Duren came to the Yankees in 1958 at age 29 with a blazing 95-mph fastball. He quickly became the most feared reliever in the league. "Blind Ryne," who had uncorrected vision of 20/70 and 20/200, would frighten hitters when he entered the game, squinting toward home through bottle-thick glasses. He enhanced the effect by intentionally throwing his first warm-up pitch back to the screen. Initially, it may not have always been planned; while in the minors his control was so erratic that he once hit the on-deck batter.
Duren's career peaked quickly. In 1958 he won six and saved a league-high 20 games in just 44 appearances. He was often brilliant in New York's World Series victory over the Braves, going 1-1 (1.93) with a save. He saved 14 in 1959, at one point going 18 games -- 36 innings -- without allowing a run. In those two seasons he allowed only 89 hits, fanning 183 in just 151 innings.
But drinking did Duren in. Though he continued to record more strikeouts than innings, his downhill slide was swift, as his records show. His decline, despair, and hard-won recovery are chronicled in his autobiography, The Comeback. He retired with 57 career saves. (GDW)
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»October 4, 1958:
Yankee pitchers Don Larsen and Ryne Duren combine
for a shutout as New York wins 4-0. Yankee OF
Hank Bauer accounts for all 4 runs, including a 2-run
homer in the 7th.
»October 4, 1958:
The Sporting Newsnames Washington OF
Albie Pearson and Yankee P Ryne Duren as its AL Rookies
of the Year; the Giants 1B Orlando Cepeda and P Carl
Willey of the Braves as its NL Rookies of the Year.
»October 13, 1958:
The ML fines Yankees P Ryne Duren $250
for giving the "choke" sign to an umpire during the
WS.
»August 14, 1959: The Red Sox 1B Vic Wertz hits a pinch-hit grand slam off Ryne Duren of the Yanks to pace the 11–6 Boston win. Pete Runnels of the Red Sox walks twice in one inning to tie a ML record.
»May 18, 1961: Ryne Duren comes in for the Angels and notches four strikeouts in the 7th inning against the White Sox. He fans Minnie Minoso, Roy Sievers, J.C. Martin, and Sammy Esposito to tie the ML record. One pitch eludes C Del Rice and results in the winning run. Chicago takes it 6–4.
»June 9, 1961: Ryne Duren sets an American League record with seven straight strikeouts against the Red Sox. He fans 11 batters in a 5–1 win for the Angels.
»May 13, 1964: The Reds buy Ryne Duren from the Phillies.
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