Three with Columbus, Ohio Links Nominated for Baseball Hall of Fame

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Hall of Fame’s Veteran Committee announced their finalist for election and there are three former Columbus players, Danny Murtaugh, Bill Southworth and Hank O’Day , on the ballot .

Murtaugh, the legendary Pirate manager for 15 seasons played second base for the 1939 Red Birds. Danny’s son Tim was the first Clippers’ manager in 1977,

O’Day pitched for the 1892 Columbus Reds, our city’s first pennant winner. Hank O’Day was a 20 game winner in the major leagues. He managed both the Cubs and Reds. But he is best remembered as a National League umpire for 34 years. In 1908, he made the most famous call in baseball history. O’Day called Fred Merkle out for failing to touch second base after Al Bridwell’s game winning hit in a key game against the Cubs. It became known as Merkle’s Boner. The result cost the Giants the pennant. O’Day was harshly criticized from all sides. History and the rule book proved him right.

Southworth grew up in Columbus and was a star outfielder for 13 years in the major leagues before becoming a manager. He won four pennants in the 1940’s with the Cardinals and Braves. He had the second highest winning percentage of any manager in the 20^th century, second only to Joe McCarthy. Billy met Joe’s Yankees three times in the World Series and beat him twice.

Billy was the manager of the Columbus Red Birds in 1932.

Southworth’s son, Billy, Jr., was a promising outfielder when he enlisted for WWII. As a pilot, he flew 26 successful bombing missions in Europe . He won the Distinguished Fly Cross and Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. Su rviving the war, Southworth had to try an emergency landing on February 17, 19 45 , of his B-29 Superfortress at La Guardia Field in New York . He over shot the run way and the bomber exploded into Flushing Bay . Five members of the crew survived. Billy Jr. perished in the crash.

His father flew out of Columbus as soon as he got the news and just stood, staring out into the bay. He was never the same.

The results of the balloting will be announced on December 3^rd.