Ray Fosse, Catcher Best Known for a Collision, Dies at 74

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Ray Fosse, the solid-armed catcher whose career was upended when he was bowled more than by Pete Rose at the 1970 All-Star Match, died on Wednesday. He was 74.

Carol Fosse, his spouse of 51 many years, stated in a assertion on the net that he died just after a 16-12 months bout with most cancers. She did not say wherever he died.

Fosse was a budding expertise for Cleveland when he created his 1st All-Star staff as a 23-year-old in 1970. He had 16 household operates and 45 operates battled in at the All-Star split. He would go on to strike .307 that 12 months with a job-substantial 18 homers he also threw out 55 percent of tried foundation stealers and received the very first of two Gold Gloves.

In the 12th inning of the All-Star Activity — played at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Rose’s residence field — Rose barreled above Fosse to score the profitable run, fracturing and separating Fosse’s still left shoulder.

X-rays instantly soon after the incident have been unfavorable, and Fosse did not overlook any playing time. He caught nine innings in a match at Kansas Metropolis two days just after the All-Star match, even even though he couldn’t raise his remaining arm earlier mentioned his head. It was later determined that his shoulder had not healed correctly.

Rose was extensively criticized for what many men and women regarded as unnecessarily rough enjoy in an exhibition recreation. He later defended himself, stating, “There’s no feeling in at any time sliding into a bag if you can not get the bag.”

Fosse designed the All-Star group all over again in 1971. But he was by no means all over again an All-Star, and he never ever experienced a season as great as 1970 more than a 12-year vocation with Cleveland, Oakland, Seattle and Milwaukee.

Traded to Oakland in 1973, he assisted the Athletics get two World Series championships. He finished his vocation with a .256 batting normal and 61 residence runs in 924 game titles.

Raymond Earl Fosse was born on April 4, 1947, in Marion, Ill. He was a to start with-round draft choose for Cleveland in 1965 and made his big league debut two years later.

In addition to his wife, his survivors include things like two daughters, Nikki and Lindsey.

Fosse became a broadcaster for the Athletics in 1986 and ongoing performing into the 2021 time.

In 2015, 40 yrs following the incident, Fosse told The Related Press that he experienced arthritis, experienced endured five knee operations and experienced two terrible shoulders that he had never fixed as nicely as a rigid neck.

Of program, he realized that wasn’t all from Rose’s blow at the All-Star Match. A ton of it was a outcome of the rigors of staying a catcher.

“There was not anybody at the time to say, ‘Don’t play,’” he said. “I continued. Which is something that I acquire with a whole lot of satisfaction.”

His collision with Rose, he the moment reported, was “something individuals will proceed to talk about, regardless of whether they have been alive at the time or watched the movie and see the end result.”

“There have been some harder hits,” he additional, but “just the point it was an All-Star Sport, they often vote on the All-Star Sport highlights or lowlights, and that constantly seems to be at the major that individuals converse about.”

The New York Moments contributed reporting.