Dick Stuart about home runs and fielding
When home-run slugger Dick Stuart was playing in the major leagues, and wandering from club to club, he spread many managerial headaches because of his atrocious fielding as a first baseman.
One day, when Stuart was playing for Pittsburgh, the Pirates went into the bottom of the ninth with a one-run lead over St. Louis. With two out, a Cardinal hitter rapped a hot one to short, but the throw got to Dick Stuart at first 'way ahead of the runner. Zany Stuart tried to get away with a quick and dramatic tag of the base. His foot missed the bag entirely. The umpire called the runner safe.
Out of the Pirates' dugout and onto the field came manager Danny Murtaugh, blazing with fury.
"Now, now, Danny, control yourself," advised the first-base umpire soothingly. "I called that one right."
"Get out of my way," angrily barked manager Murtaugh. "I'm not after you this time. I'm after that lousy first baseman of mine."
