Who is the man: Mel Stottlemyre became the highest-paid pitcher in Yankee history in 1970 when he signed a $70,000 contract, but he struggled that season with shoulder pain.
Can ya dig it: I've always loved the "pitcher holds up the glove, hides the ball" pose. This is a slight twist on that pose and it makes it that much more grand.
Right on: I can see why Stottlemyre was considered a throwback to the old Yankees class of the 1940s and 1950s.
You see that cat Stottlemyre is a bad mother: Stottlemyre started three games in the 1964 World Series, which was also his rookie year. All three of the starts came while Bob Gibson started for the Cardinals. Stottlemyre even won one of the games, Game 2.
Shut your mouth: An admiring Ken Boyer said about Stottlemyre, "there isn't a pitcher in the National League that has this kind of stuff." In 1964, the NL featured Koufax, Drysdale, Marichal and Boyer's teammate, Gibson.
No one understands him but his woman: Stottlemyre spent his entire career with the Yankees, but he never settled in New York. A native of rural Washington state, he spent each offseason there with his wife, Jean.
(A word about the back): Stottlemyre won his 20 games in 1965, 1968 and 1969. He also lost 20 games in 1966.
Mel Stottlemyre won 21 games in 1968 with a team that collectively hit .214. File under: "Bad-ass."
ReplyDeleteAccording to Fritz Peterson's FB page, Mel has been battling cancer in the last few weeks. He has made some progress however and has been released from the hospital.
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