The Journal of San Diego History
Winter 1995, Volume 41, Number 1
Contents of This Issue
Pacific Coast League Padres ~ Index to Players ~ Hall of Famers
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Born: 7-9-15 Padres: 1945-47
Tony was the starting centerfielder for the St. Louis Browns in
1943. He claims that after they got rid of him in a trade with
Cincinnati, the following year, the Browns won their only pennant
ever! As a Padre, Criscola enjoyed his finest season in 1945 when
he led the team in runs, hits, triples, and stolen bases. He was a
co-founder of the local Hot Stove League with Kent Parker and
Morrie Morrison.
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[Tony Criscola, interview by Bill Swank, 6 February 1995, transcript notes.]
One of the funniest incidents that happened with the Padres was in 1945 up in Oakland. We were losing the ballgame and somewhere around the 7th or 8th inning, Del Ballinger was told to go up and pinch hit for the pitcher. I didn't know what was happening, because I'd run in from the outfield and I was on deck. Well, Dick Gyselman, our third baseman, had his young son along with us. The boy was playing with a cap pistol on the bench. Ballinger was sent up. The first pitch was a ball, but the second was a strike right down the center of the plate. Ballinger complained like nobody's business to the umpire. Then, he pulled out the cap pistol and shot the umpire! The umpire must have aged fifty years right then and he immediately threw him out of the game. When the fans realized what happened, they went crazy with laughter. I'm the next hitter and he searched me.
I remember another game that was up in Oakland, too. It was the 9th inning and a pinch hitter for the pitcher got on first with nobody out. The score was tied. I'm the next hitter and I get the bunt signal. I tried to bunt for a hit, but the ball went all the way to second and the runner was out. I was calling myself some names, but I made it to first. On the next pitch, I stole second. Now, I'm on second, taking my lead, and the pitcher doesn't even look at me! So, I stole third. Pepper Martin [manager] is mad at me and he calls 'Time'. He takes his belt off and loops it around me. The umpire calls 'Time' and tells Pepper to take the belt off me. I score on a base hit. We win the game and go to the clubhouse. Martin says, "You were fined $25 when you fouled up the bunt, but I took off the $25 off when you made second. Then, I fined you $50 for stealing third, but I took it off when you were safe at home. And, if you ever do that again, you'll be fined $100 if you make it or not!"
It was wonderful playing in the Pacific Coast League. You were in a town for a whole week, so you weren't always packing and unpacking. Getting sold to San Diego was the best thing that ever happened to me.
