Ray Narleski obit

Ray Narleski, 2-time all-star and part of Indians' great bullpen in historic 1954 season, dies at age 83

 

He was not on the list.

Ray Narleski, a two-time all-star with the Indians and a key to their brilliant bullpen during the historic 1954 season, died on March 29 at age 83.

Narleski died of natural causes, his wife of 63 years, Ruth, said through the funeral home near the Narleski home in Gloucester Township, New Jersey.

Narleski was a right-handed rookie relief pitcher for the Indians when they set the American League record for wins, finishing 111-43, before being swept in the World Series by the New York Giants. The wins record has been broken since the schedule was expanded to 162 games.

Sharing the bulk of the bullpen duties with two left-handers, Don Mossi and future Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser, Narleski was 3-2 with 13 saves and a 1.95 ERA in 40 relief appearances spanning 78 1/3 innings, holding hitters to a .171 batting average. He pitched in two World Series games, not getting a decision while allowing one run in four innings.

With his blazing fastball and a good assortment of off-speed pitches, Narleski finished sixth in the American League MVP voting in 1955. He led AL pitchers with 60 appearances and with 19 saves, during an era when there were fewer save opportunities as starters pitched more complete games. Narleski was 9-1 with a 3.71 ERA in 111 2/3 innings.

Narleski made the AL all-star team in 1956 and 1958, pitching 3 1/3 scoreless relief innings during the AL’s 4-3 win over the National League in 1958.

In his five seasons with the Indians, Narleski was 39-21 with 53 saves and a 3.22 ERA in 224 games, including 42 starts.

Narleski was named among the Top 100 Greatest Indians during the team’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2001.

The Indians traded Narleski, Mossi and infielder Ossie Alvarez to the Tigers for pitcher Al Cicotte and infielder Billy Martin — who went on to managing fame — on Nov. 20, 1958.

Narleski was 4-12 with five saves for Detroit in 1959. He was hampered by a sore pitching shoulder, but retired after the season, at age 30, also due to a ruptured disc in his back.

Narleski's father, Bill Narleski, was a Red Sox infielder in 1929-30. In his book, "The Cleveland Indians Encyclopedia," former Plain Dealer Indians beat writer Russell Schneider wrote that Narleski credited his father's practice time with him for his success.

“Never give in to a hitter,” was a piece of advice from his father that Narleski never forgot, he said.

One of Ray Narleski's three sons, Steve Narleski, pitched in the Indians' minor league system from 1976-83, reaching Class AAA but never the major leagues.