“There’s no such factor as bragging. You’re both mendacity, or telling the reality.” – Al Oliver
It occurred to me the opposite day that each baseball card I’d ever seen of Al Oliver confirmed him scowling like, properly, a pirate, typically with a menacing piece of lumber in his palms. Perhaps not scowling precisely, however he’s significantly stone-faced. The truth is, the primary 9 playing cards from an 18 12 months profession have his countenance wanting remarkably comparable:
Al lastly let his guard down round 1976 – perhaps he was simply jazzed concerning the Bicentennial (not!) or lastly being acknowledged as a high tier participant by Kellogg’s and Burger King within the late 70’s.
However typically Al caught to his outdated methods, wanting stoic and pensive, significantly in his final card with Pittsburgh (Topps, 1978).
One thing will need to have shifted for Al round 1982 – he loved his greatest season on the age of 35 with the Expos, main the league in hits (204), doubles (43), RBI (109), batting common (.331), whole bases (317), profitable the third (and remaining) Silver Slugger award of his profession, and ending third within the MLP voting. For probably the most half his playing cards projected happiness for the subsequent couple of seasons.
Al acquired again to his somber roots within the mid-1980’s, in all probability realizing that point was quick and he had extra work to do.
By 1985 he had earned a beautiful Donruss Diamond Kings card, and was proven wanting like a champ – relaxed and achieved, content material even.
There have been three remaining playing cards of Al in 1986, although controversially the Blue Jays didn’t deliver him again for that season. For an additional sliver of time he was smiling effortlessly, perhaps lastly in a position to unwind in spite of everything these years bearing down on pitchers. Effectively carried out, Mr. Oliver.
I’ve all the time been a fan of Al “Scoop” Oliver and thought he didn’t get the popularity he deserved – not in Pittsburgh, the place he spent the primary half of his profession, nor because the journeyman he grew to become over the second half. His playing cards all the time had heft, although he by no means was the most effective participant on these Pirate groups, all the time overshadowed by iconic gamers like Clemente and Mazeroski, and sluggers like Willie Stargell and Dave Parker, although he ended up with extra hits (2,743) and the next profession common (.303) than all of these guys, save The Nice One.
He collected extra additional base hits (825) than Orlando Cepeda, Johnny Bench, Cap Anson, Ron Santo, Tony Gwynn, Yogi Berra, Gary Carter, and Gil Hodges. He additionally tallied extra whole bases (4,083) than Wade Boggs, Carlton Fisk, Rod Carew, Joe Morgan, Joe DiMaggio, Larry Walker, Duke Snider, and Mike Piazza. He was a 7-time All-Star and acquired MVP votes in 10 seasons from ages 25 to 36. Isn’t that one thing? Perhaps he lacked energy (219 HR)…however he did have extra doubles (529) than Frank Robinson, Willie Mays, and Ted Williams. And perhaps he wasn’t a spectacular gloveman (.980 Fld% as OF, .990 Fld% as 1B, 0 GG), however that cool nickname says he was no slouch within the subject.
Over time Al in all probability buried many of the bitterness from slights, lack of recognition, and focused collusion – I positive hope so. It was confirmed in court docket in 1996 that house owners had chilled him out of baseball earlier than he was able to go, robbing him of twilight years that might have seen him attain 3,000 hits and possible acceptance into the Baseball Corridor of Fame. He acquired a puny-sounding $680,031 settlement for the misplaced 1986 season…although he had meant to play just a few extra years at DH. And that was not an unreasonable aim contemplating he had hit .301 as a 37 12 months outdated…although his common did decline to .252 the next 12 months, his final. Darn it.
Oliver’s Corridor of Fame Expos teammate Andre Dawson could have stated it greatest: “Al, as a lifetime .300 hitter after 18 seasons, I really feel is deserving of induction into the Baseball Corridor of Fame. There isn’t any query in my thoughts had he not been pressured out of the sport by collusion, had he been given an all-out trustworthy try to realize 3,000 hits, he would have carried out it. He was pushed out of the sport when he was nonetheless a .300 hitter. I really feel he deserves a spot in baseball at the moment.”
Later in life Al grew to become an ordained Baptist deacon and motivational speaker, intent on serving to individuals overcome obstacles, understand their full potential, and tune in productively with others. He’s nonetheless giving again at the moment and doing probably the most work essential there may be.
Whereas many could have forgotten what Al Oliver achieved on the diamond, he, his devoted followers, and the historical past books all recall what he did on the market. In 2025 the Pittsburgh Pirates appeared to recollect too after they lastly (and rightfully) accepted him into their Corridor of Fame together with Kiki Cuyler and Vern Legislation.
Al was all enterprise as a participant, however he has each proper to sit again now and smile. One way or the other he turns 79 this October 14th (2025), so go on now – it’s excessive time – give it up for Mr. Albert Oliver Jr.!
Trending Merchandise
