Johnny Podres

Johnny Podres, the crusty, sad-faced baseball lifer who helped transform the long-suffering Brooklyn Dodgers into world champions and Curt Schilling into one of baseball's best pitchers, died Sunday at 75. Mr. Podres' wife, Joan, said he died at a hospital in Glens Falls, N.Y., near their longtime home in Queensbury. She said her husband, a chain smoker, had been suffering from heart and kidney ailments and was being treated for a leg infection. A lefthander, he compiled a 148-116 record during a 15-year career in which his considerable talents often were obscured by Dodgers teammates such as Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax.

Third of eight parts. Johnny Podres spent 15 seasons as a player in the major leagues. He pitched in four World Series (helping to win three) and was the most valuable player in one of the most memorable ever. Podres made three all-star teams and was the ERA king of the National League in 1957. Later, as a pitching coach in the majors, he played a role in launching the careers of stars such as Frank Viola and Curt Schilling. Clearly, Podres has had memorable experiences in a lifetime spent in baseball.

Johnny Podres spent 15 seasons as a player in the major leagues. He pitched in four World Series (helping to win three) and was the most valuable player in one of the most memorable ever. Podres made three all-star teams and was the ERA king of the National League in 1957. Later, as a pitching coach in the majors, he played a role in launching the careers of stars such as Frank Viola and Curt Schilling. Clearly, Podres has had memorable experiences in a lifetime spent in baseball.

Johnny Podres' eyes filled at the recollection of another departed friend, especially one he always believed was invincible. "He was so strong and so big," the Phillies' pitching coach said yesterday of Mickey Mantle. "He overshadowed everybody. He was electrifying when he walked anywhere. " Particularly for a Brooklyn Dodgers rookie facing the already legendary Yankee in the '53 World Series when Mantle walked into the batter's box. "If you ever saw him step up to the plate," said Podres, his smoky voice tinged with an awe that is rare in his hard-bitten sport.

Yo, Pods! You got a few minutes to talk about the pitching staff? "Nah. Go talk to the guys. They're the ones who've done it. " And with a wink, a grin, and a drag on his cigarette, Johnny Podres - baseball's version of Greta Garbo - trudges away in characteristic fashion, his cap pulled low over his eyes, his body bent forward at the waist, like a man braving a 30-knot head wind. Podres can trudge, but he can't hide. He may prefer to work behind the scenes, but his handiwork is evident whenever Tommy Greene throws his new rising fastball, whenever Jose DeJesus changes speeds, whenever Bruce Ruffin stays aggressive, whenever Terry Mulholland throws a change-up to a power hitter in a clutch situation.

Curt Schilling was putting on a Phillies uniform for the first time on April 2, 1992, when someone who walked like Groucho Marx and looked like Buster Keaton approached. The sad-eyed man, a Winston stuck in his mouth, pulled a hand from his back pocket and extended it to the pitcher. "Johnny Podres, pitching coach," he said. "Wanna throw?" Recognizing the name, not knowing quite know how to react to this brusque introduction, Schilling still followed Podres willingly. It wouldn't be the last time.

Phillies pitching coach Johnny Podres was moved out of the intensive care unit at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y., yesterday after undergoing quadruple heart bypass surgery Friday. "He's doing fine," hospital spokesman Andy Foster said last night. "His official condition is listed as fair, but he's doing very well. " Phillies general manager Lee Thomas learned last week that Podres, 63, wasn't feeling well. It was determined on Wednesday that the former Dodgers pitcher would require open-heart surgery.

Johnny Podres is 58 and looks like he's been awake enough to be at least 10 years older. So the question yesterday, on the occasion of the formal announcement of Podres's hiring as the new Phillies pitching coach, was to be expected. How, a guy wondered, did Podres plan to bridge the generation gap between himself and the young pitchers he's being counted on to mold into shape? Podres never blinked. "We'll find out in spring training," he said simply. This might end up as an issue only in the eyes of the beholders.

The title, pitching coach, barely began to describe what Johnny Podres brought to the Phillies for the last five-plus years. The main thing was Podres' spirit, and that's what the Phillies are going to miss most as they carry on without the presence of the legendary "Pods. " The Phillies made it official yesterday, announcing that Podres' health will not allow him to resume his duties as pitching coach. Jim Wright, who took over April 19 when Podres began a leave of absence, will remain with the major-league club.

Johnny Podres has a passion for horse racing matched only by his love of pitching. The Phillies made it official yesterday, announcing that, for health reasons, the 63-year-old Podres will not be back as the team's pitching coach this season. It comes as no surprise, then, to learn that Podres has been spending his afternoons sitting in a chair at his home in Glens Falls, N.Y., watching the races at Finger Lakes Park on television. "I put it on mute so I don't get too excited," he joked last night during a conference phone call.

