BOOK PREVIEW: The Cup of Coffee Club
BOOK PREVIEW: The Cup of Coffee Club
The following is a preview ofThe Cup of Coffee Club: 11 Players & Their Brush with Baseball History, a new book byJacob Kornhauser. You can pre-order the book onAmazontoday.
Over the more than 150 years of organized professional baseball, boys around the country have dreamt that one day they would take the place of their heroes. Their dream to one day be featured center stage on a big-league diamond in front of thousands of screaming fans was among the most popular in the nation. Even for those whose work ethic matches their passion, the dream still rarely comes true. Fewer than 20,000 people can claim to have played in a baseball game at the sport’s highest level. In the last 50 years, fewer than 150 can say they are a member of the “Cup of Coffee Club.”
Membership in this club can be a blessing or a curse: it’s consisted of players who appeared in just one major-league game. Its members range from the lucky to the bizarre, the determined to the downtrodden, the wasted talent to the talent tragically taken away. Prior to the game’s post-World War II boom, it saw one Cup of Coffee player struck down by a sniper while fighting in the U.S. Armed Forces in Japan, one of just two MLB players to be killed in action. Another player was nearly killed and instead lost his leg. He fought his way back andafterthe incident, he appeared in his lone MLB game, pitching for the Washington Senators against the Boston Red Sox with just one leg.
An infamous Ty Cobb suspension led to one of the wildest days in baseball history in which eight players made their one-and-only MLB appearance for the Detroit Tigers. But none of those players are still able to tell us their stories. There are a few players who still can. Ranging 50 years in debut seasons, from 1958 to 2008, 11 players have come forward to share their experience as one-game MLB players, those with a rare crossover experience between professional player and fan. They had their 15 minutes of fame, but will that ever be enough?
Chuck Lindstromgrew up the son of Freddie Lindstrom, a famous New York Giants outfielder who eventually would be voted into the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. Living in his dad’s shadow, he never quite found the passion for baseball his father had. Nonetheless, he was an impressive player at Northwestern University and professional baseball was clearly in his future. As Lindstrom struggled to figure out if baseball was what he wanted his life’s work to be, he had to come to grips with whether or not one game was good enough.
Roe Skidmorewas the heir apparent to Cubs legend and Pro Baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks at first base. A September call up in 1969, he is one of the Chicago players on the bench in the infamous Ron Santo black cat picture. His story is one that proves timing can often be the biggest determining factor in how a big-league career turns out.
Larry Yountwas a can’t-miss prospect for the Astros, who earned a September call up at just 22 years old. While his younger brother, Robin, was developing in high school, he was planning for a long big-league career. Yount’s appearance for the Astros became one of the greatest statistical anomalies in the history of baseball.
Gary Martzgot to play with a young George Brett in his one big-league game with the Royals, but his pro career began as one of the Seattle Pilots’ first-ever draft picks. His perseverance led him on a full-circle journey, which softened the blow of his brief MLB career.
Rafael Montalvois a true baseball lifer. He continues to coach in the Mexican League to this day and was once a controversial figure. Long after his only career appearance, he crossed the picket line and was a replacement player set to play in the 1995 season. Of course, had that plan come to fruition, he wouldn’t be a Cup of Coffee Club player. His decision to try and play drew the ire of Pro Baseball Hall of Famer, Mike Piazza.
Jeff Banisterfaced a long journey in the playing and coaching ranks. After fighting childhood cancer and an injury that nearly left him paralyzed, Banister continued fighting for his shot with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He remained with the franchise for more than two decades before getting his shot as manager of the Texas Rangers. His unique insight into the fleeting nature of professional baseball enabled him to preach living in the moment to his younger players.
Stephen Larkinwas the youngest in a family of elite athletes. Of course, his eldest brother Barry went on to be one of the greatest shortstops the game has ever seen. His brother Byron scored the 25th most career points in the history of NCAA Division-1 basketball at Xavier. After a heart condition threatened to end his own playing career, Larkin pushed through and was part of one of the most unique infields in the history of the game.
Jon Ratliffnever quite found the right situation. Playing for the Athletics in the Moneyball era, he finally got his shot, but with droves of pitching prospects coming through the organization at the time, Ratliff became one of the ultimate “what if” players of his time.
Ron Wrightovercame a devastating injury that threatened his status as a Top 50 prospect and a surefire MLB starter. Playing with just one good leg his entire career, he was somehow able to crack the lineup with the Seattle Mariners. That one game saw him produce one of the most curious and unfortunate stat lines the sport has ever seen.
Sam Marsonekseemed intent on wasting his talent on booze and drugs. He spiraled into a dark place after a boating accident cut his one big-league season short. But he found God in the unlikeliest of places and has been able to make a bigger impact on the sport than he ever would have as a bullpen arm for the New York Yankees.
Matt Tupmandedicated every professional baseball call up to his dad, who was his biggest fan. His baseball journey is one that zigged and zagged and intersects with some of the most interesting events in the sport during his playing career.
The Cup of Coffee Club: 11 Players & Their Brush with Baseball Historyexplores the curious careers of these 11 players as well as other historical stories. For the first time, these 11 players tell their stories in full: where they came up short, what they’re grateful for, what they regret, and where they are now.
By reading about the stories of these 11 unique players and countless others who got just one day in the sun, baseball fans, casual and die hard alike, should be able to further appreciate baseball’s cruel reality, which is also part of its charm:nothing is ever handed to you, and even what you earn for yourself can always be taken away.