As pointed out by BSG, the new manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks is Al Pedrique, an obscure ‘80s utility infielder best known to many as having been the starting shortstop for the NL All-Stars in the 1987 video game RBI Baseball, even though he was an utterly mediocre player. I’m at the age now where just about every managerial vacancy is filled by someone I remember as a player but had forgotten existed; while I played RBI Baseball too I confess the only memory I have of Pedrique was that I used to confuse him with the equally obscure journeyman infielder Fred Manrique.
Speaking of All-Star shortstops, when my father and I used to go to games we’d always fill out our All-Star ballots together, but since he didn’t know who any of the National League players were the only one he’d know to vote for was Ozzie Smith for shortstop. Then, after Ozzie retired my dad kept up the tradition of always voting for St. Louis’ shortstop, regardless of who it was. Well, he must’ve done something right, because this year the starting shortstop for the NL in the All-Star Game is Edgar Renteria of the Cardinals.
I was at Ozzie Smith's last all-star game (1996) at the Vet ... he got a standinng ovation from everyone in the crowd. it was awesome.
Posted by: LilB at July 9, 2004 01:27 AM