RIP Gaylord Perry

[Jolly Blue Giant]

Gaylord Perry was one of my favorite pitchers to watch. As he aged, he figured out ever trick in the book to stay relevant and used Vaseline, sandpaper, tacks, etc., to get movement on his ball. He reportedly slid into home plate one time and a jar of Vaseline fell out of his pocket...LOL. He was finally fined and had to take time off after using what he called the "Puffer Ball". He would shake the resin pack until he got a handful of white resin dust, and he'd pack it in his hand. Then (wearing a long sleeved white tee shirt under his uniform), would release the ball during the pitch and the batter would have a hard time for a couple of nanoseconds, to see the ball as it was covered in a cloud of dust with the white tee shirt behind it. The pitch worked, but he eventually was punished for it. I think the old guy in the movie "Major League" who played the pitcher Dorn, was a spoof on Gaylord.

Anyway, he is/was a baseball legend and gave me many very enjoyable memories growing up. May he rest in peace 

[ozzie]

R.I.P. 

[LennG]

May he RIP