Dick Radatz AKA The Monster..
In his short heyday at 6'5" 235 lbs "The Monster" would always bring a buzz of excitement when he entered a game because of the imposing figure he was on the mound. I saw him pitch several times during his prime at Fenway in the early to mid 60s. That was great baseball theatre even if the Sox were mired in 7th place most of the time.
Richard Raymond Radatz (April 2, 1937 – March 16, 2005), nicknamed "The Monster" or "Moose", was an American League right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a scorching but shortlived period of dominance for the Boston Red Sox (1962-66). Radatz also played for the Cleveland Indians (1966-67), Chicago Cubs (1967), Detroit Tigers (1969) and Montreal Expos (1969). He began his adult professional life as a school teacher.
His 1963 season was one for the books. He may have given up a homer to Johnny Callison in the 64 All Star Game but in the 63 All Star Game The Monster impressed the entire baseball world with strikeouts of Willie Mays, Dick Groat, Duke Snider, Willie McCovey and Julián Javier in the two innings he pitched. He had great 62, 63, and 64 seasons making his back to back to back numbers unheard of for a relief pitcher from that era.
Interesting photo from a game at Fenway in 2004 when both Radatz and the late Mark "The Bird" Fidrych both threw out a first ball before a Red Sox game. Two unique players who passed from this life by way of freak accidents at their homes from us way to soon. May they both RIP and always be rembered by fans who enjoyed the special joy they brought to the ballpark for everyone who loved baseball when they played.
Dick Radatz MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox was in 1962:
1962: 24 Saves led AL - 62 appearances led AL and 9 wins out of the bullpen and AL Fireman of the Year..
1963: 25 saves with a 15-6 record and a 1,97 ERA made him the first pitcher in baseball history to have consecutive 20 save seasons.
1964: Radatz received his second Fireman of the Year award for his league-leading 29 saves with 16 wins and a 2.29 ERA in 79 games out of the bullpen. Again, he was selected an All-Star (but was saddled with the loss in that game when Johnny Callison hit a dramatic home run).
These days relievers hardly ever pick up wins but once Radatz entered a game he stayed in even if the Red Sox were behind or tied which is why he picked up so many decisions.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1963 when Radatz saved 25 games and went 15-6 with a 1.97 ERA.Yankee manager Ralph Houk said, "over two seasons, I've never seen a better pitcher," and reporters apparently agreed: Radatz finished 5th in MVP voting despite Boston's 7th-place finish. Most notably, he fanned 181 batters in 157 innings, setting a record that still stands for most strikeouts by a relief pitcher in a single season.
Sportswriter Jim Murray wrote that "Dick Radatz brings one weapon - a fastball. It's like saying all a country brings to a war is an atom bomb." However, Radatz's one-pitch arsenal was a worry for Boston, and Ted Williams encouraged him to develop a sinker. Radatz complied, but in changing his mechanics to incorporate the new pitch, he permanently lost the edge on his fastball.
In 1965 Radatz went 9-11 with 24 saves and a high 3.91 ERA. He was diagnosed with injuries in his arm and shoulder which required season-ending surgery. He never recovered his form, was traded to the Indians at the 1966 mid-season, and was sent to the Cubs the following year. Out of action for the 1968 season, he finished his career with the Tigers and Expos in 1969.
Overall with Boston, Radatz saved 104 games (a team record later broken by Bob Stanley) with a 49-34 record and 646 strikeouts in 576.1 innings pitched. With the other four teams he went 6-20 with 26 saves in 117.2 innings.
Dick Radatz was selected to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997. He died in March 2005 after falling down a flight of stairs at his home in Easton, Massachusetts. The Red Sox held a moment of silence during their 2005 home opener in his honor.
April of 2005 Red Sox opening game at Fenway. Former Red Sox players (left to right), Luis Tiant, Sam Horn, Jim Corsi, Jim Rice, Rich Gedman, Tommy Harper, Carl Yastrzemski, and Joe Morgan observed a pregame moment of silence for former Red Sox reliever Dick Radatz, who died the month prior in March of 2005 from a freak accident in his home..
RIP Dick Radatz..wil..
Stats from wikipedia and The Baseball Reference.com.
