So, I went back out to the tarp and did Babe Ruth hitting the homer. And plotted. With his players, and himself. Rick Dempsey Rain Delay Theater, Part ISept. I wasnt sleeping too good, trying to think of ways to get us going. Dempsey was one of the best defensive catchers in the latter half of the 20th century. (Photo by: Ron Kuntz Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images). Houston Mitchell is an assistant sports editor, writer of the Dodgers Dugout newsletter and editor of all of the sports newsletters for the Los Angeles Times. The Van Nuys Valley News said he was considered a definite Major League catching prospect and the Twins agreed, drafting him in the 15th round of the First-Year Player Draft. After jury approval, Palmer was fined. Rick Dempsey and Dave Ginsburg co-authored a book called If These Walls Could Talk: Baltimore Orioles. He told me I did a great job. Despite all the drama and tension, baseball is fun. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. But Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays into interpretive theater. They split the two games and Baltimore won its final two games to win the division. The incident earned him a one-game suspension from the league. This is as much of an education for me as it is for them, he says. Dempsey would point to the outfield seats, then hit an invisible pitch with an exaggerated swing. [1] He ended his career with a .988 fielding percentage. He was an interim manager while playing in Puerto Rico in the early 80s. Had one beat writer from another newspaper threaten to kill him in an elevator at the winter meetings. The only other time I did it was at Memorial Stadium in early July 1978. [1] Dempsey was known for being one of the best defensive catchers of his era. The people were screaming as if I had just hit a home run to win the seventh game of the World Series. What does a successful 2023 look like for the Orioles best hitters? Dempsey also served as an Oriole color commentator in 2000 and began another stint in 2007, as the studio analyst for O's Xtra on MASN, the cable channel that carries Orioles games. The next year I went to Wisconsin Rapids and didnt hardly play at all. Twenty-two Flags over the Bronx Ride the Iron Horse, take a cruise on the Yankee Clipper and visit the Seraglio of the. Rick McCormick About Work No workplaces to show College Studied at California State University, Fullerton Class of 1985 High school Went to Corona del Mar High School Photos See all photos Others Named Rick McCormick See more Others With a Similar Name Trinity Mccormick Rusty McCormick Anastasia McCormick Angel Drop Sarah McCormick Lisa McCormick free shipping SAME DAY SHIPPING. Thats where I made my mark. They wouldnt even let me warm pitchers up in the bullpen. The pantomime of Babe Ruth calling his home run. I knew I could be a part time catcher for them but they had Chris Holies at the time, said Dempsey, who was eventually activated in June. Ricky Dempsey, 64 Also known as Ricky Dempsy Ricky Demsey Ricky Demps Has lived in Gulf Breeze, FL Pensacola, FL Little River, AL Pace, FL Related to John Staley, 67 Karen Staley, 65 Kyle Staley, 39 Alicia Staley, 44 View Profile Ricky Dempsey, 37 Has lived in Mineola, TX Alba, TX Albert, TX Irving, TX Related to William Strebeck, 95 Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 30, 1977A singular figure in Orioles lore, Dempsey remains beloved to this day as much for his personality as for his on-field accomplishments. 9. He also got in a late September fight with teammate Bill Sudakis, a volatile sort who was also one of New Yorks backup catchers. Theyre just learning.. Dempsey, of course, inherited their genes, and thus went on to stuff towels in his shirt during a 1977 rain delay at Fenway Park, imitating Babe Ruth and sliding across the tarp on his padded stomach. Football Memorabilia. Rick Dempsey Scouting Report 30 HITTING 40 POWER 30 RUNNING 60 FIELDING 60 THROWING 20 = NOT MLB CALIBER 30 = WELL BELOW AVG 40 = Below Average 50 = MLB AVERAGE 60 = ABOVE AVG 70 = EXCELLENT 80 = RARE, ELITE He is remembered for one in particular, when he committed a baserunning gaffe that led to a 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Yankees in August 2003. After that, the fans didnt want to leave, it was incredible. For example - "C'era una volta" means "Once upon a time" in Italian and "I yli dago i . I went around the bases and slid into home plate, making a big wave as I sloshed across the tarp. Last game of the season!". The clubhouse is right underneath the seating section, so it was deafening when people starting kicking their feet in unison and yelling my name. One of his most infamous umpire interactions came in the middle of an eventual 9-3 win over Detroit, when first-base umpire Bill Haller called a balk on Os pitcher Mike Flanagan. He went on for more than an hour, Lund says. I was dragging three pieces of luggage