John Kuenster. External source
By Cesareo Suarez Naranjo
(First part)
FOREWORD: Dear reader and friend, the idea of writing this topic came to me as a result of the fact that, once again, I took out – from the trunk where I treasure everything that is valuable to me – a baseball magazine: “BASEBALL DIGEST”, in its issue of April 1974, which I bought during my stay in the port of Acapulco, and I once again “taken” a revision. In the list of the “directory” a character is mentioned: JOHN KUENSTER, who appears as its Editor.
This “Mr. Kuenster” had other activities, at that time; and he continued to carry them out for a long time. But, of those “activities” (and what they have to “do with me”) we will mention later, because first let me tell you the following:
I am sure that – just like me – you and many millions of other baseball fans attend a game with the desire to witness a good game; and already, «in passing», with the fervent wish that our favorite team rises with the victory… but, this last, without ruling out that the rival team can play a trick on us, “make a mischief” and victory go “to the other side”.
But beyond that, and considering that you are a fan above the “average”, we are also sure that you do not miss a single detail of everything that happens around that event, starting from the very moment you arrive at the box office and buy your ticket, and then arrive at the entrances to the stadium, where they will check your right to entry.
It could be that, later, you look for an usher, in order to place you in your corresponding place. So I take it for granted that you have chosen a place where you can have a full picture of what is going to unfold there, in a few more moments.
You already know – from regularly attending that stadium – where the “cochinita” taquito stands are (usually under the stands); and already, seated comfortably, it may be that he searches – with his eyes – “where are the ice cube trays”, and “the vendors of chips and popcorn”, so that “he lacks nothing”.
Good; This introduction may surprise you, but what I mean by “all of this” is that a lot of factors revolve around a baseball game. Which, rather, we can call “elements”.
And, in the very first place of these “elements”, is “the human”, understanding that in a baseball game, the “most fundamental and necessary” are the two teams, with their lineups for that day; and the presence of those who serve as arbitrators; that is, “the umpires.”
This “chapter” is controlled and required by the rules. As in this case I have not gotten used to the “last” revision and correction of the rules (it is not many years old) I am going to support those rules that had been in force for a long time; because – furthermore – the events that produced the anecdotes that I want to recount took place in those times.
I see, then, in one of those “copies” that I have on hand, that the rules were reviewed, and modified “somewhat”, periodically. What appears as a result, on the first few pages, is a list of “reviews” by the Baseball Rules Committee, beginning on December 21, 1949, and ending near the end of the 20th century.
So where the “compulsory” presence of the teams and umpires is established, “1.01” appears in the same rule; reinforced, as for the “men in blue” (that’s what we used to call them, before…although now they can wear a different color!) with the “9.01” rule.
That said, there are also “accessory elements”; that, properly understood the concept, are those who are “there” to perform some auxiliary services….such as those mentioned above: ticket clerks, doormen, ushers. Also, in this aspect, those who take care of the field of play have a lot to do; giving it maintenance, painting the lines, placing the bases…and, at the order of the head umpire, covering the playing field with a tarpaulin in case of rain.
Additional elements, which are those that are “added” to the environment, at your convenience, but that – in a strict sense of the idea – are not “so necessary”, so that a match can be held. Like the vendors we have quoted.
One of the elements that has become “necessary” par excellence are the fans: you, me, and the millions more on the planet. But, also, in extreme circumstances, such as what happened in these years, due to the pandemic, the games had to be held without an audience. But, it is obvious that the difference is great. A match, without an audience, lacks that characteristic animation.
It would seem that, with this, we have already “covered” the different aspects (or, “elements”) that have to do with a baseball game.
At this point, I make a parenthesis. Because, honestly, and without trying to “wash my hands”, I am sure that you will excuse me, with benevolence, if you notice that I have “quadruped” some of the concepts,…. for it is not always possible to establish them properly; more, if you want to make an observation, do not stop; I gladly accept it.
But, we continue, because “we are still missing something”, quite important, from the point of view of the statistics that a formal league requires to carry and have at all times.
