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#1
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Paul Blair has passed away.
I was watching the 1971 World Series game 7 this evening on Youtube and saw Merv Rettenmund in centerfield for the Orioles and thought of Paul Blair. Then within an hour of watching the game, I saw this on ESPN's website:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10...at-dies-age-69 |
#2
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Damn good ballplayer. I would take him on my team any time.
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#3
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Great ball player. RIP Paul!
__________________
Regards, Lu.i$ G@.rz@ |
#4
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Blair was a great defensive centerfielder. He played very shallow, and could go back on a fly ball as well as any CF I've ever seen.
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#5
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I remember seeing him hit a triple over the head of Amos Otis. After the game, Earl Weaver was asked if he thought Otis should have caught the ball to which Earl replied, "Only one man in Baseball could have caught it and he was busy sliding into third. I swear I saw him start to pick a route to do just that as he rounded second.".
Adam Jones is great but Paul was the best I ever saw...... R.I.P. Mr. Blair. |
#6
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Been a bad week for ex-Yankees
Blair, Mike Hegan and Ed Herrmann
Rich |
#7
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I always marveled at Blair's defensive abilities. On a fly ball deep to center, Blair would go to a spot, camp under the ball, and make the catch, while others would still be running to the ball. He was far and away one of the best ever.
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#8
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Super nice guy met him at a random game in Balt 3 years ago he was visiting all the suites for some promotion. Talked to him for a few minutes and told him my favorite card of his was his 1967 topps, he agreed.
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#9
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Great guy and ball player. Even greater loss. May he rest in peace.
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#10
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I remember in the early 80's stumbling across a used Wilson glove with the name Paul Blair inscribed in it. At that time I hadn't even heard of Blair, but the mitt fit perfectly so that is what counted to a 6 year old! Shortly after that my dad educated me on the fielding excellence that was Paul Blair. That glove stayed with me for years until I out grew it and advanced to an adult Johnny Antonelli model. Babe Ruth and Paul Blair. The first two baseball players that became entrenched in my mind!
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#11
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When I was a kid, I remember watching great defensive ballplayers, great gloves in the infield, speed and arms in the outfield. But nobody turned his back and blazed to the ball like Paul Blair. IMO, he beat the entire American League with his glove. It was the first time in my baseball life I remember thinking that a defensive ballplayer made a habit of breaking the other team. Palmer had to love this guy.
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T206 154/518 second time around R312 49/50 1962 Topps 598/598 super set 694/697 ...whatever I want |
#12
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That's what distinguishes the great center fielders, the ability to judge the ball off the bat. If you read Mays' description of "The Catch," that's exactly what he did -- as soon as he saw the ball off the bat, he just turned and ran to where he knew it was going. He supposedly said to Irvin jogging in, "had it all the way," and it's portrayed as humor, but it probably wasn't.
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My avatar is a sketch by my son who is an art school graduate. Some of his sketches and paintings are at https://www.jamesspaethartwork.com/ He is available to do custom drawings in graphite, charcoal and other media. He also sells some of his works as note cards/greeting cards on Etsy under JamesSpaethArt. |
#13
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Mr. Blair was a frequent guest instructor at the baseball camp I attended during the mid 1980's. He was a kind man. May he rest in peace!
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