Kison's big game wasn't quite my first WS game, but close--remember that more than I remember '70. Kind of amazed he was still there in '79.
― clemenza, Sunday, 3 June 2018 03:18 (five years ago) link
Red Schoendienst, at 95
― WilliamC, Thursday, 7 June 2018 01:26 (five years ago) link
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/hall-of-famer-red-schoendienst-dies-at-he-was-mr/article_d32f81fe-c286-5023-8667-10b0fc89b206.html
― WilliamC, Thursday, 7 June 2018 01:27 (five years ago) link
rip Red
― the ignatius rock of ignorance (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 7 June 2018 01:54 (five years ago) link
Dutch Rennert
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23837561/former-national-league-umpire-laurence-dutch-rennert-jr-dies-88
― the ignatius rock of ignorance (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 19 June 2018 07:06 (five years ago) link
best strike call
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 10:16 (five years ago) link
didn't hit the big leagues til he was about 43
― the ignatius rock of ignorance (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 19 June 2018 11:21 (five years ago) link
https://www.mlb.com/video/rennert-on-his-umpiring-career/c-503830783
― omar little, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 13:57 (five years ago) link
Billy Connors
https://www.mlb.com/news/billy-connors-former-pitching-coach-dies/c-282156366
― the ignatius rock of ignorance (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 23 June 2018 04:34 (five years ago) link
The Hall of Fame remembers former @Pirates first baseman and longtime trainer Tony Bartirome, who passed away on Friday. pic.twitter.com/DT7Y6NlKZQ— Baseball Hall ⚾ (@baseballhall) June 26, 2018
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 26 June 2018 18:05 (five years ago) link
Yosh Kawano
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-yosh-kawano-dead-20180626-story.html
― omar little, Wednesday, 27 June 2018 01:40 (five years ago) link
Tony Cloninger
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24221679/former-pitcher-yankees-coach-tony-cloninger-dies-77
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 29 July 2018 16:45 (five years ago) link
Johnny Lewis, who played with the Cardinals and Mets from 1964-67
― Karl Malone, Monday, 30 July 2018 01:01 (five years ago) link
John Kennedy, utility infielder for the Senators, Red Sox, and '69 Seattle Pilots
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=kennejo03
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 14 August 2018 16:10 (five years ago) link
Looks like there are a lot of references to Kennedy in Ball Four though I don't have a copy here.
― timellison, Tuesday, 14 August 2018 18:31 (five years ago) link
i was gonna ask... i remember the tail end of his career, but not if Bouton wrote about him.
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 14 August 2018 18:34 (five years ago) link
Aaron Cox (Mike Trout's brother-in-law), retired minor league pitcher passed away at age 24.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Wednesday, 15 August 2018 18:24 (five years ago) link
I often want to locate a quote in Ball Four and bemoan the lack of an index.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 15 August 2018 18:31 (five years ago) link
Billy O'Dell, two-time AL All-Star pitcher
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24663912/ex-big-leaguer-billy-odell-won-105-games-majors-dies-85
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 13 September 2018 18:45 (five years ago) link
loooong-time scout don welke, 75. 50 years in baseball, most recently with the padres
Don Welke, the veteran baseball man, was the scout who convinced Blue Jays to draft a Flint, Mich. high school left-hander in 1985. The final words of a very thorough report: "Has no right hand." (Jim Abbott went to Michigan instead.)— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) September 20, 2018
― mookieproof, Thursday, 20 September 2018 18:45 (five years ago) link
Peter Bjarkman, historian of Cuban baseball, pioneer and pal, died suddenly yesterday, of a heart attack in Havana. I will miss him. https://t.co/kLDM58lfN4— John Thorn (@thorn_john) October 2, 2018
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 2 October 2018 16:10 (five years ago) link
Saw him at SABR in NYC last year. This year's Cuba Ball tour just concluded, he must've been visiting with it.
