It's really a testament to Frank Lane's botched transactions that he's still among the most vilified of GM's to ever work in Cleveland. 50 years ago this month, Rocky Colavito was shipped, unceremoniously, out of town for Harvey Kuehn. Who? Right.
Of course, if you've read Terry Pluto's wonderful tome on the trade and Indians history since that moment, you know that nothing has gone right since then. Can we blame it on Frank Lane and the "Curse of Rocky Colavito"? Maybe.
The Baseball Heritage Museum is "celebrating" the anniversary on April 17 with a day full of longing torment and masochistic memories. At least that's what I think is happening. Full press release below.
The 50th anniversary of a seminal moment in baseball history, the one-two punch of Rocky Colavito and Herb Score being traded from Cleveland, will be the focus of a new, day-long event produced by October Productions on April 17 at the Baseball Heritage Museum. “Where Were You on April 17, 1960” will look back at the Colavito for Harvey Kuenn trade as well as the Score for Barry Latman deal the following day.The event will coincide with the spring meeting of the Jack Graney Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). A day of presentations, discussion, and events will take place at the Baseball Heritage Museum in the Colonial Marketplace, 530 Euclid Avenue, in the Historic Gateway Neighborhood of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Events are scheduled to take place throughout the day.
Our celebration will include reflections on the careers of Colavito, voted the Most Memorable Personality in Cleveland Indians history, and Score, the beloved pitcher/broadcaster and a part of Indians baseball for over four decades. The event will include audio and video highlights and reflections on those memorable days. Frank Lane, Score’s minor league career, and literature related to Colavito and Score will be among the topics covered during the day.
Admission cost for the event is $7, $5 for SABR members and $3 for kids 12 and under.
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