Mickey Owen, best known for dropped third strike in '41 World Series, dies

[bluestateguy]

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. (AP) -- Mickey Owen, whose infamous dropped third strike proved costly to the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1941 World Series against the New York Yankees, died Wednesday after a long illness. He was 89.

Owen, a four-time All-Star in 13 major league seasons over a 17-year span, later became a county sheriff in his native southwest Missouri. He died at the Missouri Veterans Home.

He had Alzheimer's disease for a number of years, according to Ken Rizzo, president and owner of the Mickey Owen Baseball School in Miller.

Owen broke into the majors in 1937 with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1942, he was the first player to hit a pinch-hit homer in an All-Star game.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-obit-owen&prov=ap&type=lgns