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Ohiogal

(34,767 posts)
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 02:44 PM Apr 2020

60 years ago, the Cleveland Indians traded Rocky Colavito while he was standing on first base!

Many Tribe fans believe the Curse of Rocky Colavito’s trade has been bringing the team bad luck ever since.

*****

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio – When did Rocky Colavito find out he was traded to the Detroit Tigers?

“When I was standing on first base,” said the former Tribe star from his home in Eastern Pennsylvania.

“At first base?" I asked.

“It was right before the (1960) season,” said Colavito. “We were playing an exhibition game in Memphis. I had hit a homer earlier in the game. My next at bat, I was on first base.”

OK...

“(Tribe Manager) Joe Gordon came out of dugout,” said Colavito. “I thought he was going to take me out because it was an exhibition game.”

According to Colavito, the conversation went like this:

Gordon: “That’s the last time you’ll bat in a Cleveland uniform.”

Colavito stared at the manager.

Gordon: “You’ve been traded to Detroit for Harvey Kuenn. Good luck.”

Colavito: “Same to you.”

Colavito said he headed to the Tribe bullpen, where his good friend and roommate Herb Score was sitting.

“I’ve been traded to Detroit," Colavito told Score.

“Roomie, don’t say that,” said Score, believing Colavito was joking.

“I’ve been traded for Harvey Kuenn," said Colavito.

Colavito was in shock. Score was in shock. Cleveland was outraged at Tribe General Manager Frank Lane.

The date of the trade was April 17, 1960.....

https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2020/04/60-years-ago-the-cleveland-indians-traded-rocky-colavito-while-he-was-standing-on-first-base.html


16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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60 years ago, the Cleveland Indians traded Rocky Colavito while he was standing on first base! (Original Post) Ohiogal Apr 2020 OP
Described as hamburger for steak. gibraltar72 Apr 2020 #1
Wow, great names! MyOwnPeace Apr 2020 #2
The Indians were still competitive then as they had finished second in '59... brush Apr 2020 #5
I saw Rocky Colavito play in Cleveland when he returned. blm Apr 2020 #3
Me and my sister got those free tickets. jaysunb Apr 2020 #7
Just think, we were 2 little kids there on the same day, old buddy. blm Apr 2020 #9
We keep running into each other. :) jaysunb Apr 2020 #10
Great story. I had an awesome Rocky Colavito KPN Apr 2020 #4
had the bat as well... dhill926 Apr 2020 #8
Great baseball story JDC Apr 2020 #6
Sounds like what (almost happened) to Wilmer Flores NightWatcher Apr 2020 #11
Great story. CaptYossarian Apr 2020 #12
Colavito hit 42 HRs and drove in 111 the year before he was traded Auggie Apr 2020 #13
Some time in the early 90s Ohiogal Apr 2020 #15
Great story Auggie Apr 2020 #16
He had a cannon for an arm. Kingofalldems Apr 2020 #14

MyOwnPeace

(17,275 posts)
2. Wow, great names!
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 02:57 PM
Apr 2020

As a kid at the time I had the baseball cards of both! What really makes the story special is that it was the year the Pirates won the World Series over the Yankees with the Mazeroski home run!

Thanks for the flash-back!

brush

(57,599 posts)
5. The Indians were still competitive then as they had finished second in '59...
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 03:29 PM
Apr 2020

to the Go-Go White Sox. It was a bad move. They didn't get competitive again until the '90s.

blm

(113,822 posts)
3. I saw Rocky Colavito play in Cleveland when he returned.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 03:00 PM
Apr 2020

The Cleveland Press gave you two free tickets if you had straight A grades on your school report card.

jaysunb

(11,856 posts)
7. Me and my sister got those free tickets.
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 03:44 PM
Apr 2020

My Dad used to take me to the Friday night homes games when they did $1.00 bleacher seats. He was trying to win the car Friedman Bro. Buick gave away.

Fond memories.

KPN

(16,111 posts)
4. Great story. I had an awesome Rocky Colavito
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 03:18 PM
Apr 2020

bat as a kid. It was my favorite and he was one of my favorite players for many years. Even though I was a Red Sox fan from Boston’s south shore.

dhill926

(16,953 posts)
8. had the bat as well...
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 04:15 PM
Apr 2020

it was in the day that when you got a crack in it, you put a screw in it. Lasted a good while longer....

NightWatcher

(39,358 posts)
11. Sounds like what (almost happened) to Wilmer Flores
Wed Apr 15, 2020, 05:34 PM
Apr 2020
https://www.sbnation.com/2015/7/30/9071937/carlos-gomez-trade-mets-timeline-wilmer-flores-crying-medical-issues

He was still in the game and played an hour thinking he had been traded from the only team he had played for. He got very emotional and began crying in the field after reporters jumped the gun on Twitter.

Auggie

(31,803 posts)
13. Colavito hit 42 HRs and drove in 111 the year before he was traded
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 10:32 AM
Apr 2020

1959. How the heck do you let someone like go? Cleveland did get him back for the '65 and '66 season, and he had two solid years. But the tribe missed out on five also very solid years The Rock spent in Detroit and K.C. (Athletics)

Ohiogal

(34,767 posts)
15. Some time in the early 90s
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 11:49 AM
Apr 2020

We went to a baseball card convention in downtown Cleveland. Rocky was there signing things. He looked really good, like he could still whack a ball. His hair was all gray, as I recall. My husband had an old baseball he got somewhere as a kid, and he asked Rocky if he could sign it. Rocky was so friendly and gracious. He marveled at the old baseball and it’s different laces. Everyone in my family have been Indians fans forever. It was such a thrill to talk to him and get his autograph.

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