The Trade That Cursed A Franchise 

It’s pronounced Harvey “Keen”. Tommie Agee is pronounced A G

Little known fact- one of the greatest throwing arms ever in MLB.

And Colavito is still with us at 90.....

I was born in 54 and basically learned to read by reading the sports section of the KC Star. Rocky was my first sports hero and my dad took to me to Rocky Colavito Night in KC. Rocky had the coolest mannerisms while at the plate getting ready for the pitch. I tried to copy every thing he did. This video failed to mention how strong his throwing arm was. He nailed a ton of runners at 3rd from Right field. On a dare and written up in the Star was the story of how Rocky threw a ball OVER the fence in dead center field with a massively tall wall there. Now 70, I still get goose bumps on how a sports star can make a life long impact on a young kid. Thanks Rocky. ❤️

Colavito is a borderline Hall of Famer .Had he won an MVP(1959?) and played on one or two pennant winners, that might have been enough to get him in .

Loved Rocky’s batting stance. Pointing the bat at the pitcher.

I am 71 and a tigers fan. I can tell you for a fact that Rocky was loved in detroit. He was a fan favorite and a hero of mine. The Detroit Free Press had a sports writer named Joe Falls who had it in for Rocky and was very dismissive of him. In my opinion, he was instrumental in driving Rocky out of Detroit.

I love how the old home runs derby show had an umpire 😂

don't knock the rock!!! loved the colavito pre-bat strech

71-years-old here, grew up in Cleveland Suburbs, and I'm still mad at Frank Lane. --- My first memory of Pro Ball: Dad had our '52 Plymouth, full of family, stopped at a "Red Light" at Snow and Pearl. Rocky Colavito came to bat, and Dad said, "He's gonna hit a Home Run." Guess what happened? (HINT: "going....., going......, GONE!!!!") --- I still remember the Cleveland Paper (I think the "Plain Dealer"), with the picture of Rocky, dressed in a suit, with a suitcase, on his way OUT of Cleveland. Everybody was MAD! --- I was at a Double-Header, probably around 1966. In the Second Game, Willie Kirkland hit Home Runs, in his first three "at bats". Willie came up for his fourth "at bat", and the Manager had Willie SACRIFICE BUNT!!!!! The Crowd was MAD! The "Sacrifice" was successful, but the runner didn't score, and the Tribe lost the game. I have heard "Conspiracy Rumors" that the Tribe did not want Willie to tie Colavito's "4-Home Run" Cleveland record.

Rocky Colvito was born and raised 2 blocks away from Yankee Stadium

The player wearing number 25, at 50 seconds in, is Vic Davalillo, not Rocky Colavito.

When I was a kid back in the 60’s we lived in Leavenworth, KS and went to see the Athletics play more times than I can remember. Rocky Calavito would sign so many autographs his team mates would holler at him to hurry up. Catfish Hunter, Dick Green, Campy Campanella… those were some great times..

I was a kid when the Tigers got Colavito from Cleveland. Me and all my baseball buddies loved Rocky Colavito when he was with the Tigers. We were all bummed when he was traded to KC in 64 for Dave Wickersham and Jerry Lumpe. Even though he only had 4 years in Detroit he is still considered by many as one of the most exiting and skilled players of The 1960’s in Detroit.

I grew up in the Metro Detroit area and was around 6 years old when Rocky was traded from Cleveland to Detroit. He became my hero instantly and I continued to follow him throughout his baseball career. I use to get a lot of grief from some of my childhood friends for liking Colavito more than Al Kaline. I think Rocky deserves more notoriety than he gets. In his prime, he was a productive power hitter with a terrific arm.

Colavito had a CLEMENTE type arm.

My favorite bat was an Al Kaline - 30 inch bat. Second favorite was a 'Rocky Colavito' model - 32 inch Louisville Slugger.' (Different bats at different ages because the bats have to get bigger, and the balance changes as the bat gets longer.) Rocky was my favorite player, and I think it's just bad luck that he's not in the Hall of Fame. Great player.

