European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 4, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Aily Agazine former White sox doctor teams up with army Richard Corzatt says he s found similarities in working for a pro baseball team and working for the army. By Janet d Agostino medical writer t was june 6,1984, the 40th anniversary of a Day. Future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver had just pitched a shutout game for the Chicago White sox against the California Angels. Dodging the Media pursuing him Seaver invited team physician or. Richard Corzatt to have a Beer. The sex Marine right hander asked the doctor what time it would be on the beaches in Normandy and Corzatt replied that it was about 4 30 . The next Day. Seaver responded never forget it s a lot easier to pitch baseballs than to Dodge  Corzatt was team physician for the White sox from 1981 to 1986, a position that allowed him to use his skills As an orthopaedic surgeon and to satisfy his interest in sports Medicine. In an unusual career move Corzatt left the White sox and a successful private practice in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago to join the army. Pictures of White sox players now hang on Corzatt s office Wall in the . Army Hospital at Augsburg West Germany where he is an army colonel and chief of orthopaedics. His memories of the baseball team include the evening he was called from an army Reserve staff meeting to tend a Well known designated hitter who had Cut his knee open while sliding into second base. When Corzatt arrived in the locker room the player was Well on his Way to Anesther timing  Corzatt said the player told him sew it up Doc i Don t need anything. Where the hell have you been. I be been keeping it clean for  Corzatt also remembers the Day he was medical officer at Comiskey Park during the 1983 old timers All Star game and Stan Musial dressed in a St. Louis cardinals uniform developed Abdomen and Chest pains. Here i was in the locker room an orthopaedic surgeon trying to make decisions on a 57-year-old Guy with Chest pain Corzatt recalled. Corzatt called Musial s family physician in St. Louis who told him to ask the famous player what he had had for dinner the night before. Musial told Corzatt he had had a few stingers and crab legs. When Corzatt relayed the answer Musial s doctor said he told the Ball player not to eat crab legs or drink stingers because they always caused problems. Corzatt wanted Musial to go to a Hospital. But Musial refused and instead flew Back to St. Louis. That was a Long hour Corzatt said. Corzatt said his decision to join the army was not As unorthodox As it might appear. He had been stationed in Germany As an army physician 25 years ago. He was Active in the army Reserve and was commander of the 801st army general Hospital out of Lincolnwood Iii. I reached a stage in my life. Where i wanted to come to Europe and i wanted to treat soldiers. I Felt this was maybe a Way i could pay Back the country he said. I was successful in private practice and this was a Token of  Corzatt has found similarities Between working for a professional baseball team and working for the army. In private practice the doctor works independently and the decisions regarding patient care Only affect the doctor and the patient he said. But in the army and in a sports team there Are other people who Are interested in the patient s health. In the army. The commanding officer wants to know How Long he s going to be out and what effect this will have on his unit and that s exactly what you see in baseball. Somebody goes Down with an injury and you report immediately to the owner of the baseball club. You re part of the team which is very different from private  Corzatt became team physician for the White sox after his Friend Jerry Reinsdorf bought the team in 1980 along with Eddie Einhorn. As team physician Corzatt coordinated medical care for monday july 4, 1988 the sox and its six minor league teams starting with Spring training in Sarasota fla., when coaches and players received preseason physicals. He was assisted by a partner from his orthopaedic practice and a cardiologist. One of the three were always present at Home games. Players were treated during away games by the opposing team s physician. Corzatt also worked closely with Trainer Herman Schneider. Every professional baseball team includes people trained in stretching and strengthening exercises to work with the players he said. Players themselves Are becoming More concerned about maintaining their physical fitness throughout the year. The average baseball player makes about $500,000 a year Corzatt said. The superstars can make More than a million. If they can extend their career a year or two it s big big  players needed to have Good flexibility to help prevent injury. They had to have Good hamstring flexibility and they had to be Able to stretch out very Well Corzatt said. We were very concerned about general flexibility and then each player had his own set of problems. I think every player on our team had something wrong with  baseball players have different types of injuries from those of basketball players or football players because the sport makes different demands on the body. A baseball season is longer than most professional seasons resulting in Many injuries to the Tuscul skeletal system due to overuse said Corzatt who treated Many potentially career ending injuries through surgery. From mid february until october they Are literally playing every Day with Only a Little time off for the All Star break he said. Although they Don t have the collision injuries of football players they have overuse syndrome where Muscles Are used More than god designed them to be  the stars and stripes Page 13