Johnny Podres, 1955 WS MVP, Dies at 75

[Valadius]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AmTjs_Db.496cr37eChPK6gRvLYF?slug=ap-obit-podres&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I knew him as Sports Illustrated first-ever "Sportsman of the Year" and, mostly, as the Phillies' pitching coach during 1993 when he supposedly taught Curt Schilling the changeup.

[seawolf17]

Well, that sucks. I was just about to send him a baseball card to autograph, to go with my Duke Snider and Carl Erskine cards. Looks like I saved myself a few stamps.

[Guest AG/DC]

As a former Dodger whose name was bigger than his skilzz, it's practically an historical accident that he was never a Met.

[Frayed Knot]

I like the fact that he finished his career with ... the Padres, who else?

He started - and won - their 2nd ever game, tossing a 7 inning 2-hitter to outduel Houston stud Larry Dierker.


He had just turned 23 y/o prior to that '55 WS - although was already in his 3rd season (so much for players serving long apprenticeships in the minors back then)

[MFS62]

AG/DC wrote: As a former Dodger whose name was bigger than his skilzz, it's practically an historical accident that he was never a Met.

Skilzz??
His changeup was as devastating in its day as Johann Santana's these days.

name??
And he brought a championship to Brooklyn.
May his name be exalted forever and ever.
Amen.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

AG/DC wrote: As a former Dodger whose name was bigger than his skilzz, it's practically an historical accident that he was never a Met.

I was subconsciously thinking the same thing. When I heard that he had died one of my first thoughts was that I'd have to update his UMDB profile. But the thought was a fleeting one.

[Guest AG/DC]

MFS62 wrote: ="AG/DC"]As a former Dodger whose name was bigger than his skilzz, it's practically an historical accident that he was never a Met. Skilzz?? His changeup was as devastating in its day as Johann Santana's these days.

My point being that by the early sixties he was at the end of his run and he was a pretty comparable pitcher quality-wise to Roger Craig, and he was just the sort of player the Mets were hording.

[Vic Sage]

Just the mearest mention of his name brought a smile to my father's lips. Johnny will live forever in the hearts of Brooklyners.

[Willets Point]

R.I.P. Johnny.

Curt Schilling posted a personal tribute on his blog.

[G-Fafif]

In my first batch of baseball cards, from 1967, he was a Tiger. I was shocked to learn that somebody seemingly so modern (that is, he existed while I was alive) played so long ago (a whole dozen years) in some place that hadn't had baseball forever. Johnny was good about showing up for Dodger commemorations in Brooklyn, such as on October 4, 2005 when some diehards gathered where Ebbets used to stand.

My ears cramped this morning when the Channel 11 sports guy pronounced him Pod-REZ. You win a World Series in a town, you deserve to have your name come out correctly in that town forever.

]I knew him as Sports Illustrated first-ever "Sportsman of the Year"

He wasn't supposed to receive that honor. I read in "The Franchise" by Michael MacCambridge that there was a whole internal political rigamarol at SI, then in its second year, regarding another choice, someone from a more esoteric sport. That first choice fell through and Podres was a last-minute replacement and considered kind of desperate despite his WS achievement. I'd get the story straight, but I loaned that book, a great history of SI, to a co-worker years ago and never got it back (which is why I am hesitant to lend books out anymore).

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

You could have my copy providing my willingness to loan it.

[G-Fafif]

]You could have my copy providing my willingness to loan it.

Don't make the same mistake I did.