Everything about Batboy totally explained
A
batboy or
batgirl is the person who carries the
baseball bats around to a
baseball team. A batboy may also lay out the equipment and
mud the
baseballs to be used in the game.
Mascots and batboys had both been part of baseball since the 1880s.
Perhaps the most famous batboy was
Eddie Bennett, who was hired as a mascot by the
Chicago White Sox at the urging of
Happy Felsch in 1919. After the
1919 World Series scandal, he was hired by the
Brooklyn Dodgers in 1920. When the Dodgers lost the
1920 World Series to the
Cleveland Indians, some suggested the four straight losses on the road were due to leaving Bennett behind. He then served for almost 12 years as batboy.
Batboys in the news
On
June 30,
2000, police discovered
steroids and syringes in the glove compartment of the Mercedes-Benz that had been loaned to
Boston Red Sox batboy Carlos Cowart by infielder
Manny Alexander.
In 2005, a
Florida Marlins batboy was suspended six games for accepting a dare from
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher
Brad Penny, a former Marlin, to drink a gallon of milk in less than an hour without vomiting.
Matthew McGough described his batboy experiences with the
New York Yankees in, a book published by
Doubleday in 2005. McGough's book served as the basis for
Clubhouse, a prime-time television show that aired on
CBS in the fall of 2004 and now in reruns on
HDNet.
On
April 27,
2007, former
New York Mets batboy (1985-1995)
Kirk Radomski pleaded guilty in
United States district court to
money laundering and illegal distribution of
anabolic steroids,
human growth hormone,
Clenbuterol,
amphetamines and other drugs to "dozens of current and former Major League Baseball players, and associates, on teams throughout Major League Baseball." He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
In a pregame ceremony on
May 5,
2007,
Stan Bronson, Jr. received recognition by the
Guinness World Records as the "Most Durable Batboy" ever. Bronson, known as "Stan The Man", has served as the batboy for the
University of Memphis baseball team since the 1958 season. His 50 years of service will be recognized in the 2008 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.
Dominick Ardovino wrote about his batboy experience with the
New York Mets in
The Bat Boy (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1967).
Further Information
Get more info on 'Batboy'.
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