Well traveled pitcher....never found sustainable success for any given stretch of time.....a career of call ups and demotions....neither a starter nor reliever....more successful was son Ed who played 11 seasons from 1991 to 2002....signed by St Louis and by virtue of the 1967 Rule 5 draft turned in a decent rookie season with recently settled Oakland A’s taking a solid seat in the bullpen by committee....Lost effectiveness in 1969 and banished to minors all of 1970....sold to Cincinnati for 1971.....a fall call up that year and stayed with Reds in 1972 albeit in a limited role....wore 3 team uniforms in 1973, 4 if AA Tulsa Oilers are included....overcame the nomad existence with his best season Milwaukee Brewers circa 1974....utilizing his swingman role compiling 7 wins and 2 defeats with a minuscule 2.39 ERA....Career hit a wall thereafter going 1-9 in the next two seasons....passed away January 2020....his September call up in 1971 won a game and shut out the opposition in 11 total innings.
The Reds seemed to have a lot of sore-armed pitchers in the early-1970s.
ReplyDeleteYes, Jim Merritt and Wayne Simpson are two that come to mind as developing arm issues after 1970. What is interesting is that neither two were even on a DL in subsequent seasons; they were just told to play and not whine. Nolan lost most of two seasons. I think it is a mark on Sparky Anderson's managerial career and coaching staff. Many times the Reds would go a pick up a journeyman pitcher like Jack Billingham or Fred Norman to fill up a starting staff.
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