We remember Paul Splittorff (1946-2011)

The late Paul Splittorff broke with Kansas City in 1970.    He was part of the Royals' youth movement that included Steve Busby and others that would make up the divisional winners of the late 1970s.

By 1973, Paul was a 20-game winner.    He became one of the best lefties in the AL in the late 1970's.

Overall, he won 166 games with a 3.81 ERA.   He was "an innings eater" and generally pitched late in the game.   

Paul pitched well in the post season, too:  2-0 and 2.79 ERA.   He was the starting and winning pitcher in game 3 of the 1980 ALCS, or the year that KC swept New York.

Paul died in 2011.   He still leads KC in career wins.   

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1956: The late Don Larsen and “el perfecto”

By the fall of 1956, Cubans were watching The World Series on TV in the island.   As my father told me, they watched Game 5 and Don Larsen’s perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers.  My father said that they had a little TV at the bank and caught the game.

It is still the only post-season perfect game in major league history.

Don played 14 seasons with various teams: 81-91 with a 3.78 ERA.  He stood out on October afternoon in New York!

For more, check out this little gem.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, click send, and drop a dime here.