Reliever Ron Perranoski: A[nother] Tale of Two Cities

 

The career of left-handed reliever Ron Perranoski (1961–73) mainly featured successes in two cities: Los Angeles and Minneapolis[-St.Paul].1 Unlike Hall of Fame reliever Mariano Rivera, who spent his entire career with the Yankees (1995–2013), typically relievers pitch for more than one team. The seven other HOF relievers through 2024 each toiled for at least three teams, and as many as nine:

An itinerant career in relief pitching is foretold by necessity: added by contenders and discarded by developing teams. Perranoski was one such itinerant who divided his 178 career saves among the Dodgers (100 saves: 1961–67), Twins (76 saves: 1968–71), and, Tigers (two saves: 1971–72). At the tail end of his career, he also had two wins with the Dodgers in 1972 and two losses with the Angels in 1973, but no saves in either year.

The 2023 playoff run of the Minnesota Twins brought back fond memories of their 1969 and 1970 pennant chases, when Perranoski saved 31 of 97 wins and 34 of 98 wins respectively.2 During the latter campaign he was nursing a freak, off-season back injury.3 By and large, Perranoski’s two years of glory in the Twin Cities were overshadowed by his cadre of HOF teammates: Jim Kaat (1959–93), Bert Blyleven (1970–92), Rod Carew (1967–85), Tony Oliva (1962–76), and, especially Harmon Killebrew (1954–75), whose popularity made him a kind of Babe Ruth of the Great Lakes. Although indispensable to team successes, alongside such bright lights, Perranoski pretty much toiled in their shadows (1968–71). Perhaps weakened by age and injury, he faded for the Tigers (1971–72), Dodgers (1972), and Angels (1973).

In addition to his playoff season achievements in Minnesota, Perranoski’s previous successes (100 saves) with the Dodgers (1961–67) also were underappreciated. There he pitched in the shadows of HOFers Don Drysdale (1956–69), for whom he saved 16 of 209 wins, and Sandy Koufax (1955–66), saving 8 of 165 wins. Some other Dodger arms he served included notable middle-of-the-rotation pitchers like Johnny Podres (1953–69: 11 saves of 148 career wins), Claude Osteen (1957–75: 9 of 196), and Stan Williams (1958–72: 7 of 109).4 All in all, from 1961 through 1967, Perranoski saved 100 of 635 wins for the Dodgers, about one in six.5

 

Perranoski Mentions	Books	Articles	Obituaries
LH Reliever	5	9	11
As Dodger	7	7	16
As Twin	5	3	4

 

Many books, periodicals, and obituaries remember Perranoski as a superior left-handed reliever during the pre-DH Expansion Era (1961–72).6,7,8 In many others he is largely identified as a Los Angeles Dodger (1961–67; 1972).9,10,11 His remembrances as a Minnesota Twin (1968–71), on the other hand, are relatively scant.12,13,14 Mentions of him being a Twin are almost outnumbered by some of his other roles in life, including:

Branded starred Chuck Connors, an ex-player (1949, 1951) and Los Angeles Dodgers fan, who played briefly with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1949: 1 AB, 1 GIDP).20,21 Perranoski appeared as bad guy Lennart, who guarded a wagonload of confiscated firearms, only to be shot in the final gun battle.22 Off the field, he seemed to be liked by his teammates, except Rod Carew, and by fans, except for the one that he squirted with a water pistol.23

In the end, his career as a Twin appeared to fade into the mists of the 10,000 Lakes. But, taken as a whole, Perranoski’s 178-save career deserves to be remembered. His most comparable contemporary was right-hander Lindy McDaniel (1955–75) who had 174 saves for five teams. Both were overshadowed by Hall of Famers: Hoyt Wilhelm (228 saves: 1952–72) and Roy Face (191 saves: 1953–69). These four formed a formidable relief cohort from the mid-1950s to the onset of the Designated Hitter (DH) in 1973. Subsequently, a trio of Hall of Famers who appeared in the early DH years would overshadow them all: Rollie Fingers (341 saves: 1968–85), Rich Gossage (310 saves: 1972–94), and Bruce Sutter (300 saves: 1976–88).

