Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
March 25, 2007
Bailey Passes

Former Reds catcher Ed Baily died from cancer on Friday:

Al Neil, Bailey's brother-in-law, told The Knoxville News Sentinel that Bailey died at Parkwest Medical Center after being diagnosed with throat cancer about six months ago.

The five-time All-Star catcher from Strawberry Plains started his professional career with the Reds in 1953. Bailey hit 28 home runs in 1956 for Cincinnati, including three in one game.



Bailey posted impressive OBAs for a catcher.
However, he wasn't a wiz on the bases, going 2 for 14 in one three year stretch trying to steal.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.


Posted by David Pinto at 08:50 AM | Deaths | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Ed Bailey is a big part of my memories from my first season as a major league baseball fan. He and Tom Haller gave the Giants a remarkable platoon at catcher that year, combining for a 35/100/.247/.360/.496 batting line. Interestingly, both were left-handed batters, so it wasn't a conventional platoon. They both contributed equally too, with Bailey appearing in 96 games and Haller in 99. It's ironic, though, that the game I attended in Milwaukee that year (8/20/62) that made me a lifelong Giants fan did not contain an appearance by either Bailey or Haller. John Orsino caught the game, getting three of his forty-eight at-bats that year. He took the collar, alas. It's sad to lose another member of that magical (as magical as it gets when you're a Giants fan) '62 team, the closest the Giants have come to a world series championship in the 45 years I've followed them.

Posted by: Rand at March 25, 2007 12:09 PM

Is Rand above serious? In 2002 the Giants were closer to winning the WS vs the Angels than in 1962. Giants never led NYY in final 1962 game.

Posted by: Bob S at March 26, 2007 10:02 PM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?