Carissa
08-27-03, 11:54 PM
Rhoden makes pitch to putt
Former hurler hopes to join Champions Tour
Baseball Perspectives
By Fred Claire
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20030827&content_id=500092&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
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Rick Rhoden has won over $2 million playing in celebrity golf events. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)
The best senior golfers in the world are discovering something those of us in the Los Angeles Dodger organization knew more than 30 years ago -- Rick Rhoden is one tough competitor.
Rhoden, who pitched five seasons for the Dodgers and had a Major League career that spanned 17 years, received a sponsors exemption to play in the Champions Tour event in Iowa last weekend and finished in a tie for fifth place.
Rhoden posted rounds of 69, 66 and 69 to finish nine strokes under par and pocket $61,750.
That's not bad for a guy who didn't start devoting a lot of attention to his golf game until his Major League career ended in 1990.
Rhoden doesn't have a regular golf teacher like most pros. He's never really had a lesson other than tips from some of the professionals he has known.
What Rick Rhoden does have is an amazing work ethic, great hand-eye coordination and, most important, a desire to succeed that knows no limits.
Most people in the world of golf probably don't realize what Rick Rhoden had to overcome to be a Major League pitcher. Rhoden would be the last person to talk about the difficult road he traveled. That's not his style.
At the age of 8, Rhoden was hurt in a freak accident at his Florida home while playing on a 40-foot strip of plastic that had been hosed down with water.
There was a pair of rusty scissors that somehow wedged in the grass beneath the plastic and as Rhoden slid along the plastic his right knee was severely cut by the scissors.
Rhoden developed osteomyelitis, underwent several surgeries, and wore a brace on his right leg for three years.
The injury impacted Rhoden's ability to run but not his love for athletics. He became a standout in both basketball and baseball at Boynton Beach, Fla. High School and in the June draft of 1971 he was the No. 1 selection of the Dodgers.
There were those in baseball who questioned the decision of the Dodgers to draft Rhoden with their first pick, but scout Dale Jones and scouting director Ben Wade believed in the talent and character of the young pitcher.
It took Rhoden only four years to reach the Major League level with the Dodgers and he was a key starting pitcher as the team reached the World Series in both 1977 and 1978. Rhoden went on to pitch for the Pirates, Yankees and Astros as he compiled a record of 151-125.
Rhoden not only was a successful pitcher. He also established himself as one of the top fielders and one of the best hitting pitchers in the game. He made only six errors in 413 Major League games.
In 1980, Rhoden batted .375 for the Pirates (15-for-40). He won three Silver Slugger Awards for being the best hitting pitcher in the National League. He hit nine homers and 38 doubles while driving in 75 runs in his career.
Rhoden's great desire and athletic talent became his signatures with the Dodgers. He was up for any game. When he arrived at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla. for Spring training he quickly established himself as the club's table tennis champion.
Rhoden's goal today is to win a regular spot on the Champions Tour, formerly known as the Senior PGA Tour. He turned 50 this past May and will try to qualify for the tour this Fall. He fell short by one stroke in his first effort to qualify last year.
If there is one group of golfers who would love to see Rhoden win a spot on the Champions Tour it would be the members of the Celebrity Tour, composed of former professional athletes and movie and TV celebrities. Rhoden has dominated the Celebrity Tour since he left baseball, winning nearly $2 million since 1990.
Rhoden obviously caught the attention of the members of the Champions Tour with his three sub-par rounds in Iowa. He had a total of 19 birdies during the three rounds.
Rhoden finished just four strokes behind Don Pooley in the senior event. He finished ahead of such notable senior golfers as Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Allen Doyle, Bob Charles, Fuzzy Zoeller, Gil Morgan, Larry Nelson, Craig Stadler, Dave Stockton and Bob Murphy.
We're talking about golfers who have won the top tournaments, and even Majors, at both the senior and PGA levels.
"I feel very fortunate," says Rhoden. "The celebrity event was a good thing for me and has enabled me to advance my game. The Champions Tour is another matter. These are the best senior players in the world and I know I have my work cut out to be a part of this group."
Rhoden says he draws a lot from his days in baseball to help him with his golf game.
"In many ways, pitching and golf are very similar," he said. "As a pitcher, you may throw 100 pitches and they are not all good. You have to learn from your mistakes and make adjustments.
"The experience of pitching sets you up mentally to play golf. If a pitcher gives up a home run, he has to get over it quickly or you will find two or three more runs on the board. In golf, if you let one bad shot lead to another you are going to be in trouble."
Rhoden says the mechanics of golf and pitching are very much the same. "You have to understand weight transfer. It's the same as in hitting a baseball. You can't be out on your front foot."
Rhoden says he learns a great deal by watching the best golfers perform. And he relates that experience to baseball.
"When I was a young pitcher with the Dodgers I always would pay close attention to guys like Don Sutton and Andy Messersmith. I wanted to see how they went through their routines. I wanted to learn by watching them perform."
Rhoden was one of the most popular players with his teammates during his time with the Dodgers. He has an easy-going personality and enjoys a good laugh and fun times.
If you challenge him to a game, however, look out.
I have a feeling the guys on the Champions Tour are going to like Rich Rhoden. Except when they find him coming down the final fairway with a chance to win.
