Appreciating Necciai

Ron Necciai’s name came across my virtual desk not long ago, specifically the fact that he once fanned 27 batters in a game. Yeah, that got my attention.

So I did a little surfing and found a fascinating article on Neccai. The game took place May 13, 1952, in Bristol, Va., and according to Necciai, “I really wasn’t feeling good. I figured I was going to throw up.”

Someone was ill that day, but I don’t think it Bristol’s pitcher. Necciai pitched briefly with the Pirates in 1952 before blowing out his arm a few years later. The right-hander’s career ended at age 23 due to a torn rotator cuff. Still, he has fond memories of his time in baseball:

No regrets. It was a great time to be young and to play baseball. I had the privilege of pitching against Leroy “Satchel” Paige in spring training in 1952, when he was with the St. Louis Browns. Satch was a great character and a master on the mound, and maybe that’s where I learned “Don’t look back” (later the title of a biography on Paige). In a game as great as baseball, who could have regrets?

And a little further down:

Look, baseball gave me so much more than I could ever repay. It’s like I gave a nickel and reaped a million dollars in return. The game helped me ­afterwards in my business, made me competitive, more hard working. I was — a plain old small-town boy — to make it to the big cities of the major leagues. Who could ever have asked for more?

I don’t mean to get all weepy-eyed, but this is great. The 27-strikeout game was fascinating enough. To have it happen to a man who has been able to put his entire baseball career in such perspective… well, let’s just say Necciai has a new fan. Even if I’m 50+ years late jumping on the bandwagon. Better late than never, right?