Hal McCoy shares lifetime of baseball stories during local book signing
Following an introduction by Hillsboro Library Director Jennifer West, Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy quickly referenced another Hall of Famer Thursday evening during his book signing at the library.
"This is my first time in Hillsboro," McCoy said. "But I know Hillsboro is the home of champion trapshooter Joe Hiestand."
Hiestand, who passed away in 2004, served in the Ohio Legislature and was an officer during World War II. He is a member of the Trapshooting Hall of Fame.
McCoy spoke for an hour Thursday and also held a question-and-answer session for local baseball fans in attendance. Among those in attendance were four current or former local sportswriters: HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha, Tom Rudisill, Steve Roush and Rory Ryan.
McCoy was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. in 2002, and is the only non-Cincinnati resident who is a member of the Cincinnati Journalists Hall of Fame.[[In-content Ad]]
McCoy noted that he was largely responsible for naming the Cincinnati Reds the "Big Red Machine" in the 1970s. When a player came into the clubhouse after a victory and said "We're a machine," McCoy played with the line until coming up with Big Red Machine.
He also shared that he unintentionally instigated a fight between former Reds manager Lou Piniella and relief pitcher Rob Dibble in September 1992.
McCoy had asked Piniella why Dibble wasn't playing. After the manager revealed that Dibble had a sore shoulder, McCoy then asked Dibble what was wrong. Dibble said his arm was fine, so McCoy returned to Piniella's office and relayed the message. The fight ensued and was partially recorded on video and can still be watched online.
McCoy, who can no longer drive due to extremely limited eyesight, was accompanied by Ray Snedegar, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who drives McCoy to and from Reds home games.
After his baseball talk, McCoy autographed copies of his memoir “The Real McCoy, My Half-Century with the Cincinnati Reds.”
The book is available through Orange Frazer Press in Wilmington or online at: http://www.orangefrazer.com/the-real-mccoy/.
For more on the Hall of Famer, read Stephen Forsha's story at: http://highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=28376&TM=25558.38