Blass from the past: Big leaguer looks back on ‘a charmed life’

FALLS VILLAGE — Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steve Blass returned to his hometown last week for a trip down memory lane.

As part of the Canaan Historical Society’s Summer Talks series, on Tuesday, July 25 the 1971 World Series champ shared tales from his youth in Falls Village, his time as a major league pitcher, and his career in broadcasting.

Despite over 400 miles between Canaan and Pittsburgh, a sea of Pirate fans packed the pews at South Canaan Meeting House to hear from Blass.

“I want to talk about Falls Village,” said Blass as he began his talk. “It’s so special for me, so we’re going to hear a lot about Falls Village but there’s going to be some baseball in there too.”

Blass was born on April 18, 1942, and lived next door to the South Canaan Meeting House. In his early years his father was off fighting in World War II, so Blass said, “for three years it was mom and me against the world.”

Blass said his memory of Falls Village in the 1940s and 50s was “connected to the image and perception of Norman Rockwell” artwork.

“I can’t imagine growing up in a nicer place, a nicer area, nicer people and a nicer time,” said Blass.

He recalled “singular moments” in his youth that shaped his development and left a lasting impression.

“My dad was a plumber and he raised five kids on 100 bucks a week,” Blass said as he told a tale of peacefully polishing pipe fittings on a jobsite with his father. “It’s just me and dad. The father and son stuff, that’s singular stuff.”

Through tales of his past, he described an “idyllic childhood” in Northwest Connecticut as he worked toward achieving his big-league dream.

“I never remember not having a ball in my hand,” said Blass. “Even to the point where my dad had a load of small stones for something, and I took an old bat out there and I was hitting those stones out into the field.”

Blass recognized that becoming a professional pitcher was not a typical goal for a kid from Falls Village but said the support of the community made it possible.

“I wanted to be a baseball player since I was five years old. Nobody around here ever said, ‘Well, you’re not going to be able to do that. Town’s too small.’ And I’ll never forget it. That’s an imprint that I cherish. I was always encouraged,” said Blass.

Blass learned the importance of “professionalism and loyalty” while playing for Coach Ed Kirby at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

“As a freshman I was a wise guy. He caught me swearing at a football game,” said Blass. “He said, ‘I ever hear that kind of language again, you will never play for the baseball team here at Housatonic.’ I remember that.”

Blass said Kirby utilized tough love to push him to reach his full potential.

“He saw that I had some possibilities to be a professional baseball player,” said Blass. “When I look back, he did the most to help me handle that stuff.”

Blass improved as a player throughout his time at HVRHS to the point where up to 15 professional scouts were attending regular season games.

In a game against Torrington during his senior year, Blass said, “I struck out a batter for every scout. There’s 15 scouts here: 15 strikeouts. I also walked 15. After the game, Bob Whaling, the Pirates’ scout, was the only scout still there.”

Blass was drafted to the Pirates straight out of high school in 1960 and opened his professional career in Kingsport, Tennessee  in the minor league.

“I’d never been away from Falls Village. In fact, to the point where we flew out from Bradley Field in Hartford and the plane banked right and I leaned over to the left hoping to balance it.”

Blass said he initially struggled to adapt to life away from home, particularly in the laundry department.

“I had never been to the laundromat before. I had six pairs of socks and six pairs of underwear,” said Blass. “So, I throw them in the machine and look up on the wall and there was a vending machine that said ‘Soap.’ I had 12 items, so I got 12 boxes of soap.”

Blass said after suds flooded the laundromat, he decided to ship his dirty laundry back home to mom in Falls Village.

“Until the middle of August when I sent some dirty laundry out. She washed it all, but she sent some chocolate chip cookies back in the box. I learned how to do the laundry that day,” said Blass.

Blass made his big-league debut with the Pirates in Spring of 1964 and began playing beside baseball legends Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski.

“Clemente had this mystique about him. He even had a presence when he was kneeling in the on-deck circle,” said Blass. “When I was a rookie, I didn’t dare speak to him.”

After winning a couple games, Blass worked up the courage to speak with Clemente.

“He was over in his locker by himself, and I was all puffed up. I’d won two games so I’m gonna go and get him squared away,” said Blass. “I said, ‘If I ever get traded, I’m going to pitch you inside because every National pitcher pitches you away and you hit .350 every year.’ He said, ‘Blass I going to tell you one time. You pitch me inside, I will hit the ball to Harrisburg.”

Blass became a permanent member of the Pirates in 1966 as the team worked toward building a championship squad. After dropping out of the playoffs to the Mets in 1969, Blass returned home to participate in a local all-star game.

“I remember it so well for so many reasons. It was like one of those Norman Rockwell settings down in Sharon Valley. It was October. The leaves were out,” said Blass. “We won the game 2-1, there was a pitcher from Hotchkiss, left-handed.”

As Blass was reminiscing, an audience member who played in the game chimed in. “And you hit the double to win it in the ninth.”

“Yeah, I did. Glad you brought it up, ‘cause I was gonna,” said Blass. “That was a wonderful day.”

The Pirates reached the World Series in 1971 against the reigning champion Baltimore Orioles. Blass said he struggled early in the playoffs and pitched game three against the Orioles as his team faced an 0-2 deficit in the series.

“I went out and pitched game of my life.”

Blass ended the Orioles’ 16-game win streak by posting a three-hitter and getting his team back in the series. During his post-game interview, Blass said he was distracted by a fan jumping onto the dugout.

“I’m doing the interview and I see this guy scuffle with security up on the dugout. And then I look over and this man jumps off the top of the dugout and by the time he takes a second step, I see it’s dad,” said Blass. “My dad jumped off the top of the dugout because his kid from Falls Village won a World Series game. We all have fathers, or have had fathers, and we’ve all had singular moments. I will never forget that as long as I live.”

Blass returned to the mound in game seven of the series and pitched a complete game to win the title for Pittsburgh.

“We snuck my dad into the clubhouse after the seventh game,” said Blass. “One of the things I’m most proud of about that seventh game in the World Series was getting up on that podium, we just won the World Series, and I said, ‘a skinny kid from Falls Village, Connecticut.’ I’m so damn proud that I said that.”

Blass credited his career success to obsession, professionalism, and loyalty.

“When I was 18, the Pirates gave me a chance to live my dream. I will never quit on them. Loyalty is everything,” said Blass. “This is my 64th year with the ball club after graduating from high school and going to that laundromat in Kingsport, Tennessee.”

Blass continued his pitching career until 1974 when he retired due to an unshakeable case of the yips, also known as Steve Blass disease. In retirement, he took up broadcasting in 1983 as a color-commentator and called Pirates games until 2019.

“All these things have combined to be part of my dream,” said Blass. “I’ve lived a charmed life and I will never take it for granted.”

For more on Steve Blass’ visit, see page A9.

Steve Blass shared stories from his ‘charmed life’ at the Canaan Meeting House on Tuesday, July 25. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

Steve Blass shared stories from his ‘charmed life’ at the Canaan Meeting House on Tuesday, July 25. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

Steve Blass shared stories from his ‘charmed life’ at the Canaan Meeting House on Tuesday, July 25. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

  

Steve Blass shared stories from his ‘charmed life’ at the Canaan Meeting House on Tuesday, July 25. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan