Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Greatest of the greats

Tuesday, July 15, 2003 | 9:05 a.m.

TONIGHT MILLIONS OF AMERICANS will tune in on the Major League Baseball All-Star game being played in Chicago. If you aren't a baseball fan but are tired of what is being reported from the world of politics and foreign affairs, then take a break and watch the game. If you get hooked when watching today's best players, then tomorrow pick up a baseball book about several past stars.

John McCollister, author of "The Best Baseball Games Ever Played," has written a new book. His "Tales from the Pirates Dugout" is the kind of book that should be written about every major league athletic team. Baseball fans reading his most recent work will encourage the writing of a similar book about their favorite team.

Although the Pittsburgh Pirates haven't been listed among my favorite teams, I have always had a special place in my heart for many individual players. Upon finishing McCollister's book I found myself almost becoming a fan of the Pirates. Actually my loyalty to teams changes with the players I know or have come to admire. Some of the Pirates named by the author fall into these categories. Roberto Clemente, Ralph Kiner, Vernon Law, Dave Parker, Dick Stuart and Willie Stargell are among my favorites.

Upon my return from foreign service in 1948 the name of Vernon Law was popular among Idaho baseball fans. Everybody heard about crooner Bing Crosby, also living in Idaho during the summer months, calling and convincing the Law family that the Pirates would be the team for their son. Bing was a minority owner of the Pirates.

McCollister relates several interesting stories about Law but my favorite follows:

"On July 19, 1955, Vernon Law took the mound against the Milwaukee Braves at Forbes Field following only three days' rest. Originally scheduled to pitch that evening was Ron 'The Callery, PA, Hummer' Kline. A sore shoulder sidelined Kline that evening, so manager Fred Haney asked if Law could fill in. Law agreed, and Manager Haney promised to relieve him if he got tired.

"Law worked all nine innings, allowing just two runs. Unfortunately, that's all the Pirates got as well. Law went out and shut out the Braves in the 10th

And the 11th

And the 12th

And the 13th

And the 14th ... the 15th ... the 16th ... the 17th ... the 18th. An appreciative crowd cheered Law as he left the mound following the last out in the top of the 18th. They knew they had seen something spectacular. Vernon Law had pitched the equivalent of two complete games in one evening. Nobody had ever come close to equaling that performance in big-league history.

"In the top of the 19th, reliever Bob Friend gave up a run. But the Bucs responded with two in the home half of the inning to eke out a 4-3 win.

"In the next morning's edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, veteran sportswriter Al Abrams wrote, 'He wasn't around when the 4-3 victory was pulled out of the smoldering embers of defeat in the 19th inning, but Vernon Law turned in a performance the equal of which the great pitching titans of the past would have been proud to call their own.' "

The author has several interesting stories about Roberto Clemente, also one of the great athletes to play the game. Among my favorites is the following:

"Cruz tagged up at third and took off for home in a gait somewhat slower than full speed. Big mistake. The large crowd rose to its feet and cheered in anticipation of what was going to happen. Clemente unleashed a cannon-like throw that reached catcher Manny Sanguillen on a fly. Even fans in the cheap seats could see the jovial Sanguillen's bright smile as he held the ball waiting to tag out the unsuspecting Cruz.

"Home plate umpire Harry Wendelstedt signaled the runner out, and Pirates fans screamed with delight.

"Young Frank, still naive to the finer points of baseball, turned to his uncle and asked, 'Is that normal?'

" 'No,' responded his Uncle Benny. 'That was Clemente.' "

If you like baseball, as most Americans do, then some time with "Tales from the Pirates Dugout" will be enjoyable. If only the Cards, Giants, Athletics, Braves and Cubs can convince McCollister to write a book about their history and the players that made it interesting.