Cleveland outfielder was a nine-time all-star in the 1950-60s

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

Kids in Otter Tail County playing sandlot baseball games, prior to the arrival of the Minnesota Twins in 1961, had baseball heroes from other major league teams. There were only 16 major league teams in the late 1950s, compared to 30 teams today in the big leagues.

Among the baseball heroes was Cleveland outfielder and star hitter Rocky Colavito. He was a nine-time all-star with feats such as hitting four consecutive home runs in a game in 1959. 

It was a thrill for a kid to purchase a pack of five baseball cards at a local grocery store, open the pack, and take possession of a Rocky Colavito baseball card. Back then kids watched the Saturday pro baseball “game of the week” on black and white television sets, seeing Colavito and other major league stars. Calling the games on CBS were retired baseball stars Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese.

Henning native Cliff Buchan, who later became a newspaper editor in Forest Lake, north of St. Paul, was a baseball card collector seeking cards of Colavito and other major league stars in the 1950s and 1960s. The Cleveland Indians, many years later, changed their name to the Cleveland Guardians.

“I remember when Topps cards were sold in sets,” Buchan said. “One year, 1957 I believe, the dime store in Henning didn’t order cards beyond the second or third set. On one of our rare late summer shopping trips to Fergus Falls, I scored a number of packs from the set that wasn’t sold in Henning. I’m thinking I found them at Woolworth’s five-and-dime store.”

Rocky Colavito had a great name, was a fine player and performed on the baseball field with flair in Cleveland, said Barnesville native and retired school administrator Keith Randklev.

Adds Fergus Falls retiree Chuck Brunko, a native of Bertha, south of Wadena, “Rocky was one of my favorite players of that era.”

Dan Larson, Fergus Falls native and retired teacher and coach living in Northfield, said, “Colavito, before each pitch, would point his bat at the pitcher and keep it pointed until the pitcher went into his motion. He was an intimidator.”

Fergus Falls native Stuart Klovstad said Colavito played slightly before his time, but as a kid loving baseball he heard a lot about Colavito from older friends. “Such an innocent time and so glad that childhood memories last a lifetime.”

Colavito earned $28,000 for the Cleveland Indians in 1958 which would be $309,800 in today’s dollars. It is amazing what his actual salary would be if playing in the year 2025, not to mention TV ads for various products and services in today’s media environment.

The baseball hero’s major league journey began when Colavito, only 17, signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians. With 374 home runs and 1,159 runs batted in, he was one of baseball’s top hitters. Colavito, after retiring as a player, stayed close to baseball and worked as a TV analyst and later joined the Cleveland coaching staff.

In 2021 a statue was unveiled in Cleveland’s Little Italy to remember Colavito which testifies to his everlasting appeal. Rocky was a generational hero and is still one of the most beloved players in the history of the major leagues.

Colavito spent his later years in Bernville, Pennsylvania, with his wife Carmen whom he met while playing for the Reading Indians. Colavito was known for his dedication to family. He had a humble lifestyle that endeared him to many baseball fans.

“Rocky Colavito: A Living Legend” is a documentary that delves into the life and career of this legendary baseball player, offering insights into his impact and influence. 

Colavito was 91 when he died Dec. 10, 2024, at his home in Pennsylvania, following health issues related to diabetes. The legacy of Rocky Colavito will remain a cornerstone for the next generation of baseball fans. Rocky will be remembered for being not only a great player but also a great man.