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ORONO – Portland’s Sea Dogs have their own version of the Green Monster and, for three days earlier this month, the Bangor Lumberjacks had one in Orono too.
Of course, no one will ever confuse “The Monster” with the Maine Monster, but both have inspired their share of awe in opposing batters.
Unlike the Maine Monster, former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Dick Radatz (A.K.A. The Monster) is not immobile, green, or made of wood, although he feels somewhat immobile some days.
Radatz is the pitching coach for the North Shore Spirit in the Northeast League.
Shortly after getting a neck massage by the team trainer to alleviate his ongoing spinal-related spasms and stiffness – “It doesn’t bother me all the time, but when it does, it’s tough to get around,” he said – the 66-year-old Radatz sat down for an interview in Mahaney Diamond’s visitors’ dugout before a game against Bangor.
Even though Radatz’s seven-year Major League Baseball career ended 33 years ago, he still can’t get too far away from it.
“I’ve always been on the fringe of baseball ever since I got out,” said the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Radatz.
Radatz has been a commentator, author, radio host and/or agent-promoter the last three decades, but a call from a former opposing player got him into coaching.
“I was on WEEI in Boston as a regular co-host with Glenn Ordway for five years and that kept me involved in the game, but then [former Red Sox utility player] John Kennedy called me last October and asked me if I wanted to coach,” he recalled.
Kennedy told him he was going to be the coach of the independent Northeast League’s North Shore team based in Lynn, Mass., and asked him to be his pitching coach.
“I had no idea what the North Shore Spirit was, but I told my wife Char about John’s offer,” he said. “She said ‘Why don’t you? I think you’ve been missing the game anyway.’ I said “Well, I don’t need the bumpy bus rides and everything,’ but she said ‘Why don’t you do us both a favor and get back into it?’ ”
The Berkly, Mich., native did just that and “has enjoyed the heck out of it.”
Radatz, who is widely considered one of, if not the first of baseball’s closers, wasn’t too keen on the idea of being a fireman until Red Sox great Johnny Pesky convinced him to give it a try.
“I was very reluctant because I thought it was a demotion, to tell you the truth. He said they had a new thing going where they’d have a guy be a finisher and thought I was the guy to do it,” he recalled. “I said ‘Well, I want to start back in Allentown and pitch every four days,’ but he said ‘I’ll take you with me, teach you how to pitch every day, and get you to the majors,’ and he did. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
He would win 52 games and save 122 more for five teams before hanging up his glove.
“I loved the job. It’s one of those where you don’t say ‘I’ll try’, you either want it or you don’t,” said the two-time American League All-Star.
Radatz takes special pride in his role as a trailblazer.
“I think it culminated with Rollie Fingers when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame,” said Radatz. “He said ‘I want to thank Dick Radatz and people like him for making this possible for me to be here today.’ I was very proud to hear him say that.”
For now, Radatz is happy to impart his knowledge to young players. His experience has aided him in helping North Shore win a first-half division title, but he waves off hints that he had anything to do with it.
“I haven’t done anything. We’ve got a pretty good core group of coaches and we’ve been blessed with a very good pitching staff,” said the father of three and grandfather of six.
Once the season is over, Radatz will resume his duties with National Pastime Legends, a celebrity representation company that arranges for sports stars like John Havlicek, Steve Grogan, and Bob Cousy to do speeches and appearances.
In the meantime, he’s happy to have taken a chance on this independent baseball thing.
“When I was first looking into it, I thought these were guys at the tail end of their careers or who just don’t quite have the talent to be in organized ball,” he said. “But this brand of baseball is better than people think, and I was one of those people.”
Sea Dogs and Sharks
The Portland Sea Dogs have come up with another novel promotion as they host Lawyer Appreciation Night at Hadlock Field Monday, July 28.
The Double A Eastern League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox has teamed up with the law firm of Preti, Flaherty, Bellveau, Pachios and Haley to raise money for Pine Tree Legal Assistance and Cleaves Law Library. Lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, law firm staff members, and even relatives and friends of local lawyers will be charged 33 percent more on ticket prices and will be billed every third of an inning during the 6 p.m. Monday doubleheader against Trenton.
“Pine Tree Legal Assistance and the Cleaves Law Library are always on deck to help a Maine resident in need,” firm partner Harold Pachios said in a press release. “They deserve to know that their tireless work is appreciated.”
Bangor brings in Burke
Transaction No. 15 by the Bangor Lumberjacks in the last 20 days paid quick dividends.
Mark Burke, an infielder who had previous stints in both the Northeast and Northern Leagues, enjoyed his Mahaney Diamond debut as he singled, stole a base, and drove in three runs just hours after signing with Bangor Saturday night.
Burke played for Bangor manager Kash Beauchamp when both were with the New Nersey Jackals in 1999. He hit .291 with five homers and 39 RBIs then and was traded to Fargo-Moorhead in 2000, when he hit .300 with 17 homers and 74 RBIs. This year, he was hitting .184 with two homers and five RBIs with the Lincoln Saltdogs before being released.
Bangor cut infielder Benji Solano, who was hitless in eight at-bats, before adding Burke.
Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or aneff@bangordailynews.net
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