#176 Vada Pinson

Vada Pinson  Cincinnati Reds

Career: When I hear someone reference 'The Hall of the Very Good' (guys who are just a notch or so below HoF worthy) I think of Vada Pinson, Speed, power, defensive ability...he really was good at everything. Consider that he led the NL in hits, doubles, and triples twice each, and led the league in runs scored once. He was Top Five in stolen bases seven times. Pinson won a Gold Glove at a position played by Willie Mays. He was durable, too. He led the NL in at-bats twice. Pinson finished his 18-year career with more than 250 homers, more than 300 steals, and a .286 average.

He spent 11 years with the Reds and then a couple each with the Indians, Royals, Angels and a solo campaign with the Cardinals. And right up to his final season he was a solid player. After his playing days, he coached for several clubs through 1994. He passed away after a stroke in 1995 at the age of 57.

In 1960: His numbers fell off just a bit from his terrific sophomore year of 1959. But even so, he led the league in doubles, hit .287, one point off his career mark, and made the All Star team for the second time. 

Off The Charts: Hey, what's SABR got to say?

Apparently, Pinson was so talented musically that he seriously considered making the trumpet his career choice. However, the legendary coach at McClymonds, George Powles, who had been instrumental in developing Pinson's future major league teammates Frank Robinson and Curt Flood as well as basketball superstar Bill Russell, recognized Pinson's raw athletic ability. Powles helped the youngster to understand and realize his potential as a professional baseball player.

His 1971 card uses a shot taken on a day I was at Yankee Stadium in June 1970. It was an amazing day of baseball that I've referenced several times on my other blogs. If you care to take a look at the story on my Five Tool Collector site.

#32 Sophomore Stalwarts

The Card: Jim O'Toole and his close friend Vada Pinson smile for the camera while posed on the dugout steps at Wrigley Field. I love the Reds' vest unis from that era. Even the roadies, while not as colorful as the spectacular home vests, were pretty sweet.

Both Pinson and O'Toole went on to solid major league careers and both have their own cards in this set which is where I will look closer at them both. For now I'll settle for a couple of personal stories.

When I was a kid I read a story about Jim O'Toole in the dearly departed Sport Magazine. It stated that O'Toole wrote "THINK" on his glove to remind himself to do exactly that while pitching. I wasn't a pitcher at any point in my brief baseball playing life but I thought that to be good advice so I did the same to my glove.

In June of 1970 in the second game of an Indians-Yankees doubleheader I witnessed the best baseball fight I've seen in person. In the top of the fifth with the Indians leading 2-1 and one man out Vada Pinson singles, goes to second on a ground out and then, when Stan Bahnsen uncorks a wild pitch, tries to score all the way from second. Bahnsen, covering home tags Pinson out with has glove to the face and Pinson came up swinging. Everyone piled out onto the field and lots of shoving and bear-hugging ensued. The haymaker from Pinson is one of the few really good punches I've ever see land in a baseball fight. I remember that we were surprised Bahnsen was back on the mound for the sixth. Pinson, btw, got tossed.