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Dandy, Day and the Devil
James A. Riley, TK Publishers, 1987.
Based on exhaustive research and
personal interviews, this publication is a trilogy
examining the lives and careers of Negro League stars of
Ray Dandridge, Leon Day and Willie Wells. Forward by
Hall of Famer and former Negro League and Major League
star Monte Irvin.
From the Introduction, by Monte Irvin
As the saying goes--There's a time to live and a time
to die, but it is also very important to be in the right
place at the right time. It's called good timing.
If that had happened to Ray Dandridge, Leon Day, and
Willie Wells, how different their lives would have been.
Not only would they have established many records in
organized baseball but would have achieved fame and
fortune for themselves and their families. When
hot-stove league fans sit around the fire to discuss the
game's greatest performers, their names would be
mentioned often and with reverence. In my opinion, they
were that good.
But as luck would have it, they were only known by
the followers of the Negro League and in all the Latin
American countries that featured baseball.
You see, all three of them were at the top of their
game during the middle thirties, and by the time Jackie
Robinson broke the color barrier in 1946, Branch Rickey
overlooked them because age was against them.
Consequently, none of them ever experienced the joy of
playing Major League Baseball.
Ray Dandridge, better known as "Squatty",
was a born third baseman but could play second and short
equally as well. He had the quickest reflexes and the
surest hands of any infielder I've ever seen. In a
season, he had a bad year if he made four errors. As a
third baseman, he could field the swinging bunt and get
the runner at first better than anyone. It was a thing
of beauty and worth the price of admission just to see
him make that one particular play.
Most of his career he batted in the number two
position because he made real good contact and could hit
the ball like a shot to right field on a hit and run
situation. Throughout his illustrious career he batted
.300 or better.
Next in alphabetical order is Leon Day, the perfect
pitcher with blinding speed, great move to first base,
and quick as a cat fielding his position. In a must-win
situation, the manager always gave the ball to Leon and
he failed very few times.
In those important games he would ask his teammages
for one run and if they couldn't do it, he would step up
to the plate and do it himself. I comare him to Bob
Gibson...
Last, but not least, a few words about Willie Wells,
"The Devil," as he was called. The opposition
would always say, "Don't hit it to shortstop
because The Devil is playing out there."
Willie looked like a star ballplayer-had all the
actions of an all-star performer-real good hands, quick
as could be, and was an expert on catching the short fly
ball hit just over his head. He played in close, and in
all situations his throw would just beat the runner to
first base. It was a science with him.
He could really run and had a lot of power. He
averaged 25 to 30 home runs a season and would hit for a
high average. You could get him out with a fastball once
in a while but he feasted on curveballs. As a fielder,
I'd compare him to Phil Rizzuto--as a hitter--to Ernie
Banks.
The major league fans never had the chance to see
these great ballplayers perform, and it's a shame
because if they had, they would have never forgotten
them.
These fellows were my heroes as I started my career
with the Newark Eagles way back in 1937. I don't think I
could have picked a better trio because at that time
they were the best.
All three of them deserve induction into the Hall of
Fame.
My sincere congratulations to the author for giving
them the publicity and promotion that they never
received but so richly deserve.
Monte Irvin
National Baseball Hall of Fame
Dandy, Day and the Devil is available for
purchase directly from TK
Publishers in softcover and LIMITED EDITION
hardcover. |
