Ryne Duren
Encyclopedia
Rinold George "Ryne" Duren (February 22, 1929 - January 6, 2011) was an American relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
.
He was known for the combination of his blazing fastball
and his very poor vision. With his thick coke bottle glasses, few batters dared to dig in against Duren. Casey Stengel
said, "I would not admire hitting against Ryne Duren, because if he ever hit you in the head you might be in the past tense."
) as a free agent before the season. His first major league game was on September 25, (by which time the Browns had moved to Baltimore), but that was the only game he ever played for the Orioles. On September 21, he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics
as Duren and Jim Pisoni
went to the A's in exchange for Al Pilarcik
and Art Ceccarelli
.
The Athletics and Yankees
were frequent trading partners in that era, and on June 15, Duren, Pisoni, and Harry Simpson
were sent to the Yankees for Billy Martin
, Ralph Terry
, Woodie Held
, and Bob Martyn
. Duren kept his A's uniform number of 26 with the Yankees. Duren received the first of his three All-Star
selections in . He has been retroactively credited with saving 20 games in 1958, the high mark in the American League
that year. In 1959, his won-lost record was much poorer, but his earned run average
of 1.88 was the best of his career.
Duren was a showman. In those days the Yankee bullpen was a part of the short-porch right field and only a low chain link fence served as the boundary. When called upon by Casey Stengel to relieve, he wouldn’t use the gate, but preferred to hop the fence with one hand and begin a slow walk to the mound with his blue Yankee warm-up jacket covering his pitching arm; he followed this routine even on the hottest days. When he finally took the ball and began his warmups, the first pitch was typically a hard fastball 20 feet over the catcher’s head. The succeeding warmup pitches would be thrown lower and lower (but not slower) until Duren would finally "find" the plate.
Duren stayed with the Yankees until May 8, , when he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels
; Duren, Johnny James
, and Lee Thomas
went to the Angels in exchange for Tex Clevenger
and Bob Cerv
. Shortly after being traded to the Angels, he struck out seven successive Red Sox
batters, then an American League record. He was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies
before the season. Early in the season, he was shipped to the Cincinnati Reds
. Released by Cincinnati in April , he was signed by the Phillies; after being released two months later, he joined the Washington Senators
, but was released again on August 24 to bring a close to his 10-year Major League career.
In , Duren was presented with the Yankee Family Award for his conquering alcoholism
, and for service as an alcohol abuse educator. In 2003, Duren and author Tom Sabellico wrote the book, I Can See Clearly Now. Duren talks from the heart about life, baseball and alcohol. The foreword was written by Jim "Mudcat" Grant
.
Duren's nephew
is singer Blackie Lawless
(born Steven Duren on September 4, 1956 in Staten Island
, New York) of the heavy metal
band W.A.S.P.. Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg
was named in honor of Duren.
, according to writer and director David S. Ward.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
He was known for the combination of his blazing fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
and his very poor vision. With his thick coke bottle glasses, few batters dared to dig in against Duren. Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
said, "I would not admire hitting against Ryne Duren, because if he ever hit you in the head you might be in the past tense."
Biography
He was originally signed by the St. Louis Browns (now the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
) as a free agent before the season. His first major league game was on September 25, (by which time the Browns had moved to Baltimore), but that was the only game he ever played for the Orioles. On September 21, he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as Duren and Jim Pisoni
Jim Pisoni
James Peter Pisoni was an American professional baseball player, a backup outfielder in Major League Baseball. Pisoni played mainly as a center fielder for four teams between 1953 and 1960. Listed at , , he batted and threw right-handed, and was born in St...
went to the A's in exchange for Al Pilarcik
Al Pilarcik
Alfred James Pilarcik was an American professional baseball player. An outfielder, he appeared in 668 Major League games between and for the Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox...
and Art Ceccarelli
Art Ceccarelli
Arthur Edward Ceccarelli , is a retired professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from -. He played for the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Athletics.-External links:*...
.
The Athletics and Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
were frequent trading partners in that era, and on June 15, Duren, Pisoni, and Harry Simpson
Harry Simpson
Harry Leon "Suitcase" Simpson was an African American outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for a number of teams. He played in the World Series with the New York Yankees in 1957, where they lost....
were sent to the Yankees for Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
, Ralph Terry
Ralph Terry
Ralph Willard Terry is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees , Kansas City Athletics , Cleveland Indians and New York Mets...
