Friday, May 13, 2011

Duane Pillette Died May 6 at Age 88

Duane “Dee” Pillette, eight-year major league veteran pitcher, died Friday, May 6 in San Jose, Ca. at the age of 88. Pillette broke into the majors with the New York Yankees in 1949, pitching until 1956 with the St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies. He compiled a 38-66 record, leading the American League in losses in 1951 for the cellar dwelling Browns. He holds the distinction of being the last starting pitcher in Browns history and the first winning pitcher in Orioles history.

Pillette was the son of former major league pitcher Herman Pillette, who spent four of his 26 professional seasons in the major leagues with the Reds and Tigers. The elder Pillette pitched until he was 48 in the Pacific Coast League.

Despite his father’s long career in baseball, the patriarch did not want his son to follow in his footsteps. In a 2009 interview that I conducted with Pillette from his home in San Jose, he discussed how his father wanted him to stay far away from baseball. “My father never talked much about baseball except he didn't want me to play. He fought me tooth and nail when I was a kid. Even though he didn't make much money in the Coast League, he sent me to Parochial schools. He never got past the sixth grade,” Pillette remembered. His father stressed the importance of getting an education ahead of playing baseball. “He said, ‘I don't give a damn about baseball, you aren't going to make any money. I want you to get a good job and the only way is to get a good education.’”

As any teenager would do, Pillette pleaded his case to his father. “I said, ‘You don't have any money and I don't have any money. I have to play baseball to get a scholarship.’ He said, ‘I'll let you play in high school, but if you have a scout come around, he has to talk to me.’”

Read more at: http://www.examiner.com/baseball-history-in-new-york/duane-pillette-second-generation-yankee-hurler-dies-at-88

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Springfield Browns to Oppose Cardinals, Dodgers, Pilots, Giants, Braves, Cubs, Yankees and Others

Springfield Missouri . . . The new home of the BROWNS.

Rob Ginocchio, a baseball enthusiast in Springfield, Missouri writes . . .

I run a youth baseball league in Springfield, MO. We moved into Price Cutter Park, the old Ozark Mountain Ducks stadium. This year we are running the league in throwback style to the mid-twentieth century with teams of the 50's and 60's including the Browns. Our hope is to retrofit the stadium to bring back the feel and atmosphere of the era along with dressing up our teams in retro looking uniforms.

The older league will be 18 and under and the lower league 14 and under, both playing on the full size field, with some moderate rule changes for the younger guys.
(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

The last two years we have had John Mayberry and Bill Virdon throw out our first pitch.

The shared interest in Missouri's MLB past will hopefully make this a one of a kind experience for kids of all ages and those who come to see the games.
We start games on May 15th including the Browns first game against the Cleveland Indians. The next Sunday we have our Opening Ceremonies with Jack Clark, Jerry Lumpe, Jerry Buchek, and Jack Hamilton. The Browns take on the Boston Braves that afternoon.

Our full schedule is online now at http://www.springfieldmetrobaseball.com/ . Remember that all our games all summer are free with the exception of opening ceremonies which is $5. We also are running old baseball videos and movies in our concession area and doing other special things for the "throwback" season.

If Browns fans are in town, we would love to have them stop by to watch a game or just to visit with our kids and enjoy the stadium.

http://www.springfieldmetrobaseball.com/