The Cub Can Of Worms: Mick Kelleher
Sometimes, these stories aren't necessarily going to be about how badly the player played, although Mick Kelleher was a pretty bad hitter -- in five years in a Cub uniform his "best" offensive season was 1979, when he hit .254/.296/.296 in 142 at-bats. Mick's career BA was .213 and he never hit a homer in 1081 major league AB. His value on the field was his defense -- he was a solid backup SS and 2B.
And I decided to add Little Mick to the Can Of Worms because his name was in the news recently; it appears that Mick, now 61 years old, will soon be named the first-base coach fot the New York Yankees. (He's been the Yankee organization's defensive coordinator for the last couple of years, after being a scout and coach for the Tigers.) Reading about this reminded me of an incident that surely qualifies him for this prestigious series.
On August 7, 1977, Mick started the second game of a doubleheader against the Padres at Wrigley Field. The Cubs had lost the first game 8-6, which had dropped them out of first place for the first time since late May. They desperately needed a win to revive any flagging playoff hopes.
In the top of the second inning, Steve Renko hit Dave Kingman, then in his short stint with San Diego, with a pitch. The next hitter, George Hendrick, grounded to shortstop; SS Ivan DeJesus flipped to Kelleher for the force play. Kingman slid in hard to break up the DP. It was then that the fun started.
Kelleher took exception to the hard slide and took Kingman down. This sort of thing does happen from time to time on a baseball field, but keep in mind that Kingman stood 6-6 and weighed 210, and Kelleher was listed as 5-9, 176 (and that was probably generous). Still, Little Mick held his ground. Both players were ejected; the Cubs won the game 9-4 to make their record 63-45, but ultimately, fell far out of contention, finishing 81-81 (yes, they went a horrifying 18-36 after that August 7 2nd game victory).
Mick Kelleher played with the Cubs through 1980, when he hit .146/.217/.177 with an OPS+ of 9 (yes, that's right, nine), and was sold to the Tigers before the 1981 season began. Still, those of us who saw Mick's takedown of Kong will always remember him fondly.
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I had no idea
he was still in the game!
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
by mrcubsfan on Nov 10, 2008 8:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Not only that...
… he briefly managed at Iowa in 1991 when Jim Essian was promoted to be Cub manager.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Nov 10, 2008 8:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
THAT is an awesome memory .. I just barely remembered that ..
I don’t think I was watching it on TV that day but we sure heard about it later that day. I think I was with my younger brother who was getting into his Star Wars thing then and it was quite a story for a day or so.
And THAT is a great pic watching lil’ Mic take down King Kong.
As Ben Stein would say .. “wow”
It’s like we tell the kids in sporting programs – it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. Look at him go!
Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!
by cubnational on Nov 10, 2008 8:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
man i'd pay money to get an original of that .. great pic .. can't stop raving
Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!
by cubnational on Nov 10, 2008 8:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The original photo appeared...
… in the Tribune on August 8, 1977. I don’t know if the Tribune sells reprints of pictures that were in the paper, but you could email them and ask.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Nov 10, 2008 9:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Mick Kelleher is one of my all-time favorites
Bill Buckner will forever be my all-time favorite Cub. But Larry Bittner and Mick Kelleher will always be right near the top. Kelleher was HUGE Cub fan favorite back in the day. He couldn’t his worth shit and actually made Ryan Theriot seem like a gold glover, but there was something about The Mick.
McGrath: I got a good deal on those boys. The scouts said they showed a lot of promise.
Reggie Dunlop: They brought their f***in' TOYS with 'em!
McGrath: Well, I'd rather have em playin with their toys than playin with themselves.
Reggie Dunlop: They're too dumb to play with themselves. Boy, every piece of garbage that comes into the market and you gotta buy it!
by MDBNIU on Nov 10, 2008 9:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Actually, Kelleher was a good defensive player.
He wouldn’t have stuck around as long as he did, with that bat, if he wasn’t.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Nov 10, 2008 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I loved Mick Kelleher
Herman Franks, Bill Buckner, Larry Bittner, Mick Kelleher, Manny Trillo, Ivan DeJesus, Big Daddy Reuschel, Bruce Sutter, Dirt Tidrow, Mike Krukow, Dennis Lamp….that era was heady times for the Cubs.
McGrath: I got a good deal on those boys. The scouts said they showed a lot of promise.
Reggie Dunlop: They brought their f***in' TOYS with 'em!
McGrath: Well, I'd rather have em playin with their toys than playin with themselves.
Reggie Dunlop: They're too dumb to play with themselves. Boy, every piece of garbage that comes into the market and you gotta buy it!
by MDBNIU on Nov 10, 2008 9:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Those teams would have been tons of fun to see in the postseason just once.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Nov 10, 2008 9:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Hermans Franks was underrated...
He did a very good job of getting something out of what he was handed each season. The problem is the Cubs had a number of good core players but they surrounded it with too much absolute garbage (e.g., Lynn McGlothen, Steve Ontiveros, the assorted crap in the outfield).
McGrath: I got a good deal on those boys. The scouts said they showed a lot of promise.
