The Jim Wynn page of the 1965 “Inside the Astrodome” fan magazine-program is page 150 of the 260 total pages in this fact-chocked historical piece. As you will easily see from Jimmy’s sparse stats from his early career, he had yet to do most of the things he would go on to do as one the greatest compact-sized power hitters in the history of the game. His 37 HR in 1967, a great total for any player of any size playing all of his home games in the new Grand Canyon of MLB baseball venues would soon enough earn him the accolade-nickname from Houston Chronicle writer John Wilson that would last forever. – Jimmy Wynn really was – “The Toy Cannon”!
Jimmy Wynn’s early descriptions in the 1965 first Astrodome expanded program magazine were pretty much the kinds of demographic material we expect to get on young, as of yet, unproven, but promising prospects.
No matter how early it was, the above included photo of Jimmy Wynn would prove in time to be far deeper than a cheap publicity shot of Jimmy Wynn giving his attention to the youngest fans. It depicted true picture of who Jimmy Wynn the man always was, and always will be. – The fans come first. – And the kids come first among the fans.
Jimmy Wynn’s MLB career stats going into the opening of the Astrodome in 1965 included only limited action with Houston from 1964. In case you’ve forgotten, here’s a link to all the homers that followed ver the curse of his total MLB career:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wynnji01.shtml
Even in these days of PhotoShop reality adjustments, sometimes, pictures from the past still don’t lie. Picture like this one say so much: Little man. Big bat. Big bat. Bigger heart. And huge fans among the kids of the baseball world.
In case you have trouble reading the script from the above orange rectangle that was included at the bottom of Jimmy’s 1965 page, it reads as follows:
THE ASTRODOME/FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE FAMOUS
HORACE SUTTON, Syndicated Columnist: “Texas has just discovered a new frontier – The Great Indoors … The ASTRODOME is a phenomenon something like the Eiffel Tower …”
Wow! Does that comparison sound recently familiar? In the recent struggle to gain support for re-purposing the now idle Astrodome because of its much deserved status as an architectural icon that depicts Houston to the rest of the world, how many us have used the Eiffel Tower comparison in support of that same point. After reading Sutton’s 1965 comment, one might conclude that the hand of destiny has been behind that iconic comparison to the Eiffel Tower has been there forever. – And they just happen to place this particular quote at the bottom of Jimmy Wynn’s 1965 page 150 of the original program magazine.
The Pecan Park Eagle 
May 19, 2015 at 1:11 am |
I read somewhere that it was Casey Stengel who first called Jimmy the “Toy Cannon” and did so for his throwing arm. Ever heard this anywhere before?
May 19, 2015 at 3:53 am |
Pat – Nope. Never heard that one, Not saying old Casey didn’t say that, but there’s plenty of recorded evidence that Chronicle writer John Wilson called the “Toy Cannon” nickname shot for Jim Wynn’s diminutive size and giant power with the bat.