Memories of those summers and of the dozens of visits that followed came back to him as he turned right onto Lincoln and pulled up to the white frame house on the corner, the one with a home plate for a doormat. He had walked through that front door so many times that he was as familiar with it as he was with his own home. He greeted Pat, the woman whose irrepressible spirit had nurtured him as well, and then he headed up the oak stairs.
He made it just in time to see Merl, who always ended his phone calls to Smith with, “I love you, man.” Merl had been in and out of consciousness and not really able to hold a conversation for days. “You don’t know what to say and sometimes it’s not about saying anything as much as it is just being there,” Smith said. The old coach looked up at his most famous player and managed a broad smile. “Hey, Oz, good to see you,” Merl said.
It was one of the last conscious moments of Merl’s life. He died five days later, at 4:30 in the morning. Pat contacted family members who weren’t there, and they gathered for an embrace. Later they sat around the kitchen table to discuss what to do about the A’s doubleheader that night. There was really no doubt. The games went on.
Afterword
YOU STILL FEEL Merl Eberly at Municipal Stadium. You still see what he built. There is the press stand that always needs another coat of paint after a harsh Iowa winter. There are the advertisements, lining the outfield fence, for Hy-Vee, the grocery store, and Ding’s Honk ’n’ Holler, a drive-up beverage store. There is the scoreboard, finally, a newer electronic version that Merl had made a minor obsession. There is the sign that now proclaims MUNICIPAL STADIUM, HOME OF EBERLY FIELD, so that Merl’s name will always be associated with the place. Beyond the right-field fence, there is corn in the even-numbered years, soybeans in the odd ones. There are rectangular plaques on the side of the concession stand to honor the A’s who made it to the major leagues—three dozen and counting. Another sign honors the 1981 champions, listing each player and his college. And now there is the bronze bust of Merl that Ozzie Smith commissioned and presented to the Eberly family, a work of art at Merl’s field.
Smith surprised Pat and her family with the bust at the A’s annual Hall of Fame Banquet in 2012. A family not readily given to tears let them pour forth. The bust is an extraordinary likeness of Merl, smiling, wearing a Clarinda A’s baseball hat. “I knew it would be something that would live on forever,” Smith told the Herald-Journal. “I knew it was something that Mrs. E and Ryan and the whole family would love. I wanted them to have a place to go where they could touch and feel it, and hopefully preserve some history.”
For Smith, the Eberlys remain a pleasant bridge to his past and an important part of his present. Sitting in the Eberlys’ family room in a recliner, he said, “All you have to do is come here. It’s home. They made us all feel like part of the family. It was always open. There was love among their family that all of us wish and hope for in our own lives.”
On January 5, 2013, at the American Baseball Coaches Association convention, Pat walked as the lone woman in a long line of men whose work in the game was to be honored. All of her children were there, her three sons (looking somewhat uncomfortable wearing suits), her three daughters, her oldest grandson, B.J., his brother Johnny, and her youngest, Cooper.
Tim Corbin, the head coach at Vanderbilt, introduced Pat to receive the association’s Meritorious Service Award on behalf of her late husband. It was an honor that had gone to Mike Scioscia and Dave Winfield the year before, and to Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripken Jr. in prior years. Merl Eberly, a man little known outside his hometown save in the larger fraternity of baseball, was in rarefied company. Now his name was listed among legends of the game. He hadn’t been much for ceremony, but he certainly would have enjoyed this.
One of his former players, Stacey Burkey, was in the audience as a coach in his twenty-fifth year at Three Rivers College. When he was playing in Clarinda, Burkey said he was always trying to make an impression so Merl “would say something to me.” Merl was never too high or too low on the field, and Burkey had tried to adopt that approach. Merl advised him to always show his players that he cared about them. “They will put out a full effort if they know you care,” Merl told him. He finds himself exhorting his players just as Merl did. “Hobby Dobby!”
