Last month on April 21, 2011, Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) made a joint announcement stating that inactive, non-vested men who played between 1947 and 1979 will receive up to $10,000 per year, depending on their length of service credit, as compensation for their contributions to the national pastime.
At first you may think the agreement between the two sides is great news for the players, but Douglas J. Gladstone, the author of the controversial book, A Bitter Cup of Coffee
; How MLB & The Players Association Threw 874 Retirees A Curve, called the agreement “only a partial victory.
; How MLB & The Players Association Threw 874 Retirees A Curve, called the agreement “only a partial victory.“We don’t live in a perfect world, and this is far from a perfect solution to this problem,” said Mr. Gladstone, who is widely credited with spurring the league and union into action. “What was announced on April 21, 2011 doesn’t provide health insurance coverage, nor will any player’s spouse or loved one receive a designated beneficiary payment after the man passes. So in my estimation, this is only a partial victory.
“I am, however, elated that these men are at long last finally going to receive some type of payment for their time in the game,” continued Mr. Gladstone. “This was a wrong that should have been righted years ago.”
Mr. Gladstone told me by e-mail that the agreement between MLB and the MLBPA will help ex-Washington Senators’ like Westerly, Rhode Island native and ex-Washington Senator pitcher Dave Stenhouse, who started the 1962 All-Star game when he was a rookie for the Washington Senato
rs, is one of the men affected by this situation. Former Senators Bill Denehy and Marion Bud “Zipper the Ripper” Zipfel are also among the ex- Senators who can expect to receive money as a result of this agreement.
rs, is one of the men affected by this situation. Former Senators Bill Denehy and Marion Bud “Zipper the Ripper” Zipfel are also among the ex- Senators who can expect to receive money as a result of this agreement.As Mr. Gladstone explained to me, for a lot of the players the fight to get this agreement was purely a principle issue. As Mr. Gladstone went on to tell me the agreement will really help players like Bill Denehy, who has had some health issues after his playing days were over.
Mr. Gladstone was kind enough to contact me after our initial interview to tell me about two more ex-Senators’ that will be impacted by the agreement. Frank Kreutzer, born in 1941, Kreutzer played parts of six seasons in The Show. From 1962-1964, he was a member of the Chicago White Sox, and from 1964 thru 1966, he played with the Senators. He also appeared with the Senators in 1969. A hurler who pitched 210 2/3 innings for his career, he appeared in 78 games, making 32 starts. His lifetime won-loss record was 8-18 with a 4.40 Earned Run Average; he also had two complete games, one shutout and one save to his credit.
Similarly, 65-year-old Denny Riddleberger, of Clifton Forge, Virginia, was a pitcher who also had an abbreviated career, playing for the Senators in 1970 and 1971 before finishing up in the majors with the Cleveland Indians. In 103 career games, he hurled 133 innings, compiled a 4-4 won-loss record, was credited with one save and had an Earned Run Average (E.R.A.) of 2.77.
To learn more about Douglas J. Gladstone’s book A Bitter Cup of Coffee you can visit http://www.abittercupofcoffee.com .
