Prepared Berry

You can now receive the Inspirational Sports Quote via Twitter @HowardKellman.com

“The most prepared are the most dedicated.”
Raymond Berry, Baltimore Colts Great

Raymond Berry led the National Football League in receptions on three occasions. Berry was a six-time Pro Bowl selection who became a full-time starter in his second year in the NFL. Berry was taken by the Baltimore Colts out of SMU in the 20th round of the 1954 NFL Draft. “Unitas to Berry” brings a smile to many football fans across the Country especially those in Baltimore. Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry were among the greatest of all-time at their respective positions. In 1973, Raymond Berry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In his post playing days Berry was both an assistant and head coach in the NFL. He led the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance only to see them lose to the Chicago Bears.

This quote from Raymond Berry epitomizes what he was all about. Berry was famous for his attention to detail and for his preparation. Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry continued to work after practice to perfect their craft. Raymond Berry got every ounce out of his ability. He wasn’t fast  however he beat defenders by outsmarting them and out jumping them. He had great hands. Berry was so good that in his 13 year career he only fumbled once and and dropped just two passes. Raymond Berry also was at his best when it mattered the most. In the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants, Berry caught 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. I think that people like Raymond Berry should be an inspiration to all of us because of how hard he worked and how much he achieved.

The Transistor Kid

“Good is not good when better is expected.”
Los Angeles Dodger  Broadcaster Vin Scully

Vin Scully began broadcasting the Dodger games in 1950 when the team still was located in Brooklyn. 2012 marks Scully’s 63rd consecutive year in the Dodger broadcast booth. Scully is a native New Yorker and a graduate of Fordham. When the Dodgers hired Vin prior to the 1950 season, Dodger broadcaster Red Barber became Vin’s mentor. Vin Scully has been behind the microphone for all six World Championships the Dodgers have won(1955,1959, 1963,1965, 1981 and 1988). Scully has received all kinds of awards and honors during his illustrious career. In 1982, Scully was inducted into the Broadcasters Wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Judging a broadcaster is very subjective; nonetheless many, many baseball fans would say that Vin Scully is the greatest baseball broadcaster of all-time. It is incredible that Vin is in his 63rd year of broadcasting Dodger games. Ernie Harwell and Harry Caray had careers almost at lengthy as Scully’s however Harwell and Caray both worked for several teams. Scully, like his mentor Red Barber is a stickler for preparation and Vin, like Red, takes an objective approach. When the Dodgers left Brooklyn for Los Angeles, Vin Scully went with them and began educating Southern Californians about the game of baseball. People would take their radios to Dodger Stadium to listen to Vin call the game as they watched it. Vin became known as the “transistor kid.. Vin Scully has inspired many people over the years, myself included. Vin Scully is extremely bright; his baseball knowledge is astounding..and at age 84 he still is working very hard and he sounds great. The  Dodgers have had many great players over the years…many Hall of Famers..yet Dodger fans voted Vin Scully the most memorable personality in the history of the franchise.

Rock

“If you are pitching well, it doesn’t matter what park you are pitching in, as long as you are throwing the ball the way you can.”
Larry Rothschild, New York Yankees Pitching Coach

Larry Rothschild pitched for 11 seasons in the Reds, Tigers, Padres, White Sox and Cubs Minor League Systems. He got two “cups of coffee” in the Major Leagues with the Detroit Tigers in September of 1981 and September of 1982. Larry Rothschild has left his mark at the Major League level in his post- playing days. He was the Cincinnati Reds bullpen coach in 1990 and ’91 and the Reds pitching coach in 1992 and part of 1993.

Rothschild returned to the Major Leagues in 1995 as the Florida Marlins pitching coach. He stayed in that position until becoming the Tampa Bay Devil Rays first ever manager prior to the 1998 season. Rothschild managed for three-plus years before returning to his hometown of Chicago to become the Cubs pitching coach. He spent nine seasons with the Cubs before becoming the New York Yankees pitching coach prior to the 2011 season.
–

In the 1960′s, pitching coaches started to become looked upon as a very important part of a baseball’s team’s success. There is no doubt in my mind and in the minds of people who know him, that Larry Rothschild ranks right there among the best. Keep in mind that managers and coaches are judged by results. That is not entirely fair at all times because in the end there is only so much that a manager or coach can do.

