Chuck Stobbs, who pitched in the majors for 15 years starting at age 17 with the Red Sox in 1947 and finishing up with the Twins in 1961, passed away Friday from cancer.
Stobbs is best known for surrendering a supposed 565 foot home run to Mickey Mantle back on April 17, 1953 at Griffith Stadium. Stobbs also pitched for the White Sox, Browns, Cardinals.
His son spoke of his father's retirement at age 31 in 1961:
“He always told me that he threw just as hard in ‘61 as he did in ‘47; it just didn’t get there as fast,” Charley Stobbs said.
With all due respect to Stobbs père and fils, that's an old line. I've heard it attributed to Lefty Gomez, and I wouldn't be surprised if it goes back further than that.
It is a good one, though. As I get older, I feel that way a lot.
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It is a good one, though. As I get older, I feel that way a lot.
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.