Comments on: Johnny Podres passes away

By: tonyp231

tonyp231 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:16:42 +0000

Curt,
Johnny Podres was a wonderful man, great pitcher and a super coach. He was the first pitching coach I ever had as a professional baseball player, I was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1971 and he was waiting for me in Tri-Cities Washington when I got there. We won the league championship with his help. He taught me more about pitching in the two seasons I played with the Padres than anyone ever had done for me. I opened the first indoor baseball school here in Rhode Island and taught what he taught me to all the players that came to my school. He was a dear friend to me and I continued to call him on the phone throughout the years and tried to see as often as I could. The last time I saw him was when he was the Triple A pitching coach for the Red Sox in Pawtucket but called him when he was witht the Phillies. I spoke to him just three months before he died and I will never forgive myself for not going to Glen Falls, NY to visit him. Your a fantastic pitcher and a wonderful man I hope to see you play again because I think you can still dominate any hitters. My deepest sympathy goes out to the Podres family. Thank you Curt reading your message helped me deal with our lose. I will miss Coach Podres

Respectfully,

Tony Ponticelli

By: drstrangeglove

drstrangeglove — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:21:12 +0000

My father was a catcher on the legendary 1951 Hazard Bombers ( a long-defunct Dodger affiliate). Johnny was an up-and-coming Dodger pitching star on that team. Him and my father were friends and batterymates that year. My father has a few pics of them together in a scrapbook. During the Impossible Dream season of 1967, Johnny was a relief pitcher near the end of his career for the Tigers, who were neck and neck with the Sox down to the final days. I’m sorry to hear about his passing.

By: leo13

leo13 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:52:31 +0000

Bye Johnny,

Seems like yesterday, oh how the time flies, we are just dust in the wind, you touched so many…………so long for now

By: clutchwyo

clutchwyo — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:25:55 +0000

I would say stay out of politics and pitch. But since you can’t pitch any more….. Awh I’d stay out of politics too….

By: Sean

Sean — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 05:52:33 +0000

I never knew him, but from what I’m told, he was a great man. He was also one hell of a coach. Though he hasn’t coached in a while, several of his “proteges” had great careers- including our brilliant host here on 38pitches.com. It’s a shame the Phillies never did anything producitve outside of 93 under his tutelage. the staff over at http://www.phillies.tk miss him greatly.

By: joei71

joei71 — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:20:38 +0000

Wow… I had no idea Johnny Podres was such an influential person in your life. I got chills reading what you had to say.

Of course I never met the man, and perhaps learned more about him from what I just read than anything else, but nonetheless I was very moved when I learned of his passing.

For some reason Johnny Podres has always been a distinctive figure for me in the history of baseball. I think being a Red Sox fan, for many years Podres stood alone as a man who defeated a common rival, in a context for his team and fans that is very akin to what we’ve experienced here in Boston. The ultimate big game performer on the biggest of stages, doing what many before him failed to do. A breaker of curses, if you will. So yeah… I find it all the more amazing that your kinship with him goes a great deal further than that.

Thanks for what you gave to baseball and to us, Johnny. Peace.

By: metfan4life

metfan4life — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 03:54:54 +0000

Thanks for a great post about Johnny Podres, when I heard he passed thoughts went right to my dad. My Dad was a huge Brooklyn Dodger fan and a collector of Dodger Memorabilia. I remember getting an autographed copy of Mr. Podres picture, and my Dad was over the moon. It didn’t cost alot of money, but soon became priceless as Dad would light up the room when he spoke his days going to Ebbets Field and watching a game. My Dad played ball too, never in the Majors but was very good, he also pitched. Anyhow, while talking about this loss, I am reminded of the passing of my own Dad, but reminded of how grateful I am for his passing along the passion of baseball on. Now…………Lets get Gil Hodges in the Hall!!! God Bless

By: sdl1

sdl1 — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:23:47 +0000

Bracegolfman…

My sincere condolences on the loss of your uncle. As I posted above, I met him a few years ago at the Phillies minor league camp. His humor was contagoius…us baseball junkies were all smiling at his jokes.

By: warbler44

warbler44 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:48:22 +0000

Was johnny an liar like you and say he knew nothing about the Phillies juicing in 93? He probally would have been man enough to tell the truth to the U.S. Congress.

By: angelkatie413

angelkatie413 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:18:52 +0000

I’m sorry Curt A co-worker told me your comments on his passing… I’m lifting his family in prayer this week