Al Oliver Bobblehead Doll Night

By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

Former Major League great Al Oliver has had a love affair with two cities for a number of years.

The first one is the one he was born in, Portsmouth, Ohio, and the second one is where he got his Major League start in 1968, Pittsburgh, Pa., home of his second family, the Pittsburgh, Pirates.

On July 25, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Oliver was honored with his own bobblehead event.

“Back in January, when I was in Pittsburgh for the Pirates Fan Fest, someone had mentioned to me that they had planned on having a series of bobbleheads for the Pirate Lumber Company,” Oliver said. “They sent me some information out on it, and I OK’d it.”

But that OK didn’t come right away. Oliver said he received a sample of his bobblehead, and he noticed something missing right away.

“I said, ‘You guys left my sideburns off’. Because that was one of my trademarks back then. And so I said, ‘no problem,’ and they asked me what month, and I told them July,” Oliver said.

Oliver decided it would not be considered a big deal locally, so he didn’t tell anyone about it at first.

“I told Wayne Kempf, who was president of Kiwanis at the time, that I wouldn’t be here on that particular week because I would be in Pittsburgh for Bobblehead Night,” Oliver said. “So lo and behold, behind my back the Kiwanis got together and chartered a bus.”

Oliver said Kiwanis chartering a bus started the ball rolling.

“A couple of other people in the community got wind of it and they got a bus,” Oliver said. “And then I realized, if the news had come out earlier, there’s no doubt in my mind, like Eugene Collins, Sr., said, they could have easily had four or five buses going to Pittsburgh.”

Oliver said even with the short notice, he received a lot of local support.

“They showed up. They really did,” Oliver said. “People drove, and it was a very exciting night. I could not have asked for a better night.”

To the partisan crowd, the highlight of the night was seeing the man who won the National League Batting Title in 1982 — the man who played alongside legends such as Roberto Clemente and Willie “Pops” Stargell. But to Oliver, the highlight of the night was watching his grandchildren.

“Watching my grandsons take the field at PNC Park, and participate in the opening ceremonies,” Oliver said. “Sky (11) threw the first pitch to Ty (9) who was catching, and for Sky to throw a perfect pitch to Ty — that was it,” Oliver said. “That made my night, and that sent me back 40 years, because it’s going to be 40 years this year that I made my Major League debut.”

Oliver said it was a perfect night for him for a lot of reasons.

“It was a conclusion in my mind to a Major League career,” Oliver said. “My mom and dad could not see me play in a Major League game, see — but to look at my grandsons on a Major League field brought justification to me, so I was satisfied.”

Oliver referred to Portsmouth and Pittsburgh as, “the two most important cities in my life.”

“Those two cities, I have to say, embraced Al Oliver, and it made sense because it came full circle. To end in Pittsburgh, it was appropriate.”

Oliver spoke of some of the other cities he played in, including Arlington, Texas, where he was a Ranger, and where he also set some records.

“They have total amnesia that Al Oliver still exists, so, as we all know, I will always be a Pirate.”

Oliver said the key to his return to Portsmouth has been community involvement.

“In 1990 when I returned I became involved in Kiwanis, and I now serve as vice president in this administration.” Oliver said. “You have to add a little color to the situation.”

Oliver was referring to the fact that he is the only black member of the local Kiwanis chapter.

“I come to Kiwanis every Wednesday, and I just don’t feel color. I don’t feel it. I know who I am, but it’s that we all realize that we are in this race together, so that has never been an issue,” Oliver said. “I really believe what has happened on both sides, is that by my being black, we (Kiwanis members) have learned a lot from each other.”

Oliver said it is a culture issue — what some white people have thought about black people and what some black people have thought about white people, “Hey, it wasn’t so. and I’m speaking from a negative standpoint. That’s what I have really enjoyed, is that we have learned from each other.”

Oliver said another of the biggest events in his life since returning to Portsmouth was speaking at the commencement ceremony at Shawnee State University.

Oliver said he has one problem when it comes to speaking at community events.

“I just cannot say no,” Oliver said. “That’s where my wife, Pat has helped me. Sometimes you do have to say no because sometimes schedules get very heavy, and you don’t want to knock yourself out.”

Oliver said many times people don’t realize, motivational speaking is the only way he makes a living now, and there are fees involved.

“But there are some times when I will back off of fees depending upon the situation, because I’m not a money-hungry guy, but I know that’s my job.”

Oliver’s life has come full circle. He has gone from being a child who grew up during the early years of the Civil Rights movement, played and excelled at the game of baseball in a city he loves, Pittsburgh, been both forgotten and honored, and has returned to Portsmouth to attempt to give back to a community that has, like Pittsburgh, embraced him.

Oliver is, in addition to his other roles in the community, an ordained deacon at Beulah Baptist Church, the church he grew up in, and where he has served as chairman since 1997.

“It has put a lot of things in perspective, although I never was an angry individual, there were times in my life when I was frustrated or disappointed, but now, being that I’m in a position through my faith and belief, I’m able to brush things off, and not necessarily all the things that happen to me personally, but things around me.” Oliver said. “I’m able to deal with those, accept those things, and move on.”

FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.