Steve Lombardozzi
Posted by Andy on September 12, 2011
If you're over the age of 30 and been a baseball fan for a long time, there's a good chance you remember Steve Lombardozzi, who was one of the heroes for the Twins in the 1987 World Series. He had a fairly short career but made a mark for himself.
Oddly enough, there's a second major-league Steve Lombardozzi now, and he is the son of the first one.He got his first major-league hit today.
(I just wrote this, and I noticed that John Autin has a much better post on the same subject that he's drafted but hasn't published...sorry JA!)
September 12th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
Ironically, I was half-expecting the punch line to be that the 2nd Steve Lombardozzi is not related to the first one!
I remember when the 2nd Steve Ontiveros made it to the major leagues just a few years after the career of the first one ended. I saw that they were only about 10 years apart in age, so it couldn't be a father-son situation. They were also not from the same part of the country, so it was not likely that they were cousins or uncle and nephew. I knew that the names that usually lead to Steve as a nickname - Steven (the given name and spelling of both major league Ontiveroses), Stephen, and Stephan (and sometimes just Steve itself) - were quite common in their generation. I just didn't know that Ontiveros was such a common Hispanic name as it has apparently turned out to be.
There were times when I wondered if the following pairs of players with the same last name were related, just because I didn't know how common their last names are. In the first three instances, they are almost certainly not related, but I don't know about the fourth one.
Don and Wade Blasingame
Ken and Bud Harrelson (and I never watched a show called "Cheers", which I understand had either a character named Harrelson or a character played by an actor named Harrelson)
Ross (the 1970s Reds and Orioles pitcher) and Jason Grimsley, who are not related, although this Ross Grimsley's father, also named Ross, pitched in a very few games, possibly only one game, in the major leagues.
Jim and Brandon Duckworth - To this day, I don't know whether or not Brandon Duckworth, who pitched for the Phillies, Royals, and possibly other teams in the 2000s, is the son of Jim Duckworth, who pitched for the Senators in the 1960s. I noticed once in an article about Brandon that his father is named Jim, so it's possible. But I think the article would have noted that his father was an ex-major leaguer if this had been the case.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:05 am
Andy, it's cool. I was waiting for "Junior" to get his 1st hit, which he did in the 7th tonight after starting his career 0 for 15.
If you don't mind, maybe I'll post some of it in this space?
September 13th, 2011 at 12:21 am
Even as a Twins fan, I didn't realize that Lombardozzi had such a good WS in 1987, but it was the top OPS in the series. Huh. He was 7-17 with a 2-run HR late in the game 1 blowout. He got an early RBI in game 7 while they were still trailing but was pulled for a PH in the go-ahead inning.
Unfortunately, my main memory of Lombardozzi was his horrific 3 for 32 start to the 1988 season that led management to panic and trade the beloved Tom Brunansky for Tommy Herr. Herr never really fit in for the Twins and was gone after a year.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:44 am
Huh. I always thought Ross and Jason Grimsley were related. Oh well.
September 13th, 2011 at 1:00 am
FWIW, here's the bit Andy referenced @1 -- I hope he doesn't mind....
You know you're old when the sons of guys who reached the majors after you had your first legal drink start arriving in The Show themselves.
Are we absolutely sure that Steve Lombardozzi isn't still playing 2B for the Twins? Seems like just yesterday he hit that home run in the World Series opener, then had the go-ahead hit in game 6. Then again, the HR came off Bob Forsch, who played with Bob Gibson, so I guess some little time has passed....
Anyway, 2B Stephen Lombardozzi -- a chip off the ol' Lombo -- was one of Washington's September call-ups, after hitting over .300 at both AA and AAA the past 2 seasons while wielding a steady glove; he made just 2 errors in 134 games this year. With SS Ian Desmond going backward at the plate (76 OPS+ this year) and making 56 errors in the past 2 seasons, and Danny Espinosa a natural SS, there does seem to be an opportunity for Lombardozzi the Younger to at least compete for a starting job next year.
(Meanwhile, I wonder how that kid SS Doug Baker is getting on with the Tigers. I hear his manager predicts great things....)
September 13th, 2011 at 1:12 am
@ 3 DavidRF: Ugh, yeah, the Bruno for Herr trade was not a good one.
I'm happy to know Lombo's kid finally got his first hit. I was looking at his stats just this afternoon and saw he was still hitless.
September 13th, 2011 at 3:06 am
Some guys named Bert are also NOT related to more famous namesake players.
Bert Blue (catcher for the Browns and As in 1908) was not related to a Bill James favorite, Lu Blue.
Bert Adams (another catcher) was not related to contemporary pitcher Babe Adams, nor were they ever a battery. Bert Adams did, though, catch Cy Young (once), one of only a handful of times a teenage catcher has caught a pitcher in his forties.
