Warren Sandel (May 16, 1921 – June 12, 1993) was an American baseball player from 1938 to 1952. Most of his playing time was spent at the minor league level. A pitcher, Sandel is best remembered for giving up the first base hit to Jackie Robinson who broke professional baseball's color barrier in 1946 while playing under a minor league contract for the Brooklyn Dodgers.[1]
Sandel signed a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals while he was in high school. He subsequently entered the minor leagues in 1938 as pitcher for the Albuquerque Cardinals, which at the time was a member of the Class DArizona–Texas League.[2] Sandel enjoyed success in his early years. In 1942 he was offered a contract by the Sacramento Solons of the AAAPacific Coast League. Despite being offered a contract that paid him $350 a month, the most he had ever made, and being given a chance to play just one step below the major league level, Sandel was unable to pitch for Sacramento because like many other ball players of his era, his career was interrupted by World War II. Instead of pitching professionally, Sandel served in the Coast Guard from 1943 to 1945. For Sandel, the time was not wasted because the Coast Guard placed him on its San Diego baseball team, where he not only continued pitching but, with the help of fellow players and coaches, finally mastered the curveball.[2]
After his release from military service, Sandel returned to professional baseball and was invited to the New York Giants' 1946 spring training camp. Sandel soon found himself at odds with Mel Ott the Giant's manager, primarily because of Sandel's failure to work hard and take the game seriously.[2]
"I always wanted to have fun and was pretty much a comedian when I pitched. I did a lot of crazy things. One time I went up to bat without a bat ... I always wanted to have fun playing baseball [and] that got me into trouble with Mel Ott ... I knew I wasn't going to last long with him. [Once] Ott came out to the mound and said "When are you going to get serious? When I sent you out here I wanted you to work." I told him the only way I would work [was with] a rake and a shovel [because] I came out here to play ... I was in the minor leagues soon after that."[2] – Interview with Rick Van Blair
Sandel spent the remainder of the 1946 season playing for the minor league Jersey City Giants. After the season was completed, he returned to California to play for the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League, which played a longer schedule than other baseball leagues. In 1947, Sandel was promoted to the major leagues and spent the next two seasons as relief pitcher for the New York Giants. Because relief pitchers were not used regularly in games back in the 1940s, Sandel was often rotated back to the Jersey City team during the season to keep his arm in shape.[2]
Jackie Robinson's first hitedit
Warren Sandel's contribution to baseball would have been largely lost to history if it was not for the fact that he gave up Jackie Robinson's first base hit as a professional player in 1946 when Robinson was a member of the Montreal Royals, a minor league team associated with the Brooklyn Dodgers.[1][3] The hit occurred on April 18, 1946, opening day for both the Jersey City Giants and the Royals. Both teams were members of the AAA International League. The Jersey City stadium was filled to capacity by fans who were well aware that the game would feature the first black professional baseball player playing with, and against, a team of white players.
During Robinson's spring training with the Dodgers, he had been hit repeatedly by white pitchers when he stepped to the plate. Many expected the same to occur in Jersey City. But Sandel had played against Robinson, also a Californian, in baseball games on the west coast and harbored no ill feelings toward him. After the first several pitches were thrown and the count ran to 2–1, Dick Bouknight, the Giants catcher, walked to the mound and demanded to know if Sandell was going to throw at Robinson. Sandel refused. After running up a 3-2 count, Robinson ground out harmlessly to the shortstop.[1][2]
Robinson's next at bat came in the third inning with two runners on base. After Sandel detected a sign that Robinson was likely to bunt, Sandel placed the ball over the plate and moved forward expecting to field the ball. But Robinson swung away and hit a line drive that easily cleared the left field wall resulting in his first professional base hit: a three-run home run.[1][4]
For both professional baseball as well as society it was a historic moment when Robinson crossed the plate and reached out to the offered handshake of white teammate George Shuba. The event was captured in photos that have been frequently published over the years.[5][6]
"When he crossed the plate, he was warmly greeted by his teammates. Suddenly, color was no longer important in the Montreal dugout. The cloud that had enveloped the Canadian team for two months suddenly vanished. Now it was only skill that counted."[7]
Looking back on his careeredit
After Sandel was released by the Giants, he returned to the minor leagues and pitched in California until 1952 when he retired from baseball.[8]
"I liked to say that I had a million dollar arm and a ten cent head. As I look back on my career I do regret that I wasn't more serious. I wish I had taken the game more serious because I know I could have done a lot better. But I do have the memories. A lot of guys I played with and against are now scouts for major league teams and we stay in touch from time to time. I made a lot of friends and had a lot of fun." - Interview with Rick Van Blair[2]
Referencesedit
^ abcdWeintraub, Robert (2013) The Victory Season: The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball's Golden Age. New York: Little, Brown & Company. ISBN978-0-316-20591-7.
