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RIP, Paul Blair

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by nattering nabob, Dec 26, 2013.

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  1. nattering nabob

    nattering nabob Member

    One of greatest defensive center fielders ever. Eight Gold Gloves. He was 69.

    http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2013/12/former-orioles-center-fielder-paul-blair-dies.html
     
    nattering nabob, Dec 26, 2013
    #1
  2. Colton

    Colton Active Member

    He always seemed to glide on his path to the baseball. A terrific center fielder.

    RIP...
     
    Colton, Dec 26, 2013
    #2
  3. Smasher_Sloan

    Smasher_Sloan Active Member

    Helped those formidable Orioles pitching staffs by running down everything.

    [​IMG]
     
    Smasher_Sloan, Dec 26, 2013
    #3
  4. jr/shotglass

    jr/shotglass Well-Known Member

    I do believe I formed my vision of smooth defensive center fielders through Paul Blair.
     
    jr/shotglass, Dec 26, 2013
    #4
  5. Steak Snabler

    Steak Snabler Well-Known Member

    The Andruw Jones of his day, at least as a defender. RIP.
     
    Steak Snabler, Dec 26, 2013
    #5
  6. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    I had a Paul Blair glove. I couldn't catch a cold with it but, it was mine. RIP.
     
    Drip, Dec 27, 2013
    #6
  7. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    What an amazing fielder. He was the fourth outfielder for the Yankees when I was first falling in love with baseball. Rizzuto and Bill White and Frank Messer (etc.) used to make such a big deal out of how good a centerfielder he was -- and he really did get an incredible jump on the ball off the bat and seem to be able to track down anything. Lost a bit maybe is that even though he wasn't a terror at the plate, he was one of those players who seemed to do his best work as a batter in the postseason -- he was really good in the '77 and '78 World Series. He definitely gets my not-so-obligatory RIP. He was part of my childhood. RIP.
     
    The Big Ragu, Dec 27, 2013
    #7
  8. Steak Snabler

    Steak Snabler Well-Known Member

    According to the stories coming out this morning, Blair collapsed during a celebrity bowling tournament.

    He's now the second former Oriole of that era to die during a celebrity event. Earl Weaver collapsed and died during the Orioles fantasy cruise last year.
     
    Steak Snabler, Dec 27, 2013
    #8
  9. Mark2010

    Mark2010 Active Member

    Bowling and cruises can be dangerous to your health. Hard to believe Blair was that old. I saw him play live.
     
    Mark2010, Dec 27, 2013
    #9
  10. Football_Bat

    Football_Bat Well-Known Member

    I did too ... and I played second base.
     
    Football_Bat, Dec 28, 2013
    #10
  11. WolvEagle

    WolvEagle Well-Known Member

    Man, I hated those great Oriole teams, simply because they were better than some pretty good Tigers teams. Ah, the logic of an elementary-school baseball fan....
     
    WolvEagle, Dec 28, 2013
    #11
  12. cranberry

    cranberry Well-Known Member

    The thing about Blair, to me, was he played so damn shallow in center field. He dared you to hit it over his head. He was so aggressive.

    The managers got it right on his eight Gold Gloves. He's second all-time to Andruw Jones (ahead of Willie Mays), in defensive WAR among outfielders.
     
    cranberry, Dec 28, 2013
    #12
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