Growing up, when certain “Brothers” were on the pitcher’s mound, all activities in our home ceased. “Pops” turned the television volume up, and unless one was able to focus, he or she could figure out that the prudent thing to do next was to exit the room. In the 1960s (before my time), it was Bob Gibson, Fegueson Jenkins, and Mudcat Grant. In the 1970s, it was Al Dowling, Vida Blue, Dock Ellis, and J.R. Richard. In the ’80s: Mike Norris, Doc
Gooden, Dave Stewart. No matter your “team”, a Black major league pitcher on national television commanded attention. African-American pitchers who have won 20 or more games in a Major League Baseball season are part of an unofficial club formed by Grant called “The Black Aces”. Franchise ownership is next on the horizon for him.
COMPETITOR
The term rival is tossed around perpetually in nearly all athletic competitions, at every level. High school, college, and professional franchises, along with individual adversaries, can be deemed as such to one another. However, if one is consistently exhibiting clear dominance over their opponent, the entity on the losing end cannot theoretically call the victor a rival. Under such circumstances, the triumphant is in fact a nemesis. In the mid-to-late 1980s and into the early 1990s, sportswriters and broadcasters referred to Oakland A’s pitcher Dave Stewart and the Boston Red Sox Roger Clemens, as rivals. Roger’s career lasted longer, assisted by the use of anabolic steroids (allegedly). Dave did it the old-fashioned way, bringing his natural talent out to dominate Roger. Between 1986 and 1990, their prime years, they
would battle both in the regular season and in the American League playoffs. In that time frame, Stewart was 8-0 against the flamethrower from Beantown!
Without question, Dave Stewart was Roger Clemens’ bona fide nemesis. Roger knew it, and the media–predominantly non-melanated–knew it as well. Clemens did in fact back up the ballyhoo and was a major talent, but extremely arrogant, and entitled. For him during that stretch, “Stew” was simply the riddle that he and the Red Sox could not decipher.
WHO IS DAVE STEWART?
Raised in the gritty streets of East “Oak-town” (Oakland, California), Stewart’s tough outward countenance was more than mere optics. His size (6’3, 210), and legitimate black belt skills gave foes reason to pause if he chose to “brush back” a batter from home plate. Stewart was renowned for his intimidating “death stare” on the pitcher’s mound, a la another Black superstar pitcher and predecessor, named Bob Gibson. Often during games, the camera was fixated on him, cap pulled down,
scowling, staring down the batter, prior to his wind-up. He was uber-melanated and nasty. Conversely, off the field, he was a gentleman, a popular teammate and fan favorite, and always community-minded. To this day, he is loyal to his native city of Oakland. He purchased and handed out lunches to clean-up crews after the massive earthquake during the ‘89 World Series (won by Stew’s Oakland A’s via a four-game sweep), and is as philanthropic as they make ‘em. In honor of his deeds to the Bay Area over the years, especially with the Oakland Boys & Girls Club, and Team-Up for Youth, the Dave Stewart Community Service Award was established in 1996.
Blessed with a 90 to 95 mile an hour fastball (another moniker was “Smoke”), forkball, and slider, he went from being a catcher initially, to becoming one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. Stewart has three World Series rings in his possession (’81,’89, ’93), winning the series MVP in ’90, and the ACLS MVP in both ’89 and ’93. In the American League championship series, by the way, Stewart was 8-0 in his career. He thrived in crunch time. Although never voted as the Cy Young Award winner (a political travesty), Dave Stewart has the distinction of four consecutive twenty (20) win seasons from 1987 through 1990.
He took that personally, especially when the award was given to Clemens in 1987 when both pitchers had won 20 games.
An excellent all-around athlete, he initially struggled during his early seasons as a relief pitcher with Los Angeles, Texas, and Philadelphia, His resurrection occurred when he was picked up by the Oakland A’s. Seeing something special in him, his new manager Tony La Russa, telephoned Stewart prior to a road trip to face the Boston Red Sox. “Tony called me and said, ‘I’m joining the team in Boston and the good news is that you’re going to be starting for me in Boston. The bad news is that it’s going to be a nationally televised game and you’re going to be pitching against Roger Clemens,’” Stewart recalled. “I said, ‘Actually, that’s all good news. I’m looking forward to it.’” [1]
“Stewart beat the Red Sox for his first victory with Oakland…He wasn’t done with Clemens, either. Stewart became known for dominating the Boston star, going 8-0 with a 1.80 ERA in their matchups.” [1]
Believe me, their polar opposite skin tones certainly did not go unnoticed. Their meetings were “Magic vs. Bird-like”!
Race was never discussed directly between them. Jabs occasionally floated via the press. There was no love. Yet, an undercurrent of racism, particularly with Roger playing in Boston (and also exhibiting his sometimes backward Texas demeanor), was there. Furthermore, with the media’s obsession over his every move, the tension was always amplified when they faced off. “I know for a fact he took it [personally], pitching against Roger,” Oakland A’s teammate Carney Lansford said. “[“Stew”] was really upset the first year he won 20 games, he didn’t win the Cy Young. And he told me, in my living room in northeastern Oregon, ‘That guy will never beat me. Never.’ And he never did.” [1]
As a young adult, stationed half a world away from home in the Air Force during that time frame, I thoroughly enjoyed their matchups. Like “Pops”, if one was supporting his counterpart, he or she was welcome to leave my dorm room until the contest was decided.
Dave Stewart, based solely on numbers and statistics, may never make the Baseball Hall of Fame. Since his playing days ceased,
he has functioned as a pitching coach, sports agent, executive and general manager (Arizona Diamondbacks), and a broadcaster. Clemens, in spite of all the suspicions (including being summoned before congress) in the air regarding the use of steroids and growth hormone (similar to Barry Bonds), eventually will get the call. That notwithstanding, if I had to choose between either player in a game seven, must-win situation, I’m going with the “Black Ace” every time.
“STEW~ARDSHIP” PERSONIFIED
A headliner on the mound for many seasons, “Stew” is now making the trek into professional franchise ownership. Dave Stewart has been selected to “lead the diversity equity ownership initiative [Music City Baseball] created to get a franchise within the next 3 to 5 years, according to both Stewart and Major League Baseball sources.” [2]
Currently, he is marshaling an assemblage endeavoring to acquire a team in Nashville, Tennessee. MLB is strongly considering expansion for the first time in a quarter-century. Majority minority–owned Major League Baseball franchises have been–to put it curtly–a nonentity (Magic Johnson has 2% of ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Derek Jeter with a 4% equity ownership resigned from the Florida Marlins this year).
If successful, it would be the first in the history of the sport.
Stewart, unapologetically forthright at every opportunity regarding the paucity of African-Americans within the hierarchy and c-suites of MLB, is undeniably the logical individual for the job. As always, he is fearless, forward-thinking, and the epitome of selflessness.
“Oak-town”, along with an unfathomable integer of points beyond, stands proud.
By Dr. Eric Hawkins (“Dr. Hawk”)
The Hub.News/Knubia Sports
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
(1) Slusser, Susan. Excerpt from “100 Things A’s Fans Should Know Before They Die”. ‘Dave Stewart Owned Roger Clemens’. June 24, 2015. Triumph Books
(2) Thornton, Cedric. “Oakland A’s Legend Dave Stewart Ready To Become MLB’s First Majority-Minority Owner”. Black Enterprise. April 22, 2022.
Originally posted 2022-04-25 12:00:00.