A key plus for Perranoski was that he could be considered among the first notable left-handed relievers, comparable to notable right-handed relievers like McDaniel and Face. His 178 saves exceeded next-in-line lefty contemporaries Joe Hoerner (98 saves: 1963–77), Bill Henry (90 saves: 1952–69), and Hal Woodeshick (61 saves: 1956–67). He also exceeded his Postwar lefty predecessor Joe Page (76 saves: 1944–54). Perranoski was a lefty who succeeded like a righty.

Although the keystone of Ron Perranoski’s career was a freak injury, his performance both before and after his injury made him a relief pitcher worthy of note, particularly among the ranks of left-handed relievers. Like his right-handed contemporaries Roy Face and Lindy McDaniel, he is one of the overlooked relievers from the Fifties and Sixties. Nevertheless, his contributions in Los Angeles and Minnesota made him a truly remarkable relief pitcher during the pre-DH Expansion Era (1961-72).

WAYNE TOWERS is a retired Sea World San Diego education specialist and retired college professor and administrator. He also worked as a data analyst for The Oklahoman and Times Daily newspapers and for multiple business and marketing research firms. His published work includes “World Series Coverage in the 1920s” (Journalism Monographs).

 

Notes

1 Unless otherwise noted, player data from Baseball-Reference.com, eg., “Ron Perranoski,” http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perraro01.shtml.

2 Unless otherwise noted, team data from Baseball-Reference.com, eg., “1969 Minnesota Twins Statistics,” http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1969.shtml.

3 Bob Trostler, “ Ron Perranoski,” SABR BioProject. Accessed September 9, 2023, https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ron-perranoski.

4 Data from Baseball-Reference Game Logs, eg., “Ron Perranoski: 1961 Pitching Game Log,” https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=perraro01&t=p&year=1961.

5 In a 162-game season, saving one in six games represented a 27-game swing ([1/6]x162=27). For example, if a team played .500-ball in its 135 non-save games (W-L: 68–68 rounded), the 27-game swing was roughly the difference between a 68–94 draft choice season or a 94–68 playoff season. Data from “Los Angeles Dodgers Managers,” http://www.baseball-almanac.com/mgrtmld.shtml.

6 Books: Steve Jacobson, The Pitching Staff: A Classic Portrait of Baseball’s Most Unique Fraternity (New York: Thomas Y. Cromwell Company, 1975), 109. Kevin Neary with Leigh A. Tobin, Closer: Major League Players Reveal the Inside Pitch on Saving the Game (Philadelphia: Running Press, 2013), 64, 66. John Thorn, The Relief Pitcher: Baseball’s New Hero (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1979), 10. Paul Votano, Late and Close: A History of Relief Pitching (Jefferson: NC: McFarland and Company, 2002), 61–62. Fran Zimniuch, Fireman: The Evolution of the Closer in Baseball (Chicago: Triumph Books, 2010), 178.

7 Articles: Tom Chiapetta, “Pitching Coaches: Goals Are Same, Techniques Differ,” Baseball Digest: 1988 Best Pitchers Yearbook, 1988, 40. Doc Greene, “He Came in with a High Pitch,” Baseball Digest, March 1964, 21. Bob Kuenster, “These Are the Ten All-Time Best Relievers,” Baseball Digest, May 1995, 42. Bob Kuenster, “Young Starters Assure Cubs of Being Well-Armed for the Future,” Baseball Digest, November 2003, 22. Martin Loughton, “The Fans Speak Out,” Baseball Digest, November 1970, 9. Dick Peebles, “Big Deal at Mesa,” Baseball Digest, May 1964, 61. Larry Stone, “Pitching Specialists,” Baseball Digest, May 2015, 23. George Vass, “5 Best Relief Pitchers in Majors,” Baseball Digest, August 1981, 29. Gordon Verrell, “The Fans Speak Out,” Baseball Digest, April 1999, 7.

