Page 5 - The Friday Flyer ● JULY 26, 2019

JULY 26, 2019 THE FRIDAY FLYER A-5
Pro MLB players recall time in the big leagues...

ttFROM PAGE A3 history. At 17-years old, the outfielder/pitcher was
ambidextrous, began to occasionally throw left-handed sent to “A” ball in Medford, Oregon, where he trav-
eled to games by bus and earned $5 per day for meal
on off days to give his right arm a break. money. Over the next couple years, Edgar played for
By 1986, playing for Texas, word got out about his
feat and Mizuno sporting goods made Greg a few spe- Spokane, Bakersfield and Waterbury, Connecticut. He
also played winter ball in Mesa, Arizona, and Mexico.
cial two-thumbed gloves. Manager Felipe Alou told The dream-come-true for this local boy was play-
Greg he could pitch left-handed in a game if he could ing spring warm-ups in Dodger Stadium and spring
throw 80 mph, throw a curve and throw strikes. Greg training at Vero Beach in a Dodger uniform with all his
passed all three tests with flying colors. hometown heroes. After a couple of years, Edgar in-
American League President, Dr. Bobby Brown con- jured his arm and was sent to Bakersfield for recupera-
tacted Greg to explain seven new rules developed for a tion. He trained, recovered, began to regain his form
switch-pitcher, especially when facing a switch hitter. and even pitched a no-hitter in 1973 while playing win-
This sounded a lot like George Carlin’s seven words ter ball in Los Mochis, Mexico. Then in 1974, Edgar
you can never say on television. Nevertheless, these snapped his left ankle. He was treated and then oper-
“Greg Harris” rules were mostly meaningless, as he ated on by renowned sports surgeon, Dr. Frank Jobe.
was not allowed by his managers to switch-pitch in a After an inordinate amount of training and rehabili-
game until 11 years later. tation, Edgar once again recuperated and regained his
1995 was Greg’s final season. As he would finish power and accuracy. Unfortunately, in 1975, he injured
with a 2.61 ERA over 45 games, he was finally given his arm once again and was released by the Dodger
clearance to attempt the impossible. As he warmed up organization the following year. However, Edgar be-
in the bullpen with both arms, the crowd grew delirious lieved he had more in the tank.
with anticipation. They greeted Greg with thunderous To prove it to himself, he practiced with Bakersfield
applause, knowing they would witness something his- J.C. and played in an industrial league, pitching well
toric. enough to be signed by the Brewers. He played in the
First up was Reggie Sanders, batting right-handed. Eastern League and eventually made it to AAA Van-
Greg pitched him right-handed and quickly got him couver, then back to Mexico for winter ball.
out. Up next was the left-handed Hal Morris, so Greg In 1980, pitching as a reliever, Edgar was moved
moved his glove to his right hand and the ball into his back to AA, then he was asked to play again in Mexi-
left. His first left-handed pitch sailed three feet outside co. At 26 years of age and now married, he decided to
and bounced off the backstop. The crowd groaned. pass and was released. Edgar joined the postal service, PHOTO BY DONNA RITCHIE
Greg regained control but still walked Morris. became a policeman and is now a successful real es-
Next up was lefty Ed Taubensee. Greg continued to tate broker. Some thrills for Edgar was hearing Hall of
pitch from the left side and retired him on a ground Fame Dodger manager Walter Alston call out his name For Rick Greene, it was all worth it to just walk through the
out. Facing right-hander Brett Boone, Greg went back in the dugout. He also was able to fly on the Dodger jet tunnel of Dodger Stadium, in uniform, and hear his name
to his right arm and quickly retired Boone to end the and enjoyed the thrill of playing on the same field as called by John Ramsey, longtime Dodger Stadium an-
inning. Pete Rose and Hank Aaron. nouncer, “Number 43, Rick Greene!” Now in tribute, Rick’s
At age 39, Greg enjoyed a 15-year career in the Edgar is grateful for the opportunity to have com- grandson, a star youth pitcher, wears number 43.
majors, playing with the Mets, Reds, Expos, Rang- peted against the very best in the game. In one picture,
ers, Phillies, Red Sox and Yankees. He was fortunate Edgar is jogging in uniform at Dodger Stadium with ball fields in Florida.
enough to have pitched in the World Series with the Tommy John, Ron Perranoski, Al Downing and his For him, it was all worth it to just walk through the
Padres. good Canyon Lake friend, Rick Greene. tunnel of Dodger Stadium, in uniform, and hear his
Greg is in the process of writing a book about his During his career, Edgar learned how to get up and name called by John Ramsey, longtime Dodger Sta-
distinctive experience. The glove Greg wore on that dust himself off after being repeatedly knocked down. dium announcer, “Number 43, Rick Greene!” Now in
momentous day is on display in the Baseball Hall of This has been one of life’s lessons that served him well. tribute, Rick’s grandson, a star youth pitcher, wears
Fame in Cooperstown, New York. It will reside there Mostly, Edgar is grateful for meeting so many good number 43. It is difficult to tell who is more proud of
indefinitely as a reminder of the singular mark one people that he can call friends to this very day. whom.
man-made on the game we all love. Rick Greene Brett Tomko
Edgar Carroll Rick graduated from Chino High School in 1971 Brett starred in baseball and basketball at El Do-

