Category: Deaths

RIP Elmer Blasco, inventor of the Gold Glove

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Elmer Blasco, who worked in marketing for Rawlings, passed away last Friday.  Blasco was responsible for inventing the concept of the Gold Glove Award. 

From the Daily Herald: 

"I felt that since we represented defense with our gloves we should do something to honor the best in that area," Mr. Blasco, a 50-year resident of Mount Prospect, told the Daily Herald in 1981. "And what better way than with a glove, a golden glove at that."

He was a graduate of the University of Illinois and won his own Gold Glove for his effort in creating the award.

Jerome Holtzman, R.I.P.

Jerome Holtzman, one of my favoriteĀ sports writers, a long time reporter & columnist in the Chicago newspapers and upon retirement, MLB’s historian (the inventor of the “save”), died at the age of 82.

Jerome Holtzman was writing in Chicago way back when I was growing up.He and John Carmichael (“The Barber Shop”) were my favorites. My memory fades. Did Holtzman write for the old Chicago American? Or the Chicago Daily News? Those papers don’t exist anymore (and hardly do I).

Remember the jingle? “Chicago American. Always on top of the news.” I could sing it for you to this day.

I appreciate his contributions in developing my love for baseball. And for the enjoyment he contributed to my youth through reading his work.

He also wrote an interesting book, “(There’s) No Cheering in the Pressbox” about the newspaper sports writers of note.

One of the last summers I lived in Chicago: Pete Rose said, “Not only did Ken Holtzman shut us down in the afternoon game, I pick up the paper the next morning and he’s WRITING about it.” Pete obviously read only the last name.

Jerome Holtzman’s save statistic has made a lot of money for a lot of relievers.

DonS.

JEREMI GONZALEZ STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

A sad note, former Cub pitcher, Jeremi Gonzalez was killed on May 25th in Venezuela when he was struck by lightning. Jeremi was 11-9 in 1997 & 7-7 in 1998, before being out of MLB for nearly five years due to three surgeries and a variety of injuries.

In 2003, he was rewarded by Tampa Bay with the Out of Nowhere Award. Gonzalez ended up being the Rays’ most consistent pitcher, despite his 6ā€“11 record. He allowed three runs or fewer in 17 starts, but received the lowest run support of any AL East starter. He was known as Jeremi Gonzalez until he was traded to the Brewers in 2006, at which time he informed the team of the proper spelling of his name.

At the time of his passing, Geremi Gonzalez was only 33 years old.

Buzzie Bavasi dies at 92

buzzie Emil “Buzzie” Bavasi, former general manager and baseball executive, died Thursday at the age of 92. 

He helped the Dodgers to their first World Series championship in 1955 (their only one in Brooklyn) plus three more in LA.  In addition he brought the Angels to the playoffs twice. 

I seem to remember Bavasi being on the ‘A’ list of nominees for the 2007’s ballot of the Hall of Fame.

The LA Times has an excellent obit and bio. 

You Don’t Have To Call Me Darling, Darling

Home plate umpire Gary Darling called a balk on SF Franchise righthander Tim Lincecum late in the game with the go-ahead run on 3rd base. His catcher stood up asking for time as Lincecum started his windup, Darling said, “time”, then he said, “that’s a balk”. The eventual winning run came walking home as the winningest foreign born skipper (from France) Bruce Bochy came out of the Giant dugout.

After a lengthy & heated exchange, Darling gave Bochy the heave-ho. Lincecum, in a bold move, said, he would take Gary Darling off his Christmas card list. While Bochy was seen taking Darling out of his Fave Five, as he exited stage left.

A bad week for Miguel Tejada

Miguel Tejada has seen better days.  First, he gets word that Congress is opening an investigation into whether he lied to the House Committee Oversight and Government Reform in 2005 on his use of PEDs.

Then, he finds out that his older brother was killed in a motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic. 

Astros management predictably expressed their condolences on Tejada’s brother’s death but kept their words to a minimum on the investigation issue, waiting for more information. 

In a letter to US Attorney General Michael Mukasey, the Committee made their case:

“Mr. Tejada made statements to the Committee in a transcribed interview on Aug. 26, 2005, regarding his knowledge of and involvement with steroids. Evidence contained in former Senator Mitchell’s report on steroid use in Major League Baseball appears to be inconsistent with statements he gave to the Committee.”

Naive me.  I had this feeling that the baseball powers-that-be were bringing the Mitchell Report out in the dead of winter so that it would blow over by the time Spring Training started.  With Congress (and let’s face it, the media) getting involved, who knows how long it will last.

RIP Johnny Podres

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Johnny Podres, the last Brooklyn Dodger to win a World Series game, passed away at 75.

Podres, was key to the Dodgers’ only World Series win in 1955 pitching two complete game wins.  For his career, he was 148-116 over 15 seasons, thirteen with the Dodgers.

Tommy Byrne, who lost Game 7 against Podres in 1955, died less than a month ago on December 20.

GMs mandate helmets for coaches

At the GM meetings this week, it was decided that the wearing of helmets by first and third base coaches will be enforced.  This is in response to the death of AA coach Mike Coolbaugh who was hit by a line drive on July 22 this year.  The exact details of what they will be … Continue reading “GMs mandate helmets for coaches”

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At the GM meetings this week, it was decided that the wearing of helmets by first and third base coaches will be enforced.  This is in response to the death of AA coach Mike Coolbaugh who was hit by a line drive on July 22 this year. 

The exact details of what they will be wearing has not been ironed out. 

Ron Kremer of the Herald News agrees with the ruling.  He makes his argument in his article entitled Baseball Gets With It:

The decision came four months after ex-major leaguer Mike Coolbaugh died. He was struck in the neck by a batted ball while coaching at first base during a minor league game. He was not wearing a helmet.

…except (as Kremer notes in the sentence before) Coolbaugh was hit in the neck and that helmet probably wouldn’t have saved his life. 

As for the issue itself, I’m not much for mandates in isolated situations like these.  If the coaches want to wear the protective devices, I’m all for it.  Joe Garagiola Jr, senior vice president for baseball operations, says that there was a “sentiment that as concept, this was a good idea.” Hopefully, this sentiment extends to those who will be wearing the helmets.