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Zak Ford’s outstanding book called Called Up details stories from big leaguers getting called up to the majors. A highly entertaining book and an easy read, it has a terrific true tale about Gene Tenace. The 1972 World Series Most Valuable Player tells it in his own words.

“From ’65 to ’67, I was a utility guy,” Tenace says. “I wasn’t goin’ anywhere. In ‘67, I told the organization they had to make a decision with me, or I was just going to hang them up, go back home, and try to get a job or some kinda education. I couldn’t kick around the minor leagues as a utility guy. In ’67, I’d get opportunities to play when a guy would get hurt. I’d swing the bat well, but they didn’t have a position for me. In those days, the positions were pretty much locked up in the big leagues.

“They finally approached me and said they wanted to convert me into a catcher because they didn’t have any catching in the system. I’m going, ‘Oh my God, it’s gonna take me forever to learn this.’ I said I’d give it a shot and go to instructional league. The next season, in ’68, I started playin’ every day [in the minors].

“In ’69 I went to major league camp, and they sent me to Double-A in Birmingham, Alabama. I was having a great first six weeks. I think I was hitting like .370 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs for the first six weeks. We were in Montgomery, Alabama. After a game a couple buddies and I went out. We were out after curfew and were coming back down the street. I looked down at the hotel, and the manager was standing out there in the front. I go, ‘Oh God, we’re dead. We’re gonna get nailed here.’

“The guys said, ‘Well, what are we gonna do?’ I said, ‘He knows we’re out after curfew ’cause we’re not in our rooms. We might as well just bite the bullet, take the consequences, and deal with it.’

“The three of us walked down to him and he was very upset. He told the other two guys to get to their room and he’d deal with them later. Then, he told me, ‘You get up to my room.’ I’m going, ‘Oh God Almighty.’ I get to his room, and he says, ‘I’ll fix you a drink.’

I said, ‘Well, I don’t drink hard liquor. I drink a beer.’ He said, ‘Pour yourself a scotch. I’ve got to make a phone call.’ I said, ‘Okay.’ I figured if the manager says to pour yourself a scotch, you pour yourself a scotch even if you don’t drink scotch. I pour myself a little bit in a glass and he’s on the phone. I couldn’t tell who he was talking to. It was like 1:30 in the morning. He’s saying, ‘Yes, no, yes, yes.’ I’m thinking, ‘What’s going on here?’

Then I hear him say, ‘Yeah, he’s here. I’ve got him.’ I thought, ‘Oh-oh. That doesn’t sound good.’ He gets off the phone and says to me, ‘Drink that stinkin’ scotch. You’re gonna need that scotch.’ I said, ‘What are you talkin’ about?’

“He says, ‘In about 30 minutes, you’re heading back to Birmingham, and then you’re gonna catch a flight to Oakland. You’re catching Catfish Hunter Thursday.’

“I said, ‘Skip, I’ve only caught one year and six weeks. I don’t think I’m ready for the big leagues yet defensively.’ He said, ‘You’re ready. You’re leaving.’

“The pitcher that had thrown that night had a car waiting. He was loaded up and ready. I packed my bags, got my equipment from the ballpark, and he drove me to Birmingham. I had called my wife from the hotel, told her I was coming in, and that she should start getting my clothes ready because there wasn’t much time before she’d have to run me to the airport.

“I was in spring training with the guys for the last two years, so I knew everybody there and they knew me. They congratulated me for getting called up and accepted me with no problems. I had only been catching for a year and six weeks. I hadn’t really learned to call a ballgame yet as far as all the technical things that are involved. I go into the pitchers and catchers meeting prior to the game and say to Catfish, ‘Well, how do you want to pitch this guy?’

“He says, ‘Well, that’s up to you. You put the sign down and that’s what I throw. I throw a fastball, slider, and changeup.’

I said, ‘Okay, that sounds pretty easy.’ I go out there and I’m doing exactly what he said. He never shook me off.”

Shown here is a baseball card depicting the Hall of Fame hurler Hunter.

