Rest in Peace, “Flip”
Another bit of America’s past is gone.
Al Rosen – MLB star of the 1950s, and later team executive with the Yankees, Astros, and Giants – passed away last Friday. He was 91.
Rosen was no slouch as a player. He played for 10 years, all with the Cleveland Indians organization. He had a career batting average of .285, drove in 100 runs 5 times, and was an AL All-Star 4 times. Rosen was his league’s unanimous MVP in 1953, leading the AL in RBI and home runs. He missed the triple crown that year when he finished second in batting average – by slightly more than .001 – in spite of finishing with a batting average of .336.
During his rookie season, Rosen hit 37 home runs; this stood as the rookie-season record until Mark McGwire hit 49 as a rookie in 1987. He was also regarded as an exceptional defensive third baseman. Unfortunately, back and leg injuries forced him from the game after the 1956 season at age 32.
After his playing career, for 22 years Rosen was a stockbroker. Then in 1978 he returned to baseball, becoming a successful baseball executive. He had front-office roles with the Yankees (President/CEO, 1978-1979), Astros (President/CEO, 1980-1985), and Giants (President and General Manager, 1985-1992). During his time with the Giants Rosen’s efforts were credited with helping improve them from a last-place team in 1985 to a World Series team in 1989.
In 1989 Rosen was selected as the NL Executive of the Year. He is the only individual in MLB history to be selected both his league MVP as a player and Executive of the Year.
Rosen retired from baseball a second time in 1992. However, he still afterwards on occasion acted as a consultant for various baseball teams; this included a role as a Special Assistant to the General Manager for the Yankees in 2001-2002.
In case you’re wondering why this article is here . . . as you might expect for someone of his age, Rosen was also a vet. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1942 and served until 1946, mostly in the Pacific. He participated in the invasion of Okinawa, serving as navigator for an assault boat during the initial landings. He left the Navy as a Lieutenant.
Rosen was Jewish, and was proud (and very protective) of his religious heritage. Though more famous for doing so, Koufax was not the first prominent Jewish MLB player to refuse to play during Judaism’s high holy days; Rosen did the same a decade earlier. His nicknames during his playing days were “the Hebrew Hammer” and “Flip”. The latter is the source of this article’s title.
RIP, my elder brother-in-arms. There are far too few of your generation left today.
Still . . . you certainly had a wonderful, All-American life. I can’t help but be a bit envious.
Category: Baseball, Blue Skies, Navy
Rest in peace indeed, I think you know baseball is not my favorite sport.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the technical skill and athletic prowess required to compete at this level. Great baseball career, and great post player career and it all started with a Navy career with what Mr. Brokaw refers to as the greatest generation.
Well done sir, you and your generation will be sorely missed as we lose more and more of you with each passing year.
“He missed the triple crown that year when he finished second in batting average – by slightly more than .001 – in spite of finishing with a batting average of .336.” There’s a great story and a perfect reason that goes with that fact. Rosen was called out in his last at bat that, with a hit, would have given him the triple crown. It was a close play but he seemed to be safe. His manager stormed out of the dugout to argue the call…but Rosen stopped him. “Don’t bother,” he said, ” I’m out. I missed the bag.”
Rest in peace now Al Rosen. Thank you for a life of good baseball and as important, your service to our country.
Though Rosen had left Houston in late ’85, his fingerprints were all over the 1986 Astros that nearly knocked off the eventual WS champion Mets in the NLCS. He brought aboard the solid talent that proved to be key contributors to Houston’s brief moment of glory in ’86: Glen Davis, Bill Doran, Dickie Thon, Phil (scrap iron) Garner, Mike Scott, Bob Knepper, Jim Desahies. Yeah, the Astros had the Amazing Mets on the ropes, and they were damn lucky Houston couldn’t pitch Mike Scott every game (2 CG/ 1 ER/ 19 SO). RIP Al Rosen.
Devtun, I don’t follow MLB much, but your entry struck a nerve. Why is it the younger generation players don’t have the nicknames like the players of old had? Hammerin’ Hank, Hebrew Hammer and such.
OC
The PC police would be all over them. Joe
Al Rosen was one fine baseball player. I remember bay in the day having his baseball card. I’m old but not that old! I got it from a older guy.
Back in 1971, I somehow, scrounged up a couple of baseball gloves and a ball. Trying to stay ready for my last year of eligibility once I was discharged.
I hooked up with Claw this past weekend! What a time. His wife was out of town while I was there. He broke out all the stops. One night for dinner we had beef pot pies. Sparks was going to show up, but he insisted on Ham and Mf’ers, so that was a no go!
Seriously, Claw and I solved all the worlds problems. What a great time! We bullshitted for hours.
Thanks Claw for a great time!
Glad to hear that brother. Wish I could have been there. Semper Fi.