RIP Ralph Houk

[DOUGHBOYS]

I know, I know...another old timer bites the dust.



Houk's bio's will mostly note his career as Manager of the Yankees and his two World Series Wins.

Other things should be known as well-



Houk was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and Silver Star during his service in World War II. An Army Ranger, he infiltrated enemy territory. Once getting a bullet through his helmet, giving him a "haircut".

He was sent alone on a mission behind lines, returning to camp with nine prisoners of war.

Houk entered the War as a Private.

He left the service five years later as a Major.



He backed up Yogi Berra for eight seasons, when a backup catcher was a backup catcher. He played in only 91 games during that time.



He was on six World Series Winners....and only had two at bats in those games.



One of the first 'players managers', many future managers copied his style, including Tommy LaSorda.



Fiery, he was kicked out of as many games as Billy Martin.

He had a 'tell' when he was really going to let an umpire have it. He would always remove his hat. Some umpires, noting this, would toss him as soon as the cap came off the head.

One time Houk was tossed after removing the hat, without yet uttering a word.

"Your throwing me out? I haven't even said anything yet!!!", Houk yelled.



"I know, Ralph. I'm just saving both of us the trouble", replied the umpire.



[ July 22, 2010, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

[Raskol]

Good bio, Dan. Always a pleasure to learn a little more about this "silly little game."



Your signature had me laughing, by the way. I tried to think of a Boras-related zinger to add to it, but failed. Too early or not enough coffee I guess.



On a related note, one of the two outfielders that Adrian "The Knee" Beltre sent to the DL this year has just been activated. Unfortunately for Ellsbury owners, it was Hermida.



-Emory

[Navel Lint]

I’ve collected baseball cards since I was a kid. The first cards I remember buying on my own were 1972 Topps. Of course buying on my own meant that my dad gave me a dime and I would go over to the drug store to buy a pack.



One of the cards that always stuck in my mind was Ralph Houk’s ’72 Topps. It’s a picture of him in a Yankee uniform and cap. It’s a manager card, but for those familiar with the ’72 series the individual’s position was not listed on the front of the card. I had no knowledge of Houk at the time and for all I knew he was a player. He was 52 years old at the time, but as a 5yo he looked like he was 92. Of course I eventually came to learn that he was a manager, but I never got over my first impression of that card and seeing that old man on a baseball card.



Sometime later in the late ninety’s I saw him on TV as part of some Yankee retrospective. Even though I was then an adult and had an understanding of age, I was shocked to see that he was alive. In my mind I had always thought of him as that old man on the card from back when I was a kid. The funny thing was that he really looked about the same then as he did 25 years earlier.



Then this morning I read that he passed away and I was once again surprised to find that he was ‘just’ 90 years old. It’s amazing the way the mind works and how one first impression can dominate your thoughts despite knowledge to the contrary.



RIP – Ralph



Here is the only picture I could find.

[Walla Walla]

Houk was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and Silver Star during his service in World War II. An Army Ranger, he infiltrated enemy territory. Once getting a bullet through his helmet, giving him a "haircut".

He was sent alone on a mission behind lines, returning to camp with nine prisoners of war.

Houk entered the War as a Private.

He left the service five years later as a Major.

Screw baseball! This man was a hero!!!!!!!!!

I salute him!!



Walla Walla

[Dub]

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

Fiery, he was kicked out of as many games as Billy Martin.

He had a 'tell' when he was really going to let an umpire have it. He would always remove his hat. Some umpires, noting this, would toss him as soon as the cap came off the head.

One time Houk was tossed after removing the hat, without yet uttering a word.

"Your throwing me out? I haven't even said anything yet!!!", Houk yelled.



"I know, Ralph. I'm just saving both of us the trouble", replied the umpire. I know this off the tribute, but I used to love when Weaver would spin his cap so he could really get in close to the ump's face and sometimes the ump would spin his cap back too



.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Originally posted by Walla Walla:

Houk was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and Silver Star during his service in World War II. An Army Ranger, he infiltrated enemy territory. Once getting a bullet through his helmet, giving him a "haircut".

He was sent alone on a mission behind lines, returning to camp with nine prisoners of war.

Houk entered the War as a Private.

He left the service five years later as a Major.

Screw baseball! This man was a hero!!!!!!!!!

I salute him!!



Walla Walla When looking at blurbs of his success as a Manager,

I'll be thinking of his success of being a Man.

[The Mighty Men]

Originally posted by Navel Lint:

I’ve collected baseball cards since I was a kid. The first cards I remember buying on my own were 1972 Topps. Of course buying on my own meant that my dad gave me a dime and I would go over to the drug store to buy a pack.



One of the cards that always stuck in my mind was Ralph Houk’s ’72 Topps. It’s a picture of him in a Yankee uniform and cap. It’s a manager card, but for those familiar with the ’72 series the individual’s position was not listed on the front of the card. I had no knowledge of Houk at the time and for all I knew he was a player. He was 52 years old at the time, but as a 5yo he looked like he was 92. Of course I eventually came to learn that he was a manager, but I never got over my first impression of that card and seeing that old man on a baseball card.



Sometime later in the late ninety’s I saw him on TV as part of some Yankee retrospective. Even though I was then an adult and had an understanding of age, I was shocked to see that he was alive. In my mind I had always thought of him as that old man on the card from back when I was a kid. The funny thing was that he really looked about the same then as he did 25 years earlier.



Then this morning I read that he passed away and I was once again surprised to find that he was ‘just’ 90 years old. It’s amazing the way the mind works and how one first impression can dominate your thoughts despite knowledge to the contrary.



RIP – Ralph



Here is the only picture I could find.



I have that same card at home.