Posted on 01/14/2019 1:41:10 PM PST by EdnaMode
Mel Stottlemyre, who spent over 40 years in baseball as a New York Yankees pitcher and pitching coach for both the Yankees and the New York Mets, died on Sunday at 77. Stottlemyre, who is survived by his wife and two sons, had been battling bone marrow cancer for 20 years.
Stottlemyre spent almost 25 years as a pitching coach, and built a reputation as a legend. From 1984 to 1993 he worked with the New York Mets and tutored the rotation — which included guys like Ron Darling and Doc Gooden — that led the Mets to their 1986 World Series Victory. After a stint with the Houston Astros, he joined the Yankees in 1996 and found immense success (and four World Series rings) coaching pitchers like Andy Pettitte and David Cone.
Stottlemyre was praised for his ability to improve but not tinker, and for his attention to detail — for years he would catch the starters’ pre-game bullpen sessions so he’d know firsthand how their stuff looked that day. He left the Yankees after the 2005 season, citing differences with George Steinbrenner (not at all shocking), and decided to retire after he was dismissed by the Seattle Mariners in 2008.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
“Today in this Stadium, there is no one that’s happier to be on this field than myself,” he said, choking up. “This is such a shock to me because the era I played in is an era where, for the most part, the Yankees have tried over the years, I think, somewhat to forget a little bit…”
Not the most loyal Yankee fans who do not forget you, RIP.
he represented the era when I loved the Yankees...
RIP Mel, a great competitor and human.
(From a Red Sox fan).
Good man. The Yankees’ ace during some dreadful years. RIP.
A great one. RIP.
Rest in peace, Mel.
The first game that I ever attended was with Mel pitching for the Yankees. As I recall, he didn’t have a great game, with Killebrew hitting a homer and him getting called out for passing another base runner.
He was a classy guy, and a good sportsman. For those who remember him, he will be missed.
RIP.
I saw him, Thurmon Munson and Gene Michael at Woodbridge Center in 1972 or so and got an autograph.
My first year as a Yankee fan was in 1965. The team was terrible but he was great.
That game was the first one I ever heard on the radio. I was 10 years old. I’ve been a Yankee fan since.
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