After extinguishing his Kool cigarette, he stepped out of the dugout and onto the field wearing a pair of shorts and his Sioux City Explorers batting practice jersey.
He didn’t make it very far before the low gravelly voice of Ed Nottle said calmly, “Can, everyone dresses the same for practice. Go back in and put on a pair of baseball pants.”
“But, Skip, it’s really hot,” pleaded Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, who was a new member of the Xs in 1994.
Can and Ed had known each other since 1985 when both were part of the Boston Red Sox organization. Can joined the Red Sox in 1980 and was a member until 1989, pitching eight seasons in the big leagues with Boston before concluding his major league career with Montreal and Texas. By the time he showed up in Sioux City, he’d earned the kind of standing that lets a man get away with a scheme like this.
Rules were rules, so Can turned around and went back into the locker room and returned wearing grey baseball pants.
Ed might have thought that was the end of the training camp dress code discussion. But it was not and after practice Can requested that we provide him with the short size for every player and coach. After showering and getting dressed, Can left the locker room with his list of shorts needed in hand.
When the team returned for its second workout of the day, Can walked through the locker room passing out a pair of black shorts to every player. His last stop was the manager’s office where he tossed a pair to Ed and said, “Now everyone can still dress the same, but we won’t be as hot.”
Ed laughed, pulled on the new shorts, and walked out to join the rest of the Explorers in their new practice look.
We didn’t realize it that day, but there were going to be many more stories involving Can.
