Just died of COVID at age 84. He was one of the great relief pitchers during and era when relief pitching wasn't as well recognized as today. He was also one of the few bright spots for the Yankees during the pre-Steinbrenner years.
I thought he was the guy who threw the folly floater...
But I looked it up before making a fool of myself and it was Steve Hamilton.
When he was with the Yankees his big pitch was a forkball. Back in those days relief pitchers tended to be off speed, gimmicky type pitch guys as compared to today where they are flamethrowers.
RE: RE: I thought he was the guy who threw the folly floater...
But I looked it up before making a fool of myself and it was Steve Hamilton.
When he was with the Yankees his big pitch was a forkball. Back in those days relief pitchers tended to be off speed, gimmicky type pitch guys as compared to today where they are flamethrowers.
I seem to recall they had three good relief pitchers during that stretch. Was it McDaniel, Hamilton, and Jack Aker. My memory ain't what it used to be.
Wow there's a blast from the past. Sorry to hear it.
I remember going to Ronkonkoma LIRR Station to see him and a couple of other Yankees on a flat bed railcar tour right before the season started. 1973 I think. They handed out pre-signed photos of him and the others. I think one was Steve Kline.
RE: RE: RE: I thought he was the guy who threw the folly floater...
But I looked it up before making a fool of myself and it was Steve Hamilton.
When he was with the Yankees his big pitch was a forkball. Back in those days relief pitchers tended to be off speed, gimmicky type pitch guys as compared to today where they are flamethrowers.
I seem to recall they had three good relief pitchers during that stretch. Was it McDaniel, Hamilton, and Jack Aker. My memory ain't what it used to be.
Yep you are right. McDaniel was the really consistent one of the bunch. I went to a Yankees-Tigers doubleheader in 72 when McDaniel came in ad threw 7 innings of 1 hit ball in the nitecap in a game the Yanks won in 14 innings. He was one of the few bright spots on those awful teams when CBS owned them
Steve Hamilton, one of the first two-sport players
RIP Lindy McDaniel. He had a 21 year MLB career, 145 wins and a lifetime 3.45 ERA! The Yanks traded Bill Monbouquette to the SF Giants for him and it was a big win as a trade. In 1970, he had 29 saves and a 2.01 ERA --he was "money" as a closer that year. He had a rather "funky" delivery --if I'm not mistaken, he threw a fork ball ---a big downward breaker of a pitch. In 1973, they traded him to KC for Lou Piniella! The original deal in 1968 just kept paying dividends --the kind of deal the Tampa Bay Rays are now famous for. Lots of good memories. A lot of sports players of that era have passed this year ---a reminder that some of us fans are really aging.
For some reason it seems like he was here longer than just
1973 to me. I remember his "stiff/stand up" delivery clearly. I think I read that he changed to a forkball when he threw overhand, rather than sidearm. I may be wrong about that though.
RIP Lindy McDaniel. ... In 1970, he had 29 saves and a 2.01 ERA --he was "money" as a closer that year.
He was also 9-5 that year. That team wasn't as bad as some of the others of the era - they had a solid winning record and finished second. Lindy was a big reason why - one of the better relievers in baseball that year.
Quote:
But I looked it up before making a fool of myself and it was Steve Hamilton.
When he was with the Yankees his big pitch was a forkball. Back in those days relief pitchers tended to be off speed, gimmicky type pitch guys as compared to today where they are flamethrowers.
Quote:
In comment 15048757 Milton said:
Quote:
But I looked it up before making a fool of myself and it was Steve Hamilton.
When he was with the Yankees his big pitch was a forkball. Back in those days relief pitchers tended to be off speed, gimmicky type pitch guys as compared to today where they are flamethrowers.
I seem to recall they had three good relief pitchers during that stretch. Was it McDaniel, Hamilton, and Jack Aker. My memory ain't what it used to be.
Yep you are right. McDaniel was the really consistent one of the bunch. I went to a Yankees-Tigers doubleheader in 72 when McDaniel came in ad threw 7 innings of 1 hit ball in the nitecap in a game the Yanks won in 14 innings. He was one of the few bright spots on those awful teams when CBS owned them
after the '73 season
and Dave DeBusschere. Pitched 2 years for the White Sox.
He was also 9-5 that year. That team wasn't as bad as some of the others of the era - they had a solid winning record and finished second. Lindy was a big reason why - one of the better relievers in baseball that year.
RIP Lindy.