Ask A Benchwarmer

In 1943 Sam Narron, a backup catcher with the St. Louis Cardinals who had logged his share of bench time, found himself actually off the bench and starting a game for his old manager Billy Southworth.

Now, Narron had caught Dizzy Dean and Daffy Dean on occasions, but one of his fondest memories was of the day that Southworth came strolling to the mound in the first inning, waved Narron to the mound and asked him a question familiar to anyone who had ever caught a major league baseball game.

Narron:  On the first pitch the first hitter had singled to right field off this rookie pitcher of ours. Second pitch the next batter knocks one off the scoreboard in center field. The third pitch this guy hits in the alley between left and center for a double. And then the cleanup hitter takes the very next pitch over the wall in right field.  

Now, here comes Southworth waving me to the mound. And when I get there, he looks at me like the kid pitcher can’t hear him and says, “Sam, has this little bastard got anything at all?”  And I think for about two seconds, and I say, “Billy, how the hell would I know?I haven’t caught anything yet!”