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| Authentic Facsimile! |
Pitcher Jim Lonborg was no slouch at bat.
He connected for105 hits and three home runs in his career. A 1974 bases-clearing blast versus the Expos at Parc Jarry highlighted his slugging potential. Lonborg wrote:
“Montreal Grand Slam was most memorable. Off Ron Taylor, almost ran by man on first.
Not a big fan of DH.
Love the challenge of substitution necessary with pitchers hitting.
Have a great day,
Jim Lonborg”
Thanks for all the great days, and great memories, “Lonnie.”
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| Authentic Facsimile! |
Pitcher Jim Lonborg was no slouch at bat.
He connected for105 hits and three home runs in his career. A 1974 bases-clearing blast versus the Expos at Parc Jarry highlighted his slugging potential. Lonborg wrote:
“Montreal Grand Slam was most memorable. Off Ron Taylor, almost ran by man on first.
Not a big fan of DH.
Love the challenge of substitution necessary with pitchers hitting.
Have a great day,
Jim Lonborg”
Thanks for all the great days, and great memories, “Lonnie.”
 |
| Handwriting matches! |
Pitcher Jim Lonborg’s work ethic impresses me. I wrote to him to praise his 90 complete games. I asked him what role Boston pitching coach Sal “The Barber” Maglie played in his early success and 1967 Cy Young award. Lonborg replied:
“Loved Sal Maglie. Taught me how to pitch inside and when it made you more effective. We could do it more often in those days. He also taught me a cross-seam fastball that would not move as much.”
Unlike Maglie, Lonborg sported more than one nickname. Titles included:
1. Gentleman Jim
2. Lonnie
3. Doc (from his pre-med college days)
“Teammates usually called me Lonnie. The ‘Gentleman Jim’ came from media as I always answered their questions. I preferred ‘Lonnie.'”
After retirement, Lonborg became a dentist. People Magazine wrote about his transformation in 1984. Warning: beware of the magazine’s baseball (attempt at) humor.
Tomorrow: Lonborg recalls one of his best days as a HITTER, while weighing in on the DH rule.
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| Handwriting matches! |
Pitcher Jim Lonborg’s work ethic impresses me. I wrote to him to praise his 90 complete games. I asked him what role Boston pitching coach Sal “The Barber” Maglie played in his early success and 1967 Cy Young award. Lonborg replied:
“Loved Sal Maglie. Taught me how to pitch inside and when it made you more effective. We could do it more often in those days. He also taught me a cross-seam fastball that would not move as much.”
Unlike Maglie, Lonborg sported more than one nickname. Titles included:
1. Gentleman Jim
2. Lonnie
3. Doc (from his pre-med college days)
“Teammates usually called me Lonnie. The ‘Gentleman Jim’ came from media as I always answered their questions. I preferred ‘Lonnie.'”
After retirement, Lonborg became a dentist. People Magazine wrote about his transformation in 1984. Warning: beware of the magazine’s baseball (attempt at) humor.
Tomorrow: Lonborg recalls one of his best days as a HITTER, while weighing in on the DH rule.
Do you remember everything you were doing 37 or 38 years ago?
Jim Colborn, an experienced pitching coach, kindly hinted that I had a typo in my letter. I asked him about winning an epic battle against the Twins on May 12, 1972. Not 1973. (http://www.retrosheet.org/ knew the right date, too!) He showed tact and humility, refusing to brag about hitting his team’s only triple in the waning days before the designated hitter.
Colborn wrote:
“Was this game in 1973 or 1972? I remember it well. Seems like Harmon Killebrew kept coming up…I was trying to be careful he didn’t hit one out. Biggest memory besides triple was that victory came the next day! Next day’s starter, Jim Lonborn, pitched bottom of the 21st for save after we scored in top half. We waited half hour or so and he started the next game — AND, as I remember it, that game went 14 INNINGS!”
Tomorrow: Shades of Bull Durham, Batman! Colborn reveals some of his favorite 1970s diversions while hanging out in bullpens.