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 2 October 2018 16:18 (five years ago) link
new york times scribe dave anderson, who was the last writer to leave the ebbets field press box
― mookieproof, Thursday, 4 October 2018 20:37 (five years ago) link
longtime giants broadcaster hank greenwald, 83
https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Longtime-Giants-broadcaster-Hank-Greenwald-dies-13330066.php
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 23 October 2018 18:42 (five years ago) link
former pitcher/longtime pitching coach bill fischer, 88
in 1962 he threw a record 84 1/3 consecutive innings (for the kansas city athletics) without issuing a walk
The Royals are saddened to announce the passing of Senior Pitching Advisor Bill Fischer. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Fish touched so many lives during his career, not only with the Royals, but through his eight decades in pro baseball. pic.twitter.com/bkZCrF80Fb— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 31, 2018
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 31 October 2018 16:19 (five years ago) link
It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie McCovey passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 80 after losing his battle with ongoing health issues. #Forever44 | #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/ooOYg4ESol— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) October 31, 2018
Willie McCovey, 80
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 1 November 2018 00:13 (five years ago) link
Between the '30s and the PED era, his '69 season was a benchmark offensively.
― clemenza, Thursday, 1 November 2018 00:35 (five years ago) link
Checked that, and his '69 is indeed the highest OPS+ year (209) in that gap by someone not named Williams or Mantle.
― clemenza, Thursday, 1 November 2018 11:56 (five years ago) link
He showed up in 1972 healthy and raring to go, and homered on Opening Day off Houston’s Don Wilson. In the season’s fourth game, San Diego’s John Jeter ran into McCovey at first base, fracturing Willie’s right forearm. ("I feel like I killed Santa Claus," Jeter said.)
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/2a692514
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 1 November 2018 17:45 (five years ago) link
Posnanski just posted a McCovey entry in his countdown (#89, obviously bumped up or down because of his death), and he reminded me of one of my favourite moments in Ball Four:
"Hey Willie," Jim Bouton said to McCovey as he and what he called "a group of terrorized pitchers" watched McCovey smash terrifying home run after terrifying home run in batting practice. "Can you do that every time?"
McCovey, Bouton said, did not even smile.
"Just about," he said.
― clemenza, Friday, 2 November 2018 00:18 (five years ago) link
Apparently we failed to note Marty Pattin, AL pitcher 1968-80, mostly for the Royals (and a Seattle Pilot), who died last month.
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article219466410.html
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 12 November 2018 19:34 (five years ago) link
Another Ball Four guy...Line I think I remember: "Marty, how do you hold your gopher balls?" (which Bouton felt bad about after he said it).
― clemenza, Monday, 12 November 2018 19:54 (five years ago) link
RIP Fred Caligiuri — the oldest living former @MLB player — who died Friday at the age of 100. Pitching for the Philadelphia @Athletics, he faced Ted Williams on the final day of the 1941 season when he hit .406. Read Caligiuri's #SABR bio: https://t.co/LtLS5ngBou pic.twitter.com/G9YwJj8S1A— SABR (@sabr) December 3, 2018
― mookieproof, Monday, 3 December 2018 21:49 (five years ago) link
Former Major League Baseball players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car accident on Thursday night, a spokesperson for their Venezuelan team, Cardenales de Lara, confirmed.
Valbuena was 33. Castillo was 37.
― reggae mike love (polyphonic), Friday, 7 December 2018 08:13 (five years ago) link
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Former major league players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash caused by highway bandits who then robbed them, officials said Friday.The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died late Thursday when their SUV crashed as it tried to veer around an object on the road, Yaracuy state Gov. Julio Leon Heredia said on his Twitter account.Officials said some bandits place or throw objects on highways to force vehicles to stop or crash so they can rob the occupants. Heredia said four people have been detained after being found with property of the athletes.Valbuena and Castillo were teammates on the Cardenales de Lara team in the Venezuelan winter league and were returning from a game in the capital when the crash occurred en route to the city of Barquisimeto.Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website BeisbolPlay.