Bert Griffith was not related to HOFer Clark Griffith, nor to teammate (on the '22 and '23 Robins) Tommy Griffith. In fact, none of the 5 major-leaguers named Griffith are related to each other.
On the '24 Senators, though, Bert Griffith was one of the few players to have a namesake home ballpark. He's also the grandfather of ... Matt Williams.
September 13th, 2011 at 8:05 am
I have a soft spot for Steve Sr, because he was born in my hometown of Malden, MA
September 13th, 2011 at 8:13 am
@5
I think Chris Pittaro was the infielder Sparky destined for greatness. Doug Baker also played for both the Tigers and Twins, but he was always viewed as a utility guy.
September 13th, 2011 at 8:25 am
John, I know what you mean...
I thought it was cool when Bob Boone -- the son of a personal favorite of mine, Ray Boone -- made it. It sort of hit home when Bret was deemed "too old" to play for the Nats a couple of years ago.
September 13th, 2011 at 9:22 am
For some reason, I always confuse Steve Lombardozzi with the WWE's Steve Lombardi (aka The Brooklyn Brawler)
@9
Sparky Anderson had overrated players for years:
"Barbaro Garbey is the next Roberto Clemente"
"Kirk Gibson is the next Mickey Mantle"
"Chris Pittaro is the best rookie i've seen in 15 years"
"Mike Ivie has the hitting mechanics of Steve Garvey"
And one of my favorites:
"We'd have to have a staff of nine Dwight Goodens for Mickey Mahler not to make this team."
September 13th, 2011 at 10:03 am
In the late '80's, I played a lot of softball. In some years, I played on three different teams within a season. And, on one of those teams, the guys used to call me "Steve Lombardozzi" as a gag - playing off my real name, of course.
I first saw his son as a visiting player in the SAL when his team played in Lakewood. And, yes, it made be feel very, very, old.
September 13th, 2011 at 11:14 am
@11:
Garbey is not, incidentally, related to the late thoroughbred.
September 13th, 2011 at 11:28 am
@13
September 13th, 2011 at 11:29 am
@13- I got a good chuckle on that one.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
After the Twins won the WS in '87, Lombardozzi said "no more Twinkies! I never want to hear that again." He had a great series and that was a special team.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
I get stressed out every time someone has just a name as the title of the thread. It seems like 1/2 of the time the player has died and the other 1/2 it is a nice story like this. it is a roller coaster of emotions. 🙁 🙂
I guess if we always include the dates in the title then we would know the subject of the post had passed.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
@11
To his everlasting credit, Mickey Mahler pitched quite capably during his short stint as a Tiger.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
I too have a soft spot for Steve Sr, as I saw him play at the University of Florida, and was glad for him during the 1987 World Series (boy do I feel old!).
September 13th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
@9, Spindlebrook -- I don't know whom Sparky praised more over-effusively, Baker or Pittaro. But if you follow the link I provided, scroll down twice and see quote #10.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Correct me if I remember this dialogue wrong, during a Cubs telecast in the early 90's.
Harry Caray: Now batting Andujar Cedeno.
Steve Stone: He's not related to Cesar Cedeno.
HC: He's not related to Joaquin Andujar either.
SS: If they're realted, the batter's name would be Andujar Andujar.
September 13th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
@20
I guess I like Dave Rucker then.
September 13th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Cubs pitcher Casey Coleman
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/colemca01.shtml
is the son of Joe,
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/colemjo05.shtml
and the grandson of Joe
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/colemjo05.shtml
Much more worthy of mention.
September 13th, 2011 at 8:23 pm
For such a weak champion, the 1987 Twins have three Hall of Famers (Carlton, Puckett and Blyleven) and a good infield. The three infielders other than Steve's papa all had pretty good careers, and all four played well in 1987. Contrast them to, say, the 1969 Mets, who had an absolutely awful infield, or the 1988 Dodgers.
September 13th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Player page doesn't have the info that his father was a MLer yet.
September 13th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
In 82 The Twins had Kent Hrbek,Gary Gaetti and Tom Brunansky all have good rookie seasons.Soon they would call up that Kirby fellow as well.Tim Laudner alsocame up in 82.
September 13th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
A woman that worked with my dad in Gainesville had two daughters. One was dating Steve Sr. when he was in high school and the other daughter was dating the catcher from Florida State, former MLBer Terry Kennedy. When I was 13, she had a dinner party and invited Steve, Terry and my family. Nice to see his son made the big time as well.
September 14th, 2011 at 12:54 am
As a 6-year-old who was just getting into baseball and baseball cards, I always confused Steve Lombardozzi and Phil Lombardi. Then again, I also knew Mickey Tellton, Casey Candle, and the all-star Tom Hankie