rico43
01-04-2015, 11:59 PM
#5 WHITLOW WYATT
Pitching Coach
What came before: A Georgia legend long before the Braves arrived, he was born and raised in Chickamauga and Cedartown, going on to play at Georgia Tech and then in the majors for 16 seasons between 1929 and 1945, and was called the “meanest man I ever saw” by Joe DiMaggio after facing him in the World Series. He actually retired in 1937, but was persuaded to return by the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, went 23-7 in 1938 as he learned the curve ball that enabled him to win 106 games in the majors.
http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii562/ricocarty25/66WYATT001_zps58356d38.jpg
After his playing days, he was again out of baseball for five years, he came out of retirement when Crackers manager and former Dodgers teammate Dixie Walker talked him into becoming the Atlanta pitching coach, which he did for the next four seasons.
He managed the Crackers for one season (1954) and won a Southern Association pennant and the Dixie Series. That earned him a return to the majors as pitching coach for the Phillies in 1955-57, then moved to the World Champion Braves for the 1958 season and happily returned to his native Georgia with the 1966 Braves. He turned down the chance to replace the fired Bobby Bragan as manager, instead recommending fellow coach Billy Hitchcock, who was given the job.
The 1966 season: Injuries wrecked the Braves' staff, (especially young gun Wade Blasingame). Opening Day starter Tony Cloninger worked 258 innings despite arm problems and was never the same again. Closer Clay Carroll worked in 73 games and a harrowing 144 innings (8-7, 2.37, 11 saves). A strong run under new manager Billy Hitchcock enabled the Braves to finish 85-77 (5th in the NL), 3.68 team ERA.
Moving beyond 1966: Wyatt coached through the 1967 season, retiring at year's end at the age of 60. Wyatt retired to his farm in 1968 and died in his adopted hometown of Buchanan, Ga., in 1999 at the age of 91.
Pitching Coach
What came before: A Georgia legend long before the Braves arrived, he was born and raised in Chickamauga and Cedartown, going on to play at Georgia Tech and then in the majors for 16 seasons between 1929 and 1945, and was called the “meanest man I ever saw” by Joe DiMaggio after facing him in the World Series. He actually retired in 1937, but was persuaded to return by the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, went 23-7 in 1938 as he learned the curve ball that enabled him to win 106 games in the majors.
http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii562/ricocarty25/66WYATT001_zps58356d38.jpg
After his playing days, he was again out of baseball for five years, he came out of retirement when Crackers manager and former Dodgers teammate Dixie Walker talked him into becoming the Atlanta pitching coach, which he did for the next four seasons.
He managed the Crackers for one season (1954) and won a Southern Association pennant and the Dixie Series. That earned him a return to the majors as pitching coach for the Phillies in 1955-57, then moved to the World Champion Braves for the 1958 season and happily returned to his native Georgia with the 1966 Braves. He turned down the chance to replace the fired Bobby Bragan as manager, instead recommending fellow coach Billy Hitchcock, who was given the job.
The 1966 season: Injuries wrecked the Braves' staff, (especially young gun Wade Blasingame). Opening Day starter Tony Cloninger worked 258 innings despite arm problems and was never the same again. Closer Clay Carroll worked in 73 games and a harrowing 144 innings (8-7, 2.37, 11 saves). A strong run under new manager Billy Hitchcock enabled the Braves to finish 85-77 (5th in the NL), 3.68 team ERA.
Moving beyond 1966: Wyatt coached through the 1967 season, retiring at year's end at the age of 60. Wyatt retired to his farm in 1968 and died in his adopted hometown of Buchanan, Ga., in 1999 at the age of 91.