The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died late Thursday when their SUV crashed as it tried to veer around an object on the road, Yaracuy state Gov. Julio Leon Heredia said on his Twitter account.
Officials said some bandits place or throw objects on highways to force vehicles to stop or crash so they can rob the occupants. Heredia said four people have been detained after being found with property of the athletes.
Valbuena and Castillo were teammates on the Cardenales de Lara team in the Venezuelan winter league and were returning from a game in the capital when the crash occurred en route to the city of Barquisimeto.
Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website BeisbolPlay.
― omar little, Saturday, 8 December 2018 03:00 (five years ago) link
Joan Steinbrenner, widow of Boss Bullshit
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 17 December 2018 12:50 (five years ago) link
The Hall of Fame remembers former @Orioles, @Twins, @Angels, @RedSox and @Tigers outfielder Lenny Green, who passed away on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/lf6tAS8d48— Baseball Hall ⚾ (@baseballhall) January 8, 2019
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 8 January 2019 15:05 (five years ago) link
Rick Down, former NYY/NYM coach
https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/sports-columns/ron-kantowski/ex-yankees-hitting-coach-rick-down-dies-at-home-in-las-vegas-1569683/
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 10 January 2019 14:58 (five years ago) link
mel stottlemyre, 77
― mookieproof, Monday, 14 January 2019 17:38 (five years ago) link
Very interesting career. Helped along by his era a career ERA under 3.00, retired at 32, never had a really bad year (three mediocre ones, never terrible), won 20 three times and lost 20 once, hit 40 WAR in a short career. And his son gets credit for the worst slide in the entire history of baseball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVt84YGtfGo
― clemenza, Monday, 14 January 2019 19:38 (five years ago) link
also unusual in that he was the Yankee ace when they won nothing (after his rookie year), then was pitching coach for the WS-winning Mets
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 14 January 2019 19:42 (five years ago) link
Like a lot of guys in the early '60s, AL especially, he would have had a real good shot at a Cy Young in '65 if not for Koufax: 20-9, 6.9 WAR, 291 innings for the first lousy Yankees team (6th place) in ages.
― clemenza, Monday, 14 January 2019 19:47 (five years ago) link
(Actually, no--McDowell would have been a cinch, even with fewer wins.)
― clemenza, Monday, 14 January 2019 19:52 (five years ago) link
Tom Hausman, pitcher in 160 MLB games 1975-82, and the first FA signed by the Mets
https://www.davisfuneralservices.com/memorialpage.asp?page=odetail&id=99311&locid=48
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 21 January 2019 16:24 (five years ago) link
R.I.P. Jim McKean, legendary umpire and Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer https://t.co/HoYqMnUUuv By: Kevin Glew (@coopincanada ) pic.twitter.com/JGtXPfbnph— The Canadian Baseball Network (@CDNBaseballNet) January 24, 2019
― mookieproof, Thursday, 24 January 2019 15:35 (five years ago) link
damn, RIP
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 24 January 2019 16:02 (five years ago) link
Pirates pitching ace Bob Friend
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25917999/bob-friend-pirates-leader-innings-starts-ks-dies-88
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 4 February 2019 22:44 (five years ago) link
frank robinson
― mookieproof, Thursday, 7 February 2019 19:38 (five years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dy07TNjU8AEDiUB.jpg
― mookieproof, Thursday, 7 February 2019 19:43 (five years ago) link
fuck
― omar little, Thursday, 7 February 2019 19:49 (five years ago) link
team connection is suspected
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 30 August 2019 20:20 (four years ago) link
Detroit Tigers statement regarding the passing of Chace Numata: pic.twitter.com/H6TCAQO1S8— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 2, 2019
― mookieproof, Monday, 2 September 2019 19:57 (four years ago) link
Skateboarding accident
― Andy K, Monday, 2 September 2019 21:06 (four years ago) link
Chris Duncan, a 2006 #STLCards World Series champion, has passed away at the age of 38. Our thoughts are with his friends and family. pic.twitter.com/CBWbvGsayc— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) September 7, 2019
― Andy K, Saturday, 7 September 2019 00:36 (four years ago) link
Whoa, wtf?