^ abcdefgVan Blair, Rick (1994) Dugout to Foxhole: Interviews with Baseball Players Whose Careers Were Affected by World War II. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, pages 180-191
^Christopher, Matt (2006) Jackie Robinson - Legends in Sports. New York: Hatchette Book Group
^Tygiel, Jules (1983) Baseball's Great Experiment: Jackie Robinson and His Legacy. New York: Oxford University Press, page 5.
^Anderson, Dave (April 17, 2006) "Sports of The Times; A Simple, Silent Moment In Baseball History". The New York Times. Retrieved June 6, 2013 [1]
^"Having a hand in baseball history". The Chicago Tribune. April 17, 2006.
^McNeil, William F. (2001) The Dodgers Encyclopedia. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing, page 354
^"Warren Sandel" BaseballReference.com. Retrieved June 11, 2013
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
January 01, 1970
warren, sandel, 1921, june, 1993, american, baseball, player, from, 1938, 1952, most, playing, time, spent, minor, league, level, pitcher, sandel, best, remembered, giving, first, base, jackie, robinson, broke, professional, baseball, color, barrier, 1946, whi. Warren Sandel May 16 1921 June 12 1993 was an American baseball player from 1938 to 1952 Most of his playing time was spent at the minor league level A pitcher Sandel is best remembered for giving up the first base hit to Jackie Robinson who broke professional baseball s color barrier in 1946 while playing under a minor league contract for the Brooklyn Dodgers 1 Warren SandelPitcherBorn 1921 05 16 May 16 1921St Louis MissouriDied June 12 1993 1993 06 12 aged 72 Batted LeftThrew LeftMinor League statisticsWin loss record87 76W L 534Earned run average3 93TeamsAlbuquerque Cardinals 1939 Pocatello Cardinals 1939 1940 Sacramento Solons 1940 Fresno Cardinals 1941 Jacksonville Tars 1942 Jersey City Giants 1942 Spokane Indians 1942 Jersey City Giants 1946 Hollywood Stars 1946 Stockton Ports 1949 Los Angeles Angels Pacific Coast League 1949 Fresno Cardinals 1950 1951 Hollywood Stars 1952 Contents 1 Professional career 2 Jackie Robinson s first hit 3 Looking back on his career 4 References 5 External linksProfessional career editSandel signed a professional contract with the St Louis Cardinals while he was in high school He subsequently entered the minor leagues in 1938 as pitcher for the Albuquerque Cardinals which at the time was a member of the Class D Arizona Texas League 2 Sandel enjoyed success in his early years In 1942 he was offered a contract by the Sacramento Solons of the AAA Pacific Coast League Despite being offered a contract that paid him 350 a month the most he had ever made and being given a chance to play just one step below the major league level Sandel was unable to pitch for Sacramento because like many other ball players of his era his career was interrupted by World War II Instead of pitching professionally Sandel served in the Coast Guard from 1943 to 1945 For Sandel the time was not wasted because the Coast Guard placed him on its San Diego baseball team where he not only continued pitching but with the help of fellow players and coaches finally mastered the curveball 2 After his release from military service Sandel returned to professional baseball and was invited to the New York Giants 1946 spring training camp Sandel soon found himself at odds with Mel Ott the Giant s manager primarily because of Sandel s failure to work hard and take the game seriously 2 I always wanted to have fun and was pretty much a comedian when I pitched I did a lot of crazy things One time I went up to bat without a bat I always wanted to have fun playing baseball and that got me into trouble with Mel Ott I knew I wasn t going to last long with him Once Ott came out to the mound and said When are you going to get serious When I sent you out here I wanted you to work I told him the only way I would work was with a rake and a shovel because I came out here to play I was in the minor leagues soon after that 2 Interview with Rick Van Blair Sandel spent the remainder of the 1946 season playing for the minor league Jersey City Giants After the season was completed he returned to California to play for the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League which played a