“Marcel Lachemann may be the greatest pitching coach in the history of the game.”–Jim Leyland
I’d like to give a cheerful and warm thanks to Mark over at Retro Simba for sending me some various Oakland A’s baseball cards in the mail, although one piece of cardboard was more conspicuous in a particularly nostalgic way–the Marcel Lachemann pictured. I remember him fondly as the pitching coach for the then-California Angels in the early 90’s. My grandparents lived about a 10-minute drive from Anaheim in nearby Buena Park, so my grandfather and I attended quite a few Angels games. They enjoyed going to flea markets on weekends and would sometimes drop me off in the “Big A” parking lot where I would buy tickets from scalpers (who my grandpa taught me to lowball if it was close enough to game time) and then once inside stand around under the S. California cornflower-blue sky chatting with 90-year-old bench coach Jimmie Reese–who was once Babe Ruth’s baseball roommate–on the third base line. I was always tickled by Reese’s answer when asked what life was like rooming with The Babe.
“I roomed with his suitcase.”
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I usually don’t watch Pirates/Cardinals games, but I love early morning “get-away” baseball and these two teams squared off the other day as I was enjoying my coffee and rubbing the crud out of my eyes. It was impressive to watch 43-year-old Dick Mountain (who had sucked in his previous 4 outings, so he must have eaten his Wheaties and balanced his chakras) baffle the Cardinals hitters with an array of off-speed pitches. Mountain grunted and groaned his way through 6 ⅔, throwing everything but the kitchen sink, giving up 1 ER, and helping the Buccos complete the sweep of the RedBirds.
I have a friend (a Mariners fan) who would always sing the praises of Jamie Moyer, and this game brought me major “Moyer Vibes.” We decrepit old guys love it when old farts succeed on the ball field as we can live through them vicariously and exclaim, “Well if he’s still got it then so do I goddamn it!” And that morning was one of those days for Mr. Mountain–a successful day on the hill that gave me renewed hope in crusty old dudes everywhere with back problems, fussy wives, and a 9 o’clock bedtime.
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Here’s a short Vida Blue vs Hank Aaron video. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
Coco Crisp's Afro 
Really fun read and I always love seeing the older cards! I was digging through some of my cards with my oldest son the other day and showed him a few Moyer and Hill rookies that I had. I think he was surprised I was that old. (That said, I’m REALLY going to need that 1987 Topps Dick Mountain RC)
Also, as a diehard Fish fan, both Marcel and Rene Lachemann have a special place in my heart, so it’s always nice to see either get some mention/respect.
Dude, this comment is the best! Thank you so much for stopping by. I really wish I had a tangible copy of that Dick Mountain card but, alas, I created it on the Topps website. Life sometimes just isn’t fair.
Lachemann looked about 43 years old in that baseball card from 1971, is it? Speaking of old-timers, I went to a Savannah Bananas game here in Nashville Saturday night, and Barry Zito pitched an inning for the Bananas. He then spent the bottom half of the inning in the third-base coaching box, playing a yellow electric guitar and singing a song he wrote about baseball. Barry still looks like he did when he was playing. Love the Blue vs. Aaron clip. Lots to like and reminisce about in that short segment from the 1971 All-Star game. Good stuff, as always.
Thanks for stopping by Hugh. Yep that card is a 1971 Topps…you nailed it.
I heard about Zito pitching for the Bananas! I’m so intrigued by the concept and was even thinking about purchasing a t-shirt. They have such a great logo. I also believe ex-Oakland A’s player Eric Byrnes managed them for a spell.
Anyway, I hope you had a great time. Baseball definitely IS kind of awesome.
As a kid, I thought the same thing about him looking old, really old, like 40’s old. Upon reflection, I had the notion that maybe he was a redhead and that’s how he photographed. Now, I think he looks ridiculously old.
Rene Lachemann was Angels pitching coach from 1984-92 and again from 1997-98. He also was Angels manager from May 1994 to August 1996. In his only full season as manager, the Angels were 78-67 in 1995.
In 1996, Angels pitcher Jim Abbott told the Los Angeles Times, “Lach is a good man. He has decency, integrity and honesty.”
I love your name for Rich Hill.
Thanks for the Hank Aaron-Vida Blue clip. It was a treat to see _ and also to hear the broadcasting of Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek. Instead of being chuckleheads and hucksters, they provided good information (Gowdy noting before the home run that Aaron was seeking his first extra-base hit in an all-star game, and Kubek explaining that Aaron didn’t even extend his arms on the home run swing; that his strong wrists supplied the power.)
What a great comment and a welcome addition to this post. Thanks Mark.
P.S. the Dick Mountain moniker was given to him by his teammates although you can be sure I wish that I had come up with it.
