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RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

G-Fafif Jul 15 2021 06:34 AM

Dick Tidrow, whose 13-year major league career ended as a member of the Mets' bullpen, has died at 74 (July 10, 2021, in Lee's Summit, Mo.). In more recent years, he was part of the San Francisco Giant front office that build three world champions. https://nypost.com/2021/07/14/dick-tidrow-ex-yankees-pitcher-and-giants-exec-dead-at-74/

Edgy MD Jul 15 2021 07:24 AM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

In a dirty time in the history of a dirty sport, it's not just anybody who can carry around the nickname "Dirt." Hard to imagine a Mets Mustache Showdown where he doesn't at least make the final four. https://cdn.chatsports.com/cache/62/21/6221a81c21a9816eb55184ba4c28a273-original.jpg>

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 15 2021 09:17 AM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

Yeah I think of the moustache first and that I never really warmed to him given his MFY background not to mention his early performances. But every year has a veteran-reliever-who-sucks-and-is-released-in-May. He was 84's. Was replaced in the bullpen by Brent Gaff. "The Gaffer!" as Hernandez always refers to him.

Edgy MD Jul 15 2021 09:35 AM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

In Davy Jonhson's Bats, he writes about Joe Sambito. The Mets try to farm him out and he comes to Davy and asks if they're just going to dump him, then dump him. Davy, trying to establish his dominion, says, "Look, I've released three veteran pitchers already this season, and if I wanted to release you, I would. Now go down and get into shape." The three pitchers he was referring to were Mike Torrez (his opening day starter), Craig Swan, and Dirty Dick Tidrow. I guess we're still waiting on Sambito pitching his way into shape.

dinosaur jesus Jul 15 2021 09:49 AM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

Edgy MD wrote: In Davy Jonhson's Bats, he writes about Joe Sambito. The Mets try to farm him out and he comes to Davy and asks if they're just going to dump him, then dump him. Davy, trying to establish his dominion, says, "Look, I've released three veteran pitchers already this season, and if I wanted to release you, I would. Now go down and get into shape." The three pitchers he was referring to were Mike Torrez (his opening day starter), Craig Swan, and Dirty Dick Tidrow. I guess we're still waiting on Sambito pitching his way into shape. Good story. Except they picked up Sambito in 1985.

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 15 2021 09:57 AM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

Bats was a book about 1985, so perhaps the "this year" is what's inaccurate in edgy's retelling

G-Fafif Jul 15 2021 11:05 AM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

Peter Golenbock, Davey's collaborator, isn't all about the accuracy.

Edgy MD Jul 15 2021 11:07 AM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

I fall before the truth tellers. Yeah, I guess Johnson was flashing back to 1984 to recall his kill count.

Edgy MD Jul 15 2021 01:13 PM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

Suddenly I realized that I had Bats within reach right where I'm sitting. It is about 1985, but the the early chapters cover him putting the team together in the minors into his rookie season of 1984. [BLOCKQUOTE]Once the season began, Tidrow and Swan were getting hit pretty hard, giving up some long home runs, and I decided they and Mike Torrez had to go. I went to Frank, and I said, "I have to go with the younger arms down at Tidewater 'cause I'm getting shelled with these guys." He let me do it. I had to call them in and close the door and tell them. It was a painful experience. My only consolation was that I wasn't springing it on them. I had told them in the spring where they stood, and so when the end finally came, they weren't shocked. Swan took it like a man. He said he understood, but, of course, he didn't. No player really understands. Craig felt he could still pitch, and he hooked on with California. He had his arm operated on out there. He had a blood clot that was impinging on his circulation. He felt he would be back, but I don't think he ever will. When I released Tidrow, Dick didn't try to come back. He hung it up. I think he was happy I released him. On some level he know he had reached the end of the line. The toughest one by far was Mike Torrez. I cut him loose in June. Mike had just been through a divorce and had financial difficulties. He was an intense competitor, a battler, and a great guy. But I knew our future was ahead of us. We couldn't be respectable with a so-so thirty-eight-year-old starting pitcher. It was touch on him. He took it hard. He waned to go somewhere else to pitch, but he never did. I called up Brent Gaff and Tommy Gorman from Tidewater, and we traded for hard-throwing Bruce Berenyi. Then I moved Eddie Lynch from the pen into the starting rotation.[/BLOCKQUOTE] I'll find the Sambito passage later. Gots to work.

Edgy MD Jul 16 2021 07:16 AM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

Rock-sold Tidrow-memories in today's Uni-Watch Column. [fimg=550]https://dugout.uni-watch.com/app/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-15-at-7.53.50-PM.jpg[/fimg] Look at how relatively low his knee looks on his leg from that angle. It almost looks like 2/3 of his leg is above the knee.

Frayed Knot Jul 16 2021 10:21 AM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

Didn't seem to lose any flexibility as he aged.

Edgy MD Jul 16 2021 10:24 AM Re: RIP Dick Tidrow, 1947-2021

Yeah, he should have taken up punting after the Mets let him go.