and a hang up bag across the parking lot. [8] In the 1979 World Series, the Orioles won three of the first four games against the Pittsburgh Pirates and seemed to be on the verge of winning the championship, when the Pirates, led by Willie Stargell, rebounded to win the final three games. With the worst record in minor league baseball. No one ever interviewed me about being the Dodger manager but my name showed up in the L.A. Times about it and that upset someone, so I left the Dodgers. We got to the World Series and I caught the last pitch and gave him the ball. He turned out to be the best GM I ever talked to. Thats when Dempsey dressed up like old friend Robin Yount and recruited teammate Sammy Stewart to play Jim Palmer. , Next We want Dempsey!" They packed their guts with pillows to mimic the Hall of Fame duo in absurdist, legendary style. He told me he gave that ball to the Hall of Fame. You could tell he was in his element. 5. In Baltimore it was hard to break the ice, Dempsey said. The mark Rick Dempsey left was to be forever tied in with rain delay theatrics as he basically invented the genre (go to the 4:42 mark ): If YouTube had existed at the time it would have. 22. Trying to advance to second after driving in the tying and decisive runs in the seventh inning of Baltimores eventual 4-3 win over Oakland, Lowenstein was struck by Jeff Newmans throw in the back of the head. Got any funny rain delay stories? "Yeah, sure you did!". Presenting an unusual Rick Dempsey bobblehead that talks and plays music.Rick Dempsey was the Baltimore Orioles' catcher from 1976 to 1986, and was well loved for his sense of humor. Dempsey spent all of 1974 with the Yankees, serving as Munsons backup for most of that time. I was happy to get away from Cleveland, though.. I knew at that point they just wanted me to come in and quit so they didnt have to pay me but I refused to do that. New team-record bonus as Orioles open 2023 international signing period, 2023 Orioles giveaways and promotions announced, Eight Orioles prospects among Baseball Americas top 100 list. He glanced at me with a smirk. We didn't know if we were going to play the game or not. It seemed to Dempsey that the team was usually leading when Dupree came in and trailing by the time he came out. As climate changes, climate anxiety rises in youth. Weaver enjoyed Soliloquy and came to enjoy even more the defensive skills Dempsey developed. - 'Private cocktailParties - Pvt. Rick Dempsey Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac Rick Dempsey Stats Rick Dempsey was born on Tuesday, September 13, 1949, in Fayetteville, Tennessee. Required fields are marked *. May 31, 2020 - Three-time AL Cy Young winner, six-time All-Star, and eight-time 20-game winner Jim Palmer turned 70 years old on Oct. 15, 2015. Billy Martin, Earl Weaver and Tom Lasorda stories. [2] In 1997, he was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame. Then I got traded to the Orioles, and the next year, on the final day of the 1977 season, we were playing the Boston Red Sox for second place. [16] After only one season with the Indians, he became a free agent once again and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he would be a member of another World Series-winning team in 1988, this time as a backup catcher to Mike Scioscia. They wanted me to stay but they said I wasnt going to play. Daniel Okrent describes Dempseys efforts: He was an intense man, who concentrated mightily on the game. Well, for that I think of him pronouncing Melky Cabrera's first name as "Milky." While he loved playing with Munson and for Martin, Dempseys stay in New York was just about over. Former MASN analyst Rick Dempsey, who had worked on the Orioles' pre- and postgame shows since 2007, admits the ballclub's decision to move on from him as part of the cuts at MASN "is. When the music was over I threw the ball to the fans in left field. He played for Billy Martin, Earl Weaver and Tommy Lasorda and, along with Tim McCarver and Carlton Fisk, is one of only three catchers to play in the Major Leagues in four decades [1969-92]. Shed been hopping over railings to peck MLB stars for years, and had already planted lips on the likes of Fred Lynn, Steve Garvey, Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Don Mattingly and others. Jones antics in Detroit bring back memories of Baseball Soliloquy in Pantomime, http://www.youtube.com/v/13dUZTSf_lM&hl=en, Thanks to the Tigers Todd Jones, shown in the rain delay video above, this weeks Flashback Friday could only be about one thing: Rick Dempseys Baseball Soliloquy in Pantomime.. At the 1980 winter meetings, while Harry Dalton was trying to sort out the complexities of his trade with St. Louis, Baltimore general manager Hank Peters told Whitey Herzog, We wouldnt trade Dempsey and [then backup] Dan Graham for Simmons even up. Meanwhile, the rest of the Oriole offense was generating enough runs to let