8 Obituaries: Gerald Bourquet, “Dodgers Great Ron Perranoski Passes Away at 84,” Fansided. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://fansided.com/2020/10/03/dodgers-great-ron-perranoski-passes-away-84/. Steve Dittmore, “Bleeding Dodger Blue, Family, and Memory,” Bleeding Dodger Blue, January 8, 2021. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://stevedittmore.substack.com/p/bleeding-dodger-blue-family-and-memory. “Former Dodgers Pitcher, Coach Ron Perranoski Dead at 84,” Patch, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://patch.com/california/los-angeles/former-dodgers-pitcher-coach-ron-perranoski-dead-84. Sam Gadziak, “Obituary Ron Perranoski (1936–2020),” RIP Baseball, October 10, 2020. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://ripbaseball.com/2020/10/09/obituary-ron-perranoski-1936-2020/. Richard Goldstein, “Ron Perranoski: Ace Reliever in Dodgers’ Storied ’60s, Dies at 84,” The New York Times, October 5, 2020. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/05/sports/baseball/ron-perranoski-ace-reliever-in-dodgers-storied-60s-dies-at-84.html. Beth Harris, “Ron Perranoski, Star Relief Pitchers of the 1960s and 70s, Dies at 84,” Washington Post, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 3 , 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ron-perranoski-star-relief-pitcher-of-the-1960s-and-70s-dies-at-84/2020/10/03/810643fe-05c6-11eb-b7ed-141dd88560ea_story.html. Ron Kaplan, “Lest We Forget: Ron Perranoski,” Ron Kaplan’s Baseball Bookshelf, October 22, 2020. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.ronkaplansbaseballbookshelf.com/2020/10/22/lest-we-forget-ron-perranoski/. “Ron Perranoski,” BR Bullpen. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.baseball-com/2024, https://www.baseball-com/bullpen/Ron_Perranoski. “Ron Perranoski,” Polish Sports Hall of Fame, June 9, 1983. Accessed January 2, 2024, http://www.polishsportshof.com/portfolio_page/ron-perranoski/ “Ron Perranoski 1962 Topps,” Professional Sports Authenticator. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1962-topps/ron-perranoski-297/28120. “Ron Perranoski Shut Door on Cardinals Championship Bid,” Retrosimb, October 15, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://twinstrivia.com/tag/ron-perranoski/.

9 Books: Brian M. Endsley, Finding the Left Arm of God: Sandy Koufax and the Los Angeles Dodgers, 1960–1963 (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company, 2015), 15; 251. Jacobson, The Pitching Staff, 110, Michael Schiavone, The Dodgers: 60 Years in Los Angeles (New York: Sports Publications, 2020), 42. Thorn, The Relief Pitcher, 131. John Weisman, Brothers in Arms: Koufax, Kershaw, and the Dodgers’ Extraordinary Pitching Tradition (Chicago: Triumph Books, 2018), 321–22. Zimniuch, Fireman, 178.

10 Articles: Hugh Bradley, “He’s the Dodgers’ Buzz Saw,” Baseball Digest, February 1964, 79. Jerry Crowe, “‘Bullpen Burnout,’ A Common Ailment in Major Leagues,” Baseball Digest, August 1987, 34. Jack Disney, “Were These Deals Bad!” Baseball Digest, May–June 2014, 96. Stan Hochman, “Perranoski At His Best for Dodgers When Arm Is Tired!,” Baseball Digest, March 1964, 33–34. Charlie Park, “He’s Dodgers’ Grenadier,” Baseball Digest, December–January 1962, 27. Randy Schultz, “Don Drysdale One of the Great Pitchers of His Era,” Baseball Digest, November 2006, 74. Francis Stan, “New Career for Roseboro,” Baseball Digest, May 1968, 74.

