The Colonel Was a Pitcher

Just finished a wonderful book about a pitcher for the old Philadelphia A’s and Cleveland Indians of the late 40s and early 50s, Lou Brissie. I’d never heard of him before catching an interview with the author on the radio recently but he was quite a guy. Severely wounded in Italy in World War II, Brissie, a lefty with a 100 mile an hour fastball, willed his way to the major leagues despite his injuries which included a leg that would have been amputated had he not insisted to the surgeons that they had to try to save it so he could pitch. And so they did.

He pitched with his left leg in a brace, pretty much in constant pain, and always in danger of infection. If there had been speed dial in those days, he would have had his surgeons on it. And yet he was always grateful that his life had been spared and that he had been given the chance (by Connie Mack) to pitch in the majors. His career was relatively short. After three good years with the A’s, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians who used him sparingly, demoted him to the minors and refused to trade him to a team that wanted him in the starting rotation. But he never complained. Instead, he retired and took a job with the American Legion baseball organization, the first of a number of baseball-related jobs, helping young men play baseball. He remains active in the community, meeting with injured Iraq war veterans well into his 80s. He has lived his life with dignity and honor.

Not to spoil the mood, but compare this to the antics of some young players today. Compare it to the Cubs latest bust, Milton Bradley, an extremely talented player who after a career year with Texas signed for three years at $30 million. He has trouble with umpires, water coolers, his manager and remembering how many outs there are. In today’s NY Times, Bradley’s teammate, Derek Lee offered this explanation: “You have Chicago fans who are die-hard, into every at-bat, every pitch…You have Wrigley Field, which is different, and you have day games to get used to.” Yeah, life is tough for Milton. Just ask Lou Brissie.

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