Tuesday, June 12, 2007

R.I.P. Coach

By all accounts, Vern Hoscheit was a hard ass for all time. Baseball could probably use more of those right now.

Coaches like Hoscheit, a part of the staff for the 1986 champs, are a dwindling breed...and unfortunately, that breed is down by one as Hoscheit passed away Monday night at the age of 85 after a long illness.

A story was told recently by the Mets cast of characters in the television booth about how Hoscheit, the bullpen coach, made no exceptions when it came to being on the team bus. "Be on it, or be under it", or something like that. The only way to heaven for Vern, I assume, is on that team bus. Surely, it will be his smoothest ride ever.

May the bullpens in heaven be filled with many tomatoes.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

That was perfect. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Strange what you remember, but I remember Vern being interviewed on TV the day after the '86 team clinched and apparently he called the exact date at the beginning of the year and was the only one to do so.