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| Steve Rosenblatt poses next to photos of Rosenblatt Stadium in the Werner Park press box (Photo: Lee Warren) |
Steve Rosenblatt, the son of Johnny Rosenblatt – the former mayor and city councilmember who also played a little baseball (he once faced Satchel Paige) and was the namesake for Rosenblatt Stadium – was at Werner Park to see the Omaha Storm Chasers take on the Round Rock Express in the PCL American Conference Championship Series.
Johnny died in 1979, but his legacy lives on through his son and through the efforts of the Storm Chasers’ staff, who named the first base concourse at Werner Park, “Rosenblatt Way,” in addition to installing Johnny Rosenblatt Legacy Seats. They’ve also displayed photos of Rosenblatt Stadium in the front office and in the press box.
Steve – who lives in Arizona with his wife, but visits Omaha frequently – sat down with Omaha Baseball 360 at Werner Park during the Round Rock game to talk a little baseball. Here’s the interview:
How many games were you able to attend this season at Werner Park?
I think this summer we’ve been out here 15, 20 times.
Is there a particular player you’ve been watching who you think will make it to the big leagues?
They’re all up in Kansas City [laughter] – Moustakas, Aviles was here for a little bit, I didn’t get to see Hosmer because we hadn’t gotten back from Phoenix by then, but this was a good group of young men who were playing for the Storm Chasers and a number of them, you would think would be up in the big leagues, and several of them are.
This is probably the best team Omaha has had in 15 or 20 years. Were you able to follow the club from Arizona?
Not nearly as much as the last couple of years because the last couple of years we spent most of the summer here. When you’re not here, and you’re seeing major league baseball every night on television, you don’t get much of a chance to see the minor league ball clubs.
What do you think about the job general manager Martie Cordaro and his staff have done with this park and creating renewed interest in the club?
I told Alan Stein [the president of the club] about the first of June that Martie ought to be the minor league executive of the year. And I think both he and Alan have been honored quite well. I hope Martie wins the overall award. I know he’s won the PCL award, as well as others.
They’ve done a tremendous job. They’ve opened the eyes of people in baseball who perhaps weren’t open to it before the ballclub came to this ballpark.
I think this ballpark is a great setting for families and family entertainment, as well as watching baseball. If you’re a true baseball fan, you couldn’t watch a game in a better place. And if you’re just a fan who comes out here to enjoy the nice weather and amenities that surround the ballpark, it’s good either way.
Last season you told me your dad would be thrilled to know that Rosenblatt Stadium lasted as long as it did. Do you still believe that and do you think he would be pleased with Werner Park?
Oh yeah, he’d be thrilled to see a ballpark like this that basically was designed just for professional baseball. You have to understand, that when Johnny was alive, minor league baseball was different. Today, it’s all about the fans and about people having fun at the ballpark and entertainment.
When we grew up, and when Johnny played, and when we used to go to games at Rosenblatt, minor league baseball was strictly for developing players – it didn’t really matter who won. And I’m not so sure that it really matters today anyway, but it’s giving the fans what they want and the enjoyment that they’re looking for when they come to the ballpark. This type of facility does that.
You are a walking encyclopedia of Omaha baseball history and you’re always good for some trivia. What do you got for me?
We know that Bob Gibson was the guy from Omaha who won the most games at the major league level. Who is second?
[Long pause.]
I don’t even have a guess. Who was it?
He played high school baseball with my dad at Tech High School. His name was Mel Harder. He was a great pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and won about 225 major league games. When you mention his name today, you get, “Who?”
He was from Beemer, Nebraska. I think he spent his entire career with Cleveland. He and Bob Feller were teammates and buddies. And Bob Feller, Johnny Rosenblatt and Mel Harder were all good friends.
[Steve’s memory is incredible. I looked up Harder’s career numbers. He pitched for Cleveland his entire career, from 1928-1947 and he won 223 games for them.]
Did you ever have a chance to interact with Feller or Harder?
Yeah, I had a chance to meet with Bob, ten or twelve years ago, before I went to Phoenix. He was here for a golf tournament out at Shadow Ridge that I played in. When I introduced myself to Bob, he said, “Are you Johnny’s son?”
“Yes sir,” I said.
“He was a wonderful guy,” he said. “Good friend.” Bob had nothing but good things to say.
*****
If you haven’t had a chance to read previous interviews with Rosenblatt here at Omaha Baseball 360, check them out:
