Card #95 -- Steve Blass, Pittsburgh Pirates
In 1972, Steve Blass was an All-Star, going 19-8 with a 2.49 ERA, and was the runner-up for the Cy Young Award. He had been a steady performer for the Pirates since joining them in 1964 and won two World Series games in 1971.
In 1973, he suddenly lost his control. He would end up with a 3-9 record and his ERA ballooned to 9.85. Blass was sent down to the minors in 1974 and was out of the game in '75. Nobody has any explanation for what happened to him, but the term "Steve Blass disease" is still used whenever a promising pitcher's stuff suddenly and inexplicably drops off. Recent "diagnoses" include Dontrelle Willis and Rick Ankiel.
Blass joined the Pirates' broadcast crew in 1983 and is still providing color commetary on the radio.
No comments:
Post a Comment