by the Village Elliott
For sons Edinson, Bobo and Mort
Volquez started Royals’ World Series play
After learning Dad just passed away.
Just like Cards’ Cooper knew,
And Bengals’ Bobo, too,
Back in forties; each team won that day.
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The Royals’ Edinson Volquez threw the first pitch of the 2015 Series yesterday, having learned on the way to the park that his father had died earlier that day. He pitched six innings with no decision, though his team won in the 14th.
In the 1940 World Series, Detroit Tiger Bobo Newsom shut out the Reds in Game 1 with his father in attendance. After the game, his father died. He dedicated his victorious Game Five start to his dad. Asked to also win Game Seven for his Old Man, he replied, “I think I’ll win this one for Old Bobo,” but lost 2-1.
Three years later, the Cardinals’ Mort Cooper learned his father died a few hours before his Game Two start against the Yankees. Pitching to his brother Walker, he won the Cards’ only game in the 1943 World Series.
wonderful!
There are conflicting reports re: when Volquez learned of his fathers passing, Early reports stated his wife called the Royals while he was on the way to the park, asking them to withhold the news until after the game. Later, equally “reliable” reports claim he was informed while on the way, most likely by someone not in contact with his wife.
I was incorrect in stating Bobo Newsom shutout the Reds in Game 1. He won a seven hit, 7-2 complete game victory. His father died late that night/early next morning. The Game 3 he dedicated to his dad was a three hit, 8-0 shutout, in which he walked two and struck out 7. He started Game 7 on two days rest, lost a 7 hit, 1 walk, 6 strikeout complete game. The Reds Paul Dehringer also pitched a complete game, It was the first doubl- complete World Series Game 7; matched only by Gibson and Lolich in 1968. The game took 1 hr-47 min to play. Bobo’s 1940 Series line:
G GS ERA W L CG IP H R ER BB K WHIP
3 3 1.38 2 1 3 26.0 18 4 4 4 17 0.846