"Mr. Spitter" Passes Away

[marzoumanian]

Just heard that HOF pitcher Gaylord Perry passed away. He was 84. As a young adult I bought his book, "Me and the Spitter," where he admitted to throwing the pitch. He was crafty and sly. I was fortunate enough to see him pitch in person. An incredibly durable career. RIP, Gaylord.

[D. Bergin]

I remember Gaylord when I was a kid from perhaps the most unimportant part of his career. In 1979 and 1980 when the Yankees were for some reason stock-piling old-time great pitchers near the end of their careers.

Gaylord Perry, Luis Tiant, Jim Kaat and Tommy John (who was still pitching damn good at the time).

Most of them were only a shadow of themselves, but all were entertaining or at least interesting when they pitched...especially Tiant.

[Touch'EmAll]

I remember as a kid in 1978 - Perry was almost 40 years old and he won his 2nd Cy Young award. Went 21-6 with 2.73 ERA. A standout season I will never forget.

Sad to hear him pass.

[Casey2296]

RIP Mr Perry. I remember shaking his hand at a card show as a kid, massive hands and strong, could probably put a crease in the ball just by twisting it.

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

RIP Mr Perry. I remember shaking his hand at a card show as a kid, massive hands and strong, could probably put a crease in the ball just by twisting it.

Funny but that's what I remember about the first time I saw him at a show. Watching him pitch, I never realized what large hands and arms he had. He looked more like a power hitter than a pitcher when I shook his hand.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Touch'EmAll

I remember as a kid in 1978 - Perry was almost 40 years old and he won his 2nd Cy Young award. Went 21-6 with 2.73 ERA. A standout season I will never forget.

Sad to hear him pass.

As I recall his catcher claimed he didn't throw a single spitter that year, he was just in people's heads.

[ledsters]

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[todeen]

I met him in Spokane at an autograph signing. I was 11 or 12 yo, in like 1997 or 1998. I remember him as an affable personality that was filling the room with his presence. He was fairly loud and I could hear him talking from quite a ways away. I had no clue who he was, although my dad tried to tell me some basic bio points about him.

Late 90s was the height of sports card collecting in Spokane. One card store brought in someone to sign autographs maybe every 3-6 months. I saw Don Larsen, Harmon Killebrew, Maury Wills, Gaylord Perry and one or two others. Then the card store owner retired. Another card shop tried to get one signer maybe every two years. And then it completely stopped by 2001.