Even Frank Robinson would agree that NatsTown is a better place with Matt LeCroy in it
LeCroy's got some history in NatsTown; even spent the last couple of years managing Hagerstown. And during his address to banquet attendees, he referenced one of the strangest moments in the brief history of the Washington Nationals: The Night Matt LeCroy Made Frank Robinson Cry:
LeCroy also made reference to an incident Nationals' fans will remember in 2006, his only season with the Washington Nationals. In a game against the Houston Astros, he was pulled by manager Frank Robinson in the middle of an inning after he had committed two throwing errors and allowed seven stolen bases in seven innings.
"I made a lot of things famous in the game. I made a manager cry - Frank Robinson. I made a banana and mayonnaise sandwich famous as a pregame meal," LeCroy said.
(via Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com, 1/31/2011)
Don't know about banana and mayonnaise sandwiches (sounds gross), but who can forget that strange night game? Video of the aftermath above. And here's an excerpt from the Associated Press account of the events of May 25, 2006:
WASHINGTON - Tears of sadness streamed down both of Frank Robinson’s cheeks, and his voice quivered, even in the aftermath of an 8-5 victory. The Washington Nationals manager had been cornered into a move rarely seen in baseball, the benching of a catcher in the middle of an inning.
The Houston Astros had stolen seven bases — the most by any team in the majors in nearly four years — against third-string catcher Matthew LeCroy. After three batters in the seventh inning, with the tying run on base and shortly after LeCroy had committed his second error by throwing a ball into center field, Robinson pulled him for emergency catcher Robert Fick.
“If my daddy was managing this team, I’m sure he would have done the same thing,” LeCroy said.
Robinson took it a lot harder.
“I feel for him,” Robinson said. “And I hope the fans understand. And I just appreciate him hanging in there as long as he did.”
(via Associated Press, 5/25/2006)
Meanwhile, it's starting to look like a safer bet that there will be a Matt LeCroy Day at Nationals Park before the Nats get around to Frank Robinson Day.
How many days until pitchers and catchers report?
Even though it was a day game.
Posted by: smirkman | February 02, 2011 at 02:50 PM
Yep, blazing hot, empty stands, fun day.
Posted by: pb | February 02, 2011 at 03:22 PM
We stand corrected -- thank you. It WAS a 1:05 start! How soon we forget.
Details, details. But "The Day Matt LeCroy Made Frank Robinson Cry" doesn't have the same ring to it...
Posted by: The Nationals Enquirer | February 02, 2011 at 03:23 PM