Remembering Bob Welch

It is truly sad that Bob Welch, such a fine major league pitcher, passed away at the far too young age of 57.

He pitched for two World Series winning teams, the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers and the 1989 Oakland Athletics. Additionally he was part of three other pennant winning teams, the 1978 Dodgers, 1988 Athletics and 1990 Athletics.

In 1990 he won 27 games, a number topped only by Denny McLain’s 31, since 1952 (Robin Roberts won 28).

I talked with Bob at the Dodgers’ former and great spring training complex in Vero Beach, Florida during training in 1982.

The Dodgers had won the World Series in the strike marred 1981 season and Bob retired Jerry White in the decisive 5th game of the NLCS to clinch the pennant.

When I asked him about it, Bob, who had yielded a key three run homer to White in game 3, modestly said he thought White would hit the pitch he threw in game 5, 10 miles.

I took out my album to look at a picture of Bob and me from that 1982 meeting. I see a nice field, trees in the distance and Bob holding a bat over his left shoulder.

No “thousand words” here but what comes crackling through: his hair (even mine, I had hair then) blown back in the breeze, life, addictions, caring about sports and who wins.

What matters is living life and doing, which a very brave Bob Welch did.