Fred Claire was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers' front office from 1969 until 1998, serving the team as Executive Vice-President and General Manger. Fred currently lectures on the business of sports at USC and is a strategic consultant for Performance Health Technologies. This stroy was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Former hurler hopes to join Champions Tour
Baseball Perspectives
By Fred Claire
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20030827&content_id=500092&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/images/2003/08/27/35kulpGe.jpg
Rick Rhoden has won over $2 million playing in celebrity golf events. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)
The best senior golfers in the world are discovering something those of us in the Los Angeles Dodger organization knew more than 30 years ago -- Rick Rhoden is one tough competitor.
Rhoden, who pitched five seasons for the Dodgers and had a Major League career that spanned 17 years, received a sponsors exemption to play in the Champions Tour event in Iowa last weekend and finished in a tie for fifth place.
Rhoden posted rounds of 69, 66 and 69 to finish nine strokes under par and pocket $61,750.
That's not bad for a guy who didn't start devoting a lot of attention to his golf game until his Major League career ended in 1990.
Rhoden doesn't have a regular golf teacher like most pros. He's never really had a lesson other than tips from some of the professionals he has known.
What Rick Rhoden does have is an amazing work ethic, great hand-eye coordination and, most important, a desire to succeed that knows no limits.
Most people in the world of golf probably don't realize what Rick Rhoden had to overcome to be a Major League pitcher. Rhoden would be the last person to talk about the difficult road he traveled. That's not his style.
At the age of 8, Rhoden was hurt in a freak accident at his Florida home while playing on a 40-foot strip of plastic that had been hosed down with water.
There was a pair of rusty scissors that somehow wedged in the grass beneath the plastic and as Rhoden slid along the plastic his right knee was severely cut by the scissors.
Rhoden developed osteomyelitis, underwent several surgeries, and wore a brace on his right leg for three years.
The injury impacted Rhoden's ability to run but not his love for athletics. He became a standout in both basketball and baseball at Boynton Beach, Fla. High School and in the June draft of 1971 he was the No. 1 selection of the Dodgers.
There were those in baseball who questioned the decision of the Dodgers to draft Rhoden with their first pick, but scout Dale Jones and scouting director Ben Wade believed in the talent and character of the young pitcher.
It took Rhoden only four years to reach the Major League level with the Dodgers and he was a key starting pitcher as the team reached the World Series in both 1977 and 1978. Rhoden went on to pitch for the Pirates, Yankees and Astros as he compiled a record of 151-125.
Rhoden not only was a successful pitcher. He also established himself as one of the top fielders and one of the best hitting pitchers in the game. He made only six errors in 413 Major League games.
In 1980, Rhoden batted .375 for the Pirates (15-for-40). He won three Silver Slugger Awards for being the best hitting pitcher in the National League. He hit nine homers and 38 doubles while driving in 75 runs in his career.
Rhoden's great desire and athletic talent became his signatures with the Dodgers. He was up for any game. When he arrived at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla. for Spring training he quickly established himself as the club's table tennis champion.
Rhoden's goal today is to win a regular spot on the Champions Tour, formerly known as the Senior PGA Tour. He turned 50 this past May and will try to qualify for the tour this Fall. He fell short by one stroke in his first effort to qualify last year.
If there is one group of golfers who would love to see Rhoden win a spot on the Champions Tour it would be the members of the Celebrity Tour, composed of former professional athletes and movie and TV celebrities. Rhoden has dominated the Celebrity Tour since he left baseball, winning nearly $2 million since 1990.
Rhoden obviously caught the attention of the members of the Champions Tour with his three sub-par rounds in Iowa. He had a total of 19 birdies during the three rounds.
Rhoden finished just four strokes behind Don Pooley in the senior event. He finished ahead of such notable senior golfers as Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Allen Doyle, Bob Charles, Fuzzy Zoeller, Gil Morgan, Larry Nelson, Craig Stadler, Dave Stockton and Bob Murphy.
We're talking about golfers who have won the top tournaments, and even Majors, at both the senior and PGA levels.
"I feel very fortunate," says Rhoden. "The celebrity event was a good thing for me and has enabled me to advance my game. The Champions Tour is another matter. These are the best senior players in the world and I know I have my work cut out to be a part of this group."
Rhoden says he draws a lot from his days in baseball to help him with his golf game.
"In many ways, pitching and golf are very similar," he said. "As a pitcher, you may throw 100 pitches and they are not all good. You have to learn from your mistakes and make adjustments.
"The experience of pitching sets you up mentally to play golf. If a pitcher gives up a home run, he has to get over it quickly or you will find two or three more runs on the board. In golf, if you let one bad shot lead to another you are going to be in trouble."
Rhoden says the mechanics of golf and pitching are very much the same. "You have to understand weight transfer. It's the same as in hitting a baseball. You can't be out on your front foot."
Rhoden says he learns a great deal by watching the best golfers perform. And he relates that experience to baseball.
"When I was a young pitcher with the Dodgers I always would pay close attention to guys like Don Sutton and Andy Messersmith. I wanted to see how they went through their routines. I wanted to learn by watching them perform."
Rhoden was one of the most popular players with his teammates during his time with the Dodgers. He has an easy-going personality and enjoys a good laugh and fun times.
If you challenge him to a game, however, look out.
I have a feeling the guys on the Champions Tour are going to like Rich Rhoden. Except when they find him coming down the final fairway with a chance to win.
Fred Claire was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers' front office from 1969 until 1998, serving the team as Executive Vice-President and General Manger. Fred currently lectures on the business of sports at USC and is a strategic consultant for Performance Health Technologies. This stroy was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.