Hitting coaches are important, too….although I have posed this question to many baseball managers,” If you can have a choice of a good pitching coach or a good hitting coach, which one would you choose?”

ALL of them said that a good pitching coach is more important. Even though some hitting coaches have done some wonderful things, hitting is more of an innate skill. I have known Larry Rothschild since 1977 when he pitched for the Indianapolis Indians. After a few conversations with him, I knew that when his playing days were over, he would become a terrific pitching coach.

Larry Rothschild combines great knowledge with great people skills. Several of his pitchers over the years have told me how much they enjoyed working with him. They pointed out that he worked with them as individuals as opposed to speaking in general terms. When a broadcaster is around managers and coaches on a daily basis, he gets a “feel” for who really “knows his stuff.”

Larry Rothschild was the Cubs pitching coach under four different managers.That should give you an indication of how well respected he is among baseball people. Rothschild stayed with the Cubs for nine years. He could have stayed longer. How many coaches spend nine years with a team and survive several managerial changes? Very few….

Several years ago, Larry told me that it is much for difficult for a young pitcher to break into the American League because of the designated hitter.. The pitcher doesn’t get a ‘breather” the way he does in the National League when the opposing pitcher comes to bat.

Larry Rothschild is back in the American League with the Yankees and he did a magnificent job with their pitching staff last year.

The Mick

“Somebody once asked me if I ever went up to the plate trying to hit a home run. I said, “Sure, every time.”
Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle belted 536 Home Runs in regular season play. His 18 World Series Homers is a record for World Series play.

Mantle won three American League Most Valuable Player Awards (1956,57 & 62) and he also won a Gold Glove for fielding excellence in 1962.

In 1956, Mickey won the Triple Crown, leading both Major Leagues in Home Runs(52), RBI(130) and batting average .353.

Mickey Mantle led the American League in Home Runs on four occasions and finished his career with a remarkable .421 on base percentage.

Mantle spent his entire 18 year career with the New York Yankees where he led them to 12 Pennants and seven World Championships.

Mickey Mantle was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1974, his first year of eligibility.

Not only was Mickey Mantle the greatest switch-hitter of all-time, he was the greatest combination of power and speed the game ever has seen.

When New York Yankee Manager saw 19 year-old Mickey for the first time, he couldn’t believe his eyes. “Never have I seen a slugger with so much speed; never have I seen a speedster with so much slug!” Stengel exclaimed.

Mickey Mantle had a flair for the dramatic. His 13 walk-off Home Runs (12 regular season; one in the World Series) are the most of any player in Baseball History.

It was so exciting to watch Mantle play because of his tremendous power. He was known for hitting tape measure home runs.

Unfortunately, he suffered major injuries to his right knee (1951) and his right shoulder (1957) and that affected hsi swing from the left side. Nonetheless, he still hit some very long home runs batting left handed.

I have spoken to several players who played with Mickey.with the Yankees. They all said he was a “great teammate.”

Mickey Mantle’s battles with alcoholism have been well chronicled.

Let’s remember that he was one of the greatest ballplayers of all-time. He may not have been a role model, but he was a hero to many people, including myself.

The Great Gordie

“You’ve got to love what you are doing.  If you love it,you can overcome any handicap or the soreness or all the aches and pains and continue to play for a long, long time.”
Gordie Howe

Gordie Howe was one of the greatest hockey players of all-time and he played for a long, long time. Howe’s best days were with the Detroit Red Wings where he played on four Stanley Cup Champions. Gordie Howe was named the National Hockey’ League’s Most Valuable Player six times. Gordie Howe also led the NHL in scoring on six occasions. Howe was a 23 time All-Star who played in 1,767 games, the most of anyone in NHL History. Gordie Howe was inducted into the hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 and a year later came out of retirement to play in the World Hockey Association.

I think all hockey aficionados would rank Gordie Howe as one of the greatest players of all-time. He was talented and he was physical. I had the pleasure of interviewing Gordie a week before his 50th birthday when he was playing for the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association. Gordie was a true gentleman that evening as he was every time I spoke with him. Those who watched him play never said he was a true gentleman on the ice. Because of his physical play, he was known as “Mr. Elbows.” In fact, a Gordie Howe hat trick was known as “a goal, an assist and a fight.” Gordie Howe was so successful that at age 40, he amassed over 100 points(44 goals, 59 assists}. Not only did Gordie Howe play in the NHL in five different decades but he has two sons(Mark & Marty) who played hockey. Mark played for 16 seasons and like his dad is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Black Mamba

“I’m chasing perfection.”
Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in NBA History.

