Remembering Those Who Played Life’s Last Inning in 2021 - Part One

After a lockout of the players that lasted all off season and bitter labor negotiations that cut short Spring Training, the Major League Baseball owners and the Players’ Association approved a new collective bargain agreement this past March.  As a result, Major League baseball 2022 is now in full swing. 

With his first inning single on April 23, Detroit Tigers’ first baseman/designated hitter Miguel Cabrera became the 33^rd player in Major League Baseball history to reach the career 3,000 hit milestone.  With the Houston Astros 4 – 0 win against the Seattle Mariners on May 3, Astros’ manager Dusty Baker became the 12^th MLB manager with 2,000 victories.  Baker has won more games than any other African American Major League manager.  However, before the season gets any further along, take a moment to pay tribute with me to a group of former Negro League and Major League baseball players who died in 2021.

There were 21 former Major League ballplayers who played their life’s last inning in 2021.  Of the group, six were linked to an event that occurred at the end of the 1959 National League season. 

The last National League season of the 1950’s ended in a tie between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Braves.  Both finished with records of 86 – 68.  For most of that decade, beginning in 1953, the Braves and the Brooklyn Dodgers were at the top of the league standings.  Before the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1958, the Dodgers won four National League pennants in the 1950s (1952, 1953, 1955. 1956) and were 1955 World Series champions.  The Braves finished second to the Dodgers in 1953, 1955, and 1956 before finally winning the National League pennant in 1957 and 1958.  They were World Series champions in 1957.

To determine the 1959 National League pennant winner, a best 2 out of 3 games playoff had to be held between the two teams.  Milwaukee had established veterans such as right fielder Henry Aaron and catcher Del Crandell, to go along with 23 years old pitcher Juan Pizzaro that season.  All three died in 2021.  Three players with the Dodgers that season died in 2021:  outfielders Don Demeter and Solly Drake, pitcher Stan Williams.

 

Henry Aaron

Born February 5, 1934 in Mobile, Alabama, Aaron came to the then Boston Braves in 1952 after a short stint with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League.  The 21-time All Star outfielder and 1982 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee made his Major League debut April 13, 1954.  In 1959, Aaron won his 2^nd National League Batting Title (his first in 1956) hitting .355 with 39 home runs and 123 RBI.  He also led the National League with 223 hits, his highest number during a career that spanned 25 years.  The 1957 National League Most Valuable Player Award recipient finished third in the award voting for 1959  behind teammate Eddie Mathews and the winner, Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs. Aaron died January 22, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia; fourteen days before his 87^th birthday.

 

Del Crandell

Born March 5, 1930 in Ontario, California, Crandell took over behind home plate for the Braves after returning from military service in 1953 and became the batterymate for Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn the remainder of the decade. The eight-time All-Star won the second of his Gold Glove awards in 1959.  He averaged 18 home runs a year from 1953 – 1959, having a career year of 72 RBI going into the playoffs against the Dodgers.  After retiring as a player, Crandell spent six years as a Major League manager; Milwaukee Brewers 1972 – 1975, Seattle Mariners 1982 – 1984.  The 91 years old Crandall died May 5, 2021 in Mission Viejo, California.

 

Juan Pizzaro

Born February 7, 1937 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Pizzaro had filled the dual role as a spot starter and relief pitcher for the Braves since 1957.  However, showing flashes of a talented future, the twenty-three years old lefthander finished with a 6 – 2 record and a 3.77 ERA  in 1959.  His 126 strikeouts (in 133.3 innings pitched) second only to the Braves’ ace starting pitcher Warren Spahn (143 strikeouts in 292 innings).  The Braves lost patience in Pizzaro’s development after he finished 6 – 7 in 1960 and traded him to the Cincinnati Reds.  After another trade, Pizzaro began the 1961 season with the Chicago White Sox and became one of the best lefthanded pitchers in the American League from 1961 – 1964 (61 – 38, 2.95 ERA, 686 SO).  Pizzaro died February 18, 2021 in Carolina, Puerto Rico 11days after his 84^th birthday.

In my next blog post I will give recognition to the three members of the 1959 Los Angeles Dodgers who died in 2021 (Don Demeter, Solly Drake, and Stan Williams), along with brief mention of a few other former ballplayers who also perished last year.

Also, who won the 1959 National League Playoff and what impact did the results have on the upcoming new decade?  I will answer that and more my next post. 

Stayed Tuned!