Weaver Week #1 Meet Earl Weaver
Earl Weaver was ejected 98 times (some counts say 91, some 94) in his major league managing career. There is no dispute, however, that he was once ejected from both halves of a doubleheader.
Or that he was on the business end of a rare World Series heave-ho in 1969 for arguing balls and strikes.
His dust up with umpire Bill Haller which was caught on a night when both were wearing microphones is the reason I started The Angry Skipper and is in my not so humble and absolutely correct opinion the greatest manager ejection of all time. We will cover it extensively in a couple of days.
Weaver was also a brilliant manager who actually was a few decades ahead of his era. He was Moneyball before Moneyball. He believed every out was precious, you only get 27 of them and opportunities had to maximized at every at bat. He preached pitching, fundamentals and the three run homer. No bunting! Bunting’s for chumps.
It worked, too. Check his record . .583 lifetime winning percentage, 6 AL East titles, 4 American League pennants,one World Series title. And....98 ejections!!!!!
Please enjoy these two introductory videos. The first is a nice biographical tribute from when Weaver died in 2013. The second is a little sloppy, but a great time capsule with some funny interviews of umpires that Weaver victimized.
Happy Weaver Week! Happy MLB Playoffs! Enjoy!
Tribute
A Steamin’ Little Teapot
Tomorrow- Weaver vs. Palmer. Delving into the rather contentious relationship Weaver had with his ace Jim Palmer.