Major League Baseball Player, US Congressman. Tagged “Vinegar Bend Mizell” early in his career for his home town of Vinegar Bend, Alabama, he played Major League baseball as a pitcher for 9 seasons (1952 to 1953, 1956 to 1962) with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets. Played his first 6 1/4 seasons with the Cardinals (he served in the US Army in 1954 and 1955), being a stalwart in a pitching rotation for teams that often finished in the bottom half of the League. He won over 10+ games in 5 out of 6 of those seasons, topping with 14 in 1953. In 1959 he was named to the NL All-Star team, and finished with a 13-10 record. After 9 games into the 1960 season he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and became an integral part of their National League Pennant winning team, posting a 13-5 record after the trade. The subsequent World Series featured the Pirates against the heavily favored New York Yankees, who fielded players like Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Roger Maris. The Series, which culminated in Bill Mazeroski’s famous Game 7, 9th-inning Series-clinching Home Run, saw the Yankees crush Pittsburgh in 3 of the Games, and the Pirates eke out wins in 4 (thus winning the Series). Vinegar Bend Mizell was the starting pitcher for Game 3, but was able to retire only one batter in a 10-0 Yankees blowout. He was then a relief pitcher in Game 6, which was a 12-0 Yankees win. He would pitch another full year for the Pirates, and in 4 games during the 1962 season before he was sent to the woeful expansion New York Mets. After appearing in 17 games (mostly in relief) for New York he retired from baseball. His career totals were 90 Wins-88 Losses, 268 Games Pitched, 918 Strike Outs, and a 3.85 career ERA. After his playing days ended he entered the political ring, and was elected to represent North Carolina’s 5th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1969 to 1975.

Major League Baseball Player, US Congressman. Tagged “Vinegar Bend Mizell” early in his career for his home town of Vinegar Bend, Alabama, he played Major League baseball as a pitcher for 9 seasons (1952 to 1953, 1956 to 1962) with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets. Played his first 6 1/4 seasons with the Cardinals (he served in the US Army in 1954 and 1955), being a stalwart in a pitching rotation for teams that often finished in the bottom half of the League. He won over 10+ games in 5 out of 6 of those seasons, topping with 14 in 1953. In 1959 he was named to the NL All-Star team, and finished with a 13-10 record. After 9 games into the 1960 season he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and became an integral part of their National League Pennant winning team, posting a 13-5 record after the trade. The subsequent World Series featured the Pirates against the heavily favored New York Yankees, who fielded players like Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Roger Maris. The Series, which culminated in Bill Mazeroski’s famous Game 7, 9th-inning Series-clinching Home Run, saw the Yankees crush Pittsburgh in 3 of the Games, and the Pirates eke out wins in 4 (thus winning the Series). Vinegar Bend Mizell was the starting pitcher for Game 3, but was able to retire only one batter in a 10-0 Yankees blowout. He was then a relief pitcher in Game 6, which was a 12-0 Yankees win. He would pitch another full year for the Pirates, and in 4 games during the 1962 season before he was sent to the woeful expansion New York Mets. After appearing in 17 games (mostly in relief) for New York he retired from baseball. His career totals were 90 Wins-88 Losses, 268 Games Pitched, 918 Strike Outs, and a 3.85 career ERA. After his playing days ended he entered the political ring, and was elected to represent North Carolina’s 5th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1969 to 1975.

Bio by: RPD2