Non roster invitees 1971-75

[Robert Lumpkin]

1971-#8 Bill Ferguson, #39 Joe Gibbon, #48 Ross Grimsley #50 Pat Osburn #51 Bill Harrleson #52 Tom Spencer. 1972- #17 Bob Aspromonte #21 Al Weis #50 Pat Osburn #52 Tom Spencer #55 Sonny Ruberto #56 Bill Ferguson #57 John D. Hale #58 Dan Osborn 1973- #11 Hal King #17 Bill Voss #46 Bill Ferguson #54 Dan Ossborn #55 Tom Carroll #56 Jim Driscoll #? Mike Heintz 1974-#28 Roger Freed #52 Dan Osborn #53 Doug Flynn #54 Steve Kealey #55 Junior Kennedy #56 Gene Dusan #57 Oscar Del Busto 1975-#7 Roger Freed#50 Mike Hedlund #52 Bruce Taylor #53 Joe Henderson #55 Don Werner #57 Oscar Del Busto

[cumberlandreds]

I remember a lot of those names. I would listen to all the spring training games back then. Hal King hit one of the more famous HR's in Reds history in 1973 against the Dodgers that lead to huge comeback to win the division. I didn't realize Ross Grimsley was not a roster player. He was pretty good pitcher for a number of years with the Reds and other teams. He may be the best player on that list.

[Rantly]

Ironic that Oscar was a bust...

[redsmetz]

I remember a lot of those names. I would listen to all the spring training games back then. Hal King hit one of the more famous HR's in Reds history in 1973 against the Dodgers that lead to huge comeback to win the division. I didn't realize Ross Grimsley was not a roster player. He was pretty good pitcher for a number of years with the Reds and other teams. He may be the best player on that list.

1971 was Grimsley rookie season, so he came into camp as a non-roster invitee and was called up in May. He wouldn't have been added to the roster until then, especially since back then, the option rules were much different.

[redsmetz]

Bob Aspromonte's last season was 1971 with the Mets. I remember him most from his seasons with the Astros. No play at all in the minors that season, so it appears he retired after that Spring Training. A Google search shows that Topps produced a card for him though that season.

[cumberlandreds]

Bob Aspromonte's last season was 1971 with the Mets. I remember him most from his seasons with the Astros. No play at all in the minors that season, so it appears he retired after that Spring Training. A Google search shows that Topps produced a card for him though that season.

Never played with the Reds. IIRC, this was a high number card for the Topps set which meant it wasn't released until late in the 72 season. All the more puzzling why they would even produce that card? Aspromonte was released by the Mets Oct 28, 1971 according to Retrosheet.

[redsmetz]

Never played with the Reds. IIRC, this was a high number card for the Topps set which meant it wasn't released until late in the 72 season. All the more puzzling why they would even produce that card? Aspromonte was released by the Mets Oct 28, 1971 according to Retrosheet.

A check of the NY Times for that season had this about Aspromonte and another player:

TAMPA, Fla., March 22 (AP) —Two infielders, Al Weis and Bob Aspromonte, were cut by the Cincinnati Reds trom the active roster today.
Both players had been given unconditional releases earlier by the New York Mets.
“I don't think they would have helped our club,” said the Reds’ manager, Sparky Anderson.
The cuts leave the Reds with only five infielders on the roster—Tony Perez on first, Joe Morgan on second, Dave Concepcion and Darrel Chaney, shortstops, and Denis Menke at third.

That story was reported on March 23, 1972. The next day, the club traded Tony Cloninger to the Cardinals for Julian Javier who primarily played 3B in games for us, although a little bit of 2B and one game at first. On May 19, 1972, we traded Bernie Carbo to the Cards for a guy named Joe Hague, who I don't recall at all, and he served as a utility player as well. Likewise, Hal McRae played some 3rd and outfield. Throw in Chaney and Menke and Aspromonte's services really were duplicated elsewhere. BTW, it seems to me that WOY has previously shared some of the backstory of Carbo being traded.

[cumberlandreds]

A check of the NY Times for that season had this about Aspromonte and another player:

TAMPA, Fla., March 22 (AP) —Two infielders, Al Weis and Bob Aspromonte, were cut by the Cincinnati Reds trom the active roster today.
Both players had been given unconditional releases earlier by the New York Mets.
“I don't think they would have helped our club,” said the Reds’ manager, Sparky Anderson.
The cuts leave the Reds with only five infielders on the roster—Tony Perez on first, Joe Morgan on second, Dave Concepcion and Darrel Chaney, shortstops, and Denis Menke at third.

That story was reported on March 23, 1972. The next day, the club traded Tony Cloninger to the Cardinals for Julian Javier who primarily played 3B in games for us, although a little bit of 2B and one game at first. On May 19, 1972, we traded Bernie Carbo to the Cards for a guy named Joe Hague, who I don't recall at all, and he served as a utility player as well. Likewise, Hal McRae played some 3rd and outfield. Throw in Chaney and Menke and Aspromonte's services really were duplicated elsewhere. BTW, it seems to me that WOY has previously shared some of the backstory of Carbo being traded.

Carbo was known to and admitted to being into drugs. I would say the Reds found out about it and they dumped him as quick as possible. I vaguely remember Hague. He was with the Reds the rest of that season and I think in 1973. I believe he has passed away in recent years.

[redsmetz]

Carbo was known to and admitted to being into drugs. I would say the Reds found out about it and they dumped him as quick as possible. I vaguely remember Hague. He was with the Reds the rest of that season and I think in 1973. I believe he has passed away in recent years.

My wife always says, "if I think something was three years ago, it was five" etc. Hague died in 1994. My how time flies. He did play in both '72 and '73. And I think the Carbo issue was likely drug use as well.

[Tony Cloninger]

Bernie enjoyed being the Village Idiot and indulging in counter culture activities. I would have preferred Aspromonte over Javier. I just wish they had never traded Milt Wilcox.

[allpurpose]

I remember Carbo fairly well and was upset about the trade at the time, heck, I was what? 11 at the time..If memory serves my favorite player around the time was Bobby Tolan and I thought that achilles rupture was about the worst thing that could happen to the team. My dad had bought me a Bobby Tolan glove when that happened and sure enough I had problems with my achilles for a few years back then.