, Woodie Held
Woodie Held
Woodson George "Woodie" Held was a shortstop/outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels and Chicago White Sox. He batted and threw right-handed...
, and Bob Martyn
Bob Martyn
Academically, Martyn double-majored in mathematics and sociology and he graduated cum laude. While playing professional baseball, he earned his masters degree in education in 1959, studying between seasons....
. Duren kept his A's uniform number of 26 with the Yankees. Duren received the first of his three All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
selections in . He has been retroactively credited with saving 20 games in 1958, the high mark in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
that year. In 1959, his won-lost record was much poorer, but his earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 1.88 was the best of his career.
Duren was a showman. In those days the Yankee bullpen was a part of the short-porch right field and only a low chain link fence served as the boundary. When called upon by Casey Stengel to relieve, he wouldn’t use the gate, but preferred to hop the fence with one hand and begin a slow walk to the mound with his blue Yankee warm-up jacket covering his pitching arm; he followed this routine even on the hottest days. When he finally took the ball and began his warmups, the first pitch was typically a hard fastball 20 feet over the catcher’s head. The succeeding warmup pitches would be thrown lower and lower (but not slower) until Duren would finally "find" the plate.
Duren stayed with the Yankees until May 8, , when he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
; Duren, Johnny James
Johnny James
John Phillip James is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels between and . James was originally signed by the Yankees in . He batted left-handed but threw right-handed, and he was 5'10", 160 pounds...
, and Lee Thomas
Lee Thomas (baseball)
James Leroy "Lee" Thomas is a former player and front-office executive in American Major League Baseball...
went to the Angels in exchange for Tex Clevenger
Tex Clevenger
Truman Eugene "Tex" Clevenger is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher/spot starter who played for the Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees from 1954-1962. He was 6'1" tall and 180 pounds, and threw and batted right-handed. He attended Fresno State...
and Bob Cerv
Bob Cerv
Robert Henry Cerv was an American baseball player. Prior to his professional career he was a standout baseball and basketball player at the University of Nebraska....
. Shortly after being traded to the Angels, he struck out seven successive Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
batters, then an American League record. He was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
before the season. Early in the season, he was shipped to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Released by Cincinnati in April , he was signed by the Phillies; after being released two months later, he joined the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, but was released again on August 24 to bring a close to his 10-year Major League career.
In , Duren was presented with the Yankee Family Award for his conquering alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, and for service as an alcohol abuse educator. In 2003, Duren and author Tom Sabellico wrote the book, I Can See Clearly Now. Duren talks from the heart about life, baseball and alcohol. The foreword was written by Jim "Mudcat" Grant
Mudcat Grant
James Timothy "Mudcat" Grant is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Los Angeles Dodgers , Montreal Expos , St. Louis Cardinals , Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates...
.
Duren's nephew
Nephew
Nephew is a son of one's sibling or sibling-in-law, and niece is a daughter of one's sibling or a sibling-in-law. Sons and daughters of siblings-in-law are also informally referred to as nephews and nieces respectively, even though there is no blood relation...
is singer Blackie Lawless
Blackie Lawless
Blackie Lawless , is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist and actor, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band W.A.S.P..In an interview, Blackie claims to have been born in the kitchen of the Rainbow Bar and Grill in Hollywood,...
(born Steven Duren on September 4, 1956 in Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York) of the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band W.A.S.P.. Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg
Ryne Sandberg
Ryne Dee Sandberg , nicknamed "Ryno" is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. During a 16-year baseball career, he played from 1981–1994 and 1996–97, spending nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. He was named after relief pitcher Ryne Duren, and is recognized as one of the best...
was named in honor of Duren.
Pop Culture
Duren was the inspiration for the Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn character in the movie Major LeagueMajor League (film)
Major League is a 1989 American satire comedy film written and directed by David S. Ward, starring Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, James Gammon, and Corbin Bernsen. Made for US$11 million, Major League grossed nearly US$50 million in domestic release...
, according to writer and director David S. Ward.
See also
External links
- Baseball Almanac
- Baseball Library
- Winning Beyond Winning (featuring biography and his fight against alcoholism)