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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 37th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2009 > October > 08 > Entry
They don’t make ‘em like Chris Sabo
Chris Sabo is one of my all-time favorite characters, too out-there to be believed. But he was real and the stories about him are even better than the on-the-field stories about him.
That he was elected into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame is not surprising. He was always The People’s Choice, a blue-collar guy who always owned the dirtiest uniform, one with the knees ripped out. He was so down-to-earth you expected him to carry a lunch bucket out to third base and pull out a thermos jug for sips of black coffee between innings.
SOME OF MY favorite Sabo stories:
Sabo wore goggles when he played, making him look like a scuba diver who forgot his flippers. At the time, there was a dog on a Budweiser commercial that wore goggles and was named Spuds McKenzie. Manager Pete Rose never called Sabo Chris or Sabo. Always it was Spuds.
HE WAS RIDING a cab from the hotel to the ballpark in Pittsburgh and the driver was smoking. Sabo asked him to put out the cigarette and the driver refused, puffing even harder on his Marlboro. After asking the driver again to cease, the cabbie fired up another one. Sabo opened the back door and bailed out, while the cab was still moving and the meter was still ticking.
SABO ALWAYS WORE a flat-top haircut right out of the 60’s and all he needed was to roll a pack of cigarettes in his T-shirt sleeve to complete the image - but, as we know, he doesn’t smoke.
There was a time in an Atlanta mall when Sabo decided he needed a haircut and he asked the barber if he knew how to cut a flat-top. The barber assured him he did. But halfway through the haircut Sabo looked in the mirror and was not satisfied with what was transpiring. He leaped from the chair, tossed aside the drop cloth and stormed out of the shop, walking through the mall with half a haircut.
Sabo had an old car he loved. Wouldn’t buy a new one and said, “Why should I? I have a good car.” It was a Ford Fiesta sub-compact with 300,000 miles on it. One time his closest friend, Paul O’Neill, rode in that car,and to listen to the radio he had to hold the broken-off antennae out the window and high in the air to get reception.
ONE DAY WHEN I walked into the clubhouse Sabo was sitting there staring at the floor, a forlorn look on his face.
“What’s wrong, Sabes?” I asked.
“Oh, I’m depressed,” he said. “They’re trading all my friends.”
The Reds hadn’t made a recent trade and I asked, “Who’s that?” Said Sabo with a shake of his head, “Pauly.” That was Paul O’Neill, who had been traded the year before.
Sabo always arrived early on Sunday mornings and commandeered the clubhouse stereo system. What did he play? Metallica? Not even close. He played Frank Sinatra or college football fight songs, usually the University of Michigan, where he attended.
SABO once got into an argument with umpire Charlie Williams on a play at first base. Sabo argued too vehemently and was ejected.
Knowing Williams would be working behind the plate the next day, Sabo grabbed a magic marker and scribbled on the knob of his bat, “Charlie Williams sucks,” knowing Williams would see it.
SABO WAS NEVER happy with his bats and loved to rummage in an old storage room under Riverfront Stadium where there were scores and scores of bats. He’d find one he liked and use it.
That got him in deep trouble.
He used one of those bats one day and when he hit the ball the bat splintered and cork sprayed all over the infield. He was suspended for using a corked bat, but it wasn’t even his bat.
And who did it belong to? Rumor has it that it belonged to Hal Morris, but Sabo took the punishment and never threw Morris under the bus.
A team guy and a character. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.
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Comments
By Bob
October 27, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this
My son was holding his infan son while interviewing Sabo. The baby needed a diaper change but my son had a microphone in one hand and the baby in the other. Sab said, “give me the kid you get him a new diaper.” Great guy.
By Todd
October 13, 2009 5:44 PM | Link to this
I sat behind the dugouto one night when he was with the Dragons, we were in extra innings and I asked Sabo if he had any eligiblity remaining so he could bat and we could finish the game, he just smiled. My favorite Saboism was a nationally televised game when he came up to bat in the middle innings with his fly open, he had no clue. I was calling all my buddies and they said the same thing.
By To Blog Barf
October 12, 2009 10:18 PM | Link to this
Oh, so lets not draft any more guys who run fast at all times; then we won’t have to feel a need to root for them. Send Stubbs back. Get rid of everyone who tries to hustle. You are an idiot. Stay up late tonight and try to think of something intelligent to offer.
By Big Daddy
October 12, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this
That is why the Reds suck. The fans like guys who can’t play but because they run out pop-ups and ground balls to the pitcher, they cheer for them and think they are better than what they are. So management goes gets the scrubs and reds fans are happy. They thought that clown Rosales was good because he ran fast after a home run.
By ironmyke
October 12, 2009 9:07 AM | Link to this
Sabo was an ideal guy for Cincinnati. Reds fans love really good, hardworking Joe Lunchpail players.
By Big Daddy
October 10, 2009 10:58 PM | Link to this
Not a problem A HOLE.
By BrarHopper
October 10, 2009 5:10 PM | Link to this
My favorite Sabo moment wwas a live 1990 interview when the Reds had just swept the Oakland A’s & won the World Series Championship. When a national TV reporter stuck a mike in psyched-up Sabo’s champagne-drenched face,blurted something like, “We won the series, we got the ring, we got the whole F’n thing!” It was live and he said THE word. It was unbelievable, hilarious, and 100% pure Sabo! Bless his flat little head. BTW, the year Sabo stepped in for injured Buddy Bell (‘88) he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award, plus he was a 3-time NL All-Star. He is currently enrolled at Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University. And his son, Mike Bruno Sabo is a ball boy for the Reds.
By Sal Monella
October 10, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this
Hey Big Daddy, looks like your posting finger is on steroids. Next time, one per customer, if you please.
