Two Homers by a Player Gives Us Cause for Pause

Picture, if you will, a major league baseball player hitting two home runs in leading his New York Mets to a 9-2 victory over Atlanta - and spending 15 minutes apologizing for them.

Such was the case of Steve Henderson, a reserve, 27-year-old outfielder, who was jokingly being asked, "How come?" by me and other press at the Braves' Fulton County Stadium in July 1980. In a way, the player had only himself to blame for the questions.

In his previous two seasons with the Mets, Henderson had emphasized to writers that he intentionally was not a long-ball hitter; that his focus at the plate was to try to hit into outfield gaps or for singles over the infield.

He was telling the truth. That night's two homers were a fluke. Indeed, at that season's end, he emerged with only five homers in 359 at bats, but with a commendable .306 batting average.

His approach to batting was reminiscent of the approach played by brothers Paul and Lloyd Waner. They had starred for the Pittsburgh Pirates five decades earlier. For about 15 seasons, both were considered among the National League's leading hitters.

Their goal, too, had been to forget about the fences and to keep poking balls to spots where defending players weren't. Their goals were simply singles and doubles. Both often were listed among the National League's 10 leading hitters.

The day after Henderson's two homers - it was the only time he turned in a pair in one game in his eight-year big league career - Dick Sisler, the Mets' batting coach, came to the lanky player's defense.

"Steve is telling it the way it is," he said. "All that happened last night is that he connected with a curve ball in the first inning and a slider in the sixth, both of which hung. Hendo is quick enough to take advantage of such mistakes."

Henderson, a right-handed batter who had cleared the left field fence both times, sounded almost apologetic to writers that next day. He repeated that he had stopped trying to clear fences.

"We found," Sisler said, "that in trying to hit the long ball Steve had been pulling his head and shoulders too much to the left. As a result, he wasn't connecting with the ball solidly. Now we have him batting more comfortably - more or less pointing his head toward the pitcher when he swings."

I've always remembered that game for one other reason. It involved pitcher Al Hraboski, often referred to by the press as "The Mad Hungarian."

Hraboski had been sent to the mound by the Braves in the ninth inning with the Mets comfortably ahead, 7-2. With one out, he had yielded a single to the Mets' Doug Flynn.

Pat Zachary, the winning pitcher, squaring to bunt, had to duck from a pitch over his head. Hraboski was evidently irked over the bunt attempt being made with the Mets having such a comfortable lead. He stepped menacingly toward Zachary, who eventually struck out.

Lee Mazilli then hit a home run to give the Mets their win and, as he crossed the plate, he taunted Hraboski about his high pitch at Zachary.

Hraboski charged the plate as players of both teams cleared their benches. A free-for-all seemed to be in the making, but it didn't materialize.

"I can't understand it," said Joe Torre, then managing the Mets. "If Hraboski was mad because Zachary was trying to bunt, he should have been aiming for my head with that ball."

"After all, I'm the guy who signaled for that bunt."