One of the WORST TRADES in MLB history. "Trader Lane" sent Detroit a "gift package!" I remember Colavito's 4 home runs in one game against Baltimore in Memorial Stadium!

Theirs only been 2 teams that have ever lost a game 7 of the World Series in extra innings. And the Cleveland Indians have managed to do it twice. Twice. They’ve lost 3 World series since 1995 and like I said 2 of them were in Game 7 in extra innings.

The gods of the first americans will never allow a team that has abandoned their brave name to prosper in this land. Only when their noble names are once again praised will Cleveland Baseball and Washington dc Football be forgiven.

One of my favorite players.

I remember the first time I ever heard Rocky Colavito speak. It was at that Old Timer's All Star game in DC in 1982. He sounded like The Bronx New York native son that he really was!!! I know he played a few games for the Yankees in his final season (1968), but the Yankees really dropped the ball by not signing him out of high school! I think he would have been more popular in New York than Mickey Mantle!

Colavito got to play for the Yankees at the end of his career The Yankees even used him to pitch, and he threw smoke. All fastballs. What an arm.

Wouldn’t you learn how to pronounce the names of the players if you are going to make a video about them? That’s gotta be pretty embarrassing.

Who is Harvey Ken? Kuenn is pronounced Keen.

I work in a comedy club. Jimmy Brogan, from Cleveland, made a joke about Cleveland never being the same after they traded Colavito. Alas, here in California, I was the only one who laughed.🤷‍♂️

RIP Chief Wahoo You are still truly missed 😢😢😢

42 homers in the Tribe's stadium was like 50 anywhere else. He hit mammoth shots. I saw him hit one over the CF wall against the KC A's.

I grew upin the Bronx and saw Rocky go into the stands behind 3rd base after a guy who was disrespectful to his wife.

yeah, as a kid, first time in Cleveland's Memorial Stadium, my brother and I had a chance to buy a box seat for $4.50 or a Cleveland Indians hat for $4.50. we bought the hats! we only had money for Grandstand tickets, a 'country mile' away from home plate in leftcenterfield. Rocky came up during batting practice and WALLOPPED ONE right at us!!! I started to 'chicken out', when my brother hollered, "Catch it! Sam!" and I STRETCHED over the railing and far as I could! the ball hit just off the fingertips of the edge of my catchers mitt! just think! if I had had my first basemans glove, I woulda had a 530 foot Home Run by Rocky!

I'm a lifelong Yankees fan. Until he became one, Rocky Colavito was always my favorite non-Yankee. Great baseball name, great power, great throwing arm, great attitude. What's not to like. He even pitched for the Yanks. It was a real Golden Age (also, no analytics, which has helped ruin baseball..)

aaah.... actually.... a couple of things you said weren't quite right. the Yankees were Rocky's favorite team, yes, but they did offer him a contact for $50,000. he turned it down. and his reasoning, in his own words, was "They had Mantle, DiMaggio and Woodling......."... the Detroit trade of 'hamburger for steak', Rocky was the steak. PLUS, 'WAR' is grossly overrated! the Detroit Free Press sportswriter that drove Rocky outta Detroit was Joe Falls. Tiger fans LOVED having him on our team!!!

Rocky Colavito should have been a Yankee early on--he would have been a fan favorite. I was at the game during a Sunday doubleheader when the Yanks brought him in to relieve--what a roar from the crowd when Bob Sheppard announced his name over the P.A. system.

