Tuesday, March 09, 1999
Reds awed by Joe D's stats, mystique
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Not a single Reds player was old enough to see Joe DiMaggio excel in center field for the New York Yankees. But they can spot a quality ballplayer from an era apart.
Many Reds watched the twin televisions in their spring training clubhouse raptly as ESPN repeated tributes to Mr. DiMaggio, the legendary center fielder who died Monday.
When one of Mr. DiMaggio's most remarkable career statistics — 361 home runs and only 369 strikeouts — was flashed, center fielder Mike Cameron couldn't contain his wonder. “One more year and I'll have that many (strikeouts),” said Mr. Cameron, who has played only 296 major-league games.
Manager Jack McKeon, 68, who grew up in New Jersey, had a closer view. Mr. McKeon recalled watching Mr. DiMaggio play numerous times at Yankee Stadium.
Mr. McKeon was 10 when, along with the rest of America, he followed Mr. DiMaggio's incomparable 56-game hitting streak daily in 1941. Ever the baseball purist, Mr. McKeon also remembered Mr. DiMaggio's defensive grace.
“He wasn't a flashy guy, but he was so fluid in the outfield,” Mr. McKeon said. “He kind of floated into balls. There was never a burst of speed. He'd just glide in there.”
Mr. McKeon, who's celebrating the 50th anniversary of his first year in professional baseball, occasionally crossed paths with Mr. DiMaggio. About five or six years ago, he obtained an autographed photo from the Hall of Famer, which now hangs in the den of his home.
“It's signed, "To Jack, from an old broken-down outfielder,' or something like that,” Mr. McKeon said.
Like his teammates, Reds right-hander Pete Harnisch was generations removed from Mr. DiMaggio. But growing up in New York exposed him to the reverence with which Mr. DiMaggio was regarded.
“Being in that part of the country, you hear more about the mystique than some other people,” Mr. Harnisch said.
As he spoke, the Reds' exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium was nearing its conclusion. The flags flew at half-staff.
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