“I
was kneeling in the on-deck circle (when Bill Mazeroski
hit his dramatic 9th inning home run in the 7th game of
1960 World Series) thinking I was going to be the hero.
And all of a sudden, I was out on the field jumping around.”
A graduate of Sequoia’s 1951 class, Dick Stuart
could never be accused of lacking confidence. He had the
distinction of being the first professional baseball player
to hit over 60 home runs since Babe Ruth’s 60 home
runs in 1924, when he hit 66 homers at Lincoln, of the
Class A Western League, in 1956. From that time on, he
always signed autographs with his name and a “66.”
Dick was a swarthy 6’ 4”” and weighed
228 lbs.
Few athletes create such vivid memories that they have
their name attached to an icon for their sport. Dick Stuart
will be forever associated with the term “Dr. Strangeglove.”
When Dick joined the Pittsburg Pirates in 1958 the team
moved him from the outfield to first base…figuring
that he could do less damage there with his poor fielding.
Former Pirate shortstop Dick Groat observed: ”Dick’s
biggest problem was his lack of concentration. Thinking
about hitting instead of playing defense. It wasn’t
that his hands were so bad. Dick just wanted to hit the
ball. He didn’t want to be catching it or fighting
ground balls. To Dick, fielding was a necessary evil.”
Former Pirates infielder Dick Schofield said, “Everyone
liked Dick, but he did have trouble with that leather
thing.” Once during a Pirates’spring training
game, the stadium said: ”Anyone who interferes with
the ball in play will be ejected from the ballpark.”
Pirates’ manager Danny Murtaugh was heard to say,
“I hope Stuart doesn’t think that means him.”
Dick’s home runs during his local playing days are
legendary. The fence at Burton Park in San Carlos was
raised several times to avoid Dick’s home runs from
hitting the homes across the street from the park. When
one of his home runs cleared the fence and nailed a passing
auto, breaking its windshield, Dick was seen to give the
motorist his business card, telling them he would pay
for the windshield.
Dick Stuart split playing time during the championship
1960 season with Rocky Nelson, hitting 23 home runs, and
batting in 83 runs. The following year he hit 35 home
runs, with 117 runs batted in. During the 1963 season,
with the Boston Braves, he hit 42 home runs, batting in
118. Both figures led the American League that year. During
the home run hitting contest, prior to an All Star Game,
Dick and Wally Post (legendary home run hitter) had an
epic home run contest. After Wally had conquered Hank
Aaron, Dick and Wally went at it, with Dick finally winning
12 to 11.
Dick played for 6 teams in a 10 year major league career,
seeing action in two World Series and one All Star Game.
He batted .297 in 1959, and .301 in 1961, both years with
the Pittsburg Pirates. He had outstanding runs batted
in years during 1959 (78), 1960 (83), 1961 (117), 1963
(118), 1964 (114), & 1965 (95). He averaged 119 games
played during his first eight major league seasons, and
totaled 228 home runs hit during his ten year major league
career. Dick made World Series apppearances during 1960
with Pittsburgh, and the Dodgers in 1966. His major league
baseball career moved from Pittsburg, to Boston, to Philadelphia,
to the New York Mets. L.A. Dodgers, and finished with
the California Angels, in 1969.
He lost his battle with cancer in December of 2002.
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