Published: August 14, 2008 08:43 am      

Joost still has lots of juice

By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier

Former Major League Baseball player Eddie Joost, 92, has plenty of juice left.

During a special “Legends” event at the Hall of Fame last Friday, Joost talked about his friendship with Ted Williams; playing for Hall of Fame managers Casey Stengel and Connie Mack; his experiences on the 1940 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds; and wondered out loud why the infield he played on with the Philadelphia A’s, which turned a still-record 217 double plays, isn’t represented in the Hall of Fame.

Joost grew up in San Francisco and said he started playing baseball almost accidentally, as he said there was nothing else to do in his neighborhood.

``My family wasn’t destitute, but it was close to it,’’ Joost said. Joost broke into the major leagues at the age of 20 with the Reds, and four years later won the World Series with the Reds. ``I was a utility infielder at the time, but right before the Series the second baseman had the lid of an ice chest fall on his foot and break it, and so I got to play every game,’’ Joost recalled. ``We won with pitching and defense, something that still wins games today.’’

Before the 1943 season, Joost was traded to Boston and clashed with manager Casey Stengel, who later won five straight World Series titles with the New York Yankees from 1949-53.

``Casey Stengel was not great a manager,’’ Joost said. ``The only team he was successful on was the Yankees.’’

Joost said his feud with Stengel was so bad, he would turn his chair toward his locker and read a newspaper during Stengel’s pre-game pep talks.

Joost said his time in Boston ended after one particular at bat. Joost said the third base coach gave him the bunt sign, even though he had two strikes and two were out with a runner on first.

Joost attempted to bunt and fouled the ball off, which is recorded as a strikeout.

``After the inning, Stengel asked me what I thought I was doing and I said the third base coach gave me the bunt sign,’’ Joost said. ``He said ‘No he didn’t.’’’

Confused, Joost asked the third base coach: ``Didn’t you give me the bunt sign?’’



The third base coach replied: ``No, Casey told me to change the signs yesterday but not to tell you.’’

Although Joost did not enjoy his time in Boston, he said he formed a friendship with cantankerous leftfielder Ted Williams, who many consider the best hitter ever.

``He was great in the outfield too,’’ Joost said. ``There are a lot of negative things written about him but he was a great man, and I’d be the first to stand up for him if anyone asked.’’

After being out of baseball for a year, Joost was signed by Philadelphia before the 1947 season, and played with the A’s and manager Connie Mack for nine seasons. His best year at the plate was in 1949, when he hit .263 with 23 home runs and 81 runs batted in to go along with 149 walks.

That was also the year he began wearing eyeglasses, something that was frowned on by some baseball people.

``I was seeing two balls coming at me, so I told Mr. Mack I needed to start wearing glasses, and to his credit he just told me to do what I needed to do,’’ Joost said. ``Mr. Mack was a great steadying influence on the team, and I owe a lot to him because he gave me a second chance in the major leagues.’’

Also during that ’49 season, Joost teamed with second baseman Pete Sutter to turn 126 of the record 217 double plays.

``Pete Sutter was one of the great second baseman of all time, it’s just people never heard of him,’’ Joost said. ``I call the Hall of Fame sometimes and ask why our accomplishment isn’t recognized in some way here.’’

Hall of Fame spokesman Brad Horn said there are thousands of records in baseball, and there may come a time when the double play record becomes relevant to tell a story.

Horn added members of the Philadelphia A’s Historical Society initially approached the museum about having Joost speak.

``There are many fan organizations that want to preserve memories and legacies of certain players and eras, and we were receptive to having Eddie here,’’ Horn said.