Filed under: Cleveland Indians, Lou Brown, Major League, Major League II | Tags: Cleveland Indians, Indians, James Gammon, Lou Brown, Major League, Major League movie
By Joe L. Brown
For www.youhitlikeshit.com
CLEVELAND — Lou Brown, the gravelly voiced manager who led the Cleveland Indians to their first pennant in more than 40 years in 1988 has died after an ongoing battle with cancer. He was 70.
Brown, whose belief in calisthenics, sound un-flashy glove work and downright loathing of contract squabbles, kept him at the helm of the Toledo Mud Hens for 30 years, was hired for the job by General Manager Charlie Donovan, who had been promoted after the death of owner Donald Phelps.
Un-beknownst to Brown and Donovan, owner Rachel Phelps had intended to produce a team worthy of re-locating to Miami, but it was Brown’s daring managerial style and an eclectic mix of veterans and unknown talent like Willie Mays Hayes, Pedro Cerrano and Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn that led the Indians to the AL East title for the first time since 1954.
Brown’s Tribe defeated the New York Yankees in a playoff game on a bunt by catcher Jake Taylor, which meant the team finished with a 93-70 record in his dream season. Brown told reporters that “there are two or three potential all-stars” on his roster, but it was his managing of that talent that was vital for the Tribe’s success. One example? Brown discovered that Vaughn’s wildness was a result of poor eyesight, propelling the former California Penal Leaguer into one of the game’s greatest success stories.
Brown often admitted that he wasn’t “one for inspirational addresses” and he was known for wasting sports writers’ time when they irked him. One of his great thrills in life was a simple one, grilling burgers.
Filed under: Harry Doyle, Jobu, Major League, Major League II, Major League: Back to the Minors, Pedro Cerrano, Roger Dorn | Tags: Cleveland Indians, Corbin Bernsen, Dorn, Harry Doyle, Indians, Lou Brown, Major League, Major League II, Major League movie, Major League: Back to the Minors, Pedro Cerrano, Roger Dorn
Roger Dorn poses with Indians fans before the game. (Image courtesy of http://twitter.com/tribetalk)
Roger Dorn threw out the first pitch today in Cleveland, which also happens to be the 12th anniversary of Major League: Back To The Minors‘ theatrical release.
Harry Doyle said his pitch was juuuuuuust a bit outside, but personally I think his vision is getting bad.
It’s worth noting that Dorn is one of only four Major Leaguers to appear in all three films — him, coach Duke Temple, Pedro Cerrano and Doyle.
— Lou Brown
Filed under: Major League | Tags: 2010 Cleveland Indians Season Preview, baseball, Clevland Indians, Indians, Major League, MLB
Filed under: Jake Taylor, Major League | Tags: baseball, Cleveland Indians, Indians, indians major league movie, Jake Taylor, Lynn Westland, Lynn Westland-Taylor, Major League, MLB, Rene Russo, Tom Berenger
You might have seen these on the Major League “Wild Thing Edition” DVD’s photo gallery but not even realized what they were.
But thanks to Mrs. Taylor’s scrapbook, we’ve gotten a look at a couple of scenes that were cut from the documentary on my 1988 Cleveland Indians — footage lost forever to the cutting room floor.
Above is a snapshot from Jake and Lynn‘s wedding at All Saints on Euclid after the season. Our team saluted the happy couple on their way out of the church. (Interesting note for the game-used baseball bat collectors — my team only used Louisville Sluggers in the movie but you can see some Rawlings bats above.)
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