But, for that matter, we invite you to first – from your place – take a look into the distance, towards a part of the central walls of the stadium. There is a blackboard, quite modern, with many spaces; between them to mark the progress of the game, each inning, whether or not there are runs scored by one of the two teams. To this add what has to do with “the balls, the strikes, the outs”, and other details. Have you ever wondered who manages it… or, at least, who controls it?
Finally, “twenty” falls on us…yes, the OFFICIAL SCORER! Perhaps, in this case, you see a person who is also on the field of play (one of the few who are authorized to be there, according to rule 3.15), before the game starts, and he addresses both one like another of the dugouts (or dugouts). This man is collecting the lineups that each of the two managers has prepared to start the match, and has pasted it on one of the walls of that room where the players remain, while they are not on the pitch.
To take note of this, there are special sheets, which you should know, for having taken the “score” of a game on more than one occasion, as an additional diversion. There he will write down, with quite identifiable signs, each one of the plays that occur during the game. Well, that was the occupation of Mr. JOHN KUENSTER, for many years, in Major League games.
Let’s see something, of this distinguished gentleman, when the obituary corresponding to his death appeared, and that we found in one of the Internet pages:
The note is written by PAUL SULLIVAN, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, at 12 noon on April 6, 2012; and in the core part of it (we take the liberty of tweaking the text a bit) he says the following:
“…JOHN KUENSTER, 87, died of cardiac arrest Monday at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. He was a long-time resident of
Evergreen Park.
“Mr. KUENSTER devoted most of his life to baseball, first as a sportswriter for the Chicago Daily News and then as an editor for Baseball Digest in Evanston.
“During his career as a beat writer, Mr. KUENSTER was on the job almost every day during the six-month regular season and for six weeks in spring training.
“The old-school reporters traveled on trains with the players and knew them personally. White Sox president JERRY REINSDORF said they were all instrumental in increasing the game’s popularity: “JOHN, along with others like the great JEROME HOLTZMAN, belonged to a different generation of sportswriters,” REINSDORF said. “Because of his love of baseball and his devotion to covering the game, these writers helped create the mass appeal of Major League Baseball…
“Mr. KUENSTER began writing about baseball for the Daily News in 1957, just before (famed) JEROME HOLTZMAN, eventual Baseball Hall of Fame writer for the Sun-Times and the Tribune, did.
Mr. KUENSTER was still an active member of the Chicago chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). And in what turned out to be his last column, in the April issue of BASEBALL DIGEST, Mr. KUENSTER recalled the first spring training he covered as a baseball writer in 1957. After seeing his 9-year-old daughter cry as he walked out From home, KUENSTER wondered why he would leave his family for six weeks “just to fulfill my own dream of writing about baseball.” He later responded to his own question, writing that he was lucky enough to have eight children.
and yet “being able to fully live that dream and see, meet and interview some of the greatest baseball players in Major League history”…
“…Mr. KUENSTER is also survived by his wife, Suely “Sue”, his daughters Kathy Mulcahy, Lois Fitzmaurice, Gina Heinichen, Peggy Murphy and Mary Frances Jarema; sons James and Kevin Kuenster, two brothers, 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren…”. So far, the semblance that PAUL SULLIVAN makes of Mr. KUENSTER.
Before closing this column; and returning to the aspects that the OFFICIAL SCORER has to cover, apart from recording with understandable signs all the plays that take place during a game, it is what is indicated in rule 10 (reiterating that I am relying on the rule book ” above”) which we briefly mention:
“Rule 10.01: (a) The League President shall designate an OFFICIAL SCORER for each League championship game. THE OFFICIAL SCORER shall watch the game from a position in the press box, and shall have sole authority to make all decisions based on his/her own judgment, such as – for example – whether a batter advances to first base is the result of a hit or an error…
“He shall communicate such decisions to the press box and broadcasting booths, by hand signals or through the local sound system booth and make such decisions known to the announcer if requested…In all cases, the OFFICIAL SCORER shall not be permitted to make a scoring resolution that is in conflict with the Scoring Rules….”. And, here, we put an “etc., etc.”.
On some occasions, the same Official Scorer is in charge of the local sound, and even the blackboard. Although, it may fit, that someone else help him in these tasks.
For the next chapter: a tasty narrative, from the Official Major League Scorer: JOHN KUENSTER.
