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Joel Youngblood Atlanta Brave All Star?

HahnSolo Apr 29 2020 10:52 AM

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Br9YzhWCQAAKv3n?format=png&name=360x360> If this was discussed previously I apologize. Last night I was watching the 1981 all star game on YouTube and the Mets lone representative got into the game pretty early, pinch-hitting for pitcher Fernando Valenzuela in the top of the second. I did a double take when I saw he was wearing a Braves helmet. Took a screen shot but didn't know how to post it here. But I did find an image on line that I'll post here. Anybody remember this/know the story behind it? Since it was the first game after the strike, maybe there was some issue getting equipment to Cleveland? A tangent to this is the fact that the night before the game the Browns played a Monday Night Game on the same field, and the field looked pretty good considering. With the lack of multi-purpose stadiums that would never happen today.

kcmets Apr 29 2020 11:27 AM Re: Joel Youngblood Atlanta Brave All Star?

From ESPN: • 1981: Joel Youngblood of the Mets wore Bruce Benedict's Braves helmet. (The green ribbon is something the Braves wore in '81 in response to the serial killings of black residents in Atlanta at the time.)

Johnny Lunchbucket Apr 29 2020 11:59 AM Re: Joel Youngblood Atlanta Brave All Star?

That's something I did not know. Good to see 'Blood get a ASG appearance. He was having a good year until the strike came along iirc.

Edgy MD Apr 29 2020 12:08 PM Re: Joel Youngblood Atlanta Brave All Star?

That's two things I did not know. All-Star quipment snafus seemed to happen in at least one case a year back then. Here's a lumpy-looking Reggie Jackson wearing the home Mariners duds for the warmups and picture session in 1979. https://bapple2286.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/reggie-2.jpg> I believe his uni arrived in time for the game. Here, in the same game, is Pete Rose playing first base wearing a Phillies tee-shirt, as his jersey failed to make the trip. https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2200/2608739120_d16caa20e2_o.png> Everybody knows the real problem there isn't the firstbaseman's top, but the firstbaseman himself, as Keith Hernandez should have been playing first. And more famously, here's Johnny Callison wearing a Mets helmet for his 1964 ASG-winning homerun: https://www.inquirer.com/resizer/-HRDIDITJUJ-n_g7Mssqr4P0wic=/1200x0/center/middle/www.inquirer.com/resizer/M1e4rJXSFDQvK8ezsoHtGI8IKgg=/1200x0/center/middle/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-pmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/V6WXNWG4Z5FDFFRI6PEKNKUW7I.jpg> https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dw64OVJXQAUgR9j.jpg> What a small dude.

DocTee Apr 29 2020 12:14 PM Re: Joel Youngblood Atlanta Brave All Star?

Looks like whomever is seated in front of Reggie has a Rangers jersey and a Cubs cap?

G-Fafif Apr 29 2020 12:19 PM Re: Joel Youngblood Atlanta Brave All Star?

Players regularly grabbed other players' helmets in ASGs. As long as the jersey said “Mets,” I chalked it up to cheekiness. They talked about expanded all-star rosters in ‘81 and a first pass had Kingman and Allen making the team. Then it was routine size and just Youngblood. I remember being excited to see him hit and distraught to watch him pop up. (That could describe my reaction to most Mets at-bats.)

Edgy MD Apr 29 2020 01:47 PM Re: Joel Youngblood Atlanta Brave All Star?

=DocTee post_id=36138 time=1588184060 user_id=85] Looks like whomever is seated in front of Reggie has a Rangers jersey and a Cubs cap?

Good eye. That's Rangers manager Pat Corrales who, as far as I know, never was employed by the Cubs. He was, however, one of only a handful of guys to manage in both leagues in the same season, starting 1983 as the Phillies' skipper and finishing the season starting off his Cleveland tenure.



Speaking of wrong uniforms, this was also the All Star Game that notorious athletic imposter Bobby Bremin crashed, wearing a Yankee uniform (but not Reggie Jackson's) while shagging flies for half an hour.



The guy who spotted him and had him booted was Tommy Lasorda, because of course it was.

Frayed Knot Apr 29 2020 01:58 PM Re: Joel Youngblood Atlanta Brave All Star?

Maybe it was just because the name Joel Youngblood sounded like someone who should be on the Braves.

Johnny Lunchbucket Apr 29 2020 02:57 PM Re: Joel Youngblood Atlanta Brave All Star?

Joel Youngblood deserves his own facebook page. Oh, wait, there is one: https://www.facebook.com/groups/532755423571631/