RIP Denny Doyle

[Papo The Snow Tiger]

Denny Doyle passed away today. I became a Red Sox fan in "67, but I really didn't start paying close attention until that magical "75 season. I'll remember him best for having a long hit streak, 22 game IIRC. He also played a part in baseball lore; he got thrown out at the plate in the 9th inning, once again IIRC, to keep Game 6 tied. If he was safe the Sox would have won the game right there, and Carlton Fisk wouldn't have had a chance to hit his iconic home run. RIP Denny.


National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on Twitter: "The Hall of Fame remembers former @Phillies, @Angels and @RedSox second baseman Denny Doyle, who passed away on Tuesday. https://t.co/Jpseqt62bn" / Twitter

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

DenDen, as the Hawker called him.

 

[Humphrey]

Denny Doyle passed away today. I became a Red Sox fan in "67, but I really didn't start paying close attention until that magical "75 season. I'll remember him best for having a long hit streak, 22 game IIRC. He also played a part in baseball lore; he got thrown out at the plate in the 9th inning, once again IIRC, to keep Game 6 tied. If he was safe the Sox would have won the game right there, and Carlton Fisk wouldn't have had a chance to hit his iconic home run. RIP Denny.


National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on Twitter: "The Hall of Fame remembers former @Phillies, @Angels and @RedSox second baseman Denny Doyle, who passed away on Tuesday. https://t.co/Jpseqt62bn" / Twitter

I think that was the play where the then-Sox third base coach, Don Zimmer (seems we remember him more for something that happened a couple years later; then 25 years after that) said "no no" and Doyle thought he said "go go". It was a popup down the third base line that probably wouldn't have been a homer in little league, it was that close to home and that easy a throw to nail Doyle.

 

[Euclis20]

I think that was the play where the then-Sox third base coach, Don Zimmer (seems we remember him more for something that happened a couple years later; then 25 years after that) said "no no" and Doyle thought he said "go go". It was a popup down the third base line that probably wouldn't have been a homer in little league, it was that close to home and that easy a throw to nail Doyle.

Here's the play (go to 2:33:40)

View: https://youtu.be/SQzL34qH7uo?t=9220

 

[Norm Siebern]

I think that was the play where the then-Sox third base coach, Don Zimmer (seems we remember him more for something that happened a couple years later; then 25 years after that) said "no no" and Doyle thought he said "go go". It was a popup down the third base line that probably wouldn't have been a homer in little league, it was that close to home and that easy a throw to nail Doyle.

The Red Sox had six base runners thrown out at home that series, a series that went seven games and was decided by one run in the 9th inning of game seven. Six runners thrown out at home in a series that close? Sent home by an utter incompetent imbecile, perhaps one of three titles Zimmer cost the Red Sox? I loathe that fool.

Alas we are here to praise and bury Denny Doyle, who in the midst of the Red Sox HR barrage of June of 1977, when they hit something like 33 HRs in 16 days, mostly against the Orioles and Yankees, it was the diminutive Doyle who after depositing a homer into the visitor's bullpen at Fenway exclaimed "they need to start wearing batting helmets out there (the bullpen)!" Acquired in June for the pennant push in 1975, Doyle hit something like .330 for the Sox, along with the aforementioned hit streak. A key but often overlooked piece of that '75 team. Rest in peace and Godspeed to Denny Doyle. Another Giant from my adolescence stilled.

 

[nighthob]

The Red Sox had six base runners thrown out at home that series, a series that went seven games and was decided by one run in the 9th inning of game seven. Six runners thrown out at home in a series that close? Sent home by an utter incompetent imbecile, perhaps one of three titles Zimmer cost the Red Sox? I loathe that fool.

976 godzillion times this. Even if he hadn't posted deadball era pitching numbers at the height of the juice era Pedro would be a Sox legend for showing that even a quarter century later Don Zimmer hadn't learned how to handle a pitcher.

