verdugo288

As I mentioned earlier…before I start writing about the playoffs I’m going to write a feature on each guy on our Roster. I also mentioned I was going to start with the rookies.

I’m starting with Haggs. Kirk Hagge. “Haggs” (as we knew him) pulled off a feat that needs to be mentioned up-front and center right here and right now:

Haggs never missed a Verdugo game in ’92….nor did he miss a game in ’93. I can effectively say this: Kirk Hagge loved Verdugo. I know all you guys loved Verdugo….but Haggs was the Lou Gehrig iron man. He holds the All-time Verdugo record for consecutive games played for us with 50….(playoffs included)

The Team disbanded in 1994. There’s no doubt in my mind had we played that season he would have been at every game as well.

Yeah….even after he got drafted. I’d have told Sparky Anderson from The Detroit Tigers that he could kiss my ass before we released Haggs to play Pro Ball !!!!

Damn straight!!!!

He was a dominant player in the league in ’93. But it was ’92…as a rookie….where he established himself as a force.

Who knows what he would have done in ’94?

But what he did for us in 1992 was what he brought to the table for us defensively. He was a rookie in ’92. I never expect our rookies to be dominant at the plate in their first season. But Haggs performed very well for us offensively ….hitting .292 in his first year in a Verdugo uniform.

He was 3rd on the Team in runs scored with 20. He tied for 4th on the team in hits with 21. He was 5th on the Team in RBI with 13. He tied for the team lead in sacrifices with four. He was 3rd on the team in walks with 13. He went deep against North Hollywood. These are strong numbers for a rookie….and he did this with the opposition throwing their best guy against us all season long.

When Evans was with us we moved Kirk around defensively. Haggs saw extensive time behind the plate the first half of the season….starting ten games for us behind the plate in ’92.

He took an absolute beating behind the plate blocking pitches. I can’t even imagine what it would be like having to catch Josh Canale.

He played at second base…first base…and saw some time at shortstop when Evans pitched.

This guy was a shortstop. He never complained when we moved him around. He played wherever we asked him to play and played his ass off for us. Yeah….he was a total fucking warrior for Verdugo.

When Lance went down he was back where he belonged all along…at shortstop.

He stepped right in and made play after play after play after play for us. He could go to his left…his right….he could come get the big high chopper and make a strong throw across his body while on the run.

Great arm. Could throw guys out with authority going to his right from the hole. He always….and I mean always ….gave it up.

His uniform was always dirty. Loved to dive. Could get horizontal. Great footwork around the bag turning two. You never had to ask this guy or remind him to focus. He wanted the ball hit his way.

I know this may be controversial to say this but I’m gonna say it right here and right now. No slight to Lance here at all either….but we were a better Team defensively when Haggs was at shortstop for us.

He was instrumental for what we did after Evans got hurt. We were 10-2 during the regular season with Lance at shortstop. We were 10-1 with Haggs in there. All those games coming down the stretch were fucking huge. And he kept delivering….game after game after game.

We never missed a beat when he took over at shortstop. In fact, one could argue we picked it up a notch or two. This guy was what we call a gamer.

He made the final assist for us defensively FIVE TIMES. Getting that tough final out to seal a victory. In both victories against Sun Valley. One against Notre Dame. Big games. Huge games. Games that were on the line….and he makes the play to end it. Game over.

These are the kinds of plays that just don’t show up in the box score. But these are also the kinds of plays that I ….as a coach….will never forget.

Not only did he do all this for us defensively….but he made it look easy.

I wrote a story before on this blog how prior to the 1992 season ground balls hit at our shortstops were always a little bit of an adventure. The General and I had coached together several seasons prior to Verdugo Hills in Colt League.

We always had that problem back in those days too. It got to the point that when a ground ball was hit to one of our shortstops we would just kinda close our eyes and….hope.

I’ve said it before on this blog and I’ll say it again right now. When Kirk Hagge took over for Verdugo Hills at shortstop in 1992…I never had to worry ever again about what would happen when a ground ball was hit to my shortstop.

Haggs set the standard around the league as to what you want your shortstop to be in 1992. And he did it in his rookie season.

I remember vividly all the final assists he made for us at shortstop. I remember the collision at the plate in the Glendale game where he somehow not only scored…(a fucking HUGE RUN that made it 5-3) but also got up off the ground and kept playing that day and lived to tell about it. I think he broke his nose on that play.

I remember him lighting-up fat-bitch from Sun Valley (in both games) and as a rookie just barking right back at his fat-ass when we knocked him out of the game both times. I remember vividly that game at Stengel the usually quiet and reserved Haggs getting pretty fucking annoyed with that guy and being ready to duke it out with him if that’s what it came down to.

How can you not love seeing that as a coach? From a rookie no less….Huh?

Yeah….he was a thug out there for us, too.

I remember the umpire pinching us brutally at Stengel Field against Woodland Hills West on Fathers’s day ’92. A game we won 8-3. Haggs and Canale organized a little “pitchout” to bring the umpire into line. Haggs vacated…and Canale fired a bullet right into the umpires chest protector.

Yeah….he could dole out a little justice, too.

He kept a straight face through the whole thing while I was helping the umpire to his feet and giving him some water. I mean, after all….we knew that play was just a matter of the pitcher and catcher getting a little crossed-up on signs….right?

Yeah….he could sell, too.

I also remember the kind words Haggs has spoken to me throughout the years long after Verdugo had disbanded. About our team. And about how much he loved it.

We’re gonna get to 1993 soon and talk even more about what Haggs did for us and what he meant to our Program. There’s a lot to talk about.

But 92? This guy was absolutely instrumental and CLUTCH for us in every way!

Haggs? Thanks for 1992 !!!!