Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
November 11, 2008
Death of Score

Herb Score passed away this morning (Tuesday). He was a young phenom on the mound when a line drive put an end to his greatness:

McDougald, the second batter of the game, reached for a low pitch and lined it back at Score. The ball crashed into his face, breaking his nose, cutting his right eyelid and causing swelling and hemmorhaging of the cheekbone and eyebrow.

Third baseman Al Smith picked up the carom and threw McDougald out at first.

Score was knocked to the ground, bleeding profusely. He was immediately surrounded by teammates and Yankee players.

"I didn't see the ball until it was a foot or two from my face," said Score, who threw with an uninhibited motion in which his body turned his back to the batter. Sometimes he turned so hard he expected that he might eventually get hit on the back.

"I could feel the blood," said the pitcher, who never lost consciousness. "People were all around me. Rocky must have set a record getting in from right field." Colavito was Score's roommate and best friend. They had come up through the minor leagues together.

In his first two years in the majors, Score struck out 508 batters while allowing just 320 hits. He pitched into the 1962 season but without the great results.

At the end of 1963, Score tried announcing and stayed on for 34 seasons with the Indians. I have no doubt his fans in Cleveland will miss him tremendously.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.


Posted by David Pinto at 11:23 AM | Deaths | TrackBack (0)
Comments

RIP.

Posted by: rbj at November 11, 2008 01:56 PM

508 K and 320 H - yikes! that's a lot of shakin your head on the way back to the bench.

Posted by: bandit at November 11, 2008 05:37 PM

A great pitcher but a better man than pitcher. Vopice of the Tribe for more than a generation of fans.

If these things really happen in threes I'd recommend other old lefties be careful. First Preacher Roe, now Herbie . . . . .

Posted by: largebill at November 11, 2008 07:33 PM

In Score's best year, Minnie Minoso said of Score: "This one makes you wet your pants" even tho Score never threw dusters. Too nice a man. Also in those top Score years, Ted Williams had almost a 1.000 slugging mark vs Score who demolished most lefty batters.

Posted by: Bob S at November 12, 2008 10:45 PM
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