I met my first two professional baseball players when I was in my high school physical education class. (aka p.e. aka gym)
Ivy Lofton was one of my p.e. teachers. He was also the head coach for the football team. Ivy coached football at Royal Oak Dondero from 1959 until 1992. The thing I remember most about my interactions with him was I thought he was soft-spoken but direct. He won league championships and at least one state championship.
Royal Oak Kimball was the cross town rival and the BIG game of each season. One year it rained very hard prior to the Dondero – Kimball game and our field was very soggy. They brought in a helicopter to dry the field. I don’t know who paid for the helicopter to sit on the field with its blades churning, but someone did.
I remember that but I don’t remember who won the game.
Dick Radatz was a part-time teacher at Dondero. We had a large p.e. class with two instructors. Ivy Lofton and Dick Radatz. Dick was from Berkley.
In 1963 and 64 Dick Radatz was one of the best pitchers in baseball. He was a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. His nickname was “The Monster”. He was a big, powerful, six-foot, six-inch man. One of his claims to fame was that he struck out Mickey Mantle twelve of the sixteen times he faced him. Mantle is credited with giving Radatz his nickname.
During the off-season, just prior to spring training, another ballplayer came to school several times to “play catch” with Radatz during my p.e. class. Bill Freehan grew up in Royal Oak and knew both Ivy and Dick. Freehan was breaking in with the Detroit Tigers. Radatz had earned “Fireman of the Year” honors the prior season and was full of himself. Radatz was good. Very good. But I thought that he thought too much of himself. He strutted around the gym like a big peacock with a “look at how great I am” grin on his face. There was nothing humble about him.
The first order of business during each class was to take attendance. It was a slow process that involved each teacher calling each student by name. The kids sat in rows on the gym floor during attendance. Ivy was in charge of half of the students and Dick was in charge of the other half. We did most everything together in class except take role.
Ivy went first. Radatz and Freehan played catch while Ivy called out the names. The ball exploded each time it hit Freehan’s glove. When Ivy finished, Radatz flipped Ivy his clipboard with the class roster and said, “Get that for me.”
And Ivy did. “Sure”, was his reply.
After that display I thought less of Dick Radatz than I had before. I thought his flippant treatment of Ivy Lofton was disrespectful. It was a simple thing but it has stuck with me.
I think that if you are good, truly good, you don’t need to remind others of how talented you are.
Ivy Lofton’s career moved forward for another almost thirty years. He was an innovative coach who many thought should have coached in college but instead stuck with his high school kids.
Bill Freehan was a major league star for fifteen seasons.
Dick Radatz was a two season wonder.
They shared the same gym floor with my classmates and me for a few days in the spring of 1964. I respected two unassuming men who just did their job and didn’t think much of the man who thought so highly of himself.