Send in the Clowns

There was a time in baseball history when baseball clowns would perform before, during, or after games  - and I’m not talking about the 1962 Mets. 

The first "Clown Prince of Baseball" was Al Schacht. a former major league player and coach who started clowning at games in the 1930’s. This is an advertisement for his act that I found in a 1937 copy of "Sporting News."

Following World War II, Schacht went into the restaurant business. His eponymous steakhouse at 102 E. 52nd St. in Manhattan was popular for decades, catering to a clientele of sports stars and stage and screen celebrities.The menus at Al Schacht's were round, fashioned as oversized baseballs, and featured dishes named after old-time players. From time to time, Schacht would mount the small restaurant stage and launch into his old routines, to the delight of patrons. The restaurant's exterior appears in the 1961 movie "Breakfast at Tiffanys" when protagonist Holly Golightly and friend Paul Varjak go there for dinner. Here is a linen postcard I have from his restaurant. "When it comes to food I'm not clowning" says Al!

Another popular clown was Max Patkin, also dubbed
"The Clown Prince of Baseball."

Max had a seemingly rubber face, wore his cap askew and a baggy uniform with a ? on the back in place of a number. He made over 4000 appearances at games during his career and even appeared as himself in the movie “Bull Durham."

Here is a ball I had him autograph when he came to New Orleans for the inaugural season of the AAA New Orleans Pelicans in 1977.

Johnnie Johnson "Baseball's Laugh Ambassador" was an ex- G.I. and apparently "Baseball's Youngest Comedian."

I say it's time to bring clowns back to baseball. 

MBFA  

Make Baseball Funny Again!