Ray Fosse, the strong-armed catcher whose profession was upended when he was shocked by Pete Rose on the 1970 All-Star Game, died on Wednesday. He was 74.
Carol Fosse, his spouse of 51 years, mentioned in an announcement on-line that he died after a 16-year bout with most cancers. She didn't say the place he died.
Fosse was a budding expertise for Cleveland when he made his first All-Star workforce as a 23-year-old in 1970. He had 16 house runs and 45 runs battled in on the All-Star break. He would go on to hit .307 that 12 months with a career-high 18 homers; he additionally threw out 55 p.c of tried base stealers and gained the primary of two Gold Gloves.
In the twelfth inning of the All-Star Game — performed at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Rose’s house subject — Rose barreled over Fosse to attain the successful run, fracturing and separating Fosse’s left shoulder.
X-rays instantly after the incident had been destructive, and Fosse didn't miss any taking part in time. He caught 9 innings in a recreation at Kansas City two days after the All-Star recreation, despite the fact that he couldn’t raise his left arm above his head. It was later decided that his shoulder had not healed correctly.
Rose was extensively criticized for what many individuals thought of unnecessarily tough play in an exhibition recreation. He later defended himself, saying, “There’s no sense in ever sliding into a bag if you can’t get the bag.”
Fosse made the All-Star workforce once more in 1971. But he was by no means once more an All-Star, and he by no means had a season nearly as good as 1970 over a 12-year profession with Cleveland, Oakland, Seattle and Milwaukee.
Traded to Oakland in 1973, he helped the Athletics win two World Series championships. He completed his profession with a .256 batting common and 61 house runs in 924 video games.
Raymond Earl Fosse was born on April 4, 1947, in Marion, Ill. He was a first-round draft decide for Cleveland in 1965 and made his main league debut two years later.
In addition to his spouse, his survivors embody two daughters, Nikki and Lindsey.
Fosse turned a broadcaster for the Athletics in 1986 and continued working into the 2021 season.
In 2015, 40 years after the incident, Fosse advised The Associated Press that he had arthritis, had endured 5 knee operations and had two unhealthy shoulders that he had by no means fastened in addition to a stiff neck.
Of course, he knew that wasn’t all from Rose’s blow on the All-Star Game. Numerous it was a results of the trials of being a catcher.
“There was not anybody at the time to say, ‘Don’t play,’” he mentioned. “I continued. That’s something that I take with a lot of pride.”
His collision with Rose, he as soon as mentioned, was “something people will continue to talk about, whether they were alive at the time or watched the video and see the result.”
“There have been some harder hits,” he added, however “just the fact it was an All-Star Game, they always vote on the All-Star Game highlights or lowlights, and that always seems to be at the top that people talk about.”
The New York Times contributed reporting.