Johnny Podres, the crusty, sad-faced baseball lifer who helped transform the long-suffering Brooklyn Dodgers into world champions and Curt Schilling into one of baseball's best pitchers, died Sunday at 75. Mr. Podres' wife, Joan, said he died at a hospital in Glens Falls, N.Y., near their longtime home in Queensbury. She said her husband, a chain smoker, had been suffering from heart and kidney ailments and was being treated for a leg infection. A lefthander, he compiled a 148-116 record during a 15-year career in which his considerable talents often were obscured by Dodgers teammates such as Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax.

Johnny Podres spent 15 seasons as a player in the major leagues. He pitched in four World Series (helping to win three) and was the most valuable player in one of the most memorable ever. Podres made three all-star teams and was the ERA king of the National League in 1957. Later, as a pitching coach in the majors, he played a role in launching the careers of stars such as Frank Viola and Curt Schilling. Clearly, Podres has had memorable experiences in a lifetime spent in baseball.

Third of eight parts. Johnny Podres spent 15 seasons as a player in the major leagues. He pitched in four World Series (helping to win three) and was the most valuable player in one of the most memorable ever. Podres made three all-star teams and was the ERA king of the National League in 1957. Later, as a pitching coach in the majors, he played a role in launching the careers of stars such as Frank Viola and Curt Schilling. Clearly, Podres has had memorable experiences in a lifetime spent in baseball.

It's that time of year again. The World Series is just around the corner, and television sports shows will soon be showing highlights of great Series moments past. You'll see Bill Mazeroski approaching home plate as euphoric teammates wait to mob him, Carlton Fisk waving that home run fair, and Joe Carter dancing around first base after breaking the hearts of Phillies fans. You'll see Yogi Berra embrace Don Larsen, Willie Mays chase down Vic Wertz's blast, and Boston Red Sox players sprint out of the dugout in unbridled joy after ending 86 years of futility.

Johnny Podres understands the Subway Series, remembers back then, it cost only a thin dime to ride between the five boroughs, not the $1.50 charged today. Remembers he was a rookie in 1953, pitching in the World Series just five days after his 21st birthday. Remembers he didn't take the subway most of the time, anyway, because he was proudly driving a 1950 Oldsmobile he bought new for $2,000 with his signing bonus. Remembers when the hottest argument in the city that still considers itself the capital of the world used to be which of New York's centerfielders - Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays or Duke Snider - was the best in all of baseball.

Former Phillies pitching coach Johnny Podres, in town for Richie Ashburn's funeral, stopped by the Vet yesterday to take in a game. Podres had as much to do with Curt Schilling's blossoming as a starting pitcher as anyone. When Schilling came to the Phils in April 1992, he had already been in three organizations. He had failed once as a closer, and his big-league record was an unimpressive 4-11. Podres always had a reputation for helping big, hard throwers find themselves.

The Phillies' second half began with a flurry of news sadly reminiscent of this grim season's first 3 1/2 months: another bad medical report and the acquisition of another player few will recognize. Mike Grace, who was 7-2 before a strained right shoulder set him down on June 2, was examined by Dr. Frank Jobe yesterday in Los Angeles. Grace is scheduled to undergo a magnetic-resonance-imaging test today. The rookie righthander continued to experience discomfort in the shoulder after he threw briefly on June 28, Phils manager Jim Fregosi said.

Jim Wright remembers the moment vividly. It was March 21, 1979. He was pitching for the Phillies at Jack Russell Stadium in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Two things happened on the pitch to Tom Grieve. One was that Grieve singled to drive in a run. The other was that Wright's forearm snapped into two pieces. Wright eventually pitched briefly in the majors for the Kansas City Royals in 1981 and 1982. But, because of injuries, he never became the star his early promise might have suggested.

Johnny Podres has a passion for horse racing matched only by his love of pitching. The Phillies made it official yesterday, announcing that, for health reasons, the 63-year-old Podres will not be back as the team's pitching coach this season. It comes as no surprise, then, to learn that Podres has been spending his afternoons sitting in a chair at his home in Glens Falls, N.Y., watching the races at Finger Lakes Park on television. "I put it on mute so I don't get too excited," he joked last night during a conference phone call.

The title, pitching coach, barely began to describe what Johnny Podres brought to the Phillies for the last five-plus years. The main thing was Podres' spirit, and that's what the Phillies are going to miss most as they carry on without the presence of the legendary "Pods. " The Phillies made it official yesterday, announcing that Podres' health will not allow him to resume his duties as pitching coach. Jim Wright, who took over April 19 when Podres began a leave of absence, will remain with the major-league club.