Setting the Record Straight

In our Stars In Their Time profile for Hal Trosky William Curran recounted the following incident:

"In 1940, his last significant season, Hal suffered the additional misfortune of being marked (by New York reporters) as the spokesman for the so-called Cleveland Crybabies, all 25 Indian players, who petitioned owner Alva Bradley to get rid of tyrannical and acerbic manager Ossie Vitt. No doubt the players, including standup guys like Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau and Mel Harder, made a big mistake in fingering Vitt in mid-season. And since the Indians blew the pennant on the final weekend after having led for most of the season, Trosky, the messenger, became indelibly associated in baseball history with the 1940 Crybabies."

When Mike Trosky, Hal's grandson, read the profile, he wanted to set the story straight. He sent us the following e-mail:

Dear Webmaster:

Hal's side of the story is coming from me. My grandfather passed away in June of 1978. His son, Hal Jr. lives outside Cedar Rapids, Iowa and I am the grandson. I have listened to my grandfather and my father talk about this story over the years. I know it may be hard to believe I may be telling the truth due to my relationship with my grandfather. It is true. I have found out recently that a journalist was supposed to set the record straight about the "Crybabies" and my grandfather's part in the whole thing, after my grandfather passed away. That was my grandfather's wish. I understand that journalist may have passed away before my grandfather and so the story stands.

Here is my grandfather's account: He had gotten permission to leave the Indians in the middle of the season from Oscar Vitt due to my grandfather's mother passing away in Norway, Iowa. While my grandfather was attending to his mother's funeral, journalists were hungry for a story and Bob Feller offered them just that after a game. He told the journalist that the players were in midst of a revolt and the captains were leading the revolt against Vitt. Well, my grandfather being a captain, had his name tarnished while he was home grieving of his mother's loss. You figure that one out!

My grandfather returned to Cleveland and was immediately booed in Cleveland stadium his first game back, without even knowing what was going on. When somebody filled him in, my grandfather went to Vitt and asked him he had ever gone against his manager's word. Vitt replied "no, you have been very loyal to me the whole time." Now, I haven't figured out what Feller got out of this. I don't know and that is not for me to accuse him.

My father has given me permission to set the record straight. If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you
God Bless,
Mike Trosky