By napoleon 2
October 10, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this
I live in the Columbus area, but am from Cinti. A cousin of mine who is a law student at NKU said Chris Sabo is a full-time law student there.
By Big Daddy
October 10, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this
Sabo was a steriod user. If he denies it, I will pay for the lie detector test.
By Big Daddy
October 10, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this
Sabo was a steriod user. If he denies it, I will pay for the lie detector test.
By Big Daddy
October 10, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this
Sabo was a steriod user. If he denies it, I will pay for the lie detector test.
By mike10
October 10, 2009 7:45 AM | Link to this
Hal: Look forward to reading your book! Did you ever find out who was the player to be named in the Weathers trade with the Brewers?
By just me
October 9, 2009 11:32 PM | Link to this
The “famous player to be named later” the Reds traded Buddy Bell to Houston was Carl Grovom (never made it to the majors).
By bleeb
October 9, 2009 10:01 PM | Link to this
Debbie, You owe someone an apology. Sabo was a hitting instructor for the Dragons in 05.
By Randy
October 9, 2009 4:39 PM | Link to this
So, we all agree that Sabo should be managing the Reds next year? Sounds good to me.
By Matt T
October 9, 2009 2:26 PM | Link to this
Sabos old car was a Ford Escort, not a Fiesta
By T-dog
October 9, 2009 2:21 PM | Link to this
Sabo was the Dragons hitting instructor in 05.
By flipper
October 9, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this
They quit making them like Mr. Hustle too. When have you seen anybody AL or NL work as hard? Not gonna find one. Not even one. They are all afraid of breaking a fingernail or somthing. Pansies.
By Debbie
October 9, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
GreatRedLegsFan - That would be Todd Benzinger not Chris Sabo. Hint…no goggles.
By Debbie
October 9, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this
GreatRedLegsFan - not really such a great fan or you would know Chris Sabo coached the single A affiliate of the Reds, the Dayton Dragons this past season.
By Scott
October 9, 2009 9:49 AM | Link to this
correction: Spuds was my favorite player, but he was also the favorite of everyone else I knew also.
By Scott
October 9, 2009 9:35 AM | Link to this
Spuds for me was like Pete was for my Dad when he was young. I miss the days watching Spuds make highlight fielding plays and hitting with authority. Spuds was not my favorite player, but he was the favorite of everyone I knew in the neighborhood who was a Reds fan. Congrats to Spuds. I can’t wait until the Reds HoF game so I can attend in person.
By whatever
October 9, 2009 8:59 AM | Link to this
You wanna know my fondest memory of Sabo? He used to cruise the UC bars trying to pick up chicks. On the field, good player. Off the field, slime.
By RacerX
October 9, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this
I remember the Reds trading Buddy Bell to Houston for the famous “play to be named later” to make room for Sabo. Does anyone have ANY idea who the Reds eventually got in that trade? I’ve always wondered…
By Don
October 9, 2009 8:32 AM | Link to this
Hal, Looking forward to the book I hope you write some day. SAAABBBOOOOOO… should of been co-mvp in 90 World Series.
By GreatRedLegsFan
October 9, 2009 8:15 AM | Link to this
My old time favorite players, I decided to play 3rd base at high school after him. Somebody know what is he doing now?
By Karen
October 9, 2009 6:45 AM | Link to this
I will probably be one of the few women who could write about Chris Sabo. You see when Chris was playing I was trying really hard to impress a certain guy, not knowing all the time he was trying to impress me. Well, what better way of impressing a guy through baseball season than to remember players’ names, We slways watched The Reds and everytime I saw the goggles, I would shout out Sabo. Yea, we stayed together for 20 years. Now Chris is gone and so is he. Thanks for the memories.
By Karen
October 9, 2009 6:45 AM | Link to this
I will probably be one of the few women who could write about Chris Sabo. You see when Chris was playing I was trying really hard to impress a certain guy, not knowing all the time he was trying to impress me. Well, what better way of impressing a guy through baseball season than to remember players’ names, We slways watched The Reds and everytime saw the goggles, I would shout out Sabo. Yea, we stayed together for 20 years. Now Chris is gone and so is he. Thanks for the memories.
By void
October 9, 2009 12:35 AM | Link to this
Hal I am gonna have to start copy and pasting these kinda stories to my family again, at the begining of the season you didn’t understand.. maybe you do now. You started writing your book before you knew there was gonna be a book.
By old dude
October 8, 2009 11:38 PM | Link to this
How could anyone forget that guy. Was like pig pen in the comics, kind o shuffled dirt as he went along. What a great Reds memory.
By Bob Marker
October 8, 2009 11:33 PM | Link to this
Hal: Have not talked to you in more than 35 years but we used to work some high school basketball games in the Dayton area when I workd at the Greenville Daily Advocate. I took off to become sports editor of The News-Messenger in Fremont, OH. I am now retired but I wanted to tell you that you were an inspiration to me in more formulative years of covering sports. We worked together when UD recruit Ken Kuhn became ill and was never able to play for UD. We worked side by side one Sunday at New Bremen Speedway when the Dayton 500 was ran there. Cutting it short, congratulations on all the honors you have won … you definitely deserved them. And the story on Chris Sabo… great.
By MaddShadez
October 8, 2009 8:32 PM | Link to this
He was my favorite player growing up. In the 5th grade I had to get glasses for the first time and I went with the Sabo Rec-Specs. 20 years later I have to ask myself what in the world i was thinking!!
By scoop
October 8, 2009 8:26 PM | Link to this
Good storey Hal. Keep ‘em coming… scoop
By Paul
October 8, 2009 8:19 PM | Link to this
I thought there was a story where Sabo was working in a fast food restaurant between seasons for money too; not sure if that was him or somebody else. Anyway, one of my favorite players from those Reds who last won a World Series.