Gerry Arrigo--1969
Working a swingman role for the Twins
and Reds during the 1960s, Gerry Arrigo
would keep fans on their toes.
Randomly given starts early in his
career, the lefty turned in a solid
campaign in 1968 for the fourth place
Reds. As the lone southpaw in a rotation
that included the likes of Jim Maloney,
Gary Nolan and Milt Pappas; Arrigo went
12-10, 3.33 in 36 games of which 31
were starts. The native Chicagoan would
allow only 181 hits in 205 innings, while
his 12 victories were second-best on the
staff.
Pretty impressive work for a guy who
primarily worked as a reliever during his
career. However, twice during his career,
Arrigo tossed one-hitters before being
added to the Reds rotation in '68.
Having lost a game to Cleveland in relief
on June 22, 1964 as a Twin, Arrigo was
given a spot start in the first game of a
double-header versus the White Sox four
days later. He would hurl eight innings of
no-hit ball until Mike Herschberger
knocked a single to center field to
lead-off the ninth inning.
With the Reds in 1967, Arrigo started the
season with four relief outings before
manager Dave Bristol took him to the
post against the New York Mets on April
29th. Allowing a first-inning single to
Jerry Grote, Arrigo went to work to toss a
complete game shutout without giving up
another hit to the Mets in the 7-0 victory.
At the end of his career, Arrigo finished
with a 23-32 mark as a starter and a
12-8 record out of the pen. Yet,
whenever the southpaw took the mound
to start the game, you really never knew
if he would throw a gem--- as evidenced
by his two career one-hitters.
Editor's Note: From the archives of
Baseball Digest (June 1965, pg. 14):
A Minnesota writer was telling of an
interview he had with the Reds' Gerry
Arrigo when Arrigo was pitching for
the Twins.
"I was interviewing Gerry in my hotel
room," said the writer. "During the
conversation Arrigo was trying to
convince me he wasn't a typical
left-hander... you know, eccentric."
The interview concluded, Arrigo
opened the door to leave the room.
"Only it was the wrong door,"
chuckled the writer. "Gerry walked
right into a closet." --- Earl Lawson in
the Cincinnati Post
(12/15/10)
and Reds during the 1960s, Gerry Arrigo
would keep fans on their toes.
Randomly given starts early in his
career, the lefty turned in a solid
campaign in 1968 for the fourth place
Reds. As the lone southpaw in a rotation
that included the likes of Jim Maloney,
Gary Nolan and Milt Pappas; Arrigo went
12-10, 3.33 in 36 games of which 31
were starts. The native Chicagoan would
allow only 181 hits in 205 innings, while
his 12 victories were second-best on the
staff.
Pretty impressive work for a guy who
primarily worked as a reliever during his
career. However, twice during his career,
Arrigo tossed one-hitters before being
added to the Reds rotation in '68.
Having lost a game to Cleveland in relief
on June 22, 1964 as a Twin, Arrigo was
given a spot start in the first game of a
double-header versus the White Sox four
days later. He would hurl eight innings of
no-hit ball until Mike Herschberger
knocked a single to center field to
lead-off the ninth inning.
With the Reds in 1967, Arrigo started the
season with four relief outings before
manager Dave Bristol took him to the
post against the New York Mets on April
29th. Allowing a first-inning single to
Jerry Grote, Arrigo went to work to toss a
complete game shutout without giving up
another hit to the Mets in the 7-0 victory.
At the end of his career, Arrigo finished
with a 23-32 mark as a starter and a
12-8 record out of the pen. Yet,
whenever the southpaw took the mound
to start the game, you really never knew
if he would throw a gem--- as evidenced
by his two career one-hitters.
Editor's Note: From the archives of
Baseball Digest (June 1965, pg. 14):
A Minnesota writer was telling of an
interview he had with the Reds' Gerry
Arrigo when Arrigo was pitching for
the Twins.
"I was interviewing Gerry in my hotel
room," said the writer. "During the
conversation Arrigo was trying to
convince me he wasn't a typical
left-hander... you know, eccentric."
The interview concluded, Arrigo
opened the door to leave the room.
"Only it was the wrong door,"
chuckled the writer. "Gerry walked
right into a closet." --- Earl Lawson in
the Cincinnati Post
(12/15/10)
