a backup plan for New York, then was sent to Baltimore in the big deal of '76. The Twins were impressed and put him on the 40-man roster before calling him up to the big club in September, allowing Dempsey to play for Billy Martin and watch as the Twins captured the newly formed American League West crown. Tommy [Lasorda] had a little heart attack around that time and there was a lot of speculation as to who would replace Tommy. 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. That decision wasnt final, though. They wanted a lefty hitting catcher and I became Thurman Munsons backup guy. Pinterest. I went into the dugout, and everyone was laughing about it. And, at the time, not a very good one. He spent it in the press box with the Bakersfield broadcast team, doing color commentary. Funny, they don't remember that once in a while I got a hit. They'll love that!". 8. Top 40 Orioles of All Time: #20, Rick Dempsey - Camden Chat We want Dempsey!" Autograph - Q&A Segment . In celebration of Palmer's birthday, we present these 22 classic SI photos of No. [1] He played for 24 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1992, most prominently for the Baltimore Orioles where he played for 10 years and was a member of the 1983 World Series winning team. Dempsey had five hits in the World Series, four doubles and a homer, and the Orioles beat the Phillies in five games. The downside is that he set my expectations too high for what I should reasonably expect of a catcher. The first guy to come up to me in the locker room was Harmon Killebrew, Dempsey said. But as she often did, Morganna stole the show. Think again, as Jim Palmer learned. She was also charged with trespassing and spent eight hours in jail, according to the Baltimore Sun. While Dempsey had a long and storied career some folks just cant get over the fact that he was the guy who ran around in the rain. Rick Dempsey Found 137 people in Texas, Florida and 44 other states. Rick Dempsey was a catcher for 24 MLB seasons and MVP of the 1983 World Series in which the Orioles beat the Phillies. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies after brain aneurysm, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, Sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Clippers win waiver bid for Chauncey Billups, Brendan Burke, son of Brian Burke, dies in a car crash. Get ready to take over the high seas with Rick Dempsey 1983 World Series MVP is taking over the Royal Caribbean's Enchantment the of the Sea for a 5-night cruise to Bermuda! Not available on OpenTable Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network. Still, it took time for Dempsey to get any consistent playing time. Everybody just went crazy. Boog, Brooks, and Frank, Mid 1960's Orioles | Orioles baseball, Famous This video of Hagy conducting chants from the top of the home dugout, while more than 50,000 fans chanted along with him, speaks to the cult hero appeal he held. 17, 1980Now for one a bit less good-natured, but that will live forever nonetheless. 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.". Now Dempsey as an Os Extra announcer? He was mentioned again as a possible candidate for the Baltimore manager's job in 2010, after the firing of Dave Trembley. Rick Dempsey's tie game - Baltimore Sun I put the pillow in it, which he wasn't too happy about because he didn't want to be fat. So, they sent me to Auburn and I played every day.. Wayne Bryant. I never wanted to be retired; it just worked out that way. Sure, you remember Dempsey. Soon after, his teammates arrived, quickly setting up a poker game. The incident earned him a one-game suspension from the league. They started chanting we want Dempsey. No one liked you and most of the veterans were cold and didnt want to talk. Two people can say something totally different and it can mean exactly the same thing. Dempsey spent all of 1974 with the Yankees, serving as Munsons backup for most of that time. Bats warming up down the stretch for Bay Sox They made it pretty tough on the rookies in those days; the tough times are what I remember the most but I never let it bother me. They wouldnt even let me warm pitchers up in the bullpen. I went around the bases and slid into home plate, making a big wave as I sloshed across the tarp. Once you master that, all youre left with is the game itself. [11][12] Dempsey posted a .385 batting average along with a .923 slugging percentage in the five-game series, and won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, one of six catchers to have won the award. Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, A $150,000 executive protection dog? Questions, compliments, or complaints can be sent to Matthew Taylor at roarfrom34@gmail.com. Dempsey, a catcher . Some day, Dempsey hopes, they might say the same thing about him as a manager. 2 comments 70% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by level 1 drexhex 8 years ago See this video for more of Dempsey's rain delay antics 5 level 1 I like our ducks aresef 8 years ago Rick Dempsey Trading Card Values | Sportlots Price Guide 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. Whether Murcers presence in the lineup would have made a difference is up for debate since the Orioles won out to claim the title. People still come up to me nowadays and talk about it. 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 . Dempsey & the Invisible Orioles Magic Band. The image of Dempsey sliding across a soaked tarp to entertain drenched fans is still a legendary one in baseball. Rick Dempsey could be generously described as a bad hitter and probably an overrated defensive catcher. [17] After three seasons with the Dodgers, he played one season with the Milwaukee Brewers, before returning to the Baltimore Orioles for his final season in 1992.[16]. Attempting to score what wouldve been the tying run, Cust lost his footing not once, but twice, before he was tagged out inches away from the vacated plate, having tumbled face-first down in front of it. 5, 1989How about one that benefited the Orioles? John Lowenstein leaves the field a hero, on a stretcherJune 19, 1980There arent many scarier moments on a baseball field than when a player is hit in the head, but Lowenstein -- true to his nature -- was able to provide some levity when he found himself in such a situation. That was Orels [Hershiser] last pitch that season. It proved pivotal in Baltimore eventually securing a 3-1 win. 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? Dempsey s words proved to be prophetic. I got along with him really well.. After jury approval, Palmer was fined. The 40 Greatest Orioles of All-Time - No. These guys here are just babies. Mike Hiserman is former Sports editor of the Los Angeles Times. Which starters are locks for the Orioles rotation. Im going to hit a homer every 24 at-bats, drive in a run every five at-bats, turn your staff around, win the division, win the playoffs and then win the World Series. 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. 30, 1977A singular figure in Orioles lore, Dempsey remains beloved to this day as much for his personality as for his on-field accomplishments. The Yankees are winning the division and Im sitting here in Baltimore, 12 games out.. Rick Dempsey has officially been dethroned as the king of the rain Top 40 Orioles of All Time: #20, Rick Dempsey. Lunds favorite: During spring training one year, Dempsey said he broke into a room shared by three teammates and hid in the closet. Back in those days, even though they fined players for throwing balls into the grandstand, Sparky didn't care. While he was long an Orioles superfan and ballpark fixture, the 1979 World Series thrust Hagy onto the national stage. We could have sold it, split the money and been very happy., Rick Dempsey while with the Los Angeles Dodgers.(Getty). Source: Okrent (1985), Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game, p. 246. Golden board: Durant, Bird, Azzi helping lead USA Basketball The end, however, was near. Covered a Mets-Astros doubleheader in 1987 and never looked back. And weve given him a lot more reasons to do it than that.