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The Strange Saga of Roy Thomas
When outfielder Roy Thomas was acquired from the Philadelphia
Phillies this spring, he was expected to provide a spark to the
top of the Bears batting order. His bat-handling skills and base
thievery bedeviled National League pitchers at the turn of the
century. Unfortunately, he is now doing the same thing to Bears
management. Thomas has had a series of off-field incidents this
year that have the Bears brass answering a lot of questions, which
usually make the tight-lipped Austin family very nervous. In spring
training, Thomas quickly gained a reputation for carousing in
the local Denver watering holes and for enjoying the company of
"a certain kind of woman." While this sort of thing is common
in baseball circles, Thomas is apparently taking it to new heights.
Thomas suffered an inflamed knee in June, allegedly while sliding
into third base. Dancer Gina LaFrance, who works at the Cheetah
lounge on third street, claimed that Thomas was straining to give
her a "gratuity" during her performance, and was then taken outside
by Tiny, the club's bouncer, for some "politeness lessons." Other
stories of odd behavior, have followed Thomas throughout the season,
but were largely discounted- until the bizarre incident last month
during batting practice before the Bears' game with the San Francisco
Locomotives.
Thomas was taking batting practice before the Wednesday afternoon
game, a Bears batboy, Ted Cleaver, 16, was having a conversation
with Locos slugger Wally Post.
Suddenly, according to eyewitnesses, Thomas charged from the cage
and attacked Cleaver. Before stunned bystanders could react, two
local teenagers, identified as George Rutherford, 16, and Edward
Haskell, 18, jumped from the stands a ran to Cleaver's aid. The
four were soon separated by Stadium security. The teenagers were
unhurt, while Thomas, who was arrested, received a black eye and
a split lip.
Batboy Cleaver seemed surprised by Thomas' attack. "I was just
watching Mr. Thomas hit and I wondered why he was hitting funny,"
Cleaver explained. "So I turned to Mr. Post and said, 'Gee Wally,
why's that guy hitting so many foul balls?' Post apparently replied
humorously to the youngster's question, and he began laughing.
This was when Thomas attacked the youth.
Thomas' attorney, Vincent Calzone, put a different spin on the
events. "My client was minding his own business when these ruffians,
these three 'youts' attacked him with malice aforethought." When
the facts come out, I promise you, my client will be seen as a
hero, defending himself against terrible odds."
The league office did not hesitate in disciplining Thomas. "We
cannot tolerate this kind of aggression against the youth of America"
STATS league comissioner John Dewan stated in a press release.
We will make sure this monster is prosecuted to the full extent
of the law."
In a court hearing last week, Thomas pleaded guilty to a charge
of "reckless stupidity" and was given 30 days probation. The league
office, meanwhile, suspended Thomas for seven games, the longest
suspension given for fighting this year in the rough-and-tumble
Panhandle league.
Many league insiders wondered if Thomas would receive more leniency
from the league office, remembering the light treatment Oscar
Charleston received earlier in the year. The Bears front offices
lack of intervention in this case fueled speculation that Thomas
was in owner "Tommy the Animal" Austin's doghouse in view of recent
tabloid stories placing Thomas in the company of team co-owner
Candy Hotcakes at local after-hours nightclubs.
Inside sources on the Bears speculate that Thomas is maneuvering
for a managing job with the organization in the event of a front
office coup, with co-owner Candy Hotcakes ousting her husband
from day-to-day operations.
Third base coach Ken Agard seemed unperturbed by such rumors when
asked last Saturday. "Tell that Humpty if he wants to manage a
ball team he better learn the stinkin' steal sign first."
Denver Picayune,
first edition
Denver Picayune,
third edition
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Roster Moves Cause
Clubhouse Rumbles
New Acquisitions Controversial
Binkley Smith
Picayune staff writer
As the Panhandle West race heats up, the surprising Bears in the
fight of their lives.
Although they have struggled lately, the Bears are just one back
of defending champions California and the always tough Burlingame
Panthers.
The entire division has been very tough this year, with second
division clubs Belmont, Hillcrest, and San Francisco playing tough
ball, conceding nothing to the division leaders.
The Bears have had their troubles in the month of August. A four-game
home set against the California Quakes gave the Bears the opportunity
to lack the race away, but instead they played Santa Claus, allowing
the Quakes to sweep them, losing their four-game lead in a matter
of days.
Although the Bears regrouped from that disaster, taking three
of four from the Quakes at Camden Yards, they continued stumbling,
losing series to perennial nemeses Hillcrest and Belmont, who
are 11-4 and 10-5, respectively, against the Bears this year.
Whiz Kid General Manager Tom Austin III has not been idle during
the stretch drive. He has made several daring and controversial
roster moves last month, with decidedly mixed results. In early
August Austin packaged injured middle reliever Pablo Torrealba
and slumping second baseman Newt Allen and sent them to the San
Antonio Broncos in exchange for fireballing righthander Cyclone
Joe Williams. Ezra Sutton filled in at second base for a week,
when hard-hit pitcher Rube Walberg was traded to the Chicago Cubs
for second baseman/outfielder Riggs Stephenson.
The blockbuster trades were not universally welcomed in Denver.
Heralded fastballer Williams started slowly for the Bears, getting
pounded three times and having four shaky outings before finding
his form. Although second baseman Newt Allen had slumped to a
season-low .207, he was playing stellar second base, leading the
league in fielding percentage and assists. Stephenson, his replacement,
is a solid hitter, but carries and apparently well-deserved reputation
for clanky glove work. Stephenson has lived up to both reputations
as a Bear, hitting a solid .275 with power, but making an unbelievable
seven errors in his second week on the team (Allen had made two
errors all year).
Shortstop Mark Belanger was one of those not happy with the trade.
"Okay, Allen wasn't hitting. Then again, they expected me to hit
.207 and Newt to hit .265. So here I am hitting .265, it seems
they could have given him a little more time." Manager Austin
said that he understood how these players felt. "It really hurts
to give up defense like that, but our offense is sputtering like
a bad barbecue. Riggs will be the lighter fluid at the top of
the lineup."
The trades of Torrealba and Walberg are more typical of the rough
Panhandle world for players. Torrealba had been a bargain find
for the Bears, filling a vital middle relief role at just $16,000
a year. Then he was put on the disabled list and, like so many
other hard luck Panhandlers, was released. There is talk among
the Panhandle players of forming a union, but so far, players
who are too visible organizing are quickly gone, especially on
the Bears, with its ownership's history abrupt "settlements" of
disputes.
Walberg is a more typical case. The $45,000 lefthander was the
Bears' stopper when they were climbing from the cellar in June,
but July found him struggling to find the plate, falling to a
4-8 record. General Manager Austin said he understood that sometimes
pitchers can struggle, but "we're in a race here. I feel sorry
for Rube and his family, but we've got a race to win here." Asked
if he was done constructing the team, Austin only replied, "Stay
tuned...."
Retraction
Last week Milo Bloom, our staff writer, wrote a story implying
that Thomas Austin Sr. had some sort of "unsavory" business connections,
implying some sort of "underworld" ties. We here at the Picayune
feel very strongly about our journalistic ethics, and we understand
how others could feel as strongly about their own reputations.
Accordingly, we extend our deepest apologies to upstanding community
citizen Thomas Austin for any mistaken impressions our most unfortunate
article may have left. Let us further take this opportunity to
laud Austin for the many fine works he has done here in our Denver
community, and extend our heartfelt promise to cover the Austin
family business, and indeed all local stories, with the utmost
in fairness and discretion.
Staff writer Bloom has taken an indefinite leave of absence. |
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