NEW YORK (AP) — Roger Craig, who pitched for 3 championship groups throughout his main league profession after which managed the San Francisco Giants to the 1989 World Series that was interrupted by an enormous earthquake, has died. He was 93.
A spokesperson for the Giants stated the group was knowledgeable by a member of the family that Craig died Sunday in San Diego following a brief sickness.
“We have lost a legendary member of our Giants family,” Giants President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Baer stated in a press release. “Roger was beloved by players, coaches, front office staff and fans. He was a father figure to many and his optimism and wisdom resulted in some of the most memorable seasons in our history.”
Craig was a rookie on the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers membership that gained the franchise’s first title. He had a terrific season for the 1959 Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat the Chicago White Sox within the World Series. And he made 39 appearances for the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals squad that topped the New York Yankees for the championship.
The 6-foot-4 right-hander additionally pitched for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies throughout his 12-year profession, ending 74-98 with a 3.83 ERA and 19 saves. His greatest season got here in 1959, when he went 11-5 with a 2.06 ERA in 29 video games (17 begins), and his 4 shutouts tied for many within the National League.
Craig began and gained Game 5 of the 1955 World Series in opposition to the Yankees to present the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. He was hit arduous in his subsequent two Series (1956 and 1959), then rebounded within the 1964 Fall Classic as he struck out eight in 4 2/3 scoreless innings of aid to earn the win in Game 4 for the Cardinals.
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But for all his group success, Craig additionally knew nicely what it was prefer to languish in final place. He began the primary sport in franchise historical past for the growth Mets in 1962, taking an 11-4 loss in St. Louis. On a laughingstock squad that went a woeful 40-120, he paced New York with 10 wins. He was 15-46 for the Mets from 1962-63, main the majors in losses each years.
After his taking part in days had been carried out, Craig grew to become a famend pitching coach for the San Diego Padres, Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers – famously encouraging his expenses to “humm, baby” in a low southern drawl.
He was on supervisor Sparky Anderson’s employees with the 1984 Tigers, who opened 35-5 and gained the World Series. Craig was credited with educating the split-finger fastball to Hall of Fame starter Jack Morris and 1986 NL Cy Young Award winner Mike Scott.
Craig’s first job as a giant league supervisor got here with the Padres in 1978. He guided them to a 15-win enchancment from the earlier yr and the primary profitable file in group historical past at 84-78. But he was fired after going 68-93 in 1979.
He was employed by the Giants in September 1985 and managed them by way of 1992, profitable NL West titles in 1987 and 1989.
San Francisco beat the Chicago Cubs within the 1989 playoffs to seize its first National League pennant in 27 years, however the Giants had been swept by the Oakland Athletics in a World Series billed because the Battle of the Bay.
Just earlier than Game 3 was scheduled to start at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 1989, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocked Northern California, killing 67 individuals and inflicting greater than $5 billion in damages.
The sport was postponed and the World Series resumed 10 days later, with the A’s finally finishing a four-game sweep of Craig and his Giants.
He completed with a 738-737 file as a significant league supervisor, together with 586-566 for San Francisco.
Craig was born Feb. 17, 1930, in Durham, North Carolina, and attended North Carolina State on a basketball scholarship earlier than signing with the Dodgers. The Giants stated he’s survived by his spouse, Carolyn, his 4 youngsters, Sherri Paschelke, Roger Craig Jr., Teresa Hanvey and Vikki Dancan, seven grandchildren and 14 nice grandchildren.
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