11 Obituaries: [Bear], “Perry,” LA Dodger Talk, October 10, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://ladodgertalk.com/2020/10/10/perry/. Howard Cole, “Dodgers Relief Great Ron Perranoski Passes Away,” Sports Illustrated, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/news/dodgers-relief-great-ron-perranoski-passes-away. “Dodgers Relief Great Ron Perranoski Dies at 84,” City News Service, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/dodgers-relief-great-ron-perranoski-dies-at-84/2438395/. “Former Dodgers Pitcher, Coach Ron Perranoski Dead at 84,” City News Service Los Angeles, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/sports/ 2020/10/03/former-dodgers-pitcher–coach-ron-perranoski-dead-at-84. Ken Gurnick and Chris Haft, “Former Dodgers Lefty Perranoski Dies at 84,” MLB.com. October 3, 2020, Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.mlb.com/news/ron-perranoski-dies-at-84. Bruce Haring, “Ron Perranoski and ‘Sweet Lou’ Johnson, Two Los Angeles Dodger Greats from the 1960s Die,” Deadline, October 4, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://deadline.com/2020/10/ron-perranoski-sweet-lou-johnson-los-angeles-dodgers-obituaries-1234591055/. Beth Harris, “Dodgers Relief Ace Ron Perranoski Is Dead at Age 84,” Avpress, October 5, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://www.avpress.com/news/dodgers-relief-ace-ron-perranoski-is-dead-at-age-84/article_92782aa8-06ac-11eb-b7a8-17911f934192.html. Jack Harris, “Relief Ace Ron Perranoski, Two-Time World Series Champion with Dodgers, Dies at 84,” Los Angeles Times, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2020-10-03/relief-ace-ron-perranoski-two-time-world-series-champion-dodgers-dies-84. Rowan Kavner, “Dodger Relief Great and Champion Ron Perranoski Passes Away at 84,” Medium, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://dodgers.mlblogs.com/dodger-relief-great-and-champion-ron-perranoski-passes-away-at-84-715a4a6e5f80. Matthew Moreno, “Former Dodgers Relief Pitcher Ron Perranoski Passes Away,“ Dodger Blue, October 4, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://dodgerblue.com/former-dodgers-relief-pitcher-ron-perranoski-passes-away/2020/10/04/. “People/Ron Perranoski American Baseball Player and Coach,” Peoplepill. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://peoplepill.com/i/ron-perranoski. ‘Relief Ace Perranoski, 2-time World Series Champ, Dies at 84,” USA Today. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/10/03/relief-ace-perranoski-2-time-world-series-champ-dies-at-84/114215142/. “Ron Perranoski April 1, 1936-October 2, 2020,” Beyond the Dash, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://beyondthedash.com/obituary/ron-perranoski-1080389822. Dennis Schlossman, “Legendary Reliever Ron Perranoski Passes Away at 84,” Think Blue Planning Committee, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://thinkbluepc.com/2020/10/03/legendary-reliever-ron-perranoski-passes-away-at-84/. Eric Stephen, “Ron Perranoski, Dodgers Relief Ace and Pitching Coach, Dies at 84,” SBNationTrueBlueLA, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://www.truebluela.com/2020/10/3/21500340/farewell-ron-perranoski-dodgers. Marco Stoovelaar, “Former Los Angeles Dodger Relief-Great and Pitching Coach Ron Perranoski Passed Away,” Grand Slam Stats and News. Accessed January 3, 2024, http://catcher.home.xs4all.nl/bb20-0410-former-los-angeles-dodgers-relief-great-and-pitching-coach-ron-perranoski-passed-away.htm.

12 Books: Bob Cairns, Pen Men: Baseball’s Greatest Bullpen Stories Told by the Men Who Brought the Game Relief (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1992), 222. Neary with Tobin, Closer, 65–66. Thorn, The Relief Pitcher, 131–132. Stew Thornley, Minnesota Twins Baseball: Hardball History on the Prairie (Charleston, SC: History Press, 2014), 123. Votano, Late and Close, 62. Zimniuch, Fireman, 178.

