The Truth Is Out There

"42" has been seen by millions since it opened in theaters, so it's unlikely reality will ever eclipse what Hollywood planted in the public consciousness. Still, the truth about what actually happened between Jackie Robinson and former Pirates pitcher Fritz Ostermueller is spreading.

Fritz Ostermueller's Daughter Talks About "42"

Over the past couple weeks, I've had the pleasure of speaking with Fritz Ostermueller's adopted daughter Sherrill Ostermueller Duesterhaus. She was born in Canonsburg, PA - just outside Pittsburgh - and was adopted just after her birth. She now lives in Joplin, Missouri.

Sherrill learned about the less than flattering (and frankly, inaccurate) portrayal of her father in "42" on the Monday after the film's opening. No one from the studio ever contacted her to inform her that her father would be one of the movie's primary villains opposing Jackie Robinson.

"It's broken my heart," she told me over the phone.

Since our first conversation, Sherrill has seen "42" for herself. She recently put her reaction into words, and posted it as a comment under my previous post on Fritz Ostermueller on this blog. She also shared some press clippings from her personal scrapbook of her father's career. It includes the best evidence I've seen that Ostermueller did not hit Jackie Robinson with a pitch out of malice.

I've become very invested and passionate about Fritz Ostermueller, and how he's portrayed in "42". However, I could never speak or write with the same honest and heartfelt emotion as his daughter does. The man she knew was not a racist. He was a good man. A great father. Now, she's taken up what she calls her duty to defend his good name.

"42" Trailer #2: Forbes Field In Its Glory!

The new trailer for "42", the biopic on Jackie Robinson, has made its debut online. The first trailer was spectacular, and it really got my wheels turning. My interest was peaked by a scene in which Robinson is hit in the head by a ball thrown by a Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher. It's pretty vile, and we get to see more of it in the second trailer. Take a look.

It's now well-established that the Pirates pitcher portrayed in "42" is a real person. His name is Fritz Ostermueller. In this new trailer we see more of a confrontation between Ostermueller and Robinson, and there's even some dialogue. Here's a fresh collection of screen grabs. You can check out the shot by shot analysis I did for the first trailer here.

"You don't belong here, and you never will."

 Jackie Robinson batting at Forbes Field in 1947, his rookie season. This is the first in a series of shots from the Forbes Field scene that we saw in the first trailer.

Ostermueller delivers a pitch. Look at the detail in the scenery behind him. The scoreboard looks perfect. Just beyond it, you can see part of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

The ball hits Robinson square in the head.

This did happen in real life. Robinson has hit by a pitch thrown by Ostermueller during a game at Forbes Field in 1947, but the circumstances in "42" appear to be much different, and quite frankly, fabricated. One account I found of the game indicates it was most likely an accident. The report says Ostermueller apologized to Robinson through a teammate later in the game.

This new trailer for "42" suggests Robinson later gets his revenge against Ostermueller.

Robinson drives the ball to left in this gorgeous shot. It looks like it could be a home run. That would be interesting because Robinson didn't record an extra base hit at Forbes Field during his rookie year. Again, the details of Forbes Field are incredible, especially the buildings beyond the outfield wall.

Robinson makes a face. 

Ostermueller makes a face. 

This a new shot that was not in the first "42" trailer, and it may be the most remarkable one yet from the Forbes Field scene. You can clearly see the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus.

There's little doubt in the my mind that "42" will include the most detailed and accurate recreation of Forbes Field ever put to film. It's almost mind-blowing to see just the handful of shots in the first couple trailers. What makes it all the more remarkable is that Forbes Field probably plays little more than a cameo role in the movie.

In both trailers there are also scenes at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field which look just as gorgeous. I can imagine more than a few longtime Dodgers fans will be welling up when they see it on the big screen. For Pirates fans, seeing the old "House of Thrills" in recreated with such care and attention to detail is going to be a great treat.

