Red Sox Hall of Famer Bill Monbouquette, who won 20 games and pitched a no-hitter for the Sox in 1962, is seriously ill with leukemia. He needs a blood stem cell transplant to survive the battle.
The Dana Farber Cancer Institute is holding a bone marrow donor drive this Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Tuft's University's Cousens Gymnasium (161 College Ave., Medford, Mass.).
To donate you only need to be between the ages of 18 and 60, be willing to donate to any patient in need of bone marrow, and meet specified health guidelines spelled out at www.dfci.org/nmdp. More information can be obtained by calling 1-866-875-3324.
The popular Monbo is a Medford native who spent a half-century in the game as a pitcher, scout, and coach. He was rehired by the Red Sox for a day last summer so he could retire as a member of the organization. The retirement ceremony was held at Lowell's LeLacheur Park, where Monbo was a frequent visitor over the years.
Of all the people I've met in my 36 years involved with Major League Baseball, Monbo is among my favorites. He's a terrific storyteller, and he's never pulled any punches in his evaluations of players.
One of my favorite Monbo stories is his account of his start for the American League in the 1960 All-Star Game.
"The first batter of the game is Willie Mays, and I throw him a nasty pitch on the outside corner that he hits down the right-field line for a triple. He scores on a single by Bob Skinner. Then Ernie Banks comes up, and I try to pitch him high and tight. But the ball catches too much of the plate, and he hits into the seats for a home run.
"In the second inning, I face Del Crandall. Everybody tells me this guy can't hit a curveball. So I throw him a curve, I hang it, and he hits it out for another home run. That's it for me. We lose the game 5-3, and I get the loss.
"After the game everybody asks me what happened. I said: 'Aw, Yogi (Berra) called all the wrong pitches."