Growing up in Northern Kentucky in the 70s, Reds baseball was a very important part of my childhood. The Reds were contenders all those years, and it seemed to me that it was the natural order of things.
Of course, when we spoke the name “Pete”, everyone in the family knew who were talking about. Pete was a man that could not be ignored, and since the Reds was the focus of a great deal of life, he of course was idolized in the home by my brothers and me. The many games I went to with my Dad, my heart would skip a beat when Pete ran onto the field, and he was always running.
We played ball, both organized and pickup in the neighborhood field, and many of my white T-shirts when I was about ten years old had the number 14 written on them in ballpoint pen. I led off for my knothole (Ky version of little league) baseball team, and I mimicked the stance, headfirst slide, and even knocked the dirt off my cleats between pitches like Pete did. Pete was the man.
It was a loyalty that did transcend time, and I followed him through the years, and always rooted for him. I did believe him when he said that he did not bet on baseball, felt like I owed him that. As I matured, and started to be able to read people, I had to admit it to myself, that old Pete was not a perfect man. Or even really a good man. He was likely not a fellow that I would even have liked if I knew him, as I have a threshold for those that are obnoxious, and Pete was certainly that.
Still, the respect remained. His ethic was to give it all, all the time, which began as parental guidance, then became his personality, eventually leaked into his DNA. Idealistic- possibly, blue collar- definitely, hustle maybe did not affect every play, but it never hurt. He was willing to do the dirty work, and people so disposed have value.
The dirty work. Ask Ray Fosse about that one, or Bud Harrelson. Or Denny Doyle, who knew Pete was about to bulldoze him on 2nd base mid double play in game seven of the 75 series. Doyle rushed so much he airmailed the throw, allowing Bench to take second. Bill Lee, the pitcher, would have likely not thrown the high, slow curve to Tony Perez with a runner on first, and Tony hit ball so hard that it landed in New Hampshire. Hustle, and the tough, dirty work, helps, and in this case certainly made the difference.
Think a bit about other guys that are turned towards, and do the tough jobs through hustle, intensity, or just pure meanness. Dennis Rodman, Dale Earnhart, Mike Tyson, Tiger Woods, Bob Gibson, Jack Tatum, Ray Lewis, and of course, Ty Cobb. Not nice guys. They are hated, like Pete, or at least misunderstood. Hated of course, until they were on your team, and everything was on the line. Like if Doyle was about to turn a double play. Then we do not dislike these men, in fact in that moment, in that instance, they are as close to perfect as any human.
Hustle, intensity, meanness is hard for we mere mortals to understand, easy to hate when it offends us personally- but has value, exceptional and reverent value, when he is on your team. They are never the first person you wish to emulate in real life, not the guy you want to have dinner with, but when we need the dirty jobs guy, we really need to get it done. Then, we love the dude.
I’ve known fellows like this in the military. Something wasn’t quite right about these fellows, and generally while we were not doing the tough stuff, they were not charming company. But, when the flying manure and fan were about to connect, you looked down the line and saw the dude and were happy that they were there with you.
They had instincts, focus, intensity, moved fearlessly, and …….hustled. When confronted with the hard jobs, we are glad they are there. That guy that was down for everything and wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.
Everyone in the military knows this guy. All of us that follow sports understand what I am talking about, especially with Pete. But, in Politics- of course the fellow that does the dirty jobs is not something that we can come to understand. We expect our politicians to be conversationalists, smooth and natural operators that are glib and easy going. The fact that they are never clear on what they actually are behind is okay with us, as long as the lie is smooth enough that we can swallow it easily enough.
But the roughneck, ugly American, non-politician, fellow willing to do the dirty jobs- we dismiss their value if the situation is not dire. So, today the question is- isn’t our situation in this time, as a nation, turning towards intense? Would a little hustle this moment help out? If so, do we really care if the fellow is obnoxious?
I can see several happenings here and there, at home and abroad, were someone that is fearless, intense, maybe a bit turned to the mean, is what we need. You now, somebody like Pete. Of course, we know who I am talking about, and since I have given up stating the obvious arrogantly, I will not mention him here.
Pete’s type is a vanishing breed and now he has now done just that. Thanks for doing the work, even when it didn’t matter. He willed himself into greatness, was great because his determination was obnoxious, and we need men like this.
So long Pete. It makes me happy to think that he ran up the golden stair, and I am hopeful that St. Peter did not try and block the gate.