Recent Baseball Passings 2006

[Guest Edgy DC]

Legendary USC baseball coach Rod Dedeaux, 91.

Before I go to bed I'll pull out my mass market copy of Bill Lee's Spaceman.

Looking... Well, what do you know, I can't find it. Anyhow, Lee describes Dedeaux as one of those coaches --- like John Thompson at Georgetown -- who inspires such faith and loyalty in his players that he can call them years later in the middle of the night, though they may be rich pros or private citizens, and they'll come running to his side, no questions asked. That's one thing for a loyal straight-laced marine-type like Seaver, but to get simultaneous respect from a countercultural flake like Lee (who also did some time in the USMC, but isn't as likely to credit the Corps' contribution to his makeup) is another story.

Lee described a College World Series Game years after he graduated(and I may have some of the particulars wrong here) that he was following on the scoreboard in a big league park as he sat on the bench of a professional game in progress. With USC going up against a pitcher named Dave Winfield and being down 4-0 in the ninth, he knew (he claims) that USC somehow would win, even after he saw that two men were out. Sure enough, Dedeaux's boys pulled it out. What Lee later found out was that USC did it by sending up five straight pinch-hitters and getting five straight hits.

He also told another story (again, forgive me if I have the details wrong) from his own time in the program, when the made the College World Series and they brought along a flame-thrower from the freshman team to pitch batting practice. Pumped up to show the famous varsity coach his best stuff, the overzealous freshman reaches back for his best heater and plunks a varsity starter in the ribs with it.

Dedeaux is furious, storms to the mound to ream the freshman, tells him to get off the mound and he doesn't ever want to see him in uniform again. Dedeaux leaves the diamond to cool down and practice continues with another pitcher. But the freshman shows heart, grabs a bat and steps into the cage. When Dedeaux returns to the practice, he sees this same freshman hitting pitch after pitch well beyond the outfield walls. The freshman finishes his turn, and feeling he's made his point, turns to leave the field and avoid a confrontation. Dedeaux, rather than further tear at this player, reconsiders his position and says, "Whoah, son, where are you going there. You and me need to talk."

And despite being in the midst of a practice for an NCAA championship, sat down and talked to this mercurial freshman about his own varsity future on later championship contenders.

And, I guess many of you have guessed by now, that freshman was named...

[seawolf17]

Rey Ordonez.

[MFS62]

seawolf17 wrote: Rey Ordonez.

My guess is that's a wrong guess.

Later

[nymr83]

Mark McGwire? i know he pitched in college

[seawolf17]

McGwire was my honest guess too. I left it out for humor value.

[Lundy]

"hitting pitch after pitch well beyond the outfield walls" +
"mercurial freshman"=
Dave Kingman?

[HahnSolo]

Let's see:
USC, 1960s, pumped up, overzealous, hurt somebody, mercurial...
gotta be
OJ Simpson.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Kong it is.

[Guest rpackrat]

Longtime relief pitcher Paul Lindblad.

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/13538214.htm?source=rss&channel=dfw_sports

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Made me think of this guy:

[Guest Edgy DC]

Dying of Alzheimer's before qualifying for social security stinks. I have an in-law and seemingly a parent suffereing from the stuff. One is 70 and the other 77, though.

The 1977-1979 Yankees seem to have a really large necrology, including all three of their 1978 managers.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I feel bad for saying this at this time but the only thing I recall about Paul Linblad is his having one of the most unfortunate portraits in baseball card history. I think with the Rangers, mid-70s, just a terrible ohoto.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Paul Lindblad marked his passing by getting slammed as a 1978 Yankee by the 1955 Dodgers in my Diamond Mind League.

New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Tidrow           L 7-9           3.2 10  6  5  0  1  61  39  3.63
Lyle                             0.0  0  4  4  4  0  20   4  3.11
Lindblad                         1.1  7  5  5  2  0  41  19 10.36
Clay                             3.0  1  0  0  1  0  38  22  1.15
                                 8.0 18 15 14  7  1 160  84