The "42" Trailer: Shot By Shot

We now present an even closer examination of the series of events that apparently depicts a Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher beaning Jackie Robinson in the head during the trailer for the movie "42". Fritz Ostermueller is the culprit. We know this from newspaper reports on the filming in Birmingham, Alabama earlier this year. However, Ostermueller may not be the only Pirates pitcher shown. There may be someone else. Watch the trailer one more time. The initial sequence of events involving the Pirates begins around the 1:00 mark of the trailer.

Now, let's take a closer look at the sequence of shots involving the Pittsburgh Pirates.

This is the first Pirates pitcher we see in the trailer for "42", but it may not be Fritz Ostermueller.

The next shot shows Jackie Robinson in a Montreal Royals uniform, but it appears this is from another scene.

That's because the next shot is most certainly Robinson in a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform. You can see the loop of the "g" just under his left arm. 

The cutaway during the swing shows that we are at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. You can see the iconic scoreboard in left field. It is 1947, Robinson's rookie season.

Looks like a home run, even though records show Robinson didn't have any extra base hits during his first series as a Dodger at Forbes Field. Regardless, Robinson casually tosses aside his bat. The #21 on the back of the pitcher's uniform is the clue that led us to discover that the character is real-life Pirates pitcher, Fritz Ostermueller.

The next shot shows that Ostermueller is not amused. He is played by actor Linc Hand. Also, look at the attention to detail in this shot. You can see the roof of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History over the left field wall in the background. The scene was shot at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. There is no such building there in real life. It was added during post-production.

At this point, the trailer goes off on a bit of a tangent. It returns to the scene seconds later.

A Pirates pitcher delivers. Is it Fritz Ostermueller, or someone else? Compare the pitcher in this shot to the one we know is Ostermueller in the shot directly above. To me, it looks like someone else. Specifically, it looks like the pitcher in the very first shot at the top of this article.

The pitch is traveling directly at Jackie Robinson's head.

Not.

Good.

Certainly not trying to make light of the situation. The trailer shows the ball striking Robinson directly in the head. That contradicts at least one report from the time, which stated that Robinson appeared to get his arm up to protect his face. Perhaps the reporter meant to say that Robinson tried to get his arm up to protect himself, but was unable to do so.

As far as a second Pirates pitcher, I'm not sure what to believe. It makes sense for it to be Ostermueller alone. Perhaps I'm looking too closely. Take a look for yourself and share your own feedback. It's always appreciated. Thanks for reading.

Who's That In The "42" Trailer?

I had heard some good things about the trailer for "42", the upcoming Jackie Robinson biopic.

Then, I watched it. You should too. It's really cool. The fun for Pirates fans begins at the 1:00 mark.

My first reaction: Oh boy! Meet the most evil player in the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates!

I think Warner Bros. must have missed the memo stating that only the New York Yankees are
to be used as the embodiment of pure evil in major motion pictures about baseball.

Who is that pitcher seen beaning Jackie Robinson in the head? Did this really happen?

The trailer provides us with the clue we need. When the pitcher turns his back you can clearly see his jersey #21. It didn't take long to learn the mystery pitcher being portrayed on screen is a real person.

Fritz Ostermueller pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1944-1948. Over those five season the southpaw started 106 games, posting a 49-42 record and a 3.48 ERA. It was the final stop of his 15 year career, that previously included time with Branch Rickey's Brooklyn Dodgers.

The actor playing Ostermueller in "42" is Linc Hand. The beaning scene was filmed in Birmingham, Alabama earlier this year. A local newspaper reported on Hand's role, and added a few details on the scene we see in the trailer.

Ostermueller hit Robinson with a pitch early in his groundbreaking rookie season and was also on the mound in June 1947 when Robinson led his team to a 4-2 victory against the Pirates by stealing home.

A quick look at Baseball Reference located the first game referenced in the article.

On May 17, 1947, Ostermueller scattered 12 Dodger hits in a complete game shutout victory at Forbes Field. The Pirates scored 4 runs on 4 hits to create the winning margin. The box score shows Robinson went 2-4, and was hit by a pitch, the fourth HPB of the season for him.