Pat rose to speak, uncomfortable at first, uncharacteristically emotional in front of several thousand coaches, but she soon righted herself. “Coaches played a very big part in his becoming the man that he did,” Pat said. The message Merl took from sports, she said, was to “try to be a little better person tomorrow than you are today. Care for and respect others, and whatever you do, do it with passion and for the right reasons.
“This is the first time I have been able to publicly thank you, the coaches who sent us the boys of summer . . . you are not just teaching athletic skills. You are touching the lives of young men in so many other ways, and as he did, please continue to pay it forward.”
A number of people in Clarinda doubted that the A’s could survive Merl’s death, and more than a few questioned whether Ryan could handle the manager duties. But there Ryan is, night after night, hitting ground balls, throwing batting practice, coaching third base. In 2013 the Clarinda A’s won the MINK League title, and Ryan Eberly was named Manager of the Year.
Pat and her family will try to keep the A’s going for as long as there are players eager to play summer ball and fans eager to watch them.
Acknowledgments
This book could not have happened without Pat Eberly, one of the most relentlessly optimistic people I have ever met. Her help on the book, as researcher, broker of contacts, fact-checker, and provider of invaluable photos and archives, enlivens almost every page. She has been even more vital to the success of the Clarinda A’s.
The other person essential to this book is my son Lee, whose own journey through Clarinda showed me up close what a special place it is. My wife Julie remains my most critical and helpful editor, a life partner in every sense whose Iowa roots gave me a special connection. My daughter Kate provided constant encouragement and never stopped believing in the story’s potential.
My sisters, Mary Ann Wildman and Barbara Vetor, both teachers, were helpful readers, and my eagle-eyed mother-in-law, Jean Carey, was invaluable as well.
So many former A’s players were generous with their time and provided such rich detail that made this baseball era vivid. I am particularly indebted to Ozzie Smith, Von Hayes, Buddy Black, Darrell Miller, Andy Benes, Jamey Carroll, Cal Eldred and Andrew Cashner. The A’s proved that baseball also is a family, and the many members of the A’s family—both in Clarinda and around the country—helped me complete the story. The people of Clarinda also helped me understand their town and why the A’s were such an integral part of it. The Devoe family will always hold a place in our hearts.
I must also single out my great friend James Warren, who knows this manuscript at least as well as I do and whose care, time, and editing talent took the story to another level. Others who helped me shape the book include Wes Kosova, who was the inspiration for the title, David Maraniss, whose insight shaped the narrative arc, and Amanda Bennett, who pushed me to take on this project. Many others provided wonderful feedback, including Phil Mattingly, Luke Albee, Jeff Zeleny, Jim Clark, Kerry Luft, Mark Rohner, and Evan Osnos. Thank you also to Nell Minow, who offered encouragement when it was needed most.
This book would not have been launched without the peerless professionalism of David Black and his colleague David Larabell, who took a chance on a first-time author and found this book a great home at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where I owe a great debt to a sparkling editor, Susan Canavan. Her careful eye and wise counsel elevated the story at almost every turn.
I only met Merl Eberly once, long enough to shake his hand and say thank you. I hope this book honors the man, the town, and the team.