Weaver, after platooning Dempsey with Graham in 1980, learn to live with Dempseys mild bat (Dempsey knew Graham was a good hitter, but also felt Danny couldnt catch his own butt with both hands). After I slid into home plate, Yount came out and took his jersey back. In the new book If These Walls Could Talk: Baltimore Orioles, Dempsey and writer Dave Ginsburg share this and many otherbehind-the-scenes stories about the team. Mike Scioscia and I got a lot of accolades for turning the staff around. Rick Dempsey always was a crowd favorite. Still, they were the classiest organization I was ever a part of.. They said come in Friday, well have a meeting and put you someplace but I showed up for the meeting and they didnt and that was the end of it with me and Baltimore.. [2] In 1979, the Orioles defeated the California Angels in the 1979 American League Championship Series to reach the World Series. In 2001, Dempsey was named the first base coach, replacing Eddie Murray. I said, "I don't think it's going to work this time.". I ended up doing that routine three times. He managed at Bakersfield in the Class-A California League to a 10th-place finish in 1993 before guiding Albuquerque of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League to a title in 1994 and a fifth-place finish in 1995. In Wilton, residents dig their way out after 7 inches of snow falls. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Max Power During his career, which spanned from 1969-1992, Dempsey was known as one of the best defensive catchers in the game. He was also named a first team NYPL all-star and lauded by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. People remember those gags during the rain delays, Dempsey says, toweling off in his office after catching in the bullpen. Category: Sports. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. At 7 p.m., I was still sitting there. I was able to catch some good pitchers. These guys here are just babies. Next on her target list: Cal Ripken Jr., who would later homer in the Orioles 9-4 win over Texas. Tommy [Lasorda] had a little heart attack around that time and there was a lot of speculation as to who would replace Tommy. Nfl Colts. Get some baseballs and get back out on the tarp." 7. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say. But Dipper is an Oriole, and a memorable one. The other half was as MiLB.coms staff historian. Dempsey was ejected from one game for bumping an umpire. At Bakersfield. Sports Legend Revealed: Was Jack Lambert ejected from a game for hitting a quarterback too hard? WHO IS Rick Dempsey? In the midsts of the downpour two younger doofs decide it would be cool to sit out in the bleachers, in the rain. Dempsey broke his thumb and missed the rest of the season. Only Gene Kelly ever sang and danced better with the water turned on. Before disappearing into the dugout, Lowenstein reassured them hed be OK by hoisting his torso and both arms airborne in sudden, triumphant fashion. I declared myself safe, the crowd went nuts, and I walked off the field completely drenched. Think throwing a no-hitter got you a free pass in those days? The Orioles potential superstar battery got off to a great start in their first spring pairing. If the Dodgers are anything, it is young. With the worst record in professional baseball. Wayne Bryant. The end, however, was near. And, at the time, not a very good one. The work ethic that was so prevalent during Dempseys playing days remains. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. I loved everything about him, especially the way he would pick off every would be base-stealer. 2. In a 24-year career, Dempsey played in 1,765 games, accumulating 1,093 hits in 4,692 at bats for a .233 career batting average along with 96 home runs and 471 runs batted in. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2020-2022 BallNine, llc. We could have sold it, split the money and been very happy., Rick Dempsey while with the Los Angeles Dodgers.(Getty). Manager Earl Weaver #4 and catcher Rick Dempsey #24 of the Baltimore Orioles stands on the mound to make a pitching change during an Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. It wasn't even really premeditated, but Sammy just thought of it at the spur of the moment, went on the field, and did it. Blog Round-Up: There's Anger in the Air in Toronto, Flashback Friday: "Doubleheader Don" Aase, In Case You Were Wondering - Road Jerseys Edition. Explore. Search Reddit posts and comments - see average sentiment, top terms, activity per day and more He had the most impact on me of any person or player. I went into the clubhouse and was drying off because it was pretty wet out there. He appeared in eight games, had nine at-bats and collected one hit, a single against the White Sox on July 6. The decade wasnt always great, though. