|
Mike Kingery
An incident in the summer of 1977 exemplifies the extent of the talent, skill, and leadership abilities that would eventually land Kingery in the major leagues. Curtis Eischens, the shortstop on the 1977 Willmar VFW team, teaches at Orono Middle School and remembers a game in Ely, Minnesota. In the first inning of the first game of a doubleheader, Kingery, singled. Seeing a chance to steal, Kingery took second. Kingery then sensed that the pitcher was not watching, so Kingery stole third. Then in a move that most people would look at as “in your face,” Kingery stole home. But, according to Eischens, Kingery was just doing his job. “Mike was just that good,” said Eischens.
After the game Eischens remembers the coach, Elsie Klemmetson, getting on the bus and muttering “Geez, stealing second and third, that’s OK, but stealing home? That was bad. Now they won’t play us.” In fact, according to Steve “Snorkey” Johnson, Ely forfeited the second game rather than play the Willmar team again. - SABR
The before is the old, mislabeled fg ending in -mik.
|