IslandVoices

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Recording Details: Vern Handrahan:

***Disclaimer - This interview contains language some may find inappropriate.

SIDE A 00:00:04 -- 00:02:15 Discussion about the first baseball field he played on; baseball, baseball players, Spring Field, East End Anchors, Joe Summers, Spring Park. 

SIDE A 00:02:15 -- 00:03:56 Discussion about when he first began pitching and the Dodgers tryout camp; baseball, Randy Edwards, midget baseball, minor baseball, 1953, 1954, Chuck O'Connor, Morris Cannon, Moncton. 

SIDE A 00:03:56 -- 00:05:05 Discussion about winning the Maritime title in 1956; baseball, Memorial Field, Buck Whitlock, Abbies, Poochie Burke, Kenny MacDonald. 

SIDE A 00:05:05 -- 00:08:12 Discussion about his tryout in Stellarton in 1957 with Bobby Lund and Roger MacLeod; baseball, Fiddler MacDonald, Bobby Lund, Roger MacLeod, Stellarton Albions, Truro, 1957. 

SIDE A 00:08:12 -- 00:13:37 Discussion about baseball talent on the Island and Glen Matheson hitting an umpire; Billy Connolly, Pete Rose, Billy Sullivan, Joey King, Tom MacFarlane, Lefty McAleer, Alkie MacCormack, Shaun O'Francis, Fiddler MacDonald, Memorial Field, baseball, umpire, Glen Matheson, 1950s, Forbie, Jim Hogan, Earl MacKinnon, Spy Ready, Joey LeClair, Buck Whitlock. 

SIDE A 00:13:37 -- 00:17:22 Discussion about playing in Stellarton in 1958 and being scouted by the Milwaukee Braves; Stellarton Albions, Milwaukee Braves, minor league, baseball, spring training, Georgia, racial segregation. 

SIDE A 00:17:24 -- 00:19:17 Discussion about the D League in Wellsville, New York and Phil Niekro; baseball, Phil Niekro, D League. 

SIDE A 00:19:17 -- 00:21:14 Discussion about the C League in 1960 and Joe Torre; Joe Torre, C League, 1960, baseball. 

SIDE A 00:21:14 -- 00:22:50 Discussion about Dick Allen and Pete Rose; baseball, Dick Allen, 1960, 1961, Pete Rose. 

SIDE A 00:22:50 -- 00:25:16 Discussion about Rico Carty and Lou Brock; 1961, Rico Carty, Lou Brock, baseball. 

SIDE A 00:25:16 -- 00:27:03 Discussion about playing in Boise, Idaho in 1962, Sandy Alomar, and Clay Carroll; 1962, Sandy Alomar, Clay Carroll, baseball. 

SIDE A 00:27:03 -- 00:28:29 Discussion about spring training for AAA in 1963; AAA baseball, spring training, baseball, 1963, Hawk Harrelson. 

SIDE A ends at 00:28:29.

SIDE B 00:28:36 -- 00:32:32 Discussion about spring training in 1963 continues with mention of the Kansas City Athletics; AAA baseball, Bo Belinsky, Bert Campenaris, baseball, 1963, 1962, Kansas City Athletics. 

SIDE B 00:32:34 -- 00:34:18 Discussion about getting a chance to play in the big leagues in 1964; baseball, Luke Apling, Major League Baseball. 

SIDE B 00:34:18 -- 00:37:10 Discussion about playing against Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and other big hitters; baseball, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, New York Yankees. 

SIDE B 00:37:11 -- 00:39:56 Discussion about playing in Rochester, Vancouver, and Jacksonville; Luke Easter, AAA baseball, Mike MacCormack, Vancouver Mounties, baseball. 

SIDE B 00:39:56 -- 00:41:24 Discussion about salaries in baseball; baseball, 1958, salaries. 

SIDE B 00:41:25 -- 00:43:25 Discussion playing in Birmingham in 1967, Reggie Jackson, and Rollie Fingers; 1967, AA baseball, Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, baseball. 

SIDE B 00:43:25 -- 00:44:36 Discussion about playing in Vancouver in 1968 and Des Moines in 1969; 1968, 1969, baseball. 

SIDE B 00:44:36 -- 00:46:26 Discussion about his best memory; baseball, Yankee Stadium, Kansas City Athletics, Dick Stuart. 

SIDE B 00:46:26 -- 00:47:07 Discussion about baseball families; Sandy Alomar, Ed Sprague, baseball. 

SIDE B 00:47:07 -- 00:48:18 Discussion playing in Des Moines and Toledo in 1970, and the end of his career; baseball, 1970. 

SIDE B 00:48:18 -- 00:52:20 Discussion the best players in Major League Baseball, with a brief mention of batting averages; baseball, MLB, Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente, Reggie Jackson, Joe Carter, Reggie Smith, Hank Aaron. 

SIDE B 00:52:20 -- 00:55:42 Discussion coming home to P.E.I. and talent on the Island; baseball, travel, Bobby Lund, Alan MacAdam, Bully Weatherbie. 

SIDE B 00:55:42 -- 00:56:32 Discussion coaching on the Island; baseball, minor league baseball, coaching. 

SIDE B 00:56:33 -- 00:57:11 Brief talk with Alkie MacCormack; Alkie MacCormack. 
 Tape ends at 00:57:11. ***Tape ends mid-sentence.

Overview:

Interviewee(s):
Handrahan, Vern

Playing Time:
00:57:11

Interview Date(s):
1994-08-10

Interview Summary:
This interview is with Vern Handrahan of Charlottetown, one of only two Islanders to play Major League Baseball. Vern begins the interview by telling about playing baseball growing up. He then talks about his journey through the minor leagues, playing in both Canada and the United States, and how he finally made it to the big leagues. Throughout the interview he tells about local talent, Major League Baseball stars, and his favourite memories from his baseball career.

Place(s) Discussed:
Charlottetown, PE; Stellarton, NS; Wellsville, NY; Boise, ID; Vancouver, BC; Rochester, NY; Birmingham, AL;

Time(s) Discussed:
1950s, 1960s, 1970

Rights Information:
All content on this site is made available for personal research and private study only. Any other reuse, reproduction, or re-purposing may require the permission of the rightsholder(s); please contact the UPEI Library for more information on permissions/clearances.

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