Herbie Redmond
Encyclopedia
Herbie Redmond known variously as "Herbie the Hoofer," "Short Dog," and "Herbie the Love Bug," was the Detroit Tigers
' dancing groundskeeper who was one of the most colorful and popular characters in Detroit baseball in the 1970s and 1980s. Born in Birmingham, Alabama
, Redmond served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War
and worked as a forklift operator for Ford Motor Company
before joining the Tiger Stadium grounds crew in 1969.
Redmond entertained the crowd with a trademark jig
he danced while sweeping the infield during the fifth inning of nearly every Detroit Tigers' home game from 1969-1989. While he and the grounds crew dragged brooms across the infield to smooth the dirt, Redmond would break into a soft shoe routine, shaking his hips, and then wave his cap to the cheering crowd as he exited. The routine was variously known as the "broom dance," "The Herbie Redmond Show," or the "Herbie Shuffle." In a 1986 interview with the Detroit Free Press
, Redmond described the "Herbie Shuffle" this way: "First you strut to third ... they you wave your cap ... next you shake those hips ... and jump for joy ... then kiss that cap ... and salute the team." Richard Bak & Charlie Vincent, "The Corner," p. 100. Redmond had a number of variations on his shuffle, including a country version to John Denver
's "Thank God I'm A Country Boy," a limbo
version, and a polka
version that was also a big hit with the crowd.
According to Redmond, the tradition began when he spontaneously began dancing after a Jim Northrup home run. The next day, Redmond was called to the front office and thought he was going to be fired. Instead, they said: "Herbie, just keep doing what you want to do." Richard Bak & Charlie Vincent, "The Corner," p. 100.
During the Tigers' win-starved years of the 1970s, Redmond got the crowd cheering when there was not much else to cheer for, and the "Herbie Redmond Show" became one of the most popular and anticipated features of a visit to Tiger Stadium. In October 2006, Sports Illustrated
chose Redmond for its list of the "10 Greatest Characters in Tigers History," along with Mark Fidrych
, Norm Cash
, Boots Poffenberger
, and Dave Rozema
.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/pete_mcentegart/10/19/ten.spot/1.html
In 1984, the Tigers (under the new ownership of Tom Monaghan
) banned Redmond from continuing his dance, calling it "distracting." Detroit fans booed and reacted so negatively that the team relented and allowed Herbie to resume his fifth inning performances. Head groundskeeper Frank Feneck said some members of the crew didn't like the routine, "but I never heard a fan say anything bad about him." Mike Dodd
, "Stadium staffers who gave parks personality," USA Today
, May 27, 1993.
In a 1985 interview, Redmond said: "I just get a little rhythm going, get the feet moving and have a little fun. I try to lighten up the people ... If I get loose, maybe they'll get loose, too." Obituary of Herbert Redmond, USA Today, April 5, 1990. Redmond was also quoted as saying: "I loved baseball and here I was getting paid to watch it. Seemed like God couldn't have made a better job." Obituary of Herbert Redmond, United Press International
, April 4, 1990.
Hall of fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell
called Redmond "an original." Harwell added: "The irony is that the (New York) Yankees tried to hire a man to imitate him, and he failed. You couldn't imitate Herbie. ... It was all spontaneous." Obituary of Herbert Redmond, USA Today
, April 5, 1990.
Bob Buchta, a founder of the Tiger Stadium Fan Club, said Redmond was "a symbol to baseball lovers in Detroit
. For a lot of us, Herbie captured the democratic spirit of the ballgame. He brought people together in laughter and made the experience more special and more fun. Some of his bosses apparently wished he'd do his job unnoticed, but Herbie was determined to assert his individuality and a lot of us appreciated him for that." Obituary of Herbert Redmond, United Press International
, April 4, 1990.
Redmond's sister, Ernestine Ben, described her brother as "a crowd pleaser." She said: "When the Tigers were in a slump, Herbie would always tip his cap and do his bump. The fans adored him." Obituary of Herbert Redmond, United Press International
, April 4, 1990.
Redmond died of liver disease
at Detroit Receiving Hospital on Opening Day in 1990. For several months, the ground crew dragged the field in the fifth inning in a "missing broom" formation in Redmond's honor.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
' dancing groundskeeper who was one of the most colorful and popular characters in Detroit baseball in the 1970s and 1980s. Born in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Redmond served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and worked as a forklift operator for Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
before joining the Tiger Stadium grounds crew in 1969.
Redmond entertained the crowd with a trademark jig
Jig
The Jig is a form of lively folk dance, as well as the accompanying dance tune, originating in England in the 16th century and today most associated with Irish dance music and Scottish country dance music...
he danced while sweeping the infield during the fifth inning of nearly every Detroit Tigers' home game from 1969-1989. While he and the grounds crew dragged brooms across the infield to smooth the dirt, Redmond would break into a soft shoe routine, shaking his hips, and then wave his cap to the cheering crowd as he exited. The routine was variously known as the "broom dance," "The Herbie Redmond Show," or the "Herbie Shuffle." In a 1986 interview with the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
, Redmond described the "Herbie Shuffle" this way: "First you strut to third ... they you wave your cap ... next you shake those hips ... and jump for joy ... then kiss that cap ... and salute the team." Richard Bak & Charlie Vincent, "The Corner," p. 100. Redmond had a number of variations on his shuffle, including a country version to John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
's "Thank God I'm A Country Boy," a limbo
Limbo
In the theology of the Catholic Church, Limbo is a speculative idea about the afterlife condition of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the damned. Limbo is not an official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church or any other...
version, and a polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
version that was also a big hit with the crowd.
