Furillo the "Reading Rifle" belongs in the Hall. Furillo hit .299 over a 15 year career with the Dodgers from 1946 to 1960. He won the batting title hitting .344 in 1953. He averaged in the high teens in homers over his career & struck out a year high of 57 times, with most years striking out under 40 times a year.
Furillo was a terrific right fielder. He & Clemente had the best & most accurate arms I ever saw. He had ten assists a year for several years--runners eventually were reluctant to run on him.
At the beginning of his career he spent 3 years in the Army in the Pacific earning 3 battle stars & a purple heart.
He tore a calf muscle while with LA in 1960 & the Dodgers released him. He sued the Dodgers, alleging that he was released so that he wouldn't be eligible for a pension & medical coverage. He tried to get a job in Baseball but never could. Furillo believed that he had been blackballed & was probably right. His future election to the Hall is most unlikely, as probably none on the veterans committee have ever seen him play.
Zappa did your Dad ever mention Furillo?
Furillo was a terrific right fielder. He & Clemente had the best & most accurate arms I ever saw. He had ten assists a year for several years--runners eventually were reluctant to run on him.
At the beginning of his career he spent 3 years in the Army in the Pacific earning 3 battle stars & a purple heart.
He tore a calf muscle while with LA in 1960 & the Dodgers released him. He sued the Dodgers, alleging that he was released so that he wouldn't be eligible for a pension & medical coverage. He tried to get a job in Baseball but never could. Furillo believed that he had been blackballed & was probably right. His future election to the Hall is most unlikely, as probably none on the veterans committee have ever seen him play.
Zappa did your Dad ever mention Furillo?
