Gene Mauch, who skippered the Angels, Phillies and Expos to more than 1901 victories, died earlier today at the age of 79.
Fairly or not, Mauch will forever be identified with the 1964 Phillies who blew an NL lead of 6 1/2 games with 12 remaining, losing 10 straight in capitulating to St. Louis. Mauch is also tied to the ’86 Angels club who were one pitch away from meeting the Mets in the World Series, the late Donnie Moore suffering a blow from Boston’s Dave Henderson that some allege played a role in the reliever’s suicide.
Mauch’s 1982 Angels had a 2-0 lead in a best of 5 ALCS against Milwaukee prior to losing 3 straight.
The Collapse of 1964 notwithstanding, Gene Mauch did manage the Phils during the first 5 year period of respectability in the franchises history. RIP