longer schedule than other baseball leagues In 1947 Sandel was promoted to the major leagues and spent the next two seasons as relief pitcher for the New York Giants Because relief pitchers were not used regularly in games back in the 1940s Sandel was often rotated back to the Jersey City team during the season to keep his arm in shape 2 Jackie Robinson s first hit editWarren Sandel s contribution to baseball would have been largely lost to history if it was not for the fact that he gave up Jackie Robinson s first base hit as a professional player in 1946 when Robinson was a member of the Montreal Royals a minor league team associated with the Brooklyn Dodgers 1 3 The hit occurred on April 18 1946 opening day for both the Jersey City Giants and the Royals Both teams were members of the AAA International League The Jersey City stadium was filled to capacity by fans who were well aware that the game would feature the first black professional baseball player playing with and against a team of white players During Robinson s spring training with the Dodgers he had been hit repeatedly by white pitchers when he stepped to the plate Many expected the same to occur in Jersey City But Sandel had played against Robinson also a Californian in baseball games on the west coast and harbored no ill feelings toward him After the first several pitches were thrown and the count ran to 2 1 Dick Bouknight the Giants catcher walked to the mound and demanded to know if Sandell was going to throw at Robinson Sandel refused After running up a 3 2 count Robinson ground out harmlessly to the shortstop 1 2 Robinson s next at bat came in the third inning with two runners on base After Sandel detected a sign that Robinson was likely to bunt Sandel placed the ball over the plate and moved forward expecting to field the ball But Robinson swung away and hit a line drive that easily cleared the left field wall resulting in his first professional base hit a three run home run 1 4 For both professional baseball as well as society it was a historic moment when Robinson crossed the plate and reached out to the offered handshake of white teammate George Shuba The event was captured in photos that have been frequently published over the years 5 6 When he crossed the plate he was warmly greeted by his teammates Suddenly color was no longer important in the Montreal dugout The cloud that had enveloped the Canadian team for two months suddenly vanished Now it was only skill that counted 7 Looking back on his career editAfter Sandel was released by the Giants he returned to the minor leagues and pitched in California until 1952 when he retired from baseball 8 I liked to say that I had a million dollar arm and a ten cent head As I look back on my career I do regret that I wasn t more serious I wish I had taken the game more serious because I know I could have done a lot better But I do have the memories A lot of guys I played with and against are now scouts for major league teams and we stay in touch from time to time I made a lot of friends and had a lot of fun Interview with Rick Van Blair 2 References edit a b c d Weintraub Robert 2013 The Victory Season The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball s Golden Age New York Little Brown amp Company ISBN 978 0 316 20591 7 a b c d e f g Van Blair Rick 1994 Dugout to Foxhole Interviews with Baseball Players Whose Careers Were Affected by World War II Jefferson North Carolina McFarland amp Company pages 180 191 Christopher Matt 2006 Jackie Robinson Legends in Sports New York Hatchette Book Group Tygiel Jules 1983 Baseball s Great Experiment Jackie Robinson and His Legacy New York Oxford University Press page 5 Anderson Dave April 17 2006 Sports of The Times A Simple Silent Moment In Baseball History The New York Times Retrieved June 6 2013 1 Having a hand in baseball history The Chicago Tribune April 17 2006 McNeil William F 2001 The Dodgers Encyclopedia Champaign Illinois Sports Publishing page 354 Warren Sandel BaseballReference com Retrieved June 11 2013External links editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference Minors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Warren Sandel amp oldid 1057389161, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
