Ryne Duren

       A New York Yankee pitching legend, now an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Educator devoted to teaching others about the alcohol and drug abuse, which put an early end to his career, Mr. Duren was presented with the 1983 Yankee Family Award – not for his pitching prowess, but for the way he conquered an illness and for dedicating his life to helping others conquer the same illness – alcoholism.

              Ryne Duren is a nationally recognized speaker, consultant and administrator in the alcohol abuse field.  A New York Yankee 1958 World Series pitching hero, Mr. Duren’s experience and sensitivity regarding alcohol and drug abuse has led to his mission of educating others. From 1968 to 1972 Ryne was a counselor supervisor at the Norris Foundation in Mukwanago, Wisconsin. In 1972 Duren developed and directed the Stoughton Community Hospital Alcohol Rehabilitation and Education Program in Stoughton, Wisconsin.  He remained director of that program until 1980, and then served as a consultant on alcohol and drug abuse to numerous community agencies, associations and professional sports organizations. He also served on the Wisconsin Governor’s Citizen Advisory Committee on Alcohol Abuse and the new Wisconsin Drinking and Driving Council. 

            Ryne is a charter member of the American College of Sports Medicine’s Alcohol Use and Abuse Standing Committee. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Winning Beyond Winning.  He has been featured in national documentaries and talk shows and has written a book on his life story entitled “THE COMEBACK.”

From The Ballplayers:

              “Duren came to the Yankees in 1958 at age 29 with a blazing 95 mph fastball.  He quickly became the most feared reliever in the league.  “Blind Ryne,” who had uncorrected vision of 20/70 and 20/200, would frighten hitters when he entered the game, squinting toward home through bottle-thick glasses.  He enhanced the effect by intentionally throwing his first warm-up pitch back to the screen.  Initially, it may not have always been planned; while in the minors his control was so erratic that he once hit the on-deck batter.

            “Duren’s career peaked quickly.  In 1958 he won six and saved a league-high 20 games in just 44 appearances.   He was often brilliant in New York’s World Series victory over the Braves, going 1-1 (1.93) with a save.  He saved 14 in 1959, at one point going 18 games – 36 innings – without allowing a run.  In those two seasons he allowed only 89 hits, fanning 183 in just 151 innings.  But drinking did Duren in.  Though he continued to record more strikeouts than innings, his downhill slide was swift, as his records show.  His decline, despair, and hard-won recovery are chronicled in his autobiography, The Comeback.”