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1979 Ron Plaza Cincinnati Reds Game Worn Jersey
When Jim Bouton's controversial baseball book, Ball Four, was released, the Seattle Pilots' first base coach and hitting instructor, Ron Plaza, received repeated mention in the Bouton tome for his tough love, being termed by Bouton as "The Drill Instructor." Ron Plaza spent 61 years in professional baseball as a minor league player and manager, a coach in the Major Leagues, and a scout. Displayed is a 1979 game worn Ron Plaza Cincinnati Reds knit jersey from his time that season as a first and third base coach for the Reds. He began the '79 season as the replacement for Alex Grammas as the third base coach for John McNamara's Reds, but the always aggressive Plaza was shifted to first base after McNamara felt that too many runners were being thrown out at home. The Reds finished in first place that season in the NL West, but even though they still had players such as Johnny Bench, George Foster, Joe Morgan, and Dave Concepcion from the Big Red Machine, the Reds lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Championship Series. Plaza began his professional playing career in the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system, and he played as an infielder for 11 seasons in the Cards' organization, batting .251 over his minor league career and reaching as high as Triple A Rochester, but never making the Majors. Plaza then managed for six minor league seasons, winning the 1967 Florida State League Championship with the St. Petersburg Cardinals. Ron was a Major League coach for eight seasons: Seattle Pilots (1969), Cincinnati Reds (1978-83) and Oakland Athletics (1986). Over his long career, Plaza has been given credit in the development of such players as Hall of Famer Steve Carlton, Miguel Tejeda, Jose Cruz and others. The gray Reds' jersey has "CINNCINATI" across the chest in red, sewn-on block letters. On the left chest is "11" in red, sewn-on numerals. On the back is "PLAZA" in red, sewn-on block letters and "11" in red, sewn-on numerals. On the left outside tail is a manufacturer's tag reading "Wilson" and size "44." Below the above-mentioned tag is a stamped "Purchased From Cincinnati Reds." On the left inside tail is a tag giving year and jersey set number as "79 2." The game worn jersey shows use and yet is in excellent condition.
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