After Dick Stuart hit 66 home runs and drove in 171 runs for Lincoln Chiefs in the “A” Western League in 1956, he began to add the digits “66” to every autograph. But by the time Stuart was promoted to the Hollywood Stars in 1957, he always signed with a five-point star above his name. What no one could figure out, then or now, is whether the star reflected Stuart’s team or his image of himself.
As Stuart immodestly said after his record breaking season:
If the pitching was better, I would have hit 90 home runs. I had to chase a lot of bad balls to get those 66 homers.
By 1957, the Pirates minor league system was starting to produce high quality prospects. Stuart was considered among the brightest. In his typically brash manner, when he arrived in Hollywood awash in publicity Stuart immediately announced that he would lead the league in homers and RBIs.
At the season’s start, it looked like Stuart would make good on his promise. Playing—of all places—in right field, Stuart took the collar in the season opener of a day-night double header in San Diego. Then, in the night cap, Stuart blasted two homers, one estimated to travel 500 feet which led the Stars to a 14-1 victory. Over the next two games, Stuart smashed three more. But soon after Stuart’s bubble burst. He stopped hitting homers; in fact, he quit hitting singles,too. To complicate matters, Stuart’s fielding—“Dr. Strangeglove”—was atrocious.
By mid-May, Stuart was on his way back to Lincoln via the Atlanta Crackers. Paul Pettit, who after arm trouble had re-invented himself as an outfielder, took Stuart’s place in right and remained there for the season’s balance.
As Hollywood manager Clyde King said to Stuart on his way out the door: “You’re losing me more games with balls hit through your legs than your winning me with home runs.”
Stuart’s Hollywood line: AB 72; BA .236; HR 6; RBI 17
No matter where his managers placed him, and they tried the corner outfield slots as well as first and third base, Stuart couldn’t field. Writing for Sport Magazine in 1962, Larry Merchant summarized Stuart’s glove skills (or, better said, lack of glove skills):
In the outfield, his indifference bordered on contempt. At first base, he resembled a dinosaur egg. Stuart’s trouble—it is theorized—is that he hates all pitchers including his own.
During his brief 13 game stint with the New Orleans Pelicans in the Southern League, Stuart fielded .889.
By 1958, Stuart was in the big leagues to stay first with the Pittsburgh Pirates, then the Boston Red Sox followed by cameos with the Phillies, Mets, Dodgers and Angeles. His major league tenure was full of ups and downs.
Along his way Stuart alienated the Pirates’ brass at every stop—Branch Rickey, Bobby Bragan, coach Dick Sisler and King.
In my next blog, I’ll look at the most famous fielding play that Stuart was ever involved in—while he was sitting on the bench during the 1960 Pirates-New York Yankees seventh game.
As always, I enjoy reading Joe’s work. His blog drags dusty, half-forgotten memories into the light of current day. Kind of like getting lost in a shoebox of old baseball cards…
Stuart sure was a character, famously aware of his image and something of a dandy in terms of wardrobe. Here’s a passage from Jim Bouton’s classic “Ball Four”: … Dick Stuart would smooth his uniform carefully, adjust his cap, tighten his belt and say, “I add 20 points to my average if I know I look bitchin’ out there.”
Also, check out Bouton’s “Ball Four” entry for March 14. There’s a hilarious Stuart anecdote too long for reproduction here.
Stuart also famously claimed that he would have capitalized on hitting a walk-off World Series home run in ways Mazeroski never would have imagined. No one doubted him.
Good article. I remember Dick Stuart very well. One night after he had been on the bench for a number of games due to poor play/hitting, he entered the game as a pinch-hitter at Forbes Field. Some of his fans had a sign along the right field area: “Don’t boo Stew, he’ll come through.” Stuart was announced to a chorus of boos, but the fans holding the sign were cheering. Stuart proceeded to get a single and his sign-holding fans were cheering wildly. On the next pitch, he was picked off first base to an increased chorus of boos!
P.S.
Stuart was a dandy! In fact, I think that was one of his nicknames: “Dandy Dick Stuart.”
Patiently waiting for a good Pacific Coast League story…
Thanks for remembering Dr. Strangeglove!
I read once on Baseball-reference.com that Dick Stuart had a license plate that read “E3.” If that’s true, then it’s a real classic. What can you tell us about his career in Japan?
Larry Merchant is an uber douchebag
Dick Stuart participated in the original “Home Run Derby” TV series back in 1960. Announcer Mark Scott pronounced Stuart’s name as “Stir-it,” suggesting he had more trouble pronouncing Stuart’s name than Stu had fielding ground balls.
Dick Stuart is my favorite player of all time.
He was our HERO! A bunch of kids from Wilkinsburg, Pa( ( 1956-1957) use to sit by 1st base when we could and rooted for “BIG STU). When he was booed, we would stand and and yell positive remarks. He came over once and gave us his autograph and a ball! He was our ( MAIN MAN)!! FrankCuda, along with Jack, and Jimmy.