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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2009 > November > 10 > Entry
Mann oh Mann, what were they thinking?
THE CINCINNATI REDS did some early paper shuffling this week:
THEY OUTRIGHTED infielder/outfielder/catcher Wilkin Castillo and he quickly signed a minor-league contract.
THEY LOST pitcher Ramon Ramirez, who was claimed by the Tampa Bay Rays.
OUTFIELDER DARNELL McDonald decided to declare his free agency.
That’s minor stuff compared to what happened late last week when the Reds told Wilma Mann on Friday that her services were no longer needed as Director of Scouting Administration.
Who is Wilma Mann? She is a legend and an icon to the scouting fraternity - and not just to the scouts who work for the Reds.
Wayne Krivsky worked for the Minnesota Twins and had never worked for the Reds when he was hired as general manager. When he accepted the job as Reds GM, he said one of the reasons he came to the Reds was because of some of the legendary people associated with the team and he listed, among a few others, “Joe Nuxhall, Marty Brennaman, (scout) Gene Bennett and Wilma Mann.”
Mann joined the Reds the same year I began covering them - 37 years ago in 1973 - and she was hired by then-club president/general manager Bob Howsam. She has been in the front office part of the scouting department ever since.
In 1997 she was named Director of Scouting Administration and was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Reds’ scouting operations. More accurately, to the many scouts who have come and gone through the Reds organization she was Mother Superior, Mother Confessor and a person they needed to conduct their duties.
She was beloved and after she was let go Friday my telephone never stopped ringing from people who worked with her over the years, most of their questions being on the line of, “What are they thinking?”
Wilma’s son, Mark Mann, is the team’s head athletic trainer.
I HADN’T GIVEN this much thought until a regular e-mailer asked me about it this week. His question: “Didn’t the 1-2 relief punch of the 1975-76 Reds, Will McEnaney and Rawly Eastwick, both have identical twins brothers?:
Absolutely correct. They both did. I don’t think I ever met Eastwick’s brother, but knew he had an identical twin. A lot of us “met” Will McEnaney’s identical twin brother. They look so much alike that when Will was going to be late to the clubhouse, he had his twin brother show up and put on his uniform and sit in front of Will’s locker until he got there. Not even manager Sparky Anderson ever caught on.
OVER THE YEARS, I have communicated with many of you via e-mails, a lot of you many, many times, but never had the pleasure of meeting you.
I’d love to meet each and every one of you - even those from Norway and Germany and Australia and Alaska and all points of the U.S.
I know that isn’t possible, but I also know there are many of you from the Dayton area I’d love to meet.
So, if you aren’t doing anything Sunday, here is my chance. I’m appearing Sunday from 2 to 4 at the Englewood Government Center on National Road (Old Route 40) in Englewood, where I live. The good folks in Englewood government have proclaimed Sunday as Hal McCoy Day and are hosting a Meet Hal McCoy function.
For those who can pull themselves away from the Bengals-Steelers game, I’d love to see you and meet you. There will be refreshments and an autograph session and a question-and-answer session.
Best of all, it’s free.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment |
Comments
By ramfan
November 28, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this
Im finished with the Reds and major league baseball. That is all.
By PeteRoseFOREVER
November 21, 2009 6:42 PM | Link to this
your right Hal im sick of the large market teams as well and its not fair….this organization is definitely going down hill im 28 years old been a fan since i was 4 or so lol so this is just so disgraceful
By W.Va. Fan
November 19, 2009 11:41 AM | Link to this
That is terrible how they did Wilma Mann. I’m a personal friend of hers. She is a class act. I’m sure she was close to retirement , but why did they do this to such a loyal employee? Another bad decision by the Reds front office !!!
By Steven Ross
November 13, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this
I’ve also been a Reds fan for a LONG time. Hint: went to the last game at Crosley Field! I have the ticket stubs to prove it too! Reds beat the Giants and Juan Marichal but I digress. Anyway, the current Reds don’t instill confidence. Sadly, this team and organization appears headed towards another ho-hum season. I see nothing which says otherwise. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong but I doubt it.
By Spark
November 12, 2009 6:26 PM | Link to this
Mike McEnaney used to sign autographs for kids posing as Will in hometown Springfield. Only way you could tell was Mike was righthanded.
