R.I.P. Monte Irvin -- Age 96

[a700hitter]

Monte Irvin Passes Away At 96

By Jeff Todd | January 12, 2016 at 2:30pm CST

 

Hall of Famer Monte Irvin has passed away at 96 years of age, according to a remembrance posted on the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s website. MLBTR joins those around the league in celebrating Irvin’s long and prosperous life, and offering its condolences to his loved ones.

 

Irvin was an iconic ballplayer who excelled in both the Negro Leagues and the major leagues. The World War II veteran later worked as a scout, spent time in the commissioner’s office, and grew to become a beloved ambassador of the game for many decades after his playing career ended.

 

A standout performer with the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League, Irvin drew consideration to become the player to break the color barrier and at one point seemed lined up to do just that. While that honor went to Jackie Robinson, it was Irvin (among others) who carried the legacy forward after Robinson’s untimely death.

 

Irvin ultimately joined the New York Giants as an outfielder before his age-30 season. He played for eight years in the majors, compiling a .293/.383/.475 batting line and swatting 99 home runs. As good as those statistics were, of course, they only hinted at what Irvin might have done had he spent his youth and prime at the big league level.

 

Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson offered some compelling words on Irvin

I heard good things about him from the old time Giants and Brooklyn Dodger fans when I was a kid.

[Youk Of The Nation]

This is sad, but it reminds me of an interesting family anecdote my grandfather used to tell me whenever the subject of baseball came up. His father (my great-grandfather) supposedly got into a fight with Monte Irvin and a bunch of his teammates in a restaurant in New Jersey sometime in the 1930's. According to family lore, my great-grandfather was upset at the Newark Negro League team for losing a game that he had bet money on and started an argument, which turned into a full-on brawl. Mostly due to the fact that my great-grandfather chose to start this argument in a restaurant not generally frequented by white people.

 

Now, I have no idea whether this is true or not, but it's been a big part of Edinger family lore for a long time, so I kind of hope it is, if only because I can say that a bunch of guys in the baseball hall of fame once beat up my great-grandfather.

 

Fun note: My grandfather usually ended this story by saying something along the lines of "but my dad was a dumb racist and a s***** gambler, so he deserved every bit of it".

[a700hitter]

That is a good story.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I hadn't thought about it in years. My grandfather died years ago, so it's been a while since I heard the story. It was hard to reconcile with my image of my great-grandfather. He died when I was nine or ten, but the few times I met him he was such a sweet old man. Difficult to imagine him starting a miniature race war in a bar over a baseball bet. I guess age saps you of a lot of disagreeable personality traits. Present company excepted, of course.

[a700hitter]

I hadn't thought about it in years. My grandfather died years ago, so it's been a while since I heard the story. It was hard to reconcile with my image of my great-grandfather. He died when I was nine or ten, but the few times I met him he was such a sweet old man. Difficult to imagine him starting a miniature race war in a bar over a baseball bet. I guess age saps you of a lot of disagreeable personality traits. Present company excepted, of course.

Is that one of those subtle insults? LOL!

[Youk Of The Nation]

I am the master of nuanced, gentle humor. You are significantly older than I am.

[a700hitter]

I am the master of nuanced, gentle humor. You are significantly older than I am.

 

Couldn't you have stopped after the first sentence?

[cp176]

In addition to the classic line - son, if you can't be good be careful - as I headed out the door, my Dad told me once when I told him that he was indeed old - look in the mirror, tomorrow you will see me. He was right.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Couldn't you have stopped after the first sentence?

 

Crap! I ruined my subtlety.

[a700hitter]

In addition to the classic line - son, if you can't be good be careful - as I headed out the door, my Dad told me once when I told him that he was indeed old - look in the mirror, tomorrow you will see me. He was right.

It is alarming the first time you see your reflection in a mirror or window and think "what is my father doing here?"

[cp176]

Not so much because I remember back to pre- marriage days and what the advice was for me then - If you want to know what your wife will look like later on, look at her mother. Very true but I got lucky there. I also get to look at my older brothers. It is unbelievable though.

[Dojji]

It is alarming the first time you see your reflection in a mirror or window and think "what is my father doing here?"

 

It is when you take after your mother!

[cp176]

Wish I did.

[a700hitter]

it is when you take after your mother!

lol!