View the profiles of professionals named charlie lau on linkedin. Charley lau has had a profound effect on baseball making better hitters out of george brett, reggie jackson, hal mccrae and scores of other. Charles richard lau april 12, 1933 march 18, 1984 was an american catcher and highly. Feb 26, 2018 but you are also, in one respect, probably wrong about long. Jan 05, 2016 the student of former sox hitting coach walt hriniak said the swing was never a result of the charley lau hitting philosophy preached by hriniak.
Charlie finley had just fired john mcnamara as managerduring a onehour sitdown. Hriniaks philosophy, borrowed in sum total from his guru, the late charlie lau, is not that complicated. Asked years later to explain his teaching methods, hriniak bowed to his late mentor and manager charlie lau. He was george brett s hitting coach in kansas city, and charlie is the one who talked about how advancing runners is winning baseball. My batting average in my final year of high school baseball was. I have attempted to go to that level, beyond catcher 101. Since charley laus death in 1984, no white sox player or coach except lau disciple walt hriniak, the chicago white soxs hitting coach from 1989 to 1995 has worn his number 6 jersey, although it has not been officially retired. Reinsdorf has employed some who are worthy, including hitting coaches charlie lau and walt hriniak, and pitching coach dave duncan. Burks was berated by thenred sox hitting instructor walt hriniak.
Then sox manager i had a good spring training and jeff told me that i was the starting right fielder and at times, depending on the pitcher, id be moved to left field. If youre talking about influence combined with value, ty cobb beats henderson hands down. Boggs, once a boring hitter, is living more dangerously. Lau was serving as the white sox batting coach in 1984 when he died from colorectal cancer at age 50. As with hitting and pitching, there are several different styles, techniques and methods that work well in some situations for some catchers.
His winter haven report is a gem, amusing, as well, in its description of the diametrically opposed views and techniques of bostons two batting coaches, walt hriniak and ted williams. Aug 31, 2014 learn what charley lau taught baseballs superstars. Hriniak a longtime red sox and then white sox hitting coach who was praised by hall of famers such as carl yastrzemski, wade boggs, and frank thomas, believes his philosophy has been mischaracterized. They also solve mysteries, catch crooks, and rescue damsels in distress.
Lau, who soon became one of the games most highly regarded hitting coaches, made a significant impact on hriniak during their brief time together. Walt hriniak found his calling passing on lau s methods and hes doing it again, this time in his living room. I have discovered that while much has been documented in finite details about hitting charlie lau, walt hriniak, ted williams, and pitching rick peterson, mike marshall, bill thurston, there is little to take catchers to that level. Since his passing, some batting coaches, like lau disciple walt hriniak and former yankee hitting coach lou piniella have gained some level of celebrity as hitting coaches. While in the braves minor league system, hriniak played for shreveport manager charley lau. The batter releases the top hand for full extension and finishes the swing with the back foot coming off the ground and all the weight shifting to the front leg. Wtf ever happened to rich gedman and the 1987 boston red.
A disciple of charlie lau, a legend in the art, hriniak taught hitters to unleash a flat, level swing, if not a chopdown approach conducive to backspinning line drives and, ideally, power. Also, i have discovered that while much has been documented in finite details about hitting charlie lau, walt hriniak, ted williams, and pitching rick peterson, mike marshall, bill thurston, there is little to take catchers to that level. Like williams, joe does not subscribe to hitting gurus charlie lau and walt hriniak, who preached letting the top hand go from the swing. The baseball field at romulus senior high school in his hometown is named the charley lau baseball field. Walter john hriniak pronounced rineeack is a former catcher in american major league. Walt hriniak found his calling passing on laus methods and hes doing it again, this. Its always been a part of baseball and always will. Since his death, no white sox player or coach except lau disciple walt hriniak, the chisox hitting coach from 1989 to 1995 has worn his number 6 jersey, although it has not been officially retired. Hriniak s pupils include ozzie guillen of the white sox and the yankees wade boggs, whom. In fact im not even sure he had more hitting disciples than charlie lau or walt hriniak. In their hall of fame acceptance speeches, says the article, carl yastrzemski, carlton fisk and wade boggs all thanked hriniak for his hitting wisdom. Advanced catching techniques by rick straub nook book.