My dad Jim was a batboy for the PCL San Diego Padres 1955-59. Rocky was an Outfielder on the 55 Padres along with future Major Lesguers Ken Aspramonte( who also managed Cleveland in the 1970 s. So I don’t know if Cleveland switched its AAA affiliate from Indianapolis. I’m almost positive Rocky is in the 1956 Padres team picture also. Rocky became a friend mentor and surrogate older brother to Jim. Cleveland had spring training in Arizona so Jim worked 1958-59 Spring Training also. Jim started dating our Mom Carol in 1959 and Rocky sent Carol several postcards from various AL cities New York,Detroit,etc. The cities were different but the postcards were always the same Rocky at bay. Rocky sent Carol postcards of Rocky. In 1956 at Lane Field San Diego there was a long ball throwing contest. The ball thrown by Rocky travelled 420 feet ,Rocky autographed it to Jim. Carol divorced Jim in 1967 and Jim died from alcoholism in 2007, Rocky last time I checked is still alive. Jim last saw Rocky in Anaheim when Rocky was a hitting coach for the Royals??? Possibly after Charlie Lau passed away.

Consistent good baseball videos, I’m subscribing. Good job 👏

respectfully,Colavito was not robbed by Aparicio for AL ROY in '56-The latter was a spectacular defensive shortstop,and a sensational baserunner,as well-He deserved the award.

Thanks, very informative, my father was from Cleveland and discusses the Colavito curse occasionally

It's not Minnie Min ooh so. It's Minnie Minoso just like it's spelled.

Rocky definitely got robbed of the MVP award in 1958. I was just seven years old that summer so I don’t remember seeing him play but if you look at his stats he deserved the award more than Jackie Jensen. I do remember Rocky tormenting the Yankees though with that rocket arm in right field later in his career.

Rocky should be in the Hall of Fame already!!

Why did this video open up with a clip of Joe DiMaggio swinging a bat then running down toward first?

DON'T KNOCK THE ROCK WAS A POPULAR CHEER FOR TIGER FANS BACK THEN.

Remember him well with the Indians.

I remember Rocky playing for my White Sox.

You young RU-vidts have great ideas, but you have to get the details like names and how they're pronounced straight.

What year was this bench clearing brawl from at 8:18 ? That was a hell of a hit on that pitcher!

I get a picture in my Face Book feed frequently of the Detroit Tiger's three main players in 61 or 62. Rocky Colavito, Norm Cash and Al Kaline. Hard to believe that in that picture Al Kaline is the feather weight batter of the bunch. And unfortunately, the only Hall of Famer. I don't feel it is fair to say Rocky was unpopular in Detroit. Someone in the press may not have liked him, but the fans sure did. Rocky became expendable for Detroit. They had four outfielders in their farm system they really needed to bring up, Jim Northrop, Mickey Stanley, Willie Horton and Gates Brown. There are only so many spots in the out field, and fan favorite Al Kaline wasn't going anywhere. Rocky became trade bait.

Hall of fame!

Makes the point that even if one has financial backing, access to footage & the connections, the finished product can still come across as sloppy. But, as a fan, still enjoyed the still photos & vintage video. May have seen Rocky as a player when as a kid at D.C. Stadium against the expansion Senators, but definitely saw him when he was first base coach for the Tribe in 1976 at Memorial Stadium in Balto, Md.

For you young people, Harvey Kuenn’s name was correctly pronounced Keen. And Tommy ages name was pronounced. A-Gee. It really irritates me when younger baseball fans make videos about the past and don’t know how to pronounce the names.

Hearing the name of Tommie Agee, my childhood favorite & STILL my favorite player ever, was really getting on my nerves. The name is Tommie A-GEE, as in "Oh, gee"!! And from 1970 forward, never before have I heard Colavito's name pronounced as COL-A VI-TOE, but rather as Cola-vito, without emphasizing the TOE. All of this is to say, if you're going to do a video such as this, it only makes sense to check the pronunciation of the names, or turn off the AI. While I respect the tribute, not knowing how to pronounce the names correctly is a bit of a distraction & detracts from the good work that you've done.

Brother Dominic was a bookie in the Bronx.

Don't knock.the Rock was the cry back.in.those days

YUP-KEEEEEEEEN AS IN PEACHY!!!-LOL

The Indians had Colavito and Roger Maris in their outfield in early 1958. Lane, the Indians GM, traded Maris to Kansas City for some nobodies. Maris was traded to the Yankees not long after. Frank Lane, through dumb trades, ruined the Indians.