― I am also Harl (Karl Malone), Saturday, 7 September 2019 05:55 (four years ago) link
Charlie Silvera, Berra backup and coach
https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Charlie-Silvera-San-Francisco-native-and-14426637.php
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 11 September 2019 13:52 (four years ago) link
former syracuse chiefs president don waful, 103
he was captured by the germans in tunisia in 1942 and spent the next three years in POW camps -- much of it with davey johnson's dad fred at the oflag 64 camp in poland
― mookieproof, Thursday, 12 September 2019 21:24 (four years ago) link
Masaichi Kaneda, winningest Japanese pitcher
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/10/06/baseball/japanese-baseball/japans-time-wins-leader-masaichi-kaneda-dies-86/#.XaHSkkZKiWY
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 12 October 2019 13:29 (four years ago) link
shortstop jackie hernández, 79, who amassed -3.9 bWAR over nine seasons and had the assist on the final out of the 1971 world series
― mookieproof, Thursday, 17 October 2019 14:52 (four years ago) link
umpire eric cooper, 52. did the yanks-twins series two weeks ago.
― mookieproof, Sunday, 20 October 2019 21:02 (four years ago) link
jeez; gather ye rosebuds.
'71 WS was the first i remember watching (most of). RIP Jackie.
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 21 October 2019 15:09 (four years ago) link
I watched the '71 Series intently and have zero recollection of Jackie Hernandez...I thought Gene Alley was the SS then.
― clemenza, Monday, 21 October 2019 15:17 (four years ago) link
Alley played 882 innings at short that year, Jackie 574.
Alley had only 3 PA in the World Series, don't know if he was hurt.
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 21 October 2019 15:24 (four years ago) link
Can't find any clarification on that, but this would seem to be Hernandez's other biggest moment:
"A month before the World Series, Hernandez was part of another historic moment on Sept. 1 when Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh started a lineup consisting only of African-American and Latino players. The Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-7, that day at Three Rivers Stadium."
― clemenza, Monday, 21 October 2019 15:30 (four years ago) link
Hernandez was considered a top defensive SS, at least by Murtaugh and Clemente. He and Alley were the same age though.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/887d2ec2
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 21 October 2019 15:33 (four years ago) link
former dodgers/expos/etc player and mariners announcer ron fairly, 81
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 30 October 2019 18:49 (four years ago) link
def saw him play at Shea in the '70s
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 30 October 2019 20:14 (four years ago) link
Flagship Jay, and I think the first Jays-Expos player.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 30 October 2019 20:17 (four years ago) link
Think I misused "flagship"...original Jay (1977).
― clemenza, Wednesday, 30 October 2019 20:19 (four years ago) link
'the only player to represent multiple non-US teams in the all-star game'
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 30 October 2019 20:22 (four years ago) link
Vera Clemente, widow of No. 21
https://www.mlb.com/news/vera-clemente-passes-away
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 17 November 2019 13:25 (four years ago) link
Irv Noren
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/6d0657d1
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 18 November 2019 20:13 (four years ago) link
twins prospect ryan costello, 23, of 'natural causes'
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/18/us/minnesota-twins-prospect-ryan-costello-dead-trnd/index.html
― mookieproof, Monday, 18 November 2019 20:20 (four years ago) link
Unnaturally young.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 18 November 2019 22:59 (four years ago) link
scholar/author Dorothy Seymour Mills
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/dorothy-seymour-mills-who-received-belated-credit-for-husbands-baseball-books-dies-at-91/2019/11/20/c6df24d4-0baf-11ea-8397-a955cd542d00_story.html
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 27 November 2019 02:08 (four years ago) link
former pitcher and phillies scout will brunson, 49
https://thespun.com/more/top-stories/will-brunson-dies-suddenly-rip
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 27 November 2019 02:38 (four years ago) link