BAKER'S SPORTS PEN: HOW CAN A METS FAN FORGET A FORMER PLAYER?; BLAME IT ON AGE (2020-08-13)

I was either too young to have known, or too old to remember.

In my previous column, I took a look at four Bradford County baseball players who made it to the Major Leagues. However, I failed to mention a very famous Wyalusing player who established his mark with the 1963 Mets.

Please forgive me, I was only 6 years old at the time. I guess it must be the latter ... too old to have remembered.

Groover Powell was a former Ram standout who made his Major League debut 57 years ago under the guidance of the legendary Casey Stengel.

Powell logged his first innings of pro ball for the Mets in 1962 following his collegiate career at the University of Pennsylvania. Pitching for Auburn of the New York-Penn League and Syracuse of the International League, the left-hander combined for a record of 4-12 between his two stops with an ERA of 5.45. He made 42 appearances (10 starts) and struck out 121 batters in 114 innings.

After opening the 1963 season in Raleigh of the Carolina League, Powell was called up by the Mets and made his Major League debut on July 13 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Working the ninth inning of an 11-2 Dodger win, Powell faced five batters and walked two, but did not allow a run.

Following 10 more relief appearances during the summer, Powell earned his first victory in a nine-inning, 4-0, shutout of the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 20. Pitching at the old Connie Mack Stadium, Powell allowed just four hits while striking out six and walking four.

Ironically, the win was the 40th of the season for the Mets, equaling their entire previous campaign – the team's first as a National League expansion team.

Powell had three more starts that season. His only loss was in a 9-0 decision to St. Louis on Sept. 5. Pitching just two-plus innings, he allowed four hits and three runs, but only one was earned.

He concluded his one season with the Mets with six more relief appearances. In what would be his last outing in the Majors on Sept. 29, Powell finished out a 14-3 defeat with three innings of relief, the final of 49 innings pitched. Overall, Powell worked in 20 games and totaled 39 strikeouts. His ERA for the 1963 season was a respectable 2.72.

After pitching in just seven minor league games the following season in Buffalo (Class AAA) and Williamsport (Class AA), Powell was not active during the 1965 campaign. He bounced back to appear in 13 games between Williamsport and Auburn (Class A) in 1966.

The '67 season saw him in the Reds' minor league system, and the following year Powell was a 16-game winner for Asheville at the AA level. He was moved to the Braves' organization in 1969, but never made it back to the Majors.

His final minor league record was 30-47 with an ERA of 4.16 in 619 innings pitched.

Unfortunately, Powell passed at the young age of 44 in 1985.

Sullivan County's Danny Kravitz
While on the subject of area Major Leaguers, I should also note Sullivan County native Danny Kravitz.

Kravitz debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1956 and played in 32 games. A catcher by trade, Kravitz was in excellent company playing alongside future Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski, plus Dick Groat, who became the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1960.

After appearing in eight games of the 1960 season, Kravitz was traded to the Kansas City Athletics. The Pirates would win the World Series in October that year. His 59 games with the A's would be his last in the big leagues as he played three more seasons in the International League (Class AAA) with the Cincinnati, Baltimore and Yankee farm clubs.

In his five Major League seasons, Kravitz appeared in 215 games and batted .236 in 552 at-bats. He hit 10 home runs and totaled 54 RBI.

Kravitz returned home and lived his later years in Sullivan County. I remember a couple of wonderful interviews with him as he was always willing to talk baseball. He had so many interesting stories to share.

Kravitz passed in 1985.

I think that covers the area's Major League players, but if I have missed anyone please let Tim or myself know. I would also be interested in researching any locals who played in the minor leagues.

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And don't forget to give your pet an extra hug tonight.