Maldonado Incident Recalls Hrbek’s Savory World Series Bat

[RandBalls Stu]

The former Twins great used a tube of soppressata in a 1987 World Series game.

Image courtesy of Eli Libedensky/Unsplash

Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado was barred from using a maple bat in Game 1 of the 2022 World Series. The bat, given to him by Albert Pujols, was deemed illegal due to the threat of splintering and potential injury. While odd, it’s not the first time the Fall Classic has seen this kind of controversy.

“The bats didn’t get from Minneapolis to St. Louis in time, so I had to improvise,” said former Twins great Kent Hrbek about his first at-bat in Game 3 of the 1987 World Series. The Bloomington native used a 41-inch tube of salami in his first plate appearance, lining out to shortstop before the umpires made him use a traditional wooden bat the rest of the game.

NOTE: Video of the at-bat has been removed from all MLB servers, so please watch this Metrodome food service training video instead:

“We were up 2-0 in the Series and we didn’t want to change our routine, you know how superstitious ballplayers are,” said Hrbek. “I wasn’t going to use (Gary) Gaetti’s bat and break it, he was on fire all post season. So I just used my walking around meat. The boys in blue weren’t amused.”

Hrbek, known for his voracious appetite, often carried a variety of cured meats and venison jerky on his person at the time.

Legendary baseball writer Peter Gammons asked Hrbek about the at-bat after the game. Hrbek excused himself, showered, returned to his locker with a towel around his waist, and proceeded to eat the formidable sausage/emergency bat in front of Gammons without ever breaking eye contact.

“Damnedest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Gammons. “He didn’t even blink. Just bite, chew, swallow, repeat. Felt like eternity, but it probably only took him 2-3 minutes. I think he unhinged his jaw.”

The Twins would go on to defeat the Cardinals in seven games for their first World Series title.

Photo credit here

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[ashbury]

Salami, huh?  I don't believe it.  Sounds like a lot of baloney to me.

[Game7-91]

The video was superb, Watching their form cleaning their hands and then setting out that old vat of nacho cheese brought back special memories of the time i got me some of that day(s) old sauce. An explosive experience it was, thought I was s@#!&ing jet fuel the rest of the night. Thanks Volume Services for the memories.

[USAFChief]

21 hours ago, ashbury said:

Salami, huh?  I don't believe it.  Sounds like a lot of baloney to me.

Brock: we need a "groan" emoji.

 

Also: it should be noted Hrbek hit a home run with the based loaded in that world series.

That's right...wait for it...a GRAND SALAMI!

[Game7-91]

9 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Brock: we need a "groan" emoji.

Totally agreed!!!!

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Game7-91 said:

Totally agreed!!!!

???‍♂️

Puke, poop, facepalm.  Take your pick, among the many that TD offers if you click that little smiley face in the edit GUI.

[ashbury]

10 hours ago, USAFChief said:

That's right...wait for it...a GRAND SALAMI!

But forget the groan emoji or whatever.  I need a way to donate the Likes bestowed on my puny offering, in deference to your truly epic groaner there.

[Game7-91]

3 hours ago, ashbury said:

But forget the groan emoji or whatever.  I need a way to donate the Likes bestowed on my puny offering, in deference to your truly epic groaner there.

Offer Chief  a TD Group Hug. He seems like the touchy-feely type

[Richie the Rally Goat]

On 11/5/2022 at 9:22 AM, USAFChief said:

Brock: we need a "groan" emoji.

 

Also: it should be noted Hrbek hit a home run with the based loaded in that world series.

That's right...wait for it...a GRAND SALAMI!

Where’s that groan emoji?

Hrbek wasn’t just a slugger in that series. He had plenty of base knockwurst too

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Where’s that groan emoji?

Hrbek wasn’t just a slugger in that series. He had plenty of base knockwurst too

Quite the defender too. In fact, he got to the point he could properly position himself to intercept throws from the outfield without as much as a single day of practice. 

That's right...he made cold cuts.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

Quite the defender too. In fact, he got to the point he could properly position himself to intercept throws from the outfield without as much as a single day of practice. 

That's right...he made cold cuts.

I had a post written about something, something Ron Gant and Pulled Pork, then remembered the article was about ‘87 and then realized “pulled pork” wouldn’t make any sense anyways, Ron Gant was swole… But then I rambled some more and spent too much time on this to not hit post.

im sorry

[USAFChief]

16 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I had a post written about something, something Ron Gant and Pulled Pork, then remembered the article was about ‘87 and then realized “pulled pork” wouldn’t make any sense anyways, Ron Gant was swole… But then I rambled some more and spent too much time on this to not hit post.

im sorry

My work here is done.