In his short heyday at 6'5" 235 lbs "The Monster" would always bring a buzz of excitement when he entered a game because of the imposing figure he was on the mound. I saw him pitch several times during his prime at Fenway in the early to mid 60s. That was great baseball theatre even if the Sox were mired in 7th place most of the time.
Richard Raymond Radatz (April 2, 1937 – March 16, 2005), nicknamed "The Monster" or "Moose", was an American League right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a scorching but shortlived period of dominance for the Boston Red Sox (1962-66). Radatz also played for the Cleveland Indians (1966-67), Chicago Cubs (1967), Detroit Tigers (1969) and Montreal Expos (1969). He began his adult professional life as a school teacher.
His 1963 season was one for the books. He may have given up a homer to Johnny Callison in the 64 All Star Game but in the 63 All Star Game The Monster impressed the entire baseball world with strikeouts of Willie Mays, Dick Groat, Duke Snider, Willie McCovey and Julián Javier in the two innings he pitched. He had great 62, 63, and 64 seasons making his back to back to back numbers unheard of for a relief pitcher from that era.
Interesting photo from a game at Fenway in 2004 when both Radatz and the late Mark "The Bird" Fidrych both threw out a first ball before a Red Sox game. Two unique players who passed from this life by way of freak accidents at their homes from us way to soon. May they both RIP and always be rembered by fans who enjoyed the special joy they brought to the ballpark for everyone who loved baseball when they played.
Dick Radatz MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox was in 1962:
1962: 24 Saves led AL - 62 appearances led AL and 9 wins out of the bullpen and AL Fireman of the Year..
1963: 25 saves with a 15-6 record and a 1,97 ERA made him the first pitcher in baseball history to have consecutive 20 save seasons.
1964: Radatz received his second Fireman of the Year award for his league-leading 29 saves with 16 wins and a 2.29 ERA in 79 games out of the bullpen. Again, he was selected an All-Star (but was saddled with the loss in that game when Johnny Callison hit a dramatic home run).
These days relievers hardly ever pick up wins but once Radatz entered a game he stayed in even if the Red Sox were behind or tied which is why he picked up so many decisions.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1963 when Radatz saved 25 games and went 15-6 with a 1.97 ERA.Yankee manager Ralph Houk said, "over two seasons, I've never seen a better pitcher," and reporters apparently agreed: Radatz finished 5th in MVP voting despite Boston's 7th-place finish. Most notably, he fanned 181 batters in 157 innings, setting a record that still stands for most strikeouts by a relief pitcher in a single season.
Sportswriter Jim Murray wrote that "Dick Radatz brings one weapon - a fastball. It's like saying all a country brings to a war is an atom bomb." However, Radatz's one-pitch arsenal was a worry for Boston, and Ted Williams encouraged him to develop a sinker. Radatz complied, but in changing his mechanics to incorporate the new pitch, he permanently lost the edge on his fastball.
In 1965 Radatz went 9-11 with 24 saves and a high 3.91 ERA. He was diagnosed with injuries in his arm and shoulder which required season-ending surgery. He never recovered his form, was traded to the Indians at the 1966 mid-season, and was sent to the Cubs the following year. Out of action for the 1968 season, he finished his career with the Tigers and Expos in 1969.
Overall with Boston, Radatz saved 104 games (a team record later broken by Bob Stanley) with a 49-34 record and 646 strikeouts in 576.1 innings pitched. With the other four teams he went 6-20 with 26 saves in 117.2 innings.
Dick Radatz was selected to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997. He died in March 2005 after falling down a flight of stairs at his home in Easton, Massachusetts. The Red Sox held a moment of silence during their 2005 home opener in his honor.
April of 2005 Red Sox opening game at Fenway. Former Red Sox players (left to right), Luis Tiant, Sam Horn, Jim Corsi, Jim Rice, Rich Gedman, Tommy Harper, Carl Yastrzemski, and Joe Morgan observed a pregame moment of silence for former Red Sox reliever Dick Radatz, who died the month prior in March of 2005 from a freak accident in his home..
RIP Dick Radatz..wil..
Stats from wikipedia and The Baseball Reference.com.
