Ron Bryant---1970
The San Francisco southpaw was an
overpowering high school hurler in
California who emerged as a
dominant pitcher for a single season,
all the while demonstrating signs of
being the classic flakey lefthander.
Nicknamed “Bear” (a la the legendary
Alabama football coach at the time),
Bryant “adopted” a large stuffed bear
that he placed in the Giants’ dugout.
Measuring upwards of five feet tall,
the bear helped “Bear” Bryant turn
his performance around on the
mound, going from 7-10 in 1971 to a
14-7 record in 1972. The pitcher
reached his apex in 1973, when he
led the National League in victories
while posting a 24-12 mark.
In addition to the stuffed animal,
Bryant had a few other superstitions.
For instance, during the lone 20-win
season of his career, the lefty placed
a piece of Bazooka bubble gum in his
back pocket for every win he owned
upon taking the mound. Once he
reached a dozen victories, his butt
began to look like the proverbial “bag
of squirrels.”
Unfortunately for Bryant, his time at
the top ended quickly. An alcohol
problem played a role in a diving
board accident in a swimming pool,
which resulted in a serious back
injury during the spring of 1974.
Despite the bear and the Bazooka,
Bryant’s record fell to 3-15. The
Giants traded him to the Cardinals,
where he lasted only 10 outings.
(4/20/09)
overpowering high school hurler in
California who emerged as a
dominant pitcher for a single season,
all the while demonstrating signs of
being the classic flakey lefthander.
Nicknamed “Bear” (a la the legendary
Alabama football coach at the time),
Bryant “adopted” a large stuffed bear
that he placed in the Giants’ dugout.
Measuring upwards of five feet tall,
the bear helped “Bear” Bryant turn
his performance around on the
mound, going from 7-10 in 1971 to a
14-7 record in 1972. The pitcher
reached his apex in 1973, when he
led the National League in victories
while posting a 24-12 mark.
In addition to the stuffed animal,
Bryant had a few other superstitions.
For instance, during the lone 20-win
season of his career, the lefty placed
a piece of Bazooka bubble gum in his
back pocket for every win he owned
upon taking the mound. Once he
reached a dozen victories, his butt
began to look like the proverbial “bag
of squirrels.”
Unfortunately for Bryant, his time at
the top ended quickly. An alcohol
problem played a role in a diving
board accident in a swimming pool,
which resulted in a serious back
injury during the spring of 1974.
Despite the bear and the Bazooka,
Bryant’s record fell to 3-15. The
Giants traded him to the Cardinals,
where he lasted only 10 outings.
(4/20/09)