Boggs shows hitters how to apply the lessons of the power curve to use the impact zone to its maximum potential and produce the most hits and runs. Smashwords advanced catching techniques a book by rick straub. Jan 21, 2019 in fact im not even sure he had more hitting disciples than charlie lau or walt hriniak. Technique mod hitting by wade boggs, david brisson alibris. Two of the most prominent hitting coaches of the latter half of the 20th century, charlie lau and walt hriniak, are often associated with the swingdown school.
I was watching espn one day with my lady friend and she heard lau and hriniak say the same thing i. Unassuming crime dog just keeps on pounding by mike. Hriniak coached white sox hitters for seven years, through 1995, before opening his own hitting school and becoming a private batting instructor. Any charlie lau fan will love the way walt hriniak has continued and built onto his batting methods, mechanics and principles. Aug 08, 1991 hriniak acknowledges that the hand release is the one trait more than any other that stirs the ire.
I used to read a lot of books by hitting coaches, like charlie lau and walt hriniak. When the charley lau swing was introduced nearly 30 years ago. Ottumwa courier newspaper archives, jul 10, 1985, p. In 1981, lau s impact seemed to lessen as the yankee offense fell off significantly. This will not be a return to the days of charlie lau and walt hriniak, batting coaches who had rigid views of hitting. In some of the old reference books, an asterisk meant the owner of a particular stat led the league that season.
But i finally realized the most important thing i could do was watch the guys who get the job done. In fact, you can put together a terrific lineup of hall of famers who played regularly in the major leagues while still teenagers. Charlie lau was born on wednesday, april 12, 1933, in romulus, michigan. In his book a band of misfits, andrew baggerly tells a similar story. He explains the similarities and differences between his hitting theories and those of hitting greats ted williams, charlie lau, and pete rose. Mar 09, 2008 in some of the old reference books, an asterisk meant the owner of a particular stat led the league that season. Charley is the most scientific teacher ive ever seen, said yankee first baseman bob watson. Wtf ever happened to rich gedman and the 1987 boston red sox. When you see the most successful hitters, guys like tony gwynn and wade boggs, you see those guys do the same thing time and time again. Any charlie lau fan will love the way walt hriniak has continued and built onto. However, lest we become bored with the poorkittenfindsforeverhome motif, let us remember that many little kittens, sprocket included, will be able to relate to it from their own personal experience. Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. It is cute enough but not exactly exciting or original. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
During the 1 barry bozeman observes that hitting down on the ball is not the latest hitting style, but rather that lau stole it from casey stengel personal correspondence. I subscribe to the charlie lau theory that if you can hit, the home runs will come. The student of former sox hitting coach walt hriniak said the swing was never a result of the charley lau hitting philosophy preached by hriniak. Walt hriniak society for american baseball research. Finley immediately held a press conference announcing the change. Hriniak is a charlie lau disciple, and williams, as usual, is his own man.
Sep 07, 2008 walt hriniak is kind of like my brother. Walt hriniak helped hitters like dwight evans and frank. Smashwords about rick straub, author of catching4kids. Even more remarkable was hriniaks work with catcher ron karkovice, whose average vaulted nearly 100 points over his 1988 output.
A charlie lau disciple, hriniak replaced him as the white sox hitting coordinator in 1988 when lau died. To see what inspired hriniak all these years, look up laus masterpiece, the art of hitting. There are so many coaches who work long hours year after year to. If youre talking about influence combined with value, ty. I can add him to that list of managers, because of the way he treated his players. Unfortunately, many of my sons coaches still havent caught on which is a problem. Howe news bureau, boston red sox 1983 organization book. The team that usually gets the most runners to third basethey win.
Nov 14, 1995 a charlie lau disciple, hriniak replaced him as the white sox hitting coordinator in 1988 when lau died. Feb 09, 20 this will not be a return to the days of charlie lau and walt hriniak, batting coaches who had rigid views of hitting. Hriniak acknowledges that the hand release is the one trait more than any other that stirs the ire. Don mattingly didnt dodge difficult subjects the boston globe. Williams thought that this style set baseball back 50 years.