Was the incident as violent and mean-spirited as it appears in the "42" trailer? The 2008 book, "Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season", includes the original reporting of the game by the Pittsburgh Courier's Wendell Smith.

...pitcher Fritz Ostermueller threw a fastball up and in. Robinson, unable to duck it in time, raised his arm to protect his face and fell to the ground. 

"When the ball hit him a deathly silence hovered over the entire park," Smith wrote. "Jackie was on the ground grimiacing in pain." The Dodger bench emptied as teammates checked to see if he was all right. As soon as Robinson got up and ran to first, some of his teammates began shouting threats at Ostermueller. 

Though the taunting was profane, Smith interpreted the Dodgers' attacks on the pitcher as "expressions of their regard for Robinson." Later in the game, Frankie Gustine singled and went to first, where he apologized to Robinson on Ostermueller's behalf. "I'm sure he didn't mean it," Gustine told Robinson, adding that he, too, was happy to see the rookie getting on well in the big leagues.

The trailer seems to indicate that the beaning incident involving Ostermueller is some kind of retaliation against Robinson, but there's nothing I can find to support that being the case.

The box score for the game on the Retrosheet website shows Robinson was hit by the pitch in the top of the first inning, after the Dodgers lead-off man had grounded out. It's Robinson's rookie year, and the first series of the season between the Dodgers and Pirates. Safe to assume, Jackie Robinson and Fritz Ostermueller had never faced one another on the diamond previously. Smith's report also indicates that Ostermueller was apologetic after the incident.

Most of us understand that any movie based on actual events is going to take some liberties with the truth in the interest of pacing or simply telling a better story. However, if Fritz Ostermueller is indeed portrayed as a  villain in "42", I wonder if it would have been better to simply make up a fictional name for the Pirates pitcher who beans Robinson.

Honestly, I had never heard the name Fritz Ostermueller until my curiosity about the "42" trailer led me to him. I'm now wondering how much the line between truth and fiction is blurred in this movie. Whether a forgotten, yet successful, Pirates pitcher from the past is having his name dragged back into the spotlight for the wrong reason.

Swinging And Rarely Missing

It was recently brought to my attention that Arky Vaughan struck out only 276 times in his 6,662 career at-bats. For a little perspective, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Drew Stubbs led all of Major League Baseball in strikeouts in 2011 with 205. Back when Vaughan was playing, it was rare for a hitter to record more than 100 strikeouts in a single season. Still, Vaughan's ability over his career to put balls in play and get on base puts him in some exclusive company. Somewhat surprisingly, that company is littered with other greats who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Here's a lovely table of all-time leaders in strikeout percentage compiled by Baseball-Almanac.

1. Joe Sewell - 1.6
2. Lloyd Waner - 2.2
3. Nellie Fox - 2.3
4. Tommy Holmes - 2.4
5. Andy High - 3.0
6. Sam Rice - 3.0
7. Frankie Frisch - 3.0
8. Dale Mitchell - 3.0
9. Johnny Cooney - 3.2
10. Frank McCormick - 3.3
11. Don Mueller - 3.3
12. Billy Southworth - 3.4
13. Rip Radcliff - 3.5
14. Edd Roush - 3.5
15. Pie Traynor - 3.7
16. Doc Cramer - 3.8
17. Carson Bigbee - 3.8
18. George Sisler - 4.0
19. Paul Waner - 4.0
20. Sparky Adams - 4.0
21. Lou Finney - 4.0
22. Irish Meusel - 4.1
23. Red Schoendienst - 4.1
24. Vic Power - 4.1
25. Arky Vaughan - 4.2

Out of the 25 players on this list, 5 played a majority of their career with the Pittsburgh Pirates - Lloyd Waner, Pie Traynor, Carson Bigbee, Paul Waner and Vaughan. There's a virtual tie when it comes to the career of Billy Southworth, between the Pirates and the Boston Braves.

That's 6 Pirates on this list of some of the all-time toughest hitters to strike out. The tie for distant second place is shared by four franchises, with three players each - the Boston Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants and Philadelphia Athletics.

