Dick Barone
From BR Bullpen
Richard Anthony Barone
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut September 22, 1960
- Final Game September 30, 1960
- Born October 13, 1932 in San Jose, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Dick Barone appeared in three games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, a team which went on to win the 1960 World Series. Barone was a light-hitting shortstop in the Pirate organization and batted just .204 as the starting shortstop for the Pirates' AAA Columbus affiliate in 1960. But on September 6, as the Pirates fought for the National League pennant, starting shortstop (and NL MVP) Dick Groat suffered a broken left wrist when struck by a Lew Burdette pitch. For the remainder of the month of September, utility infielder Dick Schofield took over as the Pirates' starting shortstop. The 27-year old Barone was recalled from Columbus to become the back-up to Schofield.
Barone made his major league debut on September 22, as a pinch-runner. He made his second appearance, and his only major league start, on September 27. The Pirates had already clinched the NL pennant (thanks in part to a superb month from Schofield at shortstop) and gave Barone a chance to start a game. He played shortstop, had 3 putouts, 2 assists and no errors. Barone went hitless in 5 at-bats with one strikeout. He left the game for a pinch-hitter (Smoky Burgess) in the bottom of the thirteenth inning in a game the Pirates would win 4-3 in 16 innings. Barone entered his final game on September 30, in the 8th inning, replacing second baseman Bill Mazeroski in the lineup, as Barone again played shortstop while Schofield moved from shortstop to second base. Barone was hitless in his only at-bat.
Those three games constituted his entire major league career. He was hitless in six at-bats and flawless in the field. He was not on the Pirates' 1960 World Series roster, as Groat returned to play shortstop and Schofield resumed his reserve role. Barone's baseball legacy is that he once started a game for the 1960 Champion Pittsburgh Pirates, was the player called from the minors when 1960 MVP and batting champion Groat was injured, was once pinch-hit for by legendary pinch-hitter Burgess, and once replaced Hall-of-Famer Mazeroski in the lineup.
Barone's minor league career started in 1951, had a break in 1953 and 1954 due to military service, and went through 1962. In his last season, 1962, with Hawaii, his teammates included Faye Throneberry, Bobby Knoop, and Irv Noren.
He lived to see grandson Daniel Barone make his MLB debut in 2007.