He is the son of former NBA player Joe Bryant.

In 2006, Kobe scored 81 points in a game against the Toronto Raptors in Los Angeles. That is the second highest point total for a player in an NBA game.

Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets out of High School in 1996 and shortly thereafter was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe Bryant is the leading scorer in Laker franchise history and is a two-time NBA scoring champion.

Bryant is a 14-time NBA All-Star; he is a nine-time All NBA First Team selection and a nine-time All NBA Defensive First Team selection.

Kobe Bryant was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008.

Kobe Bryant is extremely competitive and that is reflected with his intense play at both ends of the court.

Kobe Bryant takes his game to another level in clutch situations with the game on the line.

As Kobe says, he is “chasing perfection.” Sometimes when you chase perfection you may not achieve it; therefore you will have to settle for greatness. When you talk about greatness, you talk about Kobe Bryant.

Kobe patterned himself after Michael Jordan and as great as Kobe is, he is not Michael Jordan..

Phil Jackson was very critical of Kobe in a book that Jackson wrote after the first time Jackson resigned as Lakers coach. At that point, the two men had won three NBA Championships together.

Phil returned as Laker coach…the two men managed to put aside any hard feelings and differences to the point that they won two more Championships….these two without Shaquille O’Neal.

When you analyze Kobe Bryant’s career…it is unfortunate that he and Phil Jackson had their differences. He and Shaquille O’Neal had their differences..

Many people felt that Kobe could have been more team oriented…but we must remember how well his teams fared. Not only has Kobe won five Championships, he also has been named the MVP of the NBA Finals twice.

 

The Chairman of the Board

“You would be amazed how many important outs you can get by working the count down to where the hitter is sure you’re going to throw to his weakness, and then throw to his power instead.”
Hall of Famer Whitey Ford

Eddie “Whitey” Ford won the most  games(236) of any New York Yankees pitcher. His .690 winning percentage(236 wins & 106 losses) is the best of any pitcher with 300 or more career decisions. Whitey Ford was a perennial All-Star who won the Cy Young Award in 1961 with a record of 25-4. Ford holds the record for most World Series wins(10) and most World Series losses(8). Whitey Ford won 20 games twice in his career and posted a magnificent lifetime E.R.A. of 2.75. Ford played on six World Championship New York Yankees teams and was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1974, his second year of eligibility.

As great a pitcher as Whitey Ford was, he took it to another level in big games. Until Sandy Koufax became a dominant pitcher, the feeling among many baseball people, was that if you needed to pick a pitcher to win a big game, it would be Whitey Ford.

Whitey Ford never got rattled and thrived under pressure.

Some people mistakenly said that the reason Whitey Ford had a great record is because he played on great teams with the Yankees. Two answers to that: Ford’s lifetime E.R.A. was 2.75 and check’s Ford’s winning percentage and check the Yankees winning percentage during Ford’s career and you will see that Whitey’s winning percentage was a good deal higher than that of the Yankees teams for which he played.

Whitey Ford excelled with the New York Yankees in the 1950′s.

When Ralph Houk became manger in 1961, he did a very smart thing. He pitched Whitey Ford every fourth day which is something Casey Stengel did not do. The result was Ford made a career high 39 starts and went 25-4 and won the Cy Young Award. Ford also won 24 games in 1963.

I think that Felipe Alou may have explained a big reason for Whitey Ford’s greatness. When Felipe managed the Indianapolis Indians in 1985, I asked him about facing Whitey Ford during the 1962 World Series between the Yankees and San Francisco Giants. Felipe said, “When I thought it would be a strike, it turned out to be a ball. When I thought it would be a ball, it turned out to be a strike.”

This is a wonderful compliment.

To this day, I am puzzled that Whitey Ford did not get enough votes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame his first year of eligibility. Then, again, by getting in the second year he was eligible, that enabled him to be inducted with his close friend and teammate, Mickey Mantle.

Mantle and Ford led the Yankees to pennant after pennant from the early 1950′s to 1964.