Happily cruising
along to an elite status among NL starters after 1972...image helped along by his WS heroics in
stymieing the Oriole juggernaut in 1971 winning 2 complete games...1972 fell one game short of 20 wins....then
poof it was gone, could not throw strikes....a mystery to this day with old school
followers of baseball....AKA Steve Blass disease...Golfer like Johnny Miller
has suffered similar issue.....a reminder that performers suffer psychological
fates not just injuries....took a demotion to AAA with similar disastrous results...the
tail end of Steve’s playing days follies should not cover up he was formidable
member of the Pirates staff, sometimes the win leader in the late 60’s to early
70’s....his contributions somewhat covered up by Bob Veale’s strikeout totals
and Dock Ellis’ controversy....after baseball reverted to broadcast booth to become
the Pirates radioman...despite downfall positive about baseball career...earned his way up to Pirates permanently 1966, regular starter 1968.
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