Very eloquent and a good speaker. I was a pitcher in little league and won an award similar to the Cy Young award in the MLB. Mel handed me the trophy, shook my hand and a picture was snapped. After that portion of the dinner, there was a few moments to wander around. I walked to the stage area and thanked Mel again. I told him I was a Mets fan but watched him pitch many times on WPIX. I asked him if he had one piece of advice...I would really appreciate it.
He told me (13 years old) throw strikes, but don't throw hittable strikes. I looked puzzled. He told me keep the ball down, down, down and paint the corners. He then said....He told me to get a pitchback and weave in red string or tape at the lower part of the netting....then just keep throwing there until it becomes like second nature. He said you can have fun throwing fast balls up, but when you need the bear down and get important outs, remember my tip. He then patted my shoulder and spoke with another kid.
What a class guy. Seemed so patient. When he became the pitching coach of the Mets......I know he made Doc, Ron, Sid, David Cone better. RIP to a great guy and a great baseball man!
RE: He spoke at one of my little league dinners in the early 70's..... Â
Very eloquent and a good speaker. I was a pitcher in little league and won an award similar to the Cy Young award in the MLB. Mel handed me the trophy, shook my hand and a picture was snapped. After that portion of the dinner, there was a few moments to wander around. I walked to the stage area and thanked Mel again. I told him I was a Mets fan but watched him pitch many times on WPIX. I asked him if he had one piece of advice...I would really appreciate it.
He told me (13 years old) throw strikes, but don't throw hittable strikes. I looked puzzled. He told me keep the ball down, down, down and paint the corners. He then said....He told me to get a pitchback and weave in red string or tape at the lower part of the netting....then just keep throwing there until it becomes like second nature. He said you can have fun throwing fast balls up, but when you need the bear down and get important outs, remember my tip. He then patted my shoulder and spoke with another kid.
What a class guy. Seemed so patient. When he became the pitching coach of the Mets......I know he made Doc, Ron, Sid, David Cone better. RIP to a great guy and a great baseball man!
Great story - the 86 Mets team was magical with Davey and Mel sitting in the dugout together. RIP Mel thanks for 86!
On those bad Yankee teams of the mid to late '60s, he was the one consistent All Star quality player. A great sinker and ate up the innings. Quality guy too.
Remember he came up mid-season and went something like 6-0.
(Actually 9-3 that season -- just looked it up).
Also found this, which I didn't remember:
"Known as a solid hitting pitcher, on July 20, 1965, Stottlemyre once hit a rare inside-the-park grand slam. On September 26, 1964, he recorded five base hits in five at bats."
Came along at the exact wrong time in Yankee history. A few years earlier or a few years later and would have been part of some great teams and would have won a lot more games and garnered much more acclaim.
like many of you. Total class act He stayed the same - either winning 20 in a season or losing 20. He was the best pitcher on some bad teams, yet always classy. RIP Mel.
I always thought of him as a pitcher who was a very dependable, Â
His playing days were well before my time, but as a kid/teen growing up in the mid to late 90's, I'll never forget always seeing him on the Yankees bench next to Torre and Zimmer during all of those great years. Sorry to hear this. RIP.
One of my favorite players as a teenager, when the Yanks were in the Dark Ages for about a decade.
I once went to a game when he was pitching, and he also
hit 2 HR's (prior to DH), one doinked off the left field foul pole. I was lucky enough to get his autograph as well, prior to a game. He was a heck of a pitcher on bad teams.
What a lot of people don't realize was that Mel Stottlemyre was the Yankees last link to the 50's 60's dynasty teams. He came up in 1964, the last pre-Steinbrenner World Series Team, and never went to the playoffs again. I believe after Mantle retired in '68 he was the last Yankee from that era. I never appreciated how good he was because during his playing years I watching him lose a bunch of 2-1 or 3-2 complete games. He retired just before they started getting good again. Fortunately he had more success as a coach where he won 5 World Series, due in good part to his efforts. I met him up close once when he was in his late 50's At that time he looked healthy. He closely resembled his younger self only a little grayer. If you haven't listened to it, Mike Francesca did a great tribute to him Mike Francesca on Mel Stottlemeyer - ( New Window )
was Mel's inside the park grand slam against the Red Sox. Jim Mombourquette was the Sox pitcher.
Still remember (I think???) the ball out by the monuments.
RIP Mel.
My memory is that he won the INT league MVP and ROY in the majors Â
the year he came up. And the MVP was after only half a season. Also, that he pitched opposite Gibson in the WS, a thankless job in Gibson’s historic 1964 season.
Also, that he pitched opposite Gibson in the WS, a thankless job in Gibson’s historic 1964 season.
Three times opposite Gibson in that series, and Gibson was a beast in those days. Mel beat him in game 1, got a no-decision in game 4 and lost on two days' rest in game 7.
RIP #30
still a young age in the grand scheme of things.
RIP Mel!
He told me (13 years old) throw strikes, but don't throw hittable strikes. I looked puzzled. He told me keep the ball down, down, down and paint the corners. He then said....He told me to get a pitchback and weave in red string or tape at the lower part of the netting....then just keep throwing there until it becomes like second nature. He said you can have fun throwing fast balls up, but when you need the bear down and get important outs, remember my tip. He then patted my shoulder and spoke with another kid.
What a class guy. Seemed so patient. When he became the pitching coach of the Mets......I know he made Doc, Ron, Sid, David Cone better. RIP to a great guy and a great baseball man!
He told me (13 years old) throw strikes, but don't throw hittable strikes. I looked puzzled. He told me keep the ball down, down, down and paint the corners. He then said....He told me to get a pitchback and weave in red string or tape at the lower part of the netting....then just keep throwing there until it becomes like second nature. He said you can have fun throwing fast balls up, but when you need the bear down and get important outs, remember my tip. He then patted my shoulder and spoke with another kid.
What a class guy. Seemed so patient. When he became the pitching coach of the Mets......I know he made Doc, Ron, Sid, David Cone better. RIP to a great guy and a great baseball man!
Great story - the 86 Mets team was magical with Davey and Mel sitting in the dugout together. RIP Mel thanks for 86!
This is sad.
(Actually 9-3 that season -- just looked it up).
Also found this, which I didn't remember:
"Known as a solid hitting pitcher, on July 20, 1965, Stottlemyre once hit a rare inside-the-park grand slam. On September 26, 1964, he recorded five base hits in five at bats."
Came along at the exact wrong time in Yankee history. A few years earlier or a few years later and would have been part of some great teams and would have won a lot more games and garnered much more acclaim.
For too long he was the only very good player on the Yankees
They were ironmen in those days, until the iron broke.
Age 32 and done on the mound but still a lot to give to the game.
Always came off as a classy man. He is one of those guys who meant a lot to both Yankees and the Mets.
I once went to a game when he was pitching, and he also
hit 2 HR's (prior to DH), one doinked off the left field foul pole. I was lucky enough to get his autograph as well, prior to a game. He was a heck of a pitcher on bad teams.
Him and Bobby Murcer!
Mike Francesca on Mel Stottlemeyer - ( New Window )
Still remember (I think???) the ball out by the monuments.
RIP Mel.
Three times opposite Gibson in that series, and Gibson was a beast in those days. Mel beat him in game 1, got a no-decision in game 4 and lost on two days' rest in game 7.
And that sinker; how it was better on less rest. A real stud who deserved a better team around him.