Index
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X |
Y | Z
A
Alaska, 26–29
Alaska League, 99, 112
All-American, 69, 128, 137, 187
Allen, Paul, 23
All-Star, 2, 89, 126, 143
Alvarez, Jose, 5, 6, 13
Alvarez, Seve, 6
American Baseball Coaches Association, 23–24, 73, 75, 81, 239–40
American League, 143
American Legion, 148
Anchorage Glacier Pilots, 27–28
Angelina College, 10, 112
Arbuckle, Mike, 160, 181, 218–19
Ascherl, Alan, 95, 97, 105–6, 108–9
Ascherl, Rebecca, 109
Atlanta Braves, 6, 13
awards, baseball, 32, 67, 144, 159, 239
A&W Drive-In, 38, 50
B
Baggott, Dave, 123–24
Bailey, Lottie, 50
Baker, Vernon J., 47–48, 236
Baltimore Orioles, 16, 55
Banks, Duane, 81–82, 128, 133, 135, 137–38
Barchus, Lawrence, 229
baseball fields, 28, 56–57, 102–5, 158. See also Municipal Stadium
Baseball Hall of Fame, 2–3, 16, 67, 73, 158, 235, 236
baseball industry
career in (See steps to professional ball)
contract issues, 80, 144, 200
dominated by money, xiv, 76, 165
major leagues, 159, 161, 164, 173
personal costs, 136
rise in popularity, 53–54, 55
spring training, 60, 67, 143, 160, 180, 201, 214
Basketball Hall of Fame, 92
bats
fungo, 18, 147, 172
Louisville Slugger, 68
metal, 104, 151, 152
wooden, xi, xvi, 130, 151
Bench, Allan, 68
Bench, Bill, 49
Benes, Andy, 127, 129–33, 134–35, 142–43, 148
Benes, Jennifer, 129
Bergan Mercy Hospital, 223
“Beyond the Field” (song), 14
bingo, baseball, 173
Black, Buddy, 2, 78, 84–86, 110, 138, 141
Blue Goose (team bus), 24, 29, 76, 97, 106, 140, 208–17, 221
Bogdanski, Noel “Bo,” 72, 153, 178–79
Bond, Terry, 70
Bonds, Barry, 101
Boswell, Monty, 71–72
Bradley, George, 181
Brickhouse, Jack, 54
Bridie, Larry, 7, 72, 185, 191–92
Bridie, Shira, 7, 185, 191–92
Briggs, Virgil, 62–63
Brigham Young University, 80
Brockman, Brian, 226–27
Brockman, Laurie, 226–27
Brosius, Scott, 128, 138, 144, 217
Browning, Tom, 200
Brownlee, Jim, 130–31, 132, 148, 157
Brummett, John (son-in-law), 13–14
Buch, Darwin, 29, 97, 103, 106
Bull Durham (movie), 214
Burkey, Stacey, 239–40
C
California Angels, 92, 200
Cal Poly–Pomona, 90
Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo, 16, 31, 73–74
Cal State–Fullerton, 16, 78
Camara, Tony, 87, 203
Cape Cod League, 86, 112, 140, 143, 187
Caray, Harry, 8, 54
Cardinal Canteen, 50–51
Carr, Donny, 176–77
Carroll, Jamey, 11–12, 146–55, 157–61
Carson, Johnny, 45
Carter, Jimmy, 23
Cashner, Andrew, 121, 225–27
Central Illinois Collegiate League, 130
Cerv, Bob, Jr., 24
Cerv, Bob, Sr., 24
Chicago Cubs, 8, 49, 54, 69, 73, 158, 220, 225
Chicago White Sox, 32, 55–60, 118, 136, 144, 161, 181
Chiles, Rich, 100, 101–2
Churchill, Winston, 36
Cincinnati Reds, 83, 149, 200
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), 39–40
Civil War, 41–42
Clarinda, Iowa
baseball field (See Municipal Stadium)
businesses
donations from, 7, 26, 71, 73, 218–19
owned by the Eberlys, 119, 145
where the Eberlys worked, 40 (See also Clarinda Herald-Journal)
See also players, jobs found for
city council, xiv
community values, xiv, 17, 22, 41, 42, 46–47, 218, 236
description, xii, xv, 15, 17, 42, 50, 83, 191
Guntown neighborhood, 45–46
history, xiv, 41–48, 53, 111, 140–41, 142
population, xii, 46
support for the players (See community aspects)
tornado in, 108
town motto, 17, 197
Uptown neighborhood, 46
Clarinda A’s (Clarinda Athletics)
author’s son’s acceptance by, xii, xv
