Hot Stove: Josh Gibbs

Wednesday afternoon I learned our small group was cancelled. Later I realized it was Hot Stove night, so after work I drove north of Cumming to Johnny Tallant’s Baseball Museum. The driveway was full with 14 in attendance. This is the 33rd year of Hot Stove. Johnny opened the meeting reading off several jokes, almost like a late night talk show host’s opening monologue. I’ll have to remember to start sending him baseball jokes to use next month.

The most highly rated high school senior was there, UGA signee Josh Gibbs, a shortstop from Forsyth Central High. Small guy who hit home runs in Arizona’s Chase Field. He’s worked out for several MLB teams, and could be a top draft pick in the next draft. Josh and his dad talked about his baseball journey. He started playing tee ball at the age of 4, then started travel ball at 8. Moved to East Cobb baseball at age 10.

Another player was also at the meeting: Jacson Rickett. Johnny has known the Rickett family for years. Jakson’s dad Justin is a coach at Dawson County High. They fit right in. Justin has probably been to Hot Stove before. Jacson seemed like a fine boy. He wanted to play close to home so his family could watch him play, and to be near to attend his home church when he could. Said he prayed about the decision. Last season three pitchers at Dawson Country signed with small college teams.

When the group discussion turned to artificial turf fields for high schools, Jacson shared his experience and preferences, adding that moms liked turf to make laundry easier. Justin told of how turf saved coaches hours of work maintaining fields, meant fewer cancelled practices, and heavier field use. Justin said that girl’s softball teams playing on turf knew better how to slide on the surface. Jacson knew to hold his tag on the baserunner as he slid, for on turf its harder not not slide past the base. Most turf fields these days have turf batters boxes. Justin said the turf fields with rubber pellets are hot, but newer fields use cork pellets to keep fields cooler. Johnny said the next election in Forsyth County will include a SPLOST to pay for turf baseball fields in the county.

NOTE: former GT QB Jaybo Shaw was just named head football coach at Dawson County. This is Jaybo’s fifth new team in as many years. Not sure if that’s a good thing or bad.

The next speaker was Dave Clark, who goes to church with Bobby, a regular at Hot Stove. Clark grew up in the small town south central Missouri where Preacher Roe was born. Clark’s father’s best friend was former Pirate Bill Verdon. They went hunting together. The Clarks visited the Verdons in Pittsburgh, and as a 9 year old got to meet Roberto Clemente in the Pirates locker room. Young Bill Vernon was fast, but was slow in comparison to another kid at his MLB tryout: Mickey Mantle. Clark showed off one of Verdon’s old wool Pirates caps, as well as baseballs signed by the Astros and Pirates – including Roberto Clemente.

In 1991 Clark was sitting next to Verdon’s wife during game 7 of the NLCS in the box seats of old Atlanta Stadium, with the other Pirates family members. The Pirates had the lead in the 9th inning. Clark told Mrs Vernon that it wouldn’t be a far commute to Toronto for the World Series. Moments later Francisco Cabrera drove in Sid Bream, and the Pirates season was over. Having moved to Georgia, Clark had mixed feelings, but didn’t show it. Verdon continued to coach into his 70’s. Clark visited with him just three days before he passed away, saying Bill was like a second father to him.

We discussed old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, how left field fence was further than post, making Mazeroski’s World Series winning home run a far poke, how Yogi Berra was the leftfielder, how after games fans exited the ballpark by walking out on the field through the centerfield gate, how the brick was is now part of a park, and how home plate can still be viewed inside a Pittsburgh hospital hallway, under plexiglass on the floor.

Everyone agreed that the Mets overpaid for Juan Soto, a one tool player who struggles defensively. Also that the Yankees overpaid for Max Fried, giving an 8 year contract to a 31 year old injury prone pitcher - who hasn’t pitched a full season in any of the past 3 years. Fried has also struggled in the postseason.

The meeting featured the annual cap swap, so I picked a nice Braves cap that may be a little too busy for my tastes. Might should’ve picked a nice new Brooklyn Dodgers cap. Old Tom Curren turned 83 years old. He still regularly plays golf.

GAYLORD PERRY [SABR Bio] was the first 40-year-old pitcher to win the Cy Young Award, in 1978  for the SDP - two months after he turned 40. He is the most recent pitcher to have 4 straight 300 inning seasons: 1972 (342-2/3), 1973 (344), 1974 (322-1/3), and 1975 (305-2/3). 72-74 with Cleveland, 75 with Cleveland and Texas. Perry had led the majors with 325-1/3 in 1969 and 328-2/3 in 1970 with the Giants. Brother Jim Perry won the AL Cy Young in 1970 with the Twins.