Yankees fireballer Duren dies

Ryne Duren, an All-Star pitcher known for a 100-mph fastball, occasional wildness and Coke-bottle glasses that created a most intimidating presence on the mound, has died at his winter home in Florida. He was 81.

Duren died Thursday, stepson Mark Jackson said Friday.

An All-Star in three seasons, Duren helped the Yankees reach the World Series in 1958 and 1960.

Duren's blazing heater - and 20/200 vision in his left eye, 20/70 in his right - always attracted attention. He was known for coming out of the bullpen and throwing at least one of his warmup pitches to the backstop on the fly to intimidate hitters.

"Ryne could throw the heck out of the ball," said Yogi Berra, who caught Duren during the pitcher's time with the Yankees from 1958-61. "He threw fear in some hitters. I remember he had several pair of glasses, but it didn't seem like he saw good in any of them. He added a lot of life to the Yankees and it was sad his drinking shortened his career. I'm sorry to learn of his passing."

Duren wrote about his alcohol problems in his books "I Can See Clearly Now" and "The Comeback." He spent years working with ballplayers, helping them with their addictions, and was honored by the Yankees for his efforts.

Duren played for seven teams during a career that lasted from 1954-65. He went 27-44 with a 3.83 ERA in 311 appearances, all but 32 in relief. The righthander struck out 630 and walked 392 in 5891/3 innings, throwing 38 wild pitches.

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Rinold George Duren was born in Cazenovia, Wis. He made his major-league debut with Baltimore in 1954 and led the AL with 20 saves for the Yankees in 1958. That fall, he won Game 6 of the World Series with 42/3 impressive innings against the Milwaukee Braves before the Yankees won Game 7. Duren had a 2.03 ERA in 131/3 innings in five World Series games.- AP