by Tim Evearitt
posted August 9, 2009
) Cal Ermer |
Earlier in the spring, I told Cox about Cal's health, and he said he'd like to come visit him when the season is over.
Often in Spring Training or while in Atlanta covering the Braves, scouts (many of who had been players under Ermer) would ask me, "How's Cal?" Then they'd say, "Tell him I said hello."
Older Chattanoogans remember him as the manager of the Lookouts, 1952-1957 and his connection with Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune's Joel Rippel wrote a story entitled Cal Ermer, 85: Manager who led comeback in 1967 was 'baseball man' that appeared in Sunday's paper and on the internet.
While reading Rippel's article, I noticed a comment sent by a scout who knew Cal. The scout encouraged readers to check out a story about Cal's only game in the Major Leagues.
This is the story.
* * * * * * * * * *
Some guys are just born to manage. Case in point, we give you Cal Ermer.
Ermer was a wiry second baseman known for heady play and a good glove. He fashioned an 8-year minor league career; hitting anywhere from .230, with a career high nine long balls for Savannah (1949) in the Sally League to batting .297 for Charlotte of the Tri-State League in 1951. Steady, but far from eye-opening results.
However, he did manage to play in one major league game for the Washington Senators in 1947. The right-handed hitter went 0-for-3 and flawlessly handled seven chances in the field. Cal, who frequently attends Chattanooga Lookouts games and sits in the press box, recalled his big day.
I hit a bullet to third my first time up and followed that with a hard hit ball to short which resulted in a double play. My third at-bat, I laid down a perfect bunt, but the runner was thrown out at third base for fielder’s choice.
After the game, Senators' manager Ossie Bluege asked Ermer why he was limping. The hard-nosed kid did not realize it, but then recalled fouling a ball off his foot a few weeks prior while in the minor leagues. Sure enough, Ermer had a broken foot and never got a second chance in the bigs.
Interestingly, Calvin Griffith who was in the Senators front office told him after the season, that he didn’t think Ermer was going to be a major league player, "but I think you are going to be a major league manager."
When his playing career came to a close in 1951, Ermer took to coaching in the minors. It was Griffith (then the owner, who moved the Senators to Minnesota) who gave him an opportunity to manage in the bigs. Ermer guided the Minnesota Twins to a second place finish in 1967 (66-46) after taking over for Sam Mele and a 79-83 mark (seventh place) in 1968.
He was replaced in 1969 by the fiery Billy Martin, who led the Twins to the playoffs.
So, while many kids probably looked at the card and said, "Cal who?"--- we are reminded that behind every {baseball} card is a story.
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