Hriniak a longtime red sox and then white sox hitting coach who. Charlie lau was born on wednesday, april 12, 1933, in romulus, michigan. Hriniak successfully applied lau s techniques to his team. After a short major league career as a catcher, walt hriniak went on to a long career as a hitting coach for the boston red sox and chicago white sox. Hriniak was a disciple of hitting guru charlie lau, author of the instructional book. Hriniak was born on may 22, 1943, one of two children of walter edward. The former boston red sox hitting coach offers advice on all aspects of batting, illustrating his points with photos of past and present major leaguers. The former boston red sox hitting coach offers advice on all aspects of batting, illustrating his points. The merger of the assiduous skipper and his hardworking disciple would prove profitable for years to come. Lau, who soon became one of the games most highly regarded hitting coaches, made a significant impact on hriniak during their brief time together. Charley lau has had a profound effect on baseball making better hitters out of george brett, reggie jackson, hal mccrae and scores of other. The thing is im doing the same stuff with walter that i did in spring training. Might have been about the time lau published his book on hitting. Auto suggestions are available once you type at least 3 letters.
Jamestown community baseball news, sports, jobs post. Hriniak coached white sox hitters for seven years, through 1995, before opening his own hitting school and becoming a private batting instructor. Since his passing, some batting coaches, like lau disciple walt hriniak and former yankee hitting coach lou. The biggest challenge i have with this book is that he is trying to compete with ted williams book. Charlie finley had just fired john mcnamara as managerduring a. Hriniak was a disciple of hitting guru charlie lau, author of the instructional book, the art of hitting.
We try to teach the importance of a balanced, workable stance, teach the hitters how to. Lis does not teach any particular style but admits that ted williams his baseball hero when he was growing up, is a strong influence. Unassuming crime dog just keeps on pounding by mike. A fans guide to savoring the fine points of the game is for rookies. But during that season, with the shreveport braves of the texas league, hriniak was managed by charley lau, who soon would become the most. Charley lau, along with chicago white sox batting coach walt hriniak, are identified with the weightshift system. Lau was serving as the white sox batting coach in 1984 when he died from colorectal cancer at age 50. Hriniak, a disciple of charley lau, the late batting coach who worked for various teams, ending with the white sox, teaches preaches the style of keeping ones head down on the ball. Recently members have been receiving an email about confirming their account. I have attempted to go to that level, beyond catcher 101. Determined to remain bostons starting right fielder, evans sought the advice of red sox coach walt hriniak. Jamestown community baseball news, sports, jobs post journal.
Its 28 years old now and the audio quality has slippedits full of sizzle and cracks. Charlie lau did write a absolutely legendary mustread book for all. All this week were taking a closer look at the 10 people on the todays game era ballot for the hall of fame theres a beautiful irony in that some of the greatest hitting coaches in baseball history charlie lau, walt hriniak and kevin long, for example couldnt actually hit a lick themselves. The walt hriniak way book online at best prices in india on. Charley lau 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. Includes photos of such baseball greats as wade boggs, dwight evans, and rick gedman demonstrating the hriniak technique. I once remember reading a quote by ted williams where he blasted lau s hitting techniques. Charles richard lau april 12, 1933 march 18, 1984 was an american catcher and highly. Hriniak came to the white sox, his third team, in 1989. Walt hriniak, bob watson, john mclaren, lefty odoul, steve henderson, tony muser, john vukovich, denny walling, lloyd mcclendon, lee elia, jack clark, jim frey, hal mcrae, lenny harris, mitchell page, kevin. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Charlie lau, hitting coach for the royals, yankees and white sox, died on march 18, 1984.
Brett won the starting third base job in 1974, but struggled at the plate until he asked for help from charley lau, the royals batting coach. Advanced catching techniques by rick straub nook book. I just try to have a routine, as a hitter and in the infield and anywhere else. Hriniak s philosophy, borrowed in sum total from his guru, the late charlie lau, is not that complicated. Advanced catching techniques by rick straub 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. If you grew up reading his book and watching his instructional video over and over again like i did, you can see his influence in every swing. Ted william put in play laus laws well before charlie jr.
If you have done so and entered your login information, change your password immediately, and ensure the email address on your account is correct. Lau was not the only person observing hriniaks triumphant campaign. Once exposed to the wisdom of charley lau, hriniak became a hitting disciple. The jamestown falcons of 1972 were again affiliated with the montreal expos. Hriniak, a charlie lau disciple and the boston red sox hitting coach the last 12 seasons, is the new hitting coach for firstyear manager jeff torborg and the chicago white sox. Book synopsis 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.
Frank thomas, giving walt hriniak credit for influencing him. But i finally realized the most important thing i could do was watch the guys who get the job done. George the hitter and charlie the mentor actually pioneered a style that changed hitting mechanics drastically. Hes been waiting more than a decade to talk about charley lau. Any charlie lau fan will love the way walt hriniak has continued and built onto. 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. Charlie senior focuses on batting average and hitting line drives. After struggling mightily in the batters box during the first few months of the 1980 season, evans found himself platooned with outfielder jim dwyer. Walt hriniak s frustratinglyshort career as a backup catcher 196970 has no parallel to his years of success as a hitting coach with the red sox and white sox. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Today, for kicks, i watched my original copy of the charley lau the art of hitting.
Arguably his most productive season in professional baseball, hriniaks successful campaign was carried out under the direction of manager charlie lau. Howe news bureau, boston red sox 1983 organization book. His book would have been much better if he would have taken the good out of ted williams book. 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. How to watch baseball share book recommendations with. 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.
Asked years later to explain his teaching methods, hriniak bowed to his late mentor and manager charlie lau. We have new and used copies available, in 1 editions. Walter john hriniak pronounced rineeack is a former catcher in american major league. After the 1959 season, roarke was traded to the detroit tigers in a deal that included charley lau. Baseballs most renowned hitting instructor explains all phases of batting, from basic technique to proper mental outlook.
He preached a style similar to hitting coach charley lau, teaching hitters the importance of timing and weight shift. Although not often remembered, harry the hat walker comes to mind as a respected hitting instructor prior to charley lau. His biographical data, yearbyyear hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats where applicable, career totals, uniform numbers. Lau was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on september 12, 1956, with the detroit tigers. Hriniak ultimately became a major league hitting coach with the red sox and white sox. Walt hriniak society for american baseball research. 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. Todays hitters dont want much help ap i just returned from hall of fame induction weekend, where i find that my cronies and i are slowly becoming the older generation of the. Once exposed to the wisdom of charley lau, hriniak. He found the perfect coach, someone hed emulate for years. 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. While in the braves minor league system, hriniak played for shreveport manager charley lau. Bbtfs newsblog discussion cooperstown confidential. Walt hriniak found his calling passing on lau s methods and hes doing it again, this time in his living room.
Like hriniak, lau was a backup catcher during his 11year major league career. Ted williams is the apostle of the rotational system, and mike schmidt has developed his own system, which he identifies as the combined system an amalgam of lau s and williams principles. Hriniaks 120page book offered the basic theories behind the lauhriniak. The walt hriniak way by walt hriniak, wade boggs introduction by, henry horenstein online at alibris. Its been a very, very, long time since i last watched it.
Lau was serving as the white sox batting coach in 1984 when he died from. The walt hriniak way walt hriniak, wade boggs, henry horenstein, mark starr on. Hriniaks philosophy, borrowed in sum total from his guru, the late charlie lau, is not that complicated. Smashwords advanced catching techniques a book by rick. The first celebrity hitting coach i recall was charley lau. Charlie lau baseball stats with batting stats, pitching stats and fielding.
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