Johnny Podres, 1932-2008
Johnny Podres, who was the World Series hero for the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, passed away on Sunday at the age of 75. The lefty wasn't dominant during that special season, but won a critical Game Three, then repeated the feat in a decisive Game Seven as Brooklyn finally managed to beat the Yankees. He was 23 at the time, and felt there wasn't that much pressure on him- after all, the Yankees were supposed to beat him. Over the course of his career, Podres would make four All Star teams.
The Dodgers released a statement on his passing, including comments from some of his teammates. Click below for that.
BK
STATEMENTS ON THE PASSING OF FORMER DODGER GREAT JOHNNY PODRES (1932-2008)
The Dodgers are saddened to announce that former Brooklyn and Los Angeles pitcher Johnny Podres passed away yesterday at the age of 75. Podres pitched 15 seasons in the Major Leagues, including 13 seasons with the Dodgers. He was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 1955 World Series and was also a part of the World Championship teams in 1959, 1963 and 1965. Podres started the first game in Dodger Stadium history on April 10, 1962. He had a career record of 148-116 and an ERA of 3.68. His career World Series record was 3-1 with a 2.11 ERA in six starts.
Podres went on to become a pitching coach with the Philadelphia Phillies and was a past instructor during the Dodgers’ Adult Baseball Camps in Vero Beach, FL.
Funeral services are pending.
Dodger Owner and Chairman Frank McCourt:
“I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Johnny Podres during the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1955 World Series championship. The memories of Johnny’s career and his significant accomplishments will forever be remembered by Dodger fans everywhere.”
Dodger Special Advisor to the Chairman and former teammate Tommy Lasorda:
"I roomed with Johnny Podres and I can say, without a doubt, he was one of the greatest guys I ever had the pleasure of playing with. He represented the Dodgers to the highest degree of class, dignity and character. I've never, ever heard anybody say anything bad about Johnny Podres. He was a great roomie, a great teammate, and a great friend."
Former Dodger General Manager Buzzie Bavasi:
“He was one in a million. I have said this many times: I've had many good pitchers on my teams during my career, including the best in the business in Sandy Koufax and I am sure that all these pitchers will agree that if a club had to win one game, it would be Podres that would get the call. He did it many times for me during his career. I am going to miss him. I know the first thing he will do when he gets upstairs is to look for Walter Alston and Leo Durocher.”
Former teammate Don Newcombe:
"When I heard of Johnny’s passing, my mind went back to Yankee Stadium, 1955, the seventh game of the World Series. I thank God for Johnny Podres, as I do all the time. I remember how confident he was in the clubhouse before Game 7. Walter Alston called a meeting and Johnny said, ‘Just give me one run.’ Well they gave him two and we were champs. He was a man of his word, he lived up to his word, and I appreciate it."
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Prayers and condolences to the Podres family. You will be missed. Thanks for the memories.
Posted by: Jim | January 14, 2008 at 01:28 PM
He has gone off to be young again; to play with Pee Wee and Carl and breathe that great Brooklyn air.
They truly are the boys of summer.
Thanks Johnny; you made us so very proud.
God bless
Posted by: brooklynboy3 | January 14, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Thank you for the wonderful history Johnny.
All my best to his family and the Dodger family. Very sad to see one of the Boys of Summer gone. Not too many of them left here...
Posted by: Higgins | January 14, 2008 at 05:59 PM
I'm too young to have seen Podres win Game 7 in '55 (born in 1969), but I grew up a True Blue Dodger Fan in L.A. I recall is the early 90's when Podres was working as a pitching coach for the Phillies, and they were in town to play the Dodgers. I had seats in the right field bleachers, and as the Phillies starting pitcher was warming up before the game in the visitors bullpen, my friends and I were leaning over the railing. Podres was standing next to the pitcher in his Phillies uniform, overseeing the warm-ups. The following conversation took place:
Me: "Hey, Podres!"
Podres: (Looked up at us)
Me: "You look better in Blue, Johnny!"
Podres: (Smiled, tipped his cap, and went back to work).
Posted by: UCLADavid | January 14, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Rest in peace Mr. Podres. We will not see the likes of you and the rest of the Boys of Summer ever again. Those guys were class acts.
Posted by: Jim | January 16, 2008 at 10:32 AM
"Rest in peace Mr. Podres. We will not see the likes of you and the rest of the Boys of Summer ever again. Those guys were class acts."
Jim, I couldn't agree more. So many of them are gone now. Who is left? Erskine? Duke? Was Joe Black on the '55 team? I must be missing some(hopefully) many are still alive?
As a dyed-in-the-wool Dodgers fan who, as a 7 year old, was taken by the hand to the "new" stadium on Opening Day, 1962 I like to think that the "boys" waited to win the first Dodgers World Championship until the first summer of my life...like they were waiting on me. I was born in December, 1954 and they then won in '55. Of course this isn't true but it is a nice fantasy.
Man, I can't wait for spring training. Why do I/we get so over-the-top for this game? The answer?
"The one constant has been baseball, Ray (Dan). America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh...people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."
Posted by: Dan in Pasadena | January 16, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Johnny Podres what a class guy. I met him several times & each time he was great. Just like the other Boys of Summer are. I saw him pitch in Ebbets Field & can remember that 7th game. What a great guy & what a great memory & time it was.
Posted by: Dave | January 17, 2008 at 01:45 PM
The Dodgers fans will forever remember the Great contributions from Johnny. I grew up in LA & was a Brooklyn fan before the move to so.cal. Baseball was life itself back in those days. - One quick story about my favorite piece of memorabilia - an autographed Johnny Podres baseball.
In the early 1990's I was on a business trip to Philadelphia to see Randy Ready, a utility infielder for the Phillies. I had gone in to the Phillies clubhouse underneath the stadium bleachers and noticed a black & white photo of Podres in his Dodger uniform. I asked Randy what a picture of a Dodger was doing on the Phillies cluhouse wall. He says, " He's our pitching coach". I went on to explain how much I had admired Podres and the rest of those early Dodgers like Drysdale, Koufax, Reese, Snider & all the other "Bums" from those special days. A moment later he excused himself & said he'd be right back to finish the paperwork. About 3 - 4 minutes later he returns w/ a brand new baseball in hand & gives it to me. There signed on the sweet-spot was the following - " To Steve, Best Wishes -" Johnny Podres..... I was stunned & delighted - then Randy says " Johnny would have come in here to meet you in person .... but he was sitting on the crapper"!!! What a guy!! Thanks for the memories Johnny - God Bless you - RIP - Steve
Posted by: steve sparks | January 17, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Being a long time dedicated Dodger fan I always rememberd the uniform numbers the players wore from 1941 until today 7/10.08 can anyone tell me what number
Johnny Podres wore...God Rest His Soul.
Posted by: Jody Carver | July 10, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Jody -
While with the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1953-1957, Johnny Podres wore # 45;
While with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1958-1966, he wore # 22;
After being traded to the Detroit Tigers in May of 1966, he wore # 22 from 1966-1967; and
Finally, in 1969 after signing with the San Diego Padres, Podres went back to # 45.
Posted by: Brian | July 10, 2008 at 02:39 PM