Udell Chambers, the Atlanta Braves star that never was…
By Ryan Cothran
Jerry Reuss Mountain. Drawing Credit; Ryan Cothran.
The following story was told to me years back by my Father-in-law Jim Whitney. I’ve compiled information from Jim and a few other sources to tell this tale. Jim’s words, obviously, is where most of this story unfolds, but here are a few other sources of which I collected the pieces missing:
Udell Chambers, Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice
Nearly 50 years ago…
It was March of 1966, a mere 50 degrees at best, a great day for pitchers, and Jim Whitney was on the mound toeing the rubber for Kirkwood High School, a suburb on the outskirts of St. Louis, Missouri. On the hill for the opponent was a tall, slender lefty by the name of Jerry Reuss. Reuss was, and had been for quite some time, the talk of the town, always being a bit larger than other players which seemed to put him on a tier above everyone since grade school.
Jim knew Jerry very well. In a sense, Jerry was his arch-nemesis, the Joker to his Batman.
"“There was a rumor that Ritenour High School (the school at which Reuss pitched) built up their mound just for Jerry, portraying Jerry as a Bunyan-esque character pitching from the peak of a mountain”."
Over the years of growing up in neighboring towns, the 2 had faced each other too many times to recollect. However, in 1966, this was the 6th time that the 2 of them had faced off in high school, and the record was 3 wins Jim, 2 wins Jerry. Jerry might not have known this nugget of information, but Jim most certainly did.
The game was getting late and Kirkwood was holding on to a slim lead of 1 run. A pitchers’ duel. Behind Jim, manning center field, was the greatest athlete that Jim had ever known. One would never know it by size as the center fielder was very average in both height and weight: 5 foot 8, 150 pounds.
Udell Chambers Drawing. Drawing Credit; Ryan Cothran.
Udell Chambers was his name. A multi-sport athlete, and just as elite in basketball as in baseball. Jim recalled that prior to every Kirkwood High basketball game, while in warm-ups, Udell would put on a show by showcasing his own Slam Dunk Contest. When baseballs were hit to CF, more often than not they died in Udell’s glove. One could say Udell was to Jim what Andruw Jones was to Greg Maddux.
It was late in the game. Runner on 1st, 1 out, Jim’s on the mound. A single was laced up the middle to Udell. The runner from 1st hesitated a slight moment at 2nd before proceeding to 3rd, knowing full well that Udell had a good arm out in center, but at this juncture of the game, knew the risk had to be taken. Udell fielded the ball cleanly, crow hopped, fired to 3rd. Jim and the home crowd knew Udell’s arm and elation swelled as, in their heart of hearts, they knew that the runner was meat. The ball came in on a line…
…but never came down. It kept sailing, flew over the 3rd baseman’s head, over Jim’s head (who was backing up 3rd, young ones take note), and over the fence out of the ballpark.
The runner going to 3rd was awarded home.
The runner moving to 2nd was awarded 3rd, eventually scoring.
All was lost. Jim’s record tarnished.
Jerry’s team went on to win the game and Jim’s record was 3 and 3 versus Reuss.
It was the only error that Jim recalled Udell ever making in the 4 years of high school ball.
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