Former MLB Player Larry Staal Passes Away at 84

Larry Staal, a former Major League Baseball player, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84 in a nursing facility in Caseyville, Illinois.

Staal, who enjoyed a decade-long career with four teams, gained notoriety for disrupting perfect games during his time on the field.

One notable moment came on September 2, 1972, when Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas was just one out away from achieving a historic perfect game. Staal, who was then a left-handed hitter for the San Diego Padres, came up to pinch hit for right-handed pitchers after being sent in by manager Don Zimmer.

During the at-bat, Staal worked the count full and, after what many described as a questionable call, drew a walk, effectively ending Pappas’ perfect game. Pappas managed to retire the next batter and ultimately finished the game with a no-hitter.

Years later, Pappas expressed frustration over the umpire’s decision, remarking that the pitch should have been called a strike. He felt it was a close call that could have secured a perfect game for him.

The Belleville, Illinois, native concluded his career with a batting average of .232, along with 36 home runs and 163 RBIs over those ten seasons.

Throughout his career, Staal first played three seasons with the Kansas City Athletics, followed by two seasons with the New York Mets, four seasons with the Padres, and wrapped it up with one season at the Cincinnati Reds.

Staal’s standout season came in 1971 with the Padres when he recorded a batting average of .253, hit eight home runs, and racked up 36 RBIs.

He only made it to the postseason once, in his final year, 1973, when he was with the Reds. During that brief postseason stint, he played in four games but managed just two hits in four at-bats.