1958 • Baseball Clip • Ryne Duren Interview - Radio

- Ryne Duren

- Harry Wismer

-

In 1958, Ryne Duren was in the midst of a breakout season with the New York Yankees. This was Duren's first full year in the major leagues and he quickly established himself as one of the most intimidating relief pitchers in baseball. Known for his blazing fastball and thick glasses, Duren led the American League with 20 saves that season, posting a 2.02 ERA and striking out 87 batters in just 75 2/3 innings.

This radio interview captures Duren during his most successful year in professional baseball. At 29 years old, he had overcome years of control issues in the minor leagues to become a key part of the Yankees' bullpen. Duren's unique pitching style, which included intentionally wild warm-up pitches and a reluctance to use the bullpen gate, had already made him a fan favorite. His performance in 1958 would earn him his first of three All-Star selections and help the Yankees win the World Series against the Milwaukee Braves.