They also gave away Norm Cash to the Tigers.

Brother i love your vids but the sound can use some work. Sometimes its too low and its often bad quality, like robotic or bad signal on a phone call

If you believe in curses you're beaten even before you take the field

8:17 What was Lenny Randle doing, attacking the pitcher? This is the same guy who blew Amos Otis' chopper down the 3B line foul, BTW.

0:48 is Vic Davalillo........FYI

Traded on Easter Sunday

Nope - Chief Wahoo. Karma is real

Rocky was a real slugger, and I'll never forget him pushing the wheelchair of Herb Score on the field when he needed help.

Cleveland got Colavito back In a 3 team trade in 1965

I remember a game where the Yankees used Colavito as a pitcher.

THE VIDEO IS VERY GOOD ............... BUT THE YOUNG GUY ............... YIKES .........WITH THE NAMES

What does the term "WAR" mean in baseball ?

Seattle mariners have a curse. They have a banner hanging up touting their 116 win season in 2001. Its on top of their AL West banner. They didnt even make it to the world series!! As long as they have that on the banner the Mariners will never win or likely appear in a World Series

Why is Tommy John dressed in his uniform while wearing a cast?

Electroboom jumpscare

"1.5 million fans came to Municipal Stadium that year . . ." with a photo of Yankee Stadium in the background. C'mon.

Just me or is the audio kinda choppy

He looked a lot like Kaline. Even the number 6.

His name is Colavito, not Calovito. Yeah, I know, dyslexia sux. 😜 And OPS wasn't a thing in the '50s and '60s. Nitpicks aside, cool vid. 👍

Lot of mangled pronunciations of players names. Also think it’s amusing when W.A.R. stats are mentioned with regard to players from the 50 and 60s. No one considered WAR statistics back then because that stat didn’t exist until very recently. Also no mention of the Indians’ new name-the Cleveland Garbanzos…or Gardenias…or something like that.

Unibrow!

Is a live human or a bot doing the narration ?? Judging by the mispronunciations I'd say bot.

He gets the other names wrong but correctly pronounced Rajai Davis?

ONCE HE STARTED SCREWING UP THE NAMES, I WAS OUT. A LOT OF WANNABEES ARE LIKE THAT

I was a 12yr old kid in 67 when my beloved White Sox picked up Rocky C.. With him and Ken Boyer and a lead in the American League, i figured WS were a shoe in for the 67 pennant. With Tony C (one of my favorites by the way) going down. I was sure of it...but to no avail. Anyway Rocky, Tony C., and Ricco Petrocelli were 3 of my favorites in that era. 60s was my favorite era in BB. Before it was spoiled by all the mordern nuances that broke down our country. Unions, Corporate greed, DH., and the idea that the game wasn't good enough by itself.

Love how these AI voices mispronounce so many ballplayers' names.

Colavito was more than a home run or nothing ........ kid does a decent job .............. though ........ the WAR stat ........ PLEASE ............ OVER RATED !!!

One thing that's always puzzled me about the curses... The fans. Taking the time out of their lives and paying good money to go to the ballpark and wear paper bags over their heads, boo the team, manager, owner, etc. Just DON'T GO. Save your money and time, take up another hobby. If you can't take your eyes off the disaster, there's always TV, which is basically free.

The himself surgery.(Tommy John) I didn't find that funny.

Despite the woke "joke", they are STILL the Cleveland INDIANS.

Like when the the angels loss shotoi and after winning back to world series in 22 and 23

Kaline hated him He Got All The Chicks In Detroit And On The Road True

you don't know how to say their names right. rocky was a decent player but he wasn't great.

The real curse was the curse of Rocky Colavito's unibrow. If he groomed himself better the Indians may've won a couple of rings......Too soon??

👎👎

That's the stupidest thing I ever heard, a just above average player being called the curse, that's pretty sad. Not even close to being in the HOF