Hey Gary – greetings from Dan P at chipalatta.com. Loved the article. I was born in Milwaukee, and even though we pretty early moved on to Chicago and then Texas (and the Braves moved on to Atlanta) my parents were always big Hank Aaron fans. They always chose him as the greatest over Willie Mays in baseball discussions.
Loved that All Star clip – was that in Detroit, old Tigers stadium?
Always liked Vida Blue – very good pitcher and had the coolest name. Well he had the coolest name until you re-named Rich Hill.
I don’t know how you are keeping it together this year with all the A’s goings on. We suffered a while with the Astros, but they weren’t trying to move them.
Hang in there.
Hey, Dan thanks for stopping by! I’m cynical about the A’s moving to the point of not even really caring anymore. The rich always seem to milk the tax payers in the end. We’re a laughingstock.
Yes, that was indeed Tiger Stadium and Frank Robinson won MVP in that game.
I would recommend that anyone reading this check out Dan’s Houston Astros based blog at: https://chipalatta.com/
Loved the Hank Aaron-Vida Blue clip. He didn’t even get a good swing on it and it went out. The most consistent homerun hitter I’ve ever seen…he never got 60 or anytihng but always 30 or so every year like clockwork.
Yeah an opposite field upper-decker. Pretty damn impressive. Even more impressive was that it wasn’t really a bad pitch, Hank just let his natural talent take over.
Thanks for stopping by, Max. I’m still waiting for your piece on the MC5. Or maybe i missed it? 🙂
I’ve only done one on them…but you know what! Time for another! I run out of ideas at times so I’ll tackle another one of them.
Cool! I’m gonna have to search for it.
Took me a minute after thinking to myself “I didn’t know the A’s had a pitcher named Dick Mountain.” Lol. Kudos to you and I will never again refer to him by his given name, but I agree – I love it when the old guys bring their best stuff and pitch well. Here’s hoping Dick will take up the knuckleball and pitch until he’s 50.
Oh, man. This was a great comment. Hey, if Tommy John pitched until he was 46 why can’t ol’ Dick?
That’s excellent that you got to go to Angel’s games as a kid and had a grandfather that gave you great advice.!
I like that waking up to baseball. I’m stuck on the east coast so when the Brewer home games come on it’s already 8 oclock and I’m getting old and tired. It’s inspiring to hear about older ones still at it though it doesn’t get me doing much exercise other than a walk around the block and then a drink at night so I raise up a glass. Cheers Gary!
Thanks, Steve. Let’s raise a glass to the Fightin’ A’s of the 70’s!
I can’t believe that Vida’s no longer with us. He was like a comet soaring through the sky and just like that, he’s gone. He’s still the answer to a fascinating trivia question, “Who was the last AL switch hitter to win league MVP?” Our man Vida…
That’s a funny bit of trivia and a head-scratcher. I probably would have guessed Eddie Murray or Robbie Alomar if I didn’t know any better. What a great comment. Thanks a million for stopping by B.B.
That was a nice video of Blue and Aaron. I didn’t find the Pirates-Cardinals game nearly as nice, but that’s because I’m a Cardinals fan. But they’ve been losing a lot this year so I’ve grown used to it.
It certainly is strange to look at the standings and see the Cardinals in last place, but i never count that team out. I’ve been reading reports lately that they’re trying to acquire Shane Bieber.
Thanks for the comment, Burch. Hopefully the Cards find new life. There’s a lot of baseball to be played.
Gary – I was wondering what you thought of this “reverse boycott” the A’s fans held the other day in Oakland. They said they were chanting “sell the team” so loud the pitcher could not hear his catcher on the pitch caller.
Hey Dan, I saw it as the last hurrah and a moment of desperation from a fan base that loves a team owned by a grifter who couldn’t give a rat’s ass about baseball, the history of baseball, or the A’s. That being said, I can’t see a 30.000 seat stadium on 9 acres (on the Strip with limited parking and horrendous traffic) with a supposed retractable roof being successful. When the “honeymoon” in Vegas is over the attendance will be similar to the Marlins or the Pirates.Vegas is a Dodgers town and doesn’t even really want the A’s anyway. (In a public poll a whopping 80 percent of the population said they didn’t want the team in Vegas) Can’t wait to see it fail. And it will.
And you know who really suffers? The children of Nevada.The educational system in Nevada–the second dumbest state in the U.S.–didn’t have money for teachers but bent over backwards to give 380 million to a billionaire. The taxpayers bend over yet again. God Bless America, huh?
I always love watching me some Vida Blue video. I was 13 when that all-star game was played. Gary, to this day it is still my all-time favorite!