What's interesting about the former Pirates on this list other than Vaughan is the fact that their careers all intersected as the franchise was building up the team that won the World Series in 1925 and the National League pennant in 1927.

There were a lot of interesting things that happened as the Pittsburgh Pirates roster evolved during the 1920's. I'm finishing up a full post on that which should be published in the near future. In the meantime, enjoy the fact that a bunch of Pirates hitters during the 1920's were historically difficult to strike out.

The Best Hitting Shortstops Of All Time

Offensively, Arky Vaughan is one of the greatest shortstops in baseball history. Statistics show him to be second only to Honus Wagner himself. We're not just talking about the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates. We're talking about the history of baseball. In a time when pitchers and hitters competed on a more even playing field, Vaughan excelled. When looking at his career, only a handful of players at the shortstop position can compare.


Career Batting Average
1. Honus Wagner - .327
2. Arky Vaughan - .318
3. Derek Jeter - .313

Career On-Base Precentage
1. Arky Vaughan - .406
2. Luke Appling - .399
3. Honus Wagner - .391

Career On-Base Plus Slugging
1. Nomar Garciaparra - .882
2. Arky Vaughan - .859
3. Joe Cronin - .857

"Baseball's Most Superbly Forgotten Man"

The debate over who is the greatest shortstop in baseball history begins at second place.  Honus Wagner has held an unimpeachable grip on the title for nearly a century.  Over that time, it seems the appreciation for The Flying Dutchman's playing career has only grown.

However, in many ways the shortstop Wagner mentored during his years as a coach on the Pirates staff was his equal.  In others, he was superior.  But despite his brilliant play, there is no statue erected in his honor.  There is no baseball card that has become an icon in the world of sports memorabilia.  There are only the statistics from a remarkable baseball career, the anecdotes of a quiet man not interested in personal fame and the tragedy that he had such little time to reflect on what he accomplished.

In 1999, the Pittsburgh Pirates, in cooperation with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, invited baseball fans to vote for their Pirates Team of the Century.  Over 14,000 fan ballots were received.  Honus Wagner was the clear choice at shortstop with 11,106 votes.  Trailing far behind were Dick Groat and Jay Bell, with 951 and 937 votes respectively.  Out of more than 14,000 ballots sent in by Pittsburgh sports fans, Arky Vaughan received a meager 264 votes.

But why would anyone expect any other result?  The New York sports columnist Red Smith, at one time the most popular in the country, once described Vaughan as "baseball's most superbly forgotten man."

Arky Vaughan was a baseball prodigy. He entered the major leagues at the age of 20.  By the time he was 23, he was a National League batting champion, but that's just part of the story of one of the best seasons for a hitter in baseball history.

Arky Vaughan's batting average in 1935 was .385, the highest ever by a National League shortstop. His on-base percentage (.491) and OPS (1.098) still stand as single season records for a shortstop in Major League Baseball.  Vaughan's adjusted OPS+ of 190 in 1935 is one of the top 100 in baseball history, on par with the best seasons of Albert Pujols' career.  The Sporting News recognized the greatness of Vaughan's season, naming him National League Most Valuable Player.

Vaughan was an All-Star in 9 consecutive seasons (1934-1942), and he excelled against the best the game had to offer.  In 1941, he became the first player to hit 2 home runs in a single All-Star Game, and he hit them when it mattered the most.  His first was a two-run homer in the 7th inning that lifted the National League to a 3-2 lead.  He extended the lead with another two-run home run with 2 outs in the top of the 8th.  Not many people remember Vaughan's brilliant day.  It was overshadowed for all time when Ted Williams hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 9th to win the game for the American League, 7-5.

Despite his individual success, Arky Vaughan never reached the postseason while playing for the Pirates, although it appeared the stars had aligned in 1938.  The Pirates led the Chicago Cubs by seven games on September 4.  By the end of the month, the Cubs were within half a game of the Pirates.  On September 28, 1938, the most famous home run in Cubs history struck down the Pirates' postseason dreams.  With the game tied 5-5 with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, Gabby Hartnett hit his "Homer In The Gloamin'", a blast into the Wrigley Field night.  Three days later, Chicago had won the National League by two games.  The Pirates' September collapse is considered one of the worst in baseball history.