Oh, and RIP Denny. You deserved better than Gerbil.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

My first autograph. It is a day I'll never forget. Walking out of the tunnel on the first base side and seeing all that green bathed in light. Dad and I had driven up from Connecticut and we got to the game late, but what did I care or know. I was 7. Couldn't see half the field because of a pole. Don't remember if they won or lost. But I was fucking hooked, man.

After the game, my dad figured out where to stand to see the players. My dad gave me a pen and told me how to ask, politely. There weren't too many people there. I got Denny Doyle and Rick Burleson. But Denny first. He had some big cut or goiter on his face. Denny Doyle's Boil. The only paper we had was the envelope that the tickets came in and we passed it through the gaps in a chain link fence. For the next three years, he was my favorite player. I remember listening on the radio and imaging him batting in front of all that green. I think I imagined the green whether or not it was a home or away game.

He took a moment or two with me. I think he asked me my name.

 

[Pablo's TB Lover]

I think that was the play where the then-Sox third base coach, Don Zimmer (seems we remember him more for something that happened a couple years later; then 25 years after that) said "no no" and Doyle thought he said "go go". It was a popup down the third base line that probably wouldn't have been a homer in little league, it was that close to home and that easy a throw to nail Doyle.

To be fair, Denny still could have scored on the short fly if he had gone in feet-first. Did everything right except the last lunge.

 

[FelixMantilla]

Not only a terrible manager, The Gerbil was also an awful third base coach. RIP Denny.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

RIP Denny. Too soon gone.

 

[Hyde Park Factor]

RIP Denny Doyle, like many others here I became a fan in 1975.

One thing I've never been clear on is that if Zimmer's intent was to hold Doyle at third, why not yell "stay!" instead of "No!" or "don't go" ?

 

[54thMA]

RIP Denny Doyle, one of my boyhood heroes from that 1975 team.

My Uncle Peter, who retired and moved to Arizona, was a lifelong Red Sox fan. He and my Aunt Rosella came to visit for about a month, they drove cross country in a camper, he took me to several Red Sox games the Summer of 1975.

One memorable one was August 1st against the Tigers; Tiant was pitching, Red Sox were up 6-3 going into the top of the ninth. Tiant gave up a three run bomb to Willie Horton, we had seats along the first base line, he hit a rocket over the green monster, Bill Freehan followed with another rocket over the monster, Tigers were up 7-6.

Denny Doyle, who had his famous 22 game hitting streak going, had gone hitless in the game, but due to Tiant failing to get the win, he led off the bottom of the ninth. He got an infield hit to SS, advanced to 2nd on a throwing error, the crowd went wild.

Yaz singled him home, tie game...............then Lynn was intentionally walked and Jim Rice bunted, Yaz scored when the throw was wild to first, Red Sox won 8-7, the hitting streak lived on.

I'll never forget that Summer, I was a Red Sox fan up until that point, but that magical Summer leading to that classic World Series, arguably the greatest ever played, cemented my fanhood forever.

I can just see my Uncle Peter greeting Denny in heaven and saying to him "I still can't believe that asshole Zimmer sent you on that pop up in game 6, what a moron"......................

 

[Deweys New Stance]

This really sucks.

I've told this story before, but back in the mid-90's I got to do a business meeting with Denny Doyle. He and his business partner were looking for growth capital for their baseball academy and were looking to our firm as a potential source of equity. Unfortunately we weren't a good fit, but we were able to give them some other leads. But meeting Denny was great; he was engaging and genuine and just a pleasure to talk to. Such a nice man. So towards the end after we had walked through their business plan, I admitted to him that I was a big Sox fan. He was wearing his 1975 American League Championship ring, and asked me if I wanted to try it on. I felt more than a little embarrassed, but he insisted that I put it on, and for a minute I felt like a star struck little kid.

So of course I had to ask him about Game 6. He had clearly told the story many times, but was more than happy to talk about it again. He smiled, looked me in the eye, and confirmed the version that Humphrey posted above:

"Let me ask you, what would you expect to hear from the third base coach if he wanted you to hold up? 'Stay', or 'stop'. If the coach wants you to tag up and advance, he's supposed to say 'go!' What shouldn't the coach say in that situation, because with a full stadium screaming it's too easy to confuse with 'go'? That's right, 'No!'"