According to Redmond, the tradition began when he spontaneously began dancing after a Jim Northrup home run. The next day, Redmond was called to the front office and thought he was going to be fired. Instead, they said: "Herbie, just keep doing what you want to do." Richard Bak & Charlie Vincent, "The Corner," p. 100.
During the Tigers' win-starved years of the 1970s, Redmond got the crowd cheering when there was not much else to cheer for, and the "Herbie Redmond Show" became one of the most popular and anticipated features of a visit to Tiger Stadium. In October 2006, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
chose Redmond for its list of the "10 Greatest Characters in Tigers History," along with Mark Fidrych
Mark Fidrych
Mark Steven Fidrych , nicknamed "The Bird", was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched his entire career for the Detroit Tigers ....
, Norm Cash
Norm Cash
Norman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
, Boots Poffenberger
Boots Poffenberger
Cletus Elwood "Boots" Poffenberger was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and Brooklyn Dodgers .-Promising rookie year in 1937:...
, and Dave Rozema
Dave Rozema
David Scott Rozema , nicknamed "Rosey", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-Early years and 1977 rookie season:...
.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/pete_mcentegart/10/19/ten.spot/1.html
In 1984, the Tigers (under the new ownership of Tom Monaghan
Tom Monaghan
Thomas Stephen "Tom" Monaghan is an entrepreneur and Catholic philanthropist and activist who founded Domino's Pizza in 1960. He owned the Detroit Tigers from 1983-1992....
) banned Redmond from continuing his dance, calling it "distracting." Detroit fans booed and reacted so negatively that the team relented and allowed Herbie to resume his fifth inning performances. Head groundskeeper Frank Feneck said some members of the crew didn't like the routine, "but I never heard a fan say anything bad about him." Mike Dodd
Mike Dodd
Michael Dodd is a well-known retired professional beach volleyball player from the United States who attended San Diego State University. With his partner Mike Whitmarsh he won the silver medal in the men's inaugural beach volleyball tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics...
, "Stadium staffers who gave parks personality," USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, May 27, 1993.
In a 1985 interview, Redmond said: "I just get a little rhythm going, get the feet moving and have a little fun. I try to lighten up the people ... If I get loose, maybe they'll get loose, too." Obituary of Herbert Redmond, USA Today, April 5, 1990. Redmond was also quoted as saying: "I loved baseball and here I was getting paid to watch it. Seemed like God couldn't have made a better job." Obituary of Herbert Redmond, United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, April 4, 1990.
Hall of fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell
Ernie Harwell
William Earnest "Ernie" Harwell was an American sportscaster, known for his long career calling play-by-play of Major League Baseball games. For 55 years, 42 of them with the Detroit Tigers, Harwell called the action on radio and/or television...
called Redmond "an original." Harwell added: "The irony is that the (New York) Yankees tried to hire a man to imitate him, and he failed. You couldn't imitate Herbie. ... It was all spontaneous." Obituary of Herbert Redmond, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, April 5, 1990.
Bob Buchta, a founder of the Tiger Stadium Fan Club, said Redmond was "a symbol to baseball lovers in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. For a lot of us, Herbie captured the democratic spirit of the ballgame. He brought people together in laughter and made the experience more special and more fun. Some of his bosses apparently wished he'd do his job unnoticed, but Herbie was determined to assert his individuality and a lot of us appreciated him for that." Obituary of Herbert Redmond, United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, April 4, 1990.
Redmond's sister, Ernestine Ben, described her brother as "a crowd pleaser." She said: "When the Tigers were in a slump, Herbie would always tip his cap and do his bump. The fans adored him." Obituary of Herbert Redmond, United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, April 4, 1990.
Redmond died of liver disease
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
at Detroit Receiving Hospital on Opening Day in 1990. For several months, the ground crew dragged the field in the fifth inning in a "missing broom" formation in Redmond's honor.
Sources
- Sports Illustrated 10 Greatest Characters in Detroit Tigers History
- Obituary of Herbert Redmond from The Associated Press, April 5, 1990
- Obituary of Herbert Redmond from USA Today, April 5, 1990.
- Mike Dodd, "Stadium staffers who gave parks personality," USA Today, May 27, 1993.
- Richard Bak & Charlie Vincent, "The Corner: A Century of Memories at Michigan & Trumbull," (1999) "Come on and do it, Herbie!," p. 100.
- Pattison & Raglin, Detroit Tigers—Lists and More (2002)
- "A Graphic History Of Tiger Stadium: 1912-1999," Sports Illustrated Presents, July 21, 1999.
- Tiger Stadium Memories from The Detroit News