Word: radatz
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Pitching is always hard to evaluate, but it seems certain that Juan Marichal (13-3), Jim O'Toole (13-6) and Sandy Koufax (13-3) will hurl some scoreless innings. The American League lacks such impressive and tested starters but Boston's Dick Radatz (8-1) might very well be able to kill any National League enthusiasm long enough for the American bats to establish a permanent superiority...
...until all Fenway Park is chanting in unison: "We want The Monster! We want The Monster! We want The Monster!" Manager Johnny Pesky obediently trots out and lifts one hand high above his head, the signal that means: "Send in the Big Guy." In the Red Sox bullpen, Dick Radatz slips on a jacket, grabs his glove, steps out the gate and hops aboard a little red electric cart for the trip to the mound...
...Worth 50 Games." Last week the Boston Red Sox were third in the American League, only 1½ games behind the leading New York Yankees. And the man who put them there was Relief Pitcher Radatz, 26. He stands 6 ft. 5 in., weighs 240 Ibs., wears a size 17½ collar and size 14 shoes. Even his 1963 record is Bunyanesque: seven wins, only one loss, 93 strikeouts, and a phenomenal 1.16 earned-run average, best by far in the majors. At one point this sea son, Radatz went 33 straight innings without giving up a run. Last week...
When the warmup call goes out to the bullpen, Radatz consults his mental book on the hitters that he is likely to face. "If lefthanders are coming up," he says, "I practice throwing overhand. For righthanders, I warm up sidearm." He throws his fast ball about 80% of the time, and some rival batters claim they actually smell smoke as it rips past. "Sal Maglie taught me the importance of getting everything behind each pitch," Radatz says. "He argued that 240 Ibs. was a natural blessing-so why not put it to good use?" Radatz likes to face pinch hitters...
...Finally Realized." A Michigan State graduate, signed by the Red Sox in 1959 for a $20,000 bonus, Radatz sulked at first when he was assigned to the bullpen. "Everybody wants to be a starter," he says. "But I finally realized that the only way I was going to make the majors was to obey orders. If they wanted me to be a starter now, I'd regard it as a demotion. Being a relief man pays good...