Coaches, teammates and friends remember mjs talent, drive. Like hriniak, lau was a backup catcher during his 11year major league career. Aug 27, 2012 i have discovered that while much has been documented in finite details about hitting charlie lau, walt hriniak, ted williams, and pitching rick peterson, mike marshall, bill thurston, there is little to take catchers to that level. Laus laws on hitting and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The adventures of lew and charlie volume 7 lew and charlie are two standup guys who rely on their outdoor skills to survive in the wilderness hunting, trapping, and fishing. Guides available on the market and internet that explain catching basics. He put my swing right,17 claimed harold baines during the lefthanded hitters only silver slugger campaign. For hitters, you had charlie laus the art of hitting.
Find one of those books, look up carney lansford, and see his batting average from. In 1985, bostons hitting coach and lau disciple walt hriniak described what made boggs so good. But during that season, with the shreveport braves of the texas league, hriniak was managed by charley lau, who soon would become the most celebrated batting instructor in major league baseball of the 1970s. And he lowers his head on the baseball better than anyone else in baseball. I had a bad back and for awhile, i couldnt take five swings without pain, gedman explained. When you see the most successful hitters, guys like tony gwynn and wade boggs. The first celebrity hitting coach i recall was charley lau. The untold story of the honorable detective and his rendezvous with american history by yunte huang and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Lau was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on september 12, 1956, with the detroit tigers. But you are also, in one respect, probably wrong about long.
A fans guide to savoring the fine points of the game is for rookies. Be sure to check out this great 2010 profile of hriniak. He preached a style similar to hitting coach charley lau, teaching hitters the importance of timing and weight shift. If id had a charley lau seven years ago, id be a much better hitter today. Nov 19, 2012 i have discovered that while much has been documented in finite details about hitting charlie lau, walt hriniak, ted williams, and pitching rick peterson, mike marshall, bill thurston, there is little to take catchers to that level. Wade boggs most hall of fame players have such obviously superior talents that their path to the major leagues is swift. Oct 17, 2010 like williams, joe does not subscribe to hitting gurus charlie lau and walt hriniak, who preached letting the top hand go from the swing. To understand why the term rotational hitting made and still makes sense, you have to understand what charley lau and his disciples like walt hriniak were teaching during mike epsteins day and, in many cases, still teach. Charlie chan abebooks abebooks shop for books, art. If, like me, youre a devoted baseball fan, theres little in fiffers book for you.
My performance fell off precipitously in american legion competition until our hitting coach a veritable yoda in such matters initiated me into the mysteries of the walt hriniakcharlie lau school of hitting. I am convinced there is no better batting approach than the balanced stance, headdown, singlehand release style. And i played for charlie lau, who was a great guy to play for. Charlie lau and walt hriniak each had a specific hitting. As a result i wouldnt lunge pitifully after curveballs. After finding less and less food in the alley where he lives, charlie, a ca. A pleasant little book about a starving kitten who goes in search of a home. Hriniak refreshed my memory of what charlie lau taught. Lau wrote books on hitting, including the art of hitting. Bbtfs newsblog discussion opinion bill james has the. I remember a great sports illustrated article back in the 80s that was a discussion of hitting between ted williams, wade boggs and don mattingly, and williams going after the charlie lauwalt hriniak hotting philosophy saying it put hitting back 25 years and arguing if favor of greater loft in the swing swinging slightly up, and for. Hes been waiting more than a decade to talk about charley lau. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Don mattingly didnt dodge difficult subjects the boston.
Smashwords advanced catching techniques a book by rick. Walt hriniak found his calling passing on laus methods and hes doing it again, this time in his living room. Since his death, no white sox player or coach except lau disciple walt hriniak, the chisox. Laus best disciple, walt hriniak, is bostons batting coach, so boggs stays close to the source. I have sought out every respected hitting and pitching coach with whom i have ever crossed paths from johnny sain a wonderful pitching coach as well as pitcher in his day, george bamberger, mike maddox and his brother greg to hitting theorists like charlie lau and walt hriniak.
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