Reggie Dunlop: They brought their f***in' TOYS with 'em!
McGrath: Well, I'd rather have em playin with their toys than playin with themselves.
Reggie Dunlop: They're too dumb to play with themselves. Boy, every piece of garbage that comes into the market and you gotta buy it!
by MDBNIU on Nov 10, 2008 10:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
took the words right out of my mouth
Can you imagine Rick Reuschel pinch hitting and crushing a Ron Guidry fastball for the go ahead run in the bottom of the 8th in a game 7 in Wrigley Field?
I would have LOVED to see Bruce Sutter blow away Reggie Jackson with a full count strikeout at the top of the 9th with the tying and go ahead runs in Bucky Dent and Chris Chambliss in scoring position.
Oh, happy DAY ..
Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!
by cubnational on Nov 10, 2008 10:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
And this is yet another reason why we need Mick Kelleher
Thanks, Al
Where is Mick Kelleher when we need him?
by 3744nsheffield on Nov 10, 2008 4:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Dave Kingman was a flat out weirdo
Very, very strange individual. Huge introvert and flat out strange.
McGrath: I got a good deal on those boys. The scouts said they showed a lot of promise.
Reggie Dunlop: They brought their f***in' TOYS with 'em!
McGrath: Well, I'd rather have em playin with their toys than playin with themselves.
Reggie Dunlop: They're too dumb to play with themselves. Boy, every piece of garbage that comes into the market and you gotta buy it!
by MDBNIU on Nov 10, 2008 9:37 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
But do you remember the TV commercial he was in?
It was for some airline…there was a slow-motion video of Kingman at the plate, connecting with a ball for a home run (presumably), with him doing a voiceover, saying something like “There’s nothing like the feeling of one taking off…”, cleverly referring to a home run and the airline’s amazing planes. :)
Anybody remember that?
by jdb-44 on Nov 10, 2008 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I adored Mick
Am imagining it or didn’t he “pick up” Kingman who then landed on him, dislocated his shoulder and Mick went on the DL. I saw Mick a few years ago coaching for the TIgers and it brought back A LOT of memories. I happen to love
short , great defense ,little offensive pop infielders ( Augie,Patek etc).
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 10, 2008 11:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
According to Kelleher's 1977 game log...
… he played in a few games after 8/7/77, but didn’t play between August 16 and September 7, so you might be right, only he played with an injury for a few days.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Nov 10, 2008 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm assuming that all of those who loved Mick
were kids at the time because only a child could excuse the outrageous holes in his game. In fact I hated him – not because he was a bad player but because he personified how bad the Cubs were. Not really his fault, I know, but when the team you root for is bad enough to have Kelleher and Biittner in the starting lineup… you suck.
by the nth on Nov 10, 2008 1:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
The 1976 Cubs...
…. who had Mick in the starting lineup, were a pretty bad team.
By ’77, when he was a backup, they were better. He was a useful defensive replacement, nothing more.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Nov 10, 2008 4:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Regarding Kingman...
…I remember it didn’t take long for his own New York fans to turn on him after he left the Cubs for The Mets, recalling one fan at Shea holding up a huge “KINGMAN IS THE WORM OF THE BIG APPLE” sign – lol – good stuff.
Wait a minute... who am I here?
by malicedoom on Nov 10, 2008 1:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Who could forget a Met outfield of Dave Kingman and the severely washed up George Foster...
To go along with Willie Montanez at 1st base who was overweight yet insisted on wearing jersey pants that were 5 sizes too small. What I sight when he would bend over for a grounder.
McGrath: I got a good deal on those boys. The scouts said they showed a lot of promise.
Reggie Dunlop: They brought their f***in' TOYS with 'em!
McGrath: Well, I'd rather have em playin with their toys than playin with themselves.
Reggie Dunlop: They're too dumb to play with themselves. Boy, every piece of garbage that comes into the market and you gotta buy it!
by MDBNIU on Nov 10, 2008 3:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
What am I missing?
So Kingman gets hit and slides in hard to break up a double play? What am I missing there that would have lead Kelleher to slam him? Good, hard baseball? Unless he cheap-shotted Kelleher like Renteria did to Fontenot two years ago, what is wrong with a hard slide into second base?
Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?
by krummy12 on Nov 10, 2008 2:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Kingman was pissed at being hit
and he TOLD anyone who could listen he was going to “take out” the 2nd baseman
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 10, 2008 2:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Dave Kingman was a weirdo asshole
NOBODY in baseball liked that guy. Strange sum beech. Mick Kelleher taught him a lesson.
McGrath: I got a good deal on those boys. The scouts said they showed a lot of promise.
Reggie Dunlop: They brought their f***in' TOYS with 'em!
McGrath: Well, I'd rather have em playin with their toys than playin with themselves.
Reggie Dunlop: They're too dumb to play with themselves. Boy, every piece of garbage that comes into the market and you gotta buy it!
by MDBNIU on Nov 10, 2008 3:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I remember Mick
Boy how bad some of those teams were back then.
I do remember Mick.
Thngs of worth are worth fighting for regardless of the odds.
by cubstoseriesby100 on Nov 10, 2008 3:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

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