Relief Pitcher #3
Dick Radatz (with Red Sox from 1962-1966)
49-34, .590, 102 SV, 2.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 557.3 IP, 147 ERA+ (with Red Sox)
Dick Radatz was a 6’6’ pitcher who could throw in the mid-90s back when few pitchers threw that hard. He brought that gas from a low sidearm delivery. His weight fluctuated between 230 and 260 pounds. Radatz was such an imposing presence that he was nicknamed “The Monster”.
Like a meteor flashing across the sky, Radatz shined brightly for a brief three-year stretch at the beginning of his career. From 1962 to 1964, Radatz was 40-21 with 76 saves, and a 2.17 ERA pitching solely in relief. He led the league in saves twice and was named to two all-star games. During this stretch he averaged 69 games pitched and 138 innings per season. If a modern reliever could be this effective in this many innings, he would make a bajillion dollars.
As Radatz says in the video below, he may have been one of the first pitchers who was groomed to be a reliever in the minor leagues. Most relievers had previously been starters.
The meteor started to fade in 1965. After three brilliant years with a blazing fastball, Radatz started to lose it. He was 9-11 with a 3.91 ERA. He started the next season with the Red Sox but was traded to Cleveland in June after posting a 4.74 ERA in his first 19 innings. It was all downhill from there. He pitched for four different teams over his final three years in the big leagues and was 3-11 with a 5.04 ERA. Despite his ignominious end, the Monster will always be remembered fondly by a generation of Red Sox fans.