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. He assumed the bullpen coach position in the 2006 season, replacing Elrod Hendricks who the team intended to reassign to another position in the organization before his death. I signed as a 145-pound catcher and two years later I was playing in the big leagues.. Published by Triumph Books. Dave Skaggs #8 gets a hand from Eddie Murray #33 and Rick Dempsey #24 during the World Series at Three Rivers Stadium on October 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. So, they sent me to Auburn and I played every day.. Baseball Park. I dont enjoy retirement, he said. Included in that group are Jeff Suppan, Sean Gilmartin and Ryon Healy. And weve given him a lot more reasons to do it than that. No, says Dempsey, a Crespi High graduate. "Rick Dempsey found success in baseball, but his boyhood friend and teammate struggled,". Then I met Bo Jackson at home plate. He was one of the all-time nicest guys in the world. John Rikard Dempsey (born September 13, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player. When I was a kid, This Week in Baseball hosted by Mel Allen would occasionally show how Rick Dempsey entertained fans during rain delays during baseball games. The son of two former vaudevillians, he had a knack for performance, and was particularly renowned for his Baseball Soliloquy in Pantomime. It was a comic turn hed occasionally perform during rain delays, stuffing his uniform with padding and prancing around a soggy tarpaulin performing exaggerated parodies of hitters, pitchers, umpires. This performance, however, differed from any before.\"I needed some new material,\" Dempsey said. So, I said okay, Ill play for the worst team in baseball before I play for the Orioles., Former Baltimore Orioles player Rick Dempsey leads cheers between innings during a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 9, 2014 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. I got it signed by everybody. One time, they batted out of order. Enberg hosted the pregame show alongside Dempsey (who was still active with Baltimore at the time). The coaches thought I might run a four-minute mile by the time I was a senior but I said no, I wanted to be a right fielder when I was a junior.. The manager not only seemed constantly to be searching for a catcher who could hit home runs (ideally from the left side of the plate); he also, until 1981, pulled Dempsey for pinch hitters rather more frequently than Dempsey preferred. [6], For the next ten and a half seasons, Dempsey would remain as the Orioles' starting catcher. Dempsey waited. [1] He played more games as a catcher than any other player in Orioles history (1230). 16, 2003Remember Cust, the left-handed slugger who had a productive four-year run with Oakland in the late 2000s? He signed with the Dodgers and played three seasons there as a backup (two of them dreadfully bad), then moved to Milwaukee to catch 61 games in 1991. Komminsk goes up, over and out of sightSept. I was skating to the ball and the organist started playing rain drops keep falling my head. That decision wasnt final, though. [1] He played for 24 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1992, most prominently for the Baltimore Orioles where he played for 10 years and was a member of the 1983 World Series winning team. Dempsey, of course, inherited their genes, and thus went on to stuff towels in his shirt during a 1977 rain delay at Fenway Park, imitating Babe Ruth and sliding across the tarp on his padded stomach. Soon after, his teammates arrived, quickly setting up a poker game. The Orioles played the next night in Yankee Stadium, earning a 1-0 victory that seemed very hollow. I loved it at eight years old and told my mother I wanted to be a professional baseball player, Dempsey said. 13, 1969In this rare footage, a glimpse into the inner workings of the Orioles clubhouse when Frank Robinson ran it -- and its Kangaroo Court. The Twins traded Dempsey to the Yankees for outfielder Dan Walton, a journeyman who would appear in 297 games with six teams over a nine-year career. Rick is now in his fourth year as a member of the Orioles broadcast team after spending five years on the club's coaching staff. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). Im going to catch the last pitch and Im going to give you the ball.. Dempsey has been part of the game for nearly six decades, starting out as a Minnesota farmhand in the late 1960s before embarking on what proved to be a remarkable journey. Thanks to the Tigers' Todd Jones, shown in the rain delay video above, this week's Flashback Friday could only be about one thing: Rick Dempsey's "Baseball Soliloquy in Pantomime." Daniel Okrent describes Dempsey's efforts: He was an intense man, who concentrated mightily on the game. October 7, 2012. He speaks warmly about memories of attending drive-in movies with his parents and how, in between features, he was consumed with the highlights of Dodger games that were shown on the big screen. Here he is, with the Bakersfield Dodgers, and in his very first season as manager, his is the worst team in the Class-A California League. Dempsey hit .293 with seven homers and 61 RBIs in 73 games and was named as the leagues Rookie of the Year. Were not talking about wins and losses so much as were trying to get guys who are supposed to be prospects to start playing the game the way its supposed to be played.. In 14 World Series and 11 playoff games, he batted .303 (20-for-66) with 11 runs, 11 doubles, 1 home run, 7 RBI, 1 stolen base and 7 bases on balls. I ran out there, and people started to cheer a little bit just because I ran out on the tarp. