Ryne Duren 1929-2011

[JohnBriggs12]

He was famous for his heat and throwing warmup pitches to the screen. He's also a Wisconsin native but unlike what was sloppily reported in the article in the JS, the Milwaukee Braves were not his favorite team as a boy despite the fact he grew up in Wisconsin. The Braves moved to Milwaukee when Duren was 24 years old and already pitching in AA.

[craigharmann]

I thought he was famous for being the guy that Ryne Sandberg was named after.

[jimmyjeromehardy7]

Ryne Duren spoke at our high school 20 some years ago about his battles with alcohol and overcoming it. It's been too long ago to remember much about it though.

[thumperden]

He did the same at our high school back in the 80's. I remember him being very friendly and didn't seem to mind talking old-school baseball to a crazy kid like me back in the day. I always held him in high regard for that. He'll be missed.

[splitterpfj]

I met Mr Duren in Madison, in 2003. He spent about half an hour talking to me - he was a warm, pleasant man. Mr Duren's alcoholism once led him to park his car on a train track and wait...as a suicide attempt.

 

I haven't had a chance to read it, but Mr Duren wrote, "I Can See Clearly Now", about his battles with the bottle.

[hawing]

I just requested one of two library copies in the UW System, so sometime next week I should have a chance to read it.