 Dick Radatz |
Horrible news was heard by Red Sox Nation tonight as Dick Radatz passed away after falling down a set of stairs and sustaining head injuries. Police Chief Thomas Kominsky said that it was being viewed as an accident. “It is believed that as Radatz tumbled down the stairs, he struck his head on the carpet-covered concrete floor. Paramedics were unable to revive Radatz, due to the severity of his injuries – severe head trauma.”
Radatz pitched seven total seasons in the majors, four and a half with the Boston Red Sox, with which he achieved his fame. He went 52-43 with a 3.13 ERA, but those statistics do not reflect Radatz’s full value. ‘The Monster’ as he was known as, accumulated 104 saves over those four and a half years with the Red Sox, numbers that could be achieved in two years in present day but a very impressive accomplishment when he played from 1962 to 1969.
 The Monster was a force in Beantown… |
Dick Radatz’s son said to me during the interview I had with him that “having Dick Radatz as a father is a large portion of the reason I am who I am today, along with my mother. A lot of pressure and a big shadow. It made my expectations of myself very high.”
The offices of the state medical examiner and the Bristol County district attorney are investigating the incident, to affirm that it was an accidental death. Radatz was the pitching coach for the North Shore Spirit, an independent baseball team with former Red Sox Rich Gedman as manager. Gedman is now the manager of Worcester’s brand new independent baseball team.
Condolences go out to Dick Radatz Jr. and all of Radatz’s family and friends. He will truly be missed.
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