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. He was very outspoken and he told me just hustle and play hard for me every day and youll have nothing to worry about. I hit him, Dempsey says. Check resumes and CV, arrest records, social media profiles, public records, places of employment, publications, business records, photos and videos and news . Dempsey moved behind the plate for his senior season and hit a team-leading .466 to earn All-Camino Real League honors. Dempsey has been a candidate for managerial openings with the Orioles in the past, as recently as 2003 when the Orioles interviewed him for the spot that eventually went to Lee Mazzilli. Dempsey went on to manage the Mets Triple-A affiliate in the International League in 1997-98 and served as a coach on the Dodgers and Orioles Major League staffs between 1999-2006 before joining Baltimores broadcast team, a position he held until 2020. I used to listen to him and Jim Palmer battling. He went to Spring Training with Baltimore in 1992 and didnt make the club, getting cut the last week of camp. And by 1988, Morganna the Kissing Bandit was well known. This was Dempsey at the height of his rain delay powers, his one-man show at Fenway Park in 1977 when he pantomimed Babe Ruth, dashed around the tarp-covered diamond and ultimately plunged headfirst into home plate. Loved it! He was mentioned again as a possible candidate for the Baltimore manager's job in 2010, after the firing of Dave Trembley. Nov 18, 2011 73 Dislike Share Save TheHalocodplayer 8 subscribers This montage was shown during a Boston Red Sox rain delay back in 1983. Source: Okrent (1985), Nine Innings: The Anatomy of a Baseball Game, p. 246. The idea for a line of neckties, many characterized by vibrant colors and sheens, came directly from his work with MASN, where the on-air talent is expected to dress up and look sharp. Rick Dempsey was a catcher for 24 MLB seasons and MVP of the 1983 World Series in which the Orioles beat the Phillies. Duprees glove skinned Dempseys cheek. Within a week he crashed. Weaver managed the Orioles from 1968-82 and 1985-86. List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades, 100 Best Percentage of Baserunners caught stealing 1956-2007, Catcher Encyclopedia, "For Catchers, The Name of the Game is Defense", "Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame at MLB.com", Orfalea, Gregory. For me, languages are fascinating. It was a reaction, but what a punch. "Players Swap Memories of Yankees-Orioles 10-Player Trade", "Rick Dempsey Looks Back on his 24 Seasons as a Big League Catcher", 1979 American League Championship Series at Baseball Reference, Rick Dempsey post-season batting statistics, "Rick Dempsey: His Career Survives Fires of Combat", "You're Looking at One for the Ages Here", Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rick_Dempsey&oldid=1132443572, Florida Instructional League Twins players, American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela, World Series Most Valuable Player Award winners, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, September 23,1969,for theMinnesota Twins, September 27,1992,for theBaltimore Orioles, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 22:38. He made it fun. Which starters are locks for the Orioles rotation. I know I could have played a couple more years. I sat there crying asking myself is this what its come to? He told my mother dont change the furniture in my room because Id probably be back in six weeks. We ended up winning the World Series with what was the worst team, on paper, in history.. 