By dawgtired
November 12, 2009 12:07 AM | Link to this
I’ve been a Reds fan since the 50’s. I’m tired of all the money issues for the small and mid market teams. The system is broke and us older fans that have followed the Reds are sick and tired of it. The rich keep getting richer and I’m so tired of seeing the Yankees, Red Sox, whom I do like alot, Phillies and all the big market teams use us as a farm system for their use. Reminds me of the Yankee- Kansas City system of the 50’s and 60’s. Doesn’t MLB care that attendance is crumbling in places like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Cleveland? As long as the big boys are happy then MLB is happy. I’m on a fixed income and it costs me over $120 for me and my wife to go to a game. Selig doesn’t give a crap as long as Steinbrenner is happy. Loyality goes only so far. I loved baseball all my life and the Almighty Dollar is stealing it from me.
By dawgtired
November 12, 2009 12:07 AM | Link to this
I’ve been a Reds fan since the 50’s. I’m tired of all the money issues for the small and mid market teams. The system is broke and us older fans that have followed the Reds are sick and tired of it. The rich keep getting richer and I’m so tired of seeing the Yankees, Red Sox, whom I do like alot, Phillies and all the big market teams use us as a farm system for their use. Reminds me of the Yankee- Kansas City system of the 50’s and 60’s. Doesn’t MLB care that attendance is crumbling in places like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Cleveland? As long as the big boys are happy then MLB is happy. I’m on a fixed income and it costs me over $120 for me and my wife to go to a game. Selig doesn’t give a crap as long as Steinbrenner is happy. Loyality goes only so far. I love baseball all my life and the Almighty Dollar is stealing it from me.
By Ed Hill
November 11, 2009 6:12 PM | Link to this
Hal,I was in town for the Kiser High School Hall of Fame Banquet,a few weeks ago.Enjoyed your talk(stories)& meeting you.The Banquet was First Class.Saw Kiser guys I hadn’t seen in years.Thanks,You are a class act.Ed Hill
By centerville reds fan
November 11, 2009 2:36 PM | Link to this
I guess you think the only people who are qualified to work in the Reds organization are the same ones who have done nothing for the last 19 years. Change isn’t always bad.
By Ron
November 11, 2009 2:04 PM | Link to this
Hey Hal, I too would enjoy meeting you and shaking your hand in thanks for many years of entertaining columns. Alas I live in Mobile AL and have never visited Cincy but have been a life long Reds fan. I even wrote you once a couple of years ago when I was considering going back to college to get a journalism degree to get into sport writing. Your advice led me to steer away from that choice & correctly so as not only has the job market in that job market dried up, but also because one thing you said hit home; that I needed to be able to & willing to ask the tough questions. I am too nice of a guy and know I wouldn’t be able to. So thanks to you yet again.
By David
November 11, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this
Sir—- If Wayne Krivsky was still here the Reds would be better off, he had an idea that was working until the food king and his hitman shot and killed all hope.I love the Reds 60 years-klu,Adams,Stallcup oh for truth in the reds front office.
By David
November 11, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this
Sir—- If Wayne Krivsky was still here the Reds would be better off, he had an idea that was working until the food king and his hitman shot and killed all hope.I love the Reds 60 years-klu,Adams,Stallcup oh for truth in the reds front office.
By Bobin CT
November 10, 2009 6:50 PM | Link to this
Is this more of the front office shake-ups that we heard were coming about a month ago? Sounds like you don’t think this was a good idea getting rid of Wilma Mann. I have no idea what a director of scouting administration does; so I’m wondering is she being replaced? or is the job being eliminated? also by whom? or why is it being elimin ated? I wish I lived nearer I would like to meet you,reading comments from people who speak of you I’ve yet to read anything negative; after 37 years in the public eye that’s a special person.
By Gary Maloy Jr.
November 10, 2009 6:15 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the mention, Hal. If you’re ever in Norway and need a guide, I’m your man.
By redsfandownunder
November 10, 2009 5:19 PM | Link to this
Hal, Sorry I couldn’t make it yesterday but you have a place to stay in Sydney (where it is ALWAYS baseball season) if you’re ever in town. Thanks for all the insightful articles over the years.