Читать книгу The Local Boys - Joe Heffron - Страница 13

MARCH 3, 1957–

Major League Career

1983–1985; 1987; 1989; 1991–1994

Time as a Red

1983–1984; 1989

Position

FIRST BASE; THIRD BASE; OUTFIELD

THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE. A cliché, yes, but now and then someone comes along to reaffirm our belief in that power. Take, for example, Cincinnati’s William Henry “Skeeter” Barnes. It took him until the age of 34 to achieve major league success. By that time, when he was called up by the Detroit Tigers, he was playing his 14th minor league season—nearly 1,600 minor league games, more than 6,000 minor league plate appearances.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, he has explained numerous times that his mother gave him the nickname “Skeeter” when he was a baby, just as a term of endearment. For whatever reason, it stuck. After starring at Woodward High School, he earned a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, where he played second base in 1977 and ’78, compiling a .289 batting average—a solid but unspectacular career. The Reds waited until the 16th round to draft him and then sent him to their rookie league team in Billings, Montana, where he slashed a surprising .368/.422/.516. He earned an All-Star selection, despite not having a set position, logging time at every infield spot, as well as in the outfield.

The lack of a primary position dogged him throughout his career and probably slowed his journey to the majors. He also didn’t fit a particular type—a small guy without great speed, thus best suited for a corner infield or outfield position, where teams want a player with power, which Barnes didn’t possess. But after hitting .337 for AAA Indianapolis in 1983, he was finally called up to the Reds, debuting on September 6 at first base against San Francisco. He didn’t get a hit, but he was hit by two pitches, once with the bases loaded, giving him his first major league RBI. He also scored his first run and stole his first base in that game.

He saw limited action for the remainder of the season and found himself back in the minors to start the next one. But he hit well and was called up, this time earlier in the season, but, once again, he struggled in limited playing time. The Reds traded him the following year to Montreal. He spent the next few years bouncing around several organizations, getting just 30 plate appearances in the majors. After he was released in 1988 by the Pirates, the Reds picked him up, sending him to AAA Nashville, where he was a fan favorite and eventually would have his number retired. He managed just three plate appearances with the Reds in 1989, and was granted free agency after the next season.

At the age of 34, most players would read the writing on the wall and begin thinking about another vocation, but Barnes signed on with Detroit. And there, playing for manager Sparky Anderson, he found his place at last. Of course, he still played a lot of positions—primarily the infield and outfield corners—and he was a valued bat off the bench. He enjoyed three good years with the Tigers, finally retiring in 1994 after being released.

Detroit fans loved the garrulous, affable Barnes, who combined gifts for hard work and perseverance with good humor. At every stop in his career, he was seen as a throwback, in part because of his colorful sayings in the dugout or at the batting cage, such as “It’s called catch, not fetch” and “Ya hittin’ today or ya hopin’?” and “Is that Good’s brother out there, No Good?”

After retiring, Barnes worked as a coach in several organizations. Since 2007, he has been a roving instructor in the Tampa Bay Rays’ system.