Maury Wills - News

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STEAL CURTAIN - Ex-Dodger Wills can't stand sight of Roberts in Giants' uniform

(03-14) 04:00 PDT Scottsdale, Ariz. -- Dave Roberts hosted an offseason fundraiser at his old high school north of San Diego and invited Dodgers legend Maury Wills as the keynote speaker.

Wills played in the peak of the Giants-Dodgers rivalry, but he showed up wearing an orange shirt in honor of Roberts, an ex-Dodger who signed a three-year contract with the Giants in early December.

"I wore it one time and threw it away," Wills said.

Wills, a master bunter and innovator in the art of the stolen base, was Roberts' mentor and friend for three seasons in Los Angeles, and they remain close. They communicate often, though Wills, his Dodgers roots still strong, is puzzled about how to react to a confidant playing for the Giants.

"I came to Vero Beach in 1951," he said in a phone interview from the Dodgers' training grounds in Florida, "and one of the first things I learned is I'm not supposed to like those guys, the Giants, and I've lived with that ever since, through the minor leagues and major leagues and when I was in all those fights at Candlestick Park.

"As much as I respect Willie Mays, if his car was broken down on a Los Angeles freeway, I'd say, 'Willie, I'm sorry, you'll have to call AAA.' "

Now along comes Roberts, the Giants' new leadoff hitter.

"I have an affection for a Giants baseball player, and I don't know what to do. I can't see pulling for him, and I can't see pulling against him. I've got to figure something out," said Wills, who actually worked for the Giants in the late '70s as a baserunning instructor in spring training.

Roberts is in Giants camp, making use of lessons learned from one of the all-time leadoff men. Wills stole 586 bases, including a then-record 104 in 1962, the year he was MVP and the Giants won the pennant by beating the Dodgers in a three-game playoff. In the '60s, Wills was known as the guy who manufactured runs to help build win totals for Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

In January 2002, the Dodgers held three-a-week workouts at Dodger Stadium, and Roberts was a regular, having been traded from Cleveland after eight nondescript years in pro ball. His agent, John Boggs, also worked for Wills and asked Wills to check on the new Dodger.

"I went over to introduce myself, and it was instant camaraderie," Wills said. "He was a sponge, taking in everything I could tell him."

Wills taught Roberts about bunting technique and the mental side of base stealing. In spring training, Roberts was one of four candidates to start in center field, along with Marquis Grissom and Tom Goodwin, plus McKay Christensen, a prospect acquired from the White Sox.

"At the end of the workouts, I had the four guys on one of our half-diamonds," Wills said. "One of them was going to be the starting center fielder, and Dave's chances weren't good. But Dave got there a half-hour before and stayed a half-hour after. He asked questions and worked hard."

Let it be known that Roberts started 111 games in center field that year, when he turned 30 and finally played his first full big-league season. Wearing No. 30, Wills' old number, Roberts was third in the league in bunt hits, third in the majors in steals and went errorless in center.

He was discovered, and Wills got chills.

"It was cool because he told me he could kind of live through me," Roberts said. "That was a big compliment. I tried to do him proud. As a ballplayer, he changed the game. I knew to stay in the big leagues, I had to maximize my game by bunting and stealing, and Maury took it to another level."

Roberts played three seasons for the Dodgers, was traded to the Red Sox in July 2004 and always will be revered in New England for his steal in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the ALCS, the genesis of an epic playoff comeback and World Series championship.

He played the past two years for Bruce Bochy in San Diego and last season reached career highs in steals (49), triples (13), runs (80), batting average (.293), on-base percentage (.360) and games (129). He was the only left fielder in the majors without an error.

Now he's back in center -- he can't wear 30, which was retired in honor of Orlando Cepeda, so he's 10 -- and already making an impact. His presence as a base-stealing threat is what convinced Barry Bonds to move from fourth to third in the lineup.

In recent years, several former Giants landed with the Dodgers, including Jeff Kent, Jason Schmidt and Ned Colletti, and now an ex-Dodger is in black and orange. This isn't an ordinary ex-Dodger. Aside from his relationship with Wills, Roberts considers himself a friend to Duke Snider and Don Newcombe.

"It was great to be part of the rivalry when I was with the Dodgers. The games against the Giants, you marked on your calendar," Roberts said. "To be on this side of the rivalry is exciting."

His mentor isn't so sure.

"This is not going to be easy," Wills said.

Article can be viewed here.

John Shea, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

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Did you know Maury

-was the first person to steal over 100 bases in a season, with 104 in 1962

-was the 1961 & 1962 winner of the Gold Glove Award

-was the 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, & 1965 leader in stolen bases

-was the 1962 National League Most Valuable Player