batboys, 27, 84, 138, 155, 193
board of directors, 26, 62, 71–72, 73, 172–73, 197, 218
brawls of 1981, 96–97
bus fire, 215–21
Dugout News, 123, 162–63, 165–67, 173, 179–80, 205
Eberly as coach
duration, xiv
job description, 76
loyalty to the team, 96–97
networking skills, 23–24, 31, 72, 73–74, 82, 139
training, 69
working for free, xiv, 139, 153
See also leadership style of Eberly
Eberly as manager
first year as, 64
fund-raising (See Clarinda A’s, financial aspects)
as general manager, 172, 179–80
last season as field manager, 168
philosophy, xiv, 120
success, 64, 107–8, 139
vision and team development, 68–74
See also leadership style of Eberly
Eberly as player, 62–64
enduring relationships, 24, 80, 125–26, 133, 138, 204–7, 219–20, 232
financial aspects
challenges, 10, 26, 70–71, 76, 83, 109, 140–42, 162–63
context, 164–67, 172–74
donations from alumni, 110, 141–42, 163, 219
donations from businesses, 7, 26, 71, 73, 218–19
ticket prices, 111, 163–64
Hall of Fame Banquet, 83–84, 193, 236, 239
lack of star system, 120, 142
life with the, 79–80, 86, 98, 130, 139, 141, 149–50
Merl Speech, 191
name change to, 62
NBC number-one ranking, 29–30
parents’ weekend, 231–32
rules (See rules for the Clarinda A’s)
statistics
1959, 62
1961, 64
1961–1997, 182
1964, 64
1973, 72
1974, 73
1975, 29, 30
1976, 32
1981, 99–100, 106
1987, 138
1994, 153
1997, 170
replacement of lost data, 219
team bus (See Blue Goose)
team dynamics, 81, 95–98
uniforms, powder blue, 7, 97, 101, 103, 171, 199
women’s auxiliary, 173, 178, 197, 218, 231
youth clinic, 232–33
Clarinda Cardinals, 34–35, 48
Clarinda Chamber of Commerce, 218
Clarinda Country Club, 191
Clarinda Herald-Journal, 42
Merl Eberly as staff, 7, 73, 76, 137, 144–45
owned by Woolson, 207
Pat Eberly as staff, 53
sale of the, 230
Clarinda High School
baseball, 14, 17, 49
baseball field (See Municipal Stadium)
football, 34–35, 48
Merl Eberly at, 34–35, 37
Pat Eberly on staff, 53
Tedore as coach, 17, 34–35, 48, 49
track, 11, 48–49, 108, 223
Clarinda Junior Colle
ge, 53. See also Iowa Western Community College
Clarinda Merchants, 53, 54–55, 61–62. See also Clarinda A’s
Clarinda Theater, 50
Clarinda Treatment Complex, 43
Clark, Bill, 83–84, 176, 219
Clark, Jeff, 185, 194, 232
Clarkson Hospital, 223
Clemens, Roger, 101
Cleveland Indians, 88, 200, 204
Clinton, Bill, 47
coaches
annual convention, 23–24, 73–74, 75, 81, 130
diverse skills of, 76
respect for Eberly, 75, 77, 79–83, 102, 133, 139, 151, 239–40
work for free, xiv, 139, 153
College World Series, 58, 69, 124
Colorado Rockies, 160
commercial aspects, xiv, 76, 125, 165
community aspects
annual youth clinic, 232–33
decline in attendance, 163–64, 172–73
importance of NBC World Series, 102–3, 105, 110, 124, 139, 199
“keeping” players (See host families)
support from local businesses, 7, 26, 71, 73, 218–19 (See also players, jobs found for)
team spirit, 17–18, 22, 49, 64, 84, 107–8, 197, 199
Cooperstown, New York. See Baseball Hall of Fame
Corbin, Tim, 239
Costner, Kevin, 78, 112
Cox, Dave (son-in-law), 8
D
Dedeaux, Rod, 89
Dees, Paul, 29
Desjarlais, Paul, 21
Detroit Tigers, 31, 87
Devoe, Allie, 196
Devoe, Jared, 195, 196
Devoe, Jill, xv, 6–7, 185, 194–97
Devoe, Mike, xv, 6, 7, 185, 194–97
Dew Drop Inn, 50
Dietz, Jim, 76–78, 84
Ding’s Honk ’n’ Holler, 238
The Baseball Whisperer Page 23