And he smiled again and shook his head, thinking about Zimmer's screw up for probably the millionth time.

RIP Denny Doyle.

 

[E5 Yaz]

To be fair, Denny still could have scored on the short fly if he had gone in feet-first. Did everything right except the last lunge.

I don't think so. Bench was bringing the ball over before Doyle was in sliding distance
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHQcPc7yeig

 

[moretsyndrome]

RIP Denny Doyle, like many others here I became a fan in 1975.

One thing I've never been clear on is that if Zimmer's intent was to hold Doyle at third, why not yell "stay!" instead of "No!" or "don't go" ?

I’ve always assumed that the Gerbil was just plain lying and actually said “go!” in the moment.
RIP Denny. That team was everything. He came along and admirably filled one of the few holes on that roster.

 

[mwonow]

My mom's favorite player (and she's gone, too). Sad day. RIP, Denny. If I could rewrite the past, you'd complete that DP cleanly...

 

[nattysez]

Denny Doyle's baseball card is the first one I remember getting in a pack, probably because he was a Red Sox and had a name a little kid could remember.

 

[Pablo's TB Lover]

I don't think so. Bench was bringing the ball over before Doyle was in sliding distance
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHQcPc7yeig

You may be right but if you rewind a few frames his left foot is planted inside the baseline before lunging with the left hand, leaving his left shoulder right there to be tagged. If he was to stay on the outside and hook slide, Bench caught the ball head level on the first base side and would have needed a Fisk-esque dive behind his body to tag Doyle in time.

 

[jacklamabe65]

The Possum, Jim Woods, just LOVED Denny, which is why we all did: smart, engaged, joyful, a team-oriented leader. RIP, Denny, and thanks for 1975 - still one of my all-time favorite Red Sock seasons.

 

[biollante]

That replay just triggered me into some strange 70's sadness. Just don't show the one where Yaz popped up.

RIP Denny.

 

[Ted Cox 4 president]

My mom's favorite player (and she's gone, too). Sad day. RIP, Denny. If I could rewrite the past, you'd complete that DP cleanly...

I've been trying to remember the details. Was that when the cover was literally hanging off the ball as he threw it?

 

[mwonow]

I think you're right. This is from Bleacher Report: View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2582388-forgotten-game-7-of-reds-red-sox-75-world-series-still-haunts-players-coaches


Lee retired Joe Morgan on a fly ball to right. Then, Johnny Bench smacked a ground ball to shortstop that appeared to be the first part of an inning-ending double play. Shortstop Rick Burleson's feed to second baseman Denny Doyle was true, but Rose barreled into the bag like Boobie Clark, coach Paul Brown's star fullback that year for the Cincinnati Bengals, hitting the hole. Doyle's throw to first was out of Yastrzemski's reach, and Bench was safe and advanced to second.

Years later, Doyle would tell Peter Gammons, then the Red Sox beat writer for the Boston Globe, that the baseball's seams were coming apart and that's why the ball slipped out of his hand.

"So many weird things happened that night," Gammons said.

 

[Ted Cox 4 president]

I think it was Roger Angell, but it might have been Gammons, who thought very highly of the classy way DD handled himself when discussing that play long after it happened.

 

[mbarrett]

Wonderful memory, @DennyDoyle'sBoil. Very similar to my own first visit to Fenway at age 7 (but in a different championship year, '67, so pre-Doyle).
I loved that guy...he was my first scrappy second baseman crush. Always brought a smile to my face to hear his name years later, although this mention is bittersweet. Thanks for sharing the memories, SOSH.

 

[jacklamabe65]

For those of you who lived through the magic of 1975, this is a fabulous and nostalgic listen, narrated by Nedly, and featuring Ned and Possum's brilliant calls. It's worth listening to if you have the time. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3hEj1HzSMA

 

[Blizzard of 1978]

Great player. Remembering him hitting a homerun. Crazy that after the Red Sox cut him for Jerry Remy no one would give him another chance.

