Your biggest what if's and thoughts on Tony Conigliaro?

[howard38]

Originally Posted by David W

As a Cardinal fan I will bring up the cases of John Fulgham, Bill DeLancey and Austin McHenry.

Fulgham pitched 2 seasons for the Cardinals in 1979 and 1980.

In those 2 seasons he went 14 and 12 in 233 innings with a WHIP of 1.06 and ERA of 2.84 with 3 shutouts.

He was only 24 when he pitched his last game, and a torn rotator cuff did him in.

I am sure he will be the last pitcher to have career totals of complete games equal to or higher than his career wins, as he had 14 wins and 14 CG.

Bill DeLancey, who Branch Rickey said was one of the 3 greatest catchers of all time, died at age 35. At age 22 he was the catcher on the 1934 WS champs. Tuberculosis and lung issues would end his career at age 23, and he would die at age 35.

Austin McHenry played for the Cardinals from 1918-22. He was well on his way to a Hall of Fame career, when he died at age 27 from a brain tumor.

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-fulgham/

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bill-delancey/

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/austin-mchenry/

Fulgham's contemporary, Rick Langford, had more complete games than wins (85-73) & pitched for a few years after 1980.

[stlcardsfan]

Herb Score is a huge what if had he not been hit by a Gil McDougald line drive given his performance up to then.

[egri]

Dale Alexander is another one. He had a late start, but had a few good years until a quack medical treatment ended his career when he was 30.

[Peter_Spaeth]

The biggest what if has to be what if Blacks had been eligible all along to play in the Major Leagues.

[Peter_Spaeth]

As for individuals, Dwight Gooden. He was just a kid when he started and he was unbelievable.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

The biggest what if has to be what if Blacks had been eligible all along to play in the Major Leagues.

It would have been a sight to see Satchel Paige, pitch to Babe Ruth or Walter Johnson pitch to Oscar Charleston.

How about Lefty Grove pitching to Josh Gibson? Another match up we were robbed of.

Would've been even more interesting to see what teams these guys would have played on.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Seven

It would have been a sight to see Satchel Paige, pitch to Babe Ruth or Walter Johnson pitch to Oscar Charleston.

How about Lefty Grove pitching to Josh Gibson? Another match up we were robbed of.

Would've been even more interesting to see what teams these guys would have played on.

I believe Paige did pitch to Ruth in exhibitions. If memory serves Buck O'Neill recounted Ruth homering off him but I'll have to check.

Here 'tis.
Ken Burns's documentary on baseball included an interview with Negro League player Buck O'Neil. Here is a portion of the interview:

Is there one moment in all of baseball you wish you could have seen?

I wish I could have been there when Babe Ruth pointed and hit the ball out of the ballpark in the 1932 World Series. I wish I could have seen that. But I did see something I admired just about as much, with Satchel Paige and Babe Ruth. This was in Chicago, after Ruth came out of the major leagues. He was barnstorming, playing with different teams, and he played us. Satchel was pitching and Ruth was hitting. Satchel threw Ruth the ball and Ruth hit the ball, must have been 500 feet, off of Satchel. Satchel looked at Ruth all the way around the bases and when Ruth got to home plate, you know who shook his hand? Satchel Paige shook Ruth's hand at home plate.

They stopped the game and waited, he and Satchel talking, until the kid went out, got the ball, brought it back and Satchel had Babe Ruth autograph that ball for him. That was some kind of moment.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I believe Paige did pitch to Ruth in exhibitions. If memory serves Buck O'Neill recounted Ruth homering off him but I'll have to check.

Here 'tis.
Ken Burns's documentary on baseball included an interview with Negro League player Buck O'Neil. Here is a portion of the interview:

Is there one moment in all of baseball you wish you could have seen?

I wish I could have been there when Babe Ruth pointed and hit the ball out of the ballpark in the 1932 World Series. I wish I could have seen that. But I did see something I admired just about as much, with Satchel Paige and Babe Ruth. This was in Chicago, after Ruth came out of the major leagues. He was barnstorming, playing with different teams, and he played us. Satchel was pitching and Ruth was hitting. Satchel threw Ruth the ball and Ruth hit the ball, must have been 500 feet, off of Satchel. Satchel looked at Ruth all the way around the bases and when Ruth got to home plate, you know who shook his hand? Satchel Paige shook Ruth's hand at home plate.

They stopped the game and waited, he and Satchel talking, until the kid went out, got the ball, brought it back and Satchel had Babe Ruth autograph that ball for him. That was some kind of moment.

I haven't watched it in several years...thanks for reminding me what a treasure Buck was.

.

[David W]

Originally Posted by howard38

Fulgham's contemporary, Rick Langford, had more complete games than wins (85-73) & pitched for a few years after 1980.

Lankford is likely to be the last pitcher to do so, unless there is a significant change in the way Baseball is played.