by Vincent LeVine

Created on: June 06, 2009

At six foot five, two-hundred and forty pounds and wearing size 14D shoes, Richard Raymond Radatz was a big man. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on April 2nd 1937, becoming a two sport star (baseball and basketball) at Michigan State University before signing with the Boston Red Sox in 1960.

While still in the minors, Radatz developed a sore arm and was sent to the bullpen by his manager, Johnny Pesky. Radatz was not happy about his bullpen assignment, but it was there where he would become one of the most feared pitchers in baseball during the mid 1960's.

Radatz delivered the baseball sidearm for most of his career, effectively hiding the ball which he threw consistently at 95-96 miles per hour, and from a mound that was 15, sometimes as much as 20 above home plate. It was in Radatz's final season, 1969, the year after Carl Yastrzemski won the American League batting title with a .301 average that Major League Baseball mandated pitching rubbers be no more than 10 above home plate, attempting to minimize the pitcher's long time advantage (1904). One can only imagine how imposing Radatz must have been at his size, hovering 20 above home plate, and slinging fastball after fastball

In 1962, his rookie season, Radatz led the American League in saves (24), games (62) and relief wins (9) and was named Fireman of the Year by The Sporting News.

In 1963 Radatz entered a game against the rival New York Yankees in the top of the ninth in relief of starter Earl Wilson who had loaded the bases with nobody out. Radatz struck out Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Elston Howard, each an American League MVP during their careers, throwing only ten pitches in completing the feat. When Howard struck out for the final out of the game, Radatz thrust his clenched fists overhead, and after being reminded of it the next day by Red Sox broadcasting legend Curt Gowdy, it became his trademark gesture". It was after that game that Mantle referred to his nemesis as that Monster. And why not, Radatz faced Mantle 66 times during The Mick's Hall of Fame career, striking him out 47 times. Yankee manager Ralph Houk later said of '62 and '63, "For two seasons, I've never seen a better pitcher".

It was in 1963, from May 13th to June 14th, that Radatz pitched 33 consecutive scoreless innings. The only Red Sox pitchers to pitch more consecutive scoreless innings were Luis Tiant, who had 40 between August 19th and September 8th in 1972, and the great Cy Young who had 45 between April 25th and

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