From today's Hartford Courant...
the juxtaposition of this article nearby an article describing the latest steroids revelation concerning a MLBB player; this time A-Rod, speaks volumns to me. I vaguely remember Conley pitching for the Red Sox. The first two-way pro I remember knowing about was Dave DeBusschere (Knicks and White Sox) because there was mention of it on the back of his baseball card. It amazed me someone could do that on the pro level. Next one I knew about was Yankee pitcher Steve Hamilton (Yanks and Lakers).
"Forty years ago Gene Conley was coaching the Hartford Capitols of the Eastern Professional Basketball League, the precursor of the CBA, with the likes of Art Stephenson, Spider Bennett, Eddie Griffin, Don Carlos and Wes Bialosuknia on the roster.
Conley was the great two-sport star of the '50s, playing pro basketball and baseball at the same time. He won three NBA titles with the Celtics and was a pitcher for the 1957 Milwaukee Braves when they won the World Series. Conley also pitched for the Red Sox, for whom he won 29 games in three seasons.
But his coaching stint with the Caps did not last long. Early in the 1969-70 season, Conley resigned, leaving the 0-3 team. Team owner Mark Yellin was not surprised. Had Conley not quit, he almost certainly would have been fired.
"It was a case of either the coach or about half the players," Yellin told Owen Canfield of The Courant at the time.
Conley had a lot of great moments in Harford. He was an original member of the Caps in 1966, the first to sign a contract with them, and had some great games. He pitched in the Eastern League for the Hartford Chiefs, winning 20 games in 1951, when he was named MVP of the league and minor league player of the year by the Sporting News.
That 20th victory was special, a two-hitter (both infield singles) against the league-leading Wilkes-Barre Barons at Bulkeley Stadium. The Aug. 26, 1951, edition of The Courant had this to say: "After the game the popular Conley and his wife were presented with a set of traveling luggage and also a purse of money contributed by Hartford fans."
Money cropped up again in a January 1957 clip in the files. Conley was asked to take a pay cut by the Milwaukee Braves after an 8-9 record in 1956. He was making about $17,000 and the story said that the cut "was not believed to be the maximum 25 percent permitted in the majors."
Pay cut? In baseball?"
posted by greg8370 at 10:46 AM
2 Comments:
A couple of thoughts. 1) Dave D's two sport experience was with the White Sox and the Pistons. Part of the deal when he was traded to the Knicks was baseball would no longer be part of his life.
2) I don't remember Conley coaching (or playing) for the Caps, but I remember the Caps. The picture in Sunday's Courant.... anyone know who, besides Conley, the other players were? Not a trick question, because I don't and would like to know who they were.
I do remember, however, Conley pitching for the Chiefs in 1951. I believe his record was 23-7.
7:29 PM
I like that reference to passing the hat for an outstanding performance. I sometimes think we should do that at dodd. It wouldn't have to be much. Even if we got up like 40 or 50 bucks. A dude like olmo who probably got no signing bonus(who I hope comes back) could use it. I don't mind "spreading the wealth around", as long as get to decide where it goes. It would be a nice gesture if we could pony up enough for a steak dinner or a couple of beers if somebody has a huge night.
They did that a lot in the old days.
11:30 PM
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