4. Dupree overheard and responded by taking off his glove and throwing his best fastball at Dempseys head as the two headed toward the dugout. He did get a pair of September callups but they were mere cameos. Rick Dempsey Autographed Signed Baltimore Orioles Jersey Inscribed MVP 83 Ws (JSA COA) BIG. You might get hurt." People who heard him say he was great. [18] During his career, Dempsey caught ten different 20-game winning pitchers. Dempsey would expand his act in the years to come, incorporating supporting actors and costume changes into his performances. The 40 Greatest Orioles of All-Time - No. The organist started playing "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head." JCizzle Member. Ask Dupree about Dempseys other side. Loved it! Claire called me a few years ago and asked me if I wanted to do a talk with him at the Oakmont Country Club, Dempsey said. Covered a Mets-Astros doubleheader in 1987 and never looked back. He said, "I want to do a pantomime of Babe Ruth calling his home run and then I'll run around the tarp and slide, and that will be the end of it." Stewart, wearing Jim Palmer's jersey and a pair of tan underwear over his uniform pants, came out to the mound. Either way, thinking of the guy puts a smile on my face. He has established a kangaroo court that levies fines on players for unacceptable actions. Major League Baseball Stadiums. Then, after a while, I pretty much came to terms with the fact that were developing here. Yeah, its too early to draw conclusions about anything, but its not too early to feel the optimism already. Dempsey was back in upstate New York in 1973, spending the majority of the season with Syracuse of the Triple-A International League, where he hit .248 with 47 RBIs. Im 175 pounds and hes 235 with world-class speed. Hiserman has been Sports editor of The Times San Fernando Valley and Orange County editions. One punch. Dempsey was a darn good catcher too, mostly with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles won 10-3. Follow Dave Ginsburg on Twitter@Ginzy3. In celebration of Palmer's birthday, we present these 22 classic SI photos of No. Odds & lines subject to change. He ended up hitting .304 in 19 playoff and World Series games for Baltimore. Dempsey would wait until the tarp was nice and drenched, like a giant Slip-N-Slide. Palmer had been doing commercials for Jockey underwear, so Sammy wore briefs outside of his uniform pants. There isn't a ton to say about Dempsey the player. Can he keep it up? Attempting to score what wouldve been the tying run, Cust lost his footing not once, but twice, before he was tagged out inches away from the vacated plate, having tumbled face-first down in front of it. I didnt get to play baseball when I was a freshman or sophomore because I didnt have a way home. [7] He was a durable player, only going on the disabled list twice in his career. Once you master that, all youre left with is the game itself. [19] Dempsey fared well offensively in postseason play. Uploaded: 25 Jul, 2010. Advertisement If these rain-delay antics have a godfather, it is probably Rick Dempsey, the one-time Orioles catcher, who back in the early '80s brought out a comical home run trot around. The ball was worth $6.5 million. He would go and hang out with the players, drink with them and do all that stuff. Now Dempsey as an Os Extra announcer? View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. Sports Baseball. Weaver had history with Haller; years earlier, hed publicly said Haller shouldnt be allowed to call Tigers games because his brother, Tom, was their backup catcher. In '78, Dempsey took over behind the plate, and upped his hitting to non-embarrassing levels, at .259/.327/.356 with six homers. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images). Not only that, but the teams and Major League Baseball said they didn't want players running around on the tarp because somebody could get hurt and cost someone a lot of money. Dempsey didnt want to start anything on the plane but when the team arrived at the hotel in Milwaukee, Sudakis started in again and a fight ensued. Author of the popular blog The Bobblist, which covers everything A to Z in the world of bobbleheads. I have my grammar school sweetheart and well be married 54 years in February. John Rikard Dempsey (born September 13, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player. We were having a good time, but then it started to rain. Get ready to take over the high seas with Rick Dempsey 1983 World Series MVP is taking over the Royal Caribbean's Enchantment the of the Sea for a 5-night cruise to Bermuda! After his tenure with the Orioles ended in 1986, Dempsey signed with Cleveland for the 1987 season, where he did little and was released in October. Consider his "rain delay theater" a blend of both, and one of the more famous comedy bits in MLB history. Elliott: After trading away Jonathan Quick, Kings make more deals ahead of trade deadline, After four decades, trainer Ed Moger gets his first Triple Crown starter, An exclusive look at details of Chip Kellys two-year contract extension from UCLA, His shoe game is pretty tight. Why Dodgers hope Miguel Rojas play matches his swag, Rats in the laundry? His sense of humor during his playing career was renowned, and he was famous for his "rain delay theatre" performances, in which he emerged from the dugout in stockinged feet onto the tarpaulin covering the infield during a rain delay and pantomimed hitting an inside-the-park home run, climaxed by his sliding into home plate on his belly on the wet tarp, all to the raucous delight of the soggy fans.