13 Articles: “Major Relief Pitching Achievements,” Baseball Digest, August 1997, 52; Tom Singer, “Relief Pitchers Unsung Heroes of Baseball”, 72; George Vass, “5 Best Relief Pitchers in Majors,” 29.

14 Obituaries: Matt Braun, “Greatest Twins Teams of all Time: 1970,” Twins Daily, December 31, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://twinsdaily.com/news-rumors/minnesota-twins/greatest-twins-teams-of-all-time-1970-r15475/. “Ron Perranoski, Reliever Who Shined for Dodgers and Twins, Dead at 84,” Minneapolis Star-Tribune, October 4, 2020. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.startribune.com/perranoski-reliever-who-shined-for-dodgers-and-twins-dead-at-84/572628121/. “Ron Perranoski Has Passed at the Age of 84,” Twins Trivia, October 6, 2020. Accessed January 4, 2024, https://twinstrivia.com/2020/10/06/ron-perranoski-has-passed-at-the-age-of-84/. “Some of the Best Twins We Saw at Metropolitan Stadium,” Twins Trivia. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://twinstrivia.com/tag/ron-perranoski/.

15 Beth Harris, “Ron Perranoski, Former Dodgers Reliever, Giants Coach, Dies at 84,” SFGATE, October 3, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Ron-Perranoski-former-Dodgers-reliever-Giants-15619495.php.

16 “Former Spartan Pitcher Ron Perranoski Passes Away,” Michigan State Baseball, October 4, 2020. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.msuspartans.com/news/2020/10/4/baseball-former-spartan-pitcher-ron-perranoski-passes-away. Beth Harris, “Michigan State Baseball’s Ron Perranoski, an ex-Detroit Tiger, Dies at 84,” Detroit Free Press. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2020/10/03/ron-perranoski-michigan-state-baseball-detroit-tigers-dies/3613744001/.

17 “Ron Perranoski,” NJSports.com. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.njsportsheroes.com/ronperranoskibb.html.

18 Laurence Reisman, “Calm, Cool Ex-Dodger Perranoski Was Amazing Stopper, Pitching coach, Raconteur: Opinion’” TCPalm, October 5, 2020. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/columnists/laurence-reisman/2020/10/05/ex-dodger-coach-pitcher-perranoski-had-ice-water-veins-opinion/3620578001/. Kelly Rogers, “Former L.A. Dodgers Pitcher, Coach Ron Perranoski Passes Away at 84 in Vero Beach,” TCPalm, October 5, 2020. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.tcpalm.com/picture-gallery/news/local/indian-river-county/2020/10/05/former-l-a-dodgers-pitcher-coach-ron-perranoski-passes-away-84-vero-beach/3622773001/.

19 “Ron Perranoski (1936–2020),” IMDb. Accessed January 2, 2024, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1589893/.

20 “Branded (TV Series) Coward Step Aside (1965) Full Cast and Crew,” IMDb. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0531266/fullcredits.

21 Jeff Katz, “Everybody’s a Star,” The National Pastime: Endless Seasons, 2011, 74–76. Accessed January 19, 2024, https://sabr.org/journal/article/everybodys-a-star-the-dodgers-go-hollywood/.

22 “Branded Coward Step Aside Plot,” IMDb. Accessed January 3, 2024, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0531266/plotsummary/. “1965 Johnny Crawford 1965 Clip 3.” Accessed January 3, 2024, https://www.facebook.com/10007048938476/videos/brandedcoward-step-aside-1965-johnny-crawford-clip-3/218939552227879/. Johnny Crawford 1965 Clip 4.” Accessed January 3, 2024, https://www.facebook.com/100070489383476/videos/brandedcoward-step-aside-1965johnny-crawford-clip-4/219271998861301/.

23 Rod Carew with Ira Berkow, Carew (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1979), 112; Bruce Nash, Allan Zullo and Bernie Ward, The Baseball Hall of Shame 3 (New York: Pocket Books, 1987), 52–53.