 

[Don Buddin's GS]

Denny was interviewed on an MLB Network retrospective on the 25 best baseball games of all time with Freddy Lynn and Johnny Bench. Game 6 of the ‘75 WS was #1, naturally.

Denny claimed that Zimmer told him “Don’t go!” and all Doyle heard was the word “Go!”

Leave it to the fucking Gerbil to include the word “go” when instructing a baserunner as to what they should do.

 

[LoweTek]

For those of you who lived through the magic of 1975, this is a fabulous and nostalgic listen, narrated by Nedly, and featuring Ned and Possum's brilliant calls. It's worth listening to if you have the time. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3hEj1HzSMA

I have this album if anyone would like to have it. I'm afraid I have no where to display it.

My DD story relates to the RS Fantasy Camps. DD and his brother Brian came to the camp for a year or two in the early-mid 90's. Denny was sort of the guy in charge of field operations and logistics, not a small task. This was during the time they were running the Doyle Youth training camps as mentioned in the earlier post. DD was engaging, friendly and always had time for a story or to reminisce.

I remember he was watching from a distance as the sun was going down on an early day at the event. Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, Rico Petrocelli and I were debating SS and 2B footwork (actually they were debating and teaching me at the same time. I tried to participate) around the bag at 2B on one of the fields. It was as though he was yielding to the Masters.

Great memories of a great guy. RIP Denny.

 

[Deweys New Stance]

Denny was interviewed on an MLB Network retrospective on the 25 best baseball games of all time with Freddy Lynn and Johnny Bench. Game 6 of the ‘75 WS was #1, naturally.

Denny claimed that Zimmer told him “Don’t go!” and all Doyle heard was the word “Go!”

Leave it to the fucking Gerbil to include the word “go” when instructing a baserunner as to what they should do.

Guess you have a few of us on ignore

 

[Don Buddin's GS]

Guess you have a few of us on ignore

Actually no, I don’t have anyone on ignore. Didn’t see anyone reference the interview Denny gave on MLB Network.

 

[lexrageorge]

I hate seeing players from that era move on to the corn fields; RIP Denny Doyle. That 1975 team remains my favorite. I was too young for the 1967 Series, so up until then the World Series was always the domain of the "other teams".

The Red Sox had six base runners thrown out at home that series, a series that went seven games and was decided by one run in the 9th inning of game seven. Six runners thrown out at home in a series that close? Sent home by an utter incompetent imbecile, perhaps one of three titles Zimmer cost the Red Sox? I loathe that fool.

I think the correct number is 7 total outs on the base paths, with 4 at home. The list, fwiw:

Game 1, 1st inning: Dewey out at home on a tricky ground ball by Lynn in a scoreless game at the bottom of the first. To be fair to Zimmer, Concepcion and Morgan got crossed up a bit with Morgan thinking the ball hit Fisk and it really took a heads up play by Concepcion to make the close play at the plate. Sox won anyway.

Game 1, 4th inning: Burleson caught stealing.

Game 1, 6th inning: Lynn was thrown out tagging up after a Cecil Cooper fly out to center. Geronimo made an excellent throw, but had Lynn stayed Tiant would have been up with 2 outs. Of course, Tiant would lead off the following inning with a single and score that famous run that started the Red Sox onslaught.

Game 2, 1st inning: A horrible blunder where Cooper got caught in a rundown between 3rd and home after Yaz hit into a fielder's choice and the late Denny Doyle out at 2nd. Heads up play by Concepcion again, but that was a dumb call by Zimmer. Turned out to be costly as the Sox lost Game 2 3-2.

Game 2, 2nd inning: Darryl Johnson for whatever reason decides to test the arm of Johnny Bench and sends Dwight Evans to steal 3rd and easily thrown out with Bill Lee at bat.

Game 3, 4th inning. Fred Lynn got thrown out on the base paths trying to stretch a single into a double. Costly out given the Sox would have had 1st and 3rd with one out and a 1-0 lead. Sox would lose 6-5 in 10 innings thanks to the infamous Ed Armbister play.

