Goodbyes

Jim Northrup died yesterday. The Tigers 1968 World Series hero was 71. Of course I don't know what he looked like as an older man. I do know what he looked like on his 1973 baseball card. I'm going on memory here, but I remember he was in his road Tigers uniform, posing in his left-handed stance at the original Yankee Stadium. He looked relaxed.
Northrup will always be remembered for his 2-run triple off Bob Gibson to break a scoreless tie in Game 7 of the World Series at St. Louis. That is the play that people say Curt Flood misjudged in centerfield. But if you watch the replay closely, Flood slipped. The ball sailed over his head but I don't think he would have caught it even if he didn't slip.
The former Tigers outfielder, who belted 153 homers in his career and batted .267 over his 12-seasons. He died after a long battle with Alzheimer's.
Another World Series hero passed recently. Jose Pagan, who drove in the winning run for the Pirates in Game 7 of the 1971 series over the Orioles, died on Tuesday at the age of 76 at his home in Florida. His 8th inning double off Mike Cuellar drove in a run and gave the Bucs a 2-0 lead. They won 2-1. Oh, the other RBI for Pittsburgh? Some guy named Clemente. Pagan was a .250 hitter over his 15-seasons and they had a moment of silence for him before the Pirates game at PNC Park last night.
If you want to be fondly remembered, a game winning hit in Game 7 of the World Series will generally do the trick.
While I remember Northrup playing when I was a kid, I don't have much recollection of Pagan. I mostly followed the American League so I saw Northrup more than Pagan.
May a couple of former Major Leaguers and World Series stars rest in peace.