Former pitcher Moe Drabowsky, a fun-loving prankster who played for the Cubs and White Sox and was a World Series hero for the Baltimore Orioles, died Saturday at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock of complications from multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow.
Drabowsky, 70, had been living in Sarasota, Fla., and until a few weeks ago continued to work with the Orioles’ young pitchers in Florida.
Over a 17-year career, Drabowsky–whose first name was Myron–pitched for eight teams. His career highlight came for Baltimore in the 1966 World Series opener against the Dodgers when he relieved Dave McNally and one-hit Los Angeles for 6 2/3 innings, striking out 11, a Series record for a relief pitcher, including six in a row.
His performance set the tone for the Series as the Orioles’ pitchers silenced the heavily favored Dodgers lineup and Baltimore won the series in a stunning sweep.
Drabowsky’s career record was a less-than-gaudy 88-105. But that he was able to pitch for 17 seasons despite suffering serious arm difficulties that had him back in the minors after first breaking in with the Cubs in 1956 was representative of a determination that he carried through a recent six-year battle with cancer that included several stem-cell transplants.
“It’s been up and down for him, but he’s been such a fighter,” his daughter, Myra Beth Morris, said.
As a player Drabowsky also was known for his practical jokes, especially the old standard–the hot foot.
Drabowsky’s pranks were a fact of clubhouse life wherever he played. Whether it was frightening teammates with live snakes, setting off fireworks in the bathroom or making phony phone calls to the opposing bullpen.
Drabowsky was born in Ozanna, Poland, and escaped the Nazis with his family to the United States when he was 3 years old.
He was scouted at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., by the Cubs and was part of a young pitching staff in Chicago that failed to live up to expectations. He also played for the Milwaukee Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City A’s, Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals before finishing his career with the White Sox in 1972.
He began his coaching career with the White Sox in 1984 and served as the Cubs’ pitching coach in 1994.
