Gaylord Perry, an MLB Hall of Famer and former two-time Cy Young award winner, passed away at the age of 84 on Thursday. Perry died of natural causes in his home at about 5 AM on Thursday morning, Cherokee County Coroner Denis Fowler told the Associated Press.
Perry spent 22 seasons in the MLB, pitching for the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, and New York Yankees from 1962 to 1983.
Perry was a master of the infamous spitball pitch, which was banned from baseball in the early 20th century. He was never caught in the act of doctoring a baseball. The possibility that Perry doctored baseballs had a mental effect on hitters.
Perry had a career ERA of 3.11 with 314 wins. He threw a no-hitter in 1968. He won the Cy Young award in both the American and National Leagues. He won them with Cleveland and San Diego. He was the first pitcher ever to accomplish the feat. Perry was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1991.
Gaylord Perry was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1991. Photo courtsey of The San Diego Union-Tribune
