Al Corwin

From BR Bullpen

Elmer Nathan Corwin

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 1", Weight 170 lb.

Debut July 25, 1951
Final Game May 29, 1955
Born December 3, 1926 in Newburgh, NY USA
Died October 23, 2003 in Geneva, IL USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Before the 1948 season, Al Corwin was signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Giants. He would spend some four years in the minors and in August of 1951 the right-hander was called up from Ottawa of the AAA International League by the pennant-bound "Miracle" New York Giants to possibly give them some help in their run for the flag.

Corwin said, "My ERA was pretty good at Ottawa and Leo Durocher thought I might help out a tired pitching staff. I beat the Phillies 2-1 and shut out Chicago 2-0 in my first two starts. I didn't even think of it as a pennant race until we got close to Brooklyn. I was just happy to be in the big leagues." Al went 5-1 in 15 appearances in the Giants' run to catch the Dodgers.

"When Bobby Thomson hit the ball I didn't think it had a chance to get out at first. When it did I remember sitting there stunned for a couple of seconds until I realized what it meant." - Al Corwin

Corwin continued with the New York Giants as a spot starter and reliever until 1955, finishing up with an overall record of 18-10 in 117 games. "My arm was dead by 1955 and I had surgery, then I bounced around in the minors until 1960," stated Corwin.

After baseball, Al went to work in plumbing fixture sales before starting up his own business, Grohe America, Inc. in Chicago, producing brass plumbing accessories. He became President and Chief Executive Officer of the company before his retirement in 1994.

After a long battle with cancer, Corwin died on October 23, 2003 at his home in Geneva, IL at age 76.