DISOWNED

Three months after getting his dream job in early August, new Detroit Tigers’ General Manager Al Avila faced the kind of decision that could tear a family apart. With rookie James McCann establishing himself as a solid major league catcher last season, Avila had to figure out what direction to take regarding a seven-year veteran coming off an injury-marred season and heading into free agency.

That player just happened to carry his genes. The player was his son, catcher Alex Avila. “From a business perspective, it was kind of a no-brainer because we had a young player in McCann,’’ said the Cuban-born Avila, who replaced Dave Dombrowski and is baseball’s only Latino GM. “That’s what every organization wants, to bring up a young player to take over a guy who’s making money, as long as you feel he’s going to be a real good player. Don’t even bother explaining that to grandma Gloria. She’s still upset her son wouldn’t keep her grandkid around.

This is not the case of the prodigal son leaving home and behaving recklessly, but later makes a repentant return. The son signed a one year $2.5 million contract with the rival Chicago White Sox. As long as Dad is running the Tigers, the son won’t be calling the Motor City his home.

It was in the summer of 1960 that another family feud in baseball took place in Concord, MA. Mr. Stillman Baker went down to Emerson Playground to watch his two sons play. They were both excellent catchers on their respective teams and the playoffs meant bragging rights for the boys, Ronny and Bobby.

As the game was getting ready for the first pitch to be thrown, the coaches met at home plate. With only one umpire present, they asked for a volunteer from the stands to umpire the bases. After some coaxing by some parents, Mr. Baker volunteered to be that important second arbitrator.

Mr. Baker had grown up in Medford and had attended high school with the current Concord Athletic Director, John O’ Connell and the head football coach, Walter Carew. Stillman was just a fan like most parents. His son, Bobby had been the only schoolboy to not strike out when Belmont’s Wilbur Wood mowed down 21 batters in a high school game just one month prior. Wood debuted for the Boston Red Sox in 1961, playing 18 seasons in the major leagues.

The game moved along at a brisk pace. The first base umpire had watched his son, Ronny belt a double in the bottom of the first inning. His other son had been issued a walk and had singled to left field as well. All of the calls at first base had been relatively simple. There had been one close play at second base when a runner was thrown out stealing, but there were no issues through six innings.

Leading off the top of the seventh, Bobby Baker pulled a fastball in the hole between third base and shortstop. While Bobby was not fleet a foot, he clearly believed he had beaten the shortstop’s throw to first base. Whether the umpire had watched the batted ball, or his son hustling down the baseline, or gotten too close to the fielder to see the play is still a mystery.

After a brief delay, the right arm was raised and the batter was called out. The mild mannered oldest son went ballistic, screaming at his father and demanding that he “change the call.” Following a lengthy delay to pickup the hat and helmet that Bobby had tossed, the call stood.

After the game, Booby walked home while Dad and Ronny rode in the car. One week of not talking to Dad turned to two, three and then four. Having felt bad initially that he may have missed the call, the silent treatment from Bobby only strengthened Stillman’s resolve. Dad never made the mistake of volunteering ever, again. His umpiring career was over after one game.

Paul Murphy

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