Intimidation in baseball is vitally important.
--Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner
Kiner, who averaged 37
homers a year, swears your sidearm fastball,
lashing in at a batter’s head, often
made players pray. No helmets then to call
on for help, only wool caps. Your hurling
toward the plate “looked like a man falling out
of a tree.” The ‘40s sports recordings
cite four prime years you sacrificed and fought
the Germans. Second season back, your reign
on the mound brought 22 wins, 16
in a row. All Star six times, then arm pain
tore at “The Whip.” Lean, 6-feet-6, bull mean,
you hung on, then retired. Pressing his case,
Kiner calls you “the best I ever faced.”
Roger Armbrust
June 24, 2007
