[MinuteGal]

A family friend was Early Wynn, major league Hall of Famer, a pitcher with a blazing fast ball and an effective knuckleball.

He was an affable, interesting guy who loved to tell stories. He was part Indian descent, drank his whiskey neat, and liked to reply when asked that his folks "took a chance on an Indian blanket" and that's how he got his name, "Early".

After finishing his pitching career he did color on Chicago White Sox radio. He retired for fishing and such in Venice, about two hours south of where I live on Florida's Gulf Coast. I heard he was hurt when his boat caught fire at the dock and this may or may not have hastened his death in 1999.

Leni

[Zakeet]

I watched Early nail his 300th win while sitting in the stands in Kansas City. He pitched just enough to get the victory and then was pulled off the mound. I remember the event fairly well, although I was a young pup at the time. And until now, I wondered how he got his nickname.