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Fiore Gino Tennaci played 15 years in the big leagues. Better known as Gene Tenace, he was the starting catcher for three consecutive World Series championship teams starting in 1972

Tenace served as a backup catcher for the Oakland A’s from ’68-’72. When he reached the Fall Classic in ’72, Tenace shined.

Playing in all 7 games, he slashed .348/.400/.913. He was named the World Series Most Valuable Player.

Tenace’s October performance forced his way into the lineup in ’73. That year he played in 160 games – 134 at first base. Tenace drew 101 walks and posted a .387 on-base percentage. The A’s returned to the World Series. In the Fall Classic Tenace reached base 14 times in 30 plate appearances and earned his second ring.

The following season was more of the same. In ’74 Tenace found his way into 150 games, more than half of them behind the plate. He hit 26 homers and led the league with 110 walks. Tenace and the A’s won the World Series for the third straight year.

Tenace’s finest season in Oakland came in 1975. The starting first baseman in the All Star Game, Tenace reached career highs in homers (29) and RBI (87). He also drew more than 100 bases on balls for the third straight season.

In eight season with the A’s, Tenace went to the postseason five times and earned three rings. He had a .374 on-base percentage in 3,016 plate appearances with the A’s. Twice he received consideration in MVP voting.

Above is an autographed 1973 Topps card titled, “Tenace the Menace”. It shows Tenace as he crosses the plate in Game 1 of the ’72 World Series. In that contest he slammed two homers and drove in all three runs in the A’s 3-2 win over the Reds.

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The object of baseball is to gain the World Series. Perhaps the greatest individual achievement is being named Most Valuable Player of the Fall Classic. Gene Tenace did both of these in 1972.

Tenace’s Oakland A’s won 93 games in the regular season to win the AL Western Division. They defeated the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS and faced off against the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.

Tenace took center stage at baseball’s biggest event. In the 7-game tilt he went 8-for-23 with a double, four homers, and 9 runs batted in. For his efforts he was named the World Series MVP.

Shown here is a letter from Hall of Fame commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Baseball’s head man extols the virtues of baseball’s showcase event.

“The World Series is the premier event of American Sports.

“No other event has been able to capture it’s special appeal or match its magnificent history.”

Kuhn later writes of the 1971 seven-game thriller. His final sentence alludes to the crowing achievement of Tenace’s career – the ’72 Fall Classic Oakland victory in which Tenace was named the MVP.

“To our loyal fans, I dedicate the 1972 World Series.”

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After 8 seasons with Charlie Finley’s Oakland Athletics, Tenace signed with the Padres as a free agent in December of 1976. He enjoyed four productive seasons in San Diego.

In his first year in America’s Finest City Tenace drew a career-high and league-leading 125 walks. He was also hit by pitch 13 times – both a career and league best.

The following season in ’78 he passed the century mark in walks for the fourth time. His 5.2 WAR matched his career high set in his All Star season of 1975.

In ’79 Tenace put up a career-best 6.0 WAR. It was his seventh consecutive season with a WAR above 4.0. The San Diego catcher and first baseman recorded his sixth and final season with more than 100 walks.

In December of 1980 Tenace was part of an 11 player trade that sent him to St. Louis. In his second season with the Cardinals, Tenace returned to the World Series for the fourth time. St. Louis beat Milwaukee in 7 games as Tenace earned a fourth World Series ring.

Before the ’83 campaign Tenace signed a free-agent deal with the Pirates. He concluded his 15-year career with 53 games in Pittsburgh in ’83. The Pirates released him the following spring.

Tenace’s overall numbers include 998 walks and more than 1,000 hits. His 8 years in the AL included 3 championships with the A’s and three seasons with more than 100 walks. In 7 seasons in the Senior Circuit, Tenace boasted a .404 on-base percentage and a 4th World Series ring.

In the collection is this 1973 Topps card autographed by Gene Tenace. The card shows the A’s catcher at bat in Game 4 of the 1972 World Series. In that game Tenace went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.

His key at bat came in the 9th inning with his team down 2-1. Tenace slapped a one-out single to left. Two batters later he came around to score the winning run in the A’s 3-2 walk-off victory.