Edgar signed with the Dodgers in 1971, playing for as “All-Everything.” Rick was captain of his football, rado High School in Placentia. He was drafted by the
El Segundo High School, alma mater of George Brett basketball and baseball teams, where he had lettered Dodgers in 1994 but chose to attend Florida Southern
and so many other major leaguers who played for John varsity three years in each sport. He was Student Body College. There, he pitched to a 15-2 record, 1.35 ERA
Stevenson, winningest coach in California high school President and selected to the All-CIF Baseball team. and struck out 154 batters in 126 innings. He led that
Rick was drafted by the Dodgers in the third round team to the 1995 Division II National Championship
and sent to rookie summer camp in Ogden, Utah. Two by pitching two complete game shutouts.
years later, he met Connie just before leaving for sum- Brett was named Tournament MVP, NCAA Di-
mer baseball camp and they were married soon after vision II Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year
he returned. These lifelong soul mates have now been (since renamed the Brett Tomko Award). In 1995, Brett
happily married 46 years and still treat each other as was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched for
newlyweds. three years in their minor league system before being
Rick recalls a bus trip to play Great Falls, Montana. called up to the Major Leagues in 1997. Brett quickly
In the middle of nowhere, the bus broke down. Back on earned a position in the Reds starting rotation for three
their way, it then caught fire. They escaped and barely years.
made it to the game, only to lose by 17 runs. In 2000, Brett (and three other players) was traded
Winter ball was in Mesa, Arizona, where he did well to the Seattle Mariners for superstar Ken Griffey Jr.,
enough to be promoted to “AA” El Paso. It was ex- which makes him the answer to a great trivia ques-
citing to play at the Dodgers Training Camp in Vero tion. The next several years, Brett played for Seattle
Beach, Florida, where he met so many good friends, (two seasons), San Diego Padres (32 starts), St. Louis
including Edgar Carroll. They played together in Ba- Cardinals (won 13 games), San Francisco Giants (two
kersfield and at winter ball in Arizona. seasons), Dodgers (two seasons), back to the Padres,
Rick had a good year but was developing a sore KC Royals, and back to the Padres for the third time
elbow, which turned out to be bone chips. Dr. Frank in June 2008.
Jobe operated on Rick the week before fellow Dodger In 2009, the Yankees signed Brett to a minor league
Tommy John had his celebrated procedure. contract with AAA Scranton. Brett was pleased to
Rick began the 1974 season in Bakersfield where he compete and have some fun. There, he excelled once
did well but injured his shoulder once again. Treated again but the Yankees traded him to the Oakland A’s.
with cortisone shots, he moved to relief pitching where In his first start with the A’s, Brett faced the dreaded
the fewer innings gave his arm some rest. Yankees and defeated them. He was arguably play-
Rick already had a good fastball, slider, curve and ing the best baseball of his career. With a 4-1 record,
changeup, but knuckleball specialist Charlie Hough he posted a 2.95 ERA with 22 strikeouts and only six
taught Rick the legendary “floater.” Just after Rick walks.
Then, in his sixth start of that season, which would
PHOTO BY DONNA RITCHIE leased by the Dodgers organization before receiving that day but a of couple hours later had no feeling in his
thought this pitch might restore his status, he was re-
be his last, he pinched a nerve in his arm. He finished
the needed shoulder surgery that troubles him to this
right arm. Back to rehab, AA and AAA, Brett realized
day.
recovery could be more difficult this time.
Rick has since had a successful career in sales and
On the cusp of his 15th MLB season, he then dislo-
adjacent to the Amarillo Stockyards in Texas. On a
Edgar Carroll signed with the Dodgers in 1971. During his has fond memories of playing in such places as a field cated his shoulder. Brett rehabbed again, finished the
career, Edgar learned how to get up and dust himself off after warm day, the odor was horrific. A game in Midland, year and regained his form. But, these injuries and his
being repeatedly knocked down. This has been one of life’s Texas, was called for an invasion of locusts. Then, he age were working against him. Refusing to call it quits,
lessons that served him well. He said he is grateful for meeting played through dust storms in El Paso. He also recalls over the next few years, Brett was able to sign with the
so many good people that he can call friends to this very day. alligators and giant land crabs “playing through” their uuCONTINUED PAGE A9