5-3-23 Reds @ Padres 4:10 PM

[goreds2]

Reds got Norman in June of 73. When they picked him up I wondered why in the world did they get this guy? He had a 1-7 record and just didn't seem very good. For the first time in my life I was wrong. Norman's first two games he pitched a shutout and nearly had a third straight. He went on to become a steady pitcher for the BRM.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/N/Pnormf101.htm

Plus in 2018, Norman was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

Reds got Norman in June of 73. When they picked him up I wondered why in the world did they get this guy? He had a 1-7 record and just didn't seem very good. For the first time in my life I was wrong. Norman's first two games he pitched a shutout and nearly had a third straight. He went on to become a steady pitcher for the BRM.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/N/Pnormf101.htm

What a screwball!!! His signature pitch, I mean. He definitely could keep hitters off-balance with his repertoire. Was a little guy, too. About 5'7" if I remember correctly.


Says 5'8" on his fact sheet. Just 155 pounds. Fred was a vital cog on the pitching staff.

[Sea Ray]

Fred Norman was far better as a Red than Caldwell or Kirby and I'll add one more thing: Norman was not a fan of Sparky Anderson. He despised "Capt. Hook" and felt that Sparky often pulled him way too soon in games

[Ky Fried Redleg]

Fred Norman was far better as a Red than Caldwell or Kirby and I'll add one more thing: Norman was not a fan of Sparky Anderson. He despised "Capt. Hook" and felt that Sparky often pulled him way too soon in games

Yeah, Fred was the much better Red. And Freddy was probably right about the Main Spark pulling the plug on him too soon. But they called the Sparkster CH for a reason.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

I liked Norman, not only because I was a pitcher with his same short stature but I just like guys who weren't blessed with the physical gifts but used their wits & guile to get ML batters out. Fred knew how to pitch. Same for another guy I liked, Bronson Arroyo. I've never seen a pitcher with as much absolute junk in his trunk as Bronson. Yet he rode that junky repertoire to a very good ML career.

Watching Bronson reminded me of the days when I'd try to hit George Bennett's whiffle ball pitches in my granny's backyard. Bronson and Norman were guys that we all thought we could step up to the plate and get a knock off of. Yet, they would have made us all look darn foolish. Both Fred and Bronson were very smart pitchers.

[cumberlandreds]

I liked Norman, not only because I was a pitcher with his same short stature but I just like guys who weren't blessed with the physical gifts but used their wits & guile to get ML batters out. Fred knew how to pitch. Same for another guy I liked, Bronson Arroyo. I've never seen a pitcher with as much absolute junk in his trunk as Bronson. Yet he rode that junky repertoire to a very good ML career.

Watching Bronson reminded me of the days when I'd try to hit George Bennett's whiffle ball pitches in my granny's backyard. Bronson and Norman were guys that we all thought we could step up to the plate and get a knock off of. Yet, they would have made us all look darn foolish. Both Fred and Bronson were very smart pitchers.

I loved watching BA pitch. I loved his pitching motion. I think that had some to do with him throwing off batters. Norman was the same. Threw a lot of junk at you and dared you to try to hit it.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

I loved watching BA pitch. I loved his pitching motion. I think that had some to do with him throwing off batters. Norman was the same. Threw a lot of junk at you and dared you to try to hit it.

I agree with you. I was just fascinated watching Bronson weave his magic with that lack of filth he "slurved" up there. Sure, there would be those days every now and then when he couldn't anyone out but, more often than not, the dude would give you a quality outing. I enjoyed watching him pitch about more than anyone just because I was amazed at how he could retire anyone with that stuff. He was a fun guy, too.