Game 6, 9th inning: Noted above.

 

[dirtynine]

My first autograph. It is a day I'll never forget. Walking out of the tunnel on the first base side and seeing all that green bathed in light. Dad and I had driven up from Connecticut and we got to the game late, but what did I care or know. I was 7. Couldn't see half the field because of a pole. Don't remember if they won or lost. But I was fucking hooked, man.

After the game, my dad figured out where to stand to see the players. My dad gave me a pen and told me how to ask, politely. There weren't too many people there. I got Denny Doyle and Rick Burleson. But Denny first. He had some big cut or goiter on his face. Denny Doyle's Boil. The only paper we had was the envelope that the tickets came in and we passed it through the gaps in a chain link fence. For the next three years, he was my favorite player. I remember listening on the radio and imaging him batting in front of all that green. I think I imagined the green whether or not it was a home or away game.

He took a moment or two with me. I think he asked me my name.

I enjoyed reading this.

 

[Eagle3]

I have a ball with some autographs on it that were all obtained at different times in the 70s, either at games at Fenway or offseason meet and greet appearances. The signatures are Yaz, Jim Rice, Eck, and, Denny Doyle. One of these things is not like the others! But I was always a fan of Denny since he signed that ball for me at a game when I was around 11 or 12 years old.

Side note, I'm hitting another milestone in getting old with regards to athletes. The first one is when you're young and a favorite player retires who you only remember part of their career. That was John Havlicek and then Yaz. Then a favorite player retires who you saw play their entire career when you were young. That would be Jim Rice and then Larry Bird. Then guys start retiring where you were middle aged when they started and you start to feel old. Like Pedro, Ortiz, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett. Then you really start to feel old when guys you watched play their whole career start dying. Paul Silas and Denny Doyle are the most recent guys in this sad category.

 

[NorthwestSoxGuy]

It hurts when a member of the '75 Sox passes away.

The 1975 Sox were one of the best and most entertaining teams ever, even though they didn't win the WS. Denny didn't have the best stats in his career (except for '75), but he was a good man and a great contributor for the team.

RIP Denny

 

[TomTerrific]

My first autograph. It is a day I'll never forget. Walking out of the tunnel on the first base side and seeing all that green bathed in light. Dad and I had driven up from Connecticut and we got to the game late, but what did I care or know. I was 7. Couldn't see half the field because of a pole. Don't remember if they won or lost. But I was fucking hooked, man.

After the game, my dad figured out where to stand to see the players. My dad gave me a pen and told me how to ask, politely. There weren't too many people there. I got Denny Doyle and Rick Burleson. But Denny first. He had some big cut or goiter on his face. Denny Doyle's Boil. The only paper we had was the envelope that the tickets came in and we passed it through the gaps in a chain link fence. For the next three years, he was my favorite player. I remember listening on the radio and imaging him batting in front of all that green. I think I imagined the green whether or not it was a home or away game.

He took a moment or two with me. I think he asked me my name.

That's a good story, thanks for sharing. Honestly, I converted to the Sox in 86, so all these guys are before my time, so it's great to hear these memories.

Also, when I first saw the title, I feared you were the subject of this thread. Glad that's not the case.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

I feared you were the subject of this thread. Glad that's not the case.

I had a five second freak out too. I think I actually touched my arm to get assurance I was still here.

 

[Sin Duda]

My mom's favorite player (and she's gone, too). Sad day. RIP, Denny. If I could rewrite the past, you'd complete that DP cleanly...

Huh, my mom's favorite too. She spied him at a Reading Phillies minor league game in 1968 and loved the little guy (she's 5'0" herself). Since she's 91 now, I don't think I'll tell her. no need to remind her of our mortality.

 

[Paveskovich's Pole]

Denny Doyle was part of a now outdated piece of trivia. "The oldest game in MLB for which 'everyone' who played in it is still alive". August 3, 1976. Red Sox v Indians. RIP Denny.