In 1968, Steve Blass won 18 games, had a 2.12 ERA, and pitched 7 shutouts.
By 1973, Blass had an ERA of 9.81 while walking 84 batters in 88 innings.
By 1975, Blass was essentially incapable of throwing the ball over the plate and was out of baseball.
Since 1975, every Major League Baseball player who has inexplicably lost the ability to accurately throw a baseball has been dubiously compared to Blass and described as having contracted “Steve Blass Disease”. Mark Wohlers, Chuck Knobluach, and Rick Ankiel are a few who come to mind.
Now, nearly 35 years later, the man who lost the ability to throw a ball that is 2 7/8″ in diameter a distance of 60 feet and 6 inches into an area that is roughly the size of a human torso has apparently found the ability to do something much more difficult (and do it twice!): use a club to hit a ball that is 1.68 inches in diameter over a distance of between 150-175 yards into a cup that measures 4 1/4″ wide.
That’s right ladies gentleman. Steve Blass, the man synonymous with baseball inaccuracy, has recorded two feats of athletic achievement that require complete and almost unfathomable accuracy: the hole in one.
And, as mentioned, the 67-year old Blass did it twice.
The irony of this story is so delicious that it feels as if I’m typing from a table at Fogo de Chao. But even more than the irony, this is a just a terrific story of delayed redemption that only the sports world can provide.
According to Golf.com’s account of Steve Blass getting two holes-in-one during one 18-hole round:
Blass’s first hole-in-one Thursday at Greensburg County Club came with an 8-iron at the 154-yard, par-3 15th hole – because of the format, his fivesome started on the back nine.
His second ace came with a 7-iron on the 175-yard, par-3 seventh hole.
Golf Digest estimates the odds against a golfer having two holes-in-one in the same round at 67 million to 1.
The two holes-in-one by Steve Blass came at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ annual team golf outing today.
Congratulations to Steve Blass on his incredible feat. Perhaps now he can be remembered for both his famous and infamous athletic achievements.
And I guess if Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson or any other golfer ever holes out two aces in one round, we can give a new, positive meaning to saying they have “Steve Blass Disease”.
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* – Steve Blass photo credit: SI via Podium Sports Journal
About Jerod Morris