1941 was Arky Vaughan's last season with the Pirates. He was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers that offseason.  There, he clashed with manager Leo Durocher while standing up for a teammate.  The dispute nearly resulted in the Dodgers team sitting out a game in 1942.  The following season, Vaughan led the National League in stolen bases for the first time in his career.  He was also the league leader in runs scored.  He played one more season and then retired at the unthinkably young age of 31.

Vaughan only came out of retirement for the Dodgers after Durocher was suspended.  His play in his final two major league seasons didn't meet the lofty standards he had set before his retirement, but it did pay off in one way.  Vaughan reached his first and only World Series with the Dodgers in 1947. He was used as a pinch-hitter in 3 games.  The Dodgers fell to the New York Yankees.  Vaughan played in the Pacific Coast League in 1949.  Then, he retired for good.

Three years later, Arky Vaughan was dead.  He was fishing with a friend on Lost Lake, near a ranch he owned in Eagleville, California.  It was nowhere near the bustle of the West Coast, tucked away along the Nevada border.  Vaughan's friend stood up to cast his line.  The boat capsized.  Both men drowned.  Arky Vaughan, by almost every measure the greatest shortstop the game of baseball had seen since Honus Wagner, was suddenly, tragically dead at the age of 40.

The Fullerton Daily News Tribune published Arky Vaughan's obituary the following day, and seemed to capture perfectly the essence of who he was, and why his career has been underappreciated for decades.

"He lacked only one thing--a colorful personality. Those who knew him best believe he would have been one of the game's greatest heroes had he been endowed with the sparkling personality that made lesser players great."

An Open Letter To The Pittsburgh Baseball Club

It's not always easy being a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  We all know the reasons.  One thing that makes it easier is this franchise's long, rich history.  Pittsburgh's baseball fans are fortunate to have more than 125 years of baseball to cherish, but time has eroded our memories of players and moments that should never be forgotten.  One player in particular stands out.

Arky Vaughan is one of the greatest shortstops in baseball history.  Statistics show us he is second only to the legend he succeeded at the position, Honus Wagner.  Vaughan was an All-Star in nine consecutive seasons.  His 1935 season is by many measures the greatest offensive season for a shortstop in baseball history.  He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.

As a man, Arky Vaughan's reputation would make any Pittsburgh sports fan proud.  He had a quiet demeanor on and off the field.  In fact, there is very little to indicate he ever sought fame or recognition for his individual achievements. He left that responsibility to us.  Until now, we have failed to properly preserve his legacy, but we have an opportunity to change that.

Arky Vaughan should be recognized as one of the greatest players to ever wear a Pirates uniform.  He deserves a place among the most celebrated names in the history of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club.  This franchise has retired ten numbers.  Today, I am respectfully calling on the Pirates front office to make Arky Vaughan the eleventh player to receive this honor.

Why has this not already happened?  Part of the answer may be the fact that Arky Vaughan wore #21 for the majority of his career with the Pirates.  There is precedent in other organizations for retiring the same number twice for two players.  However, in respect to Roberto Clemente's place in baseball history, I propose an alternative.  Arky Vaughan also wore the #3 and #5 during his time with the Pirates.  Retiring one of these numbers accomplishes the same goal.

August 30, 1952 will mark the 60th anniversary of Arky Vaughan's death.  The Pirates have a home game scheduled for August 29.  That is the day to celebrate Arky Vaughan, retire his number and ensure that he is never forgotten.

Make August 29, 2012 a day to remind the baseball world that the Pittsburgh Pirates' legacy of greatness at shortstop goes beyond Honus Wagner. Make it a day to permanently preserve Arky Vaughan's place in history.  Give Pirates fans another reason to be proud of their team.

Sincerely,

Matthew Carlins
Pirates Fan
arkyvaughan.blogspot.com