I ran into a fellow named Hrabosky while in Hungary not very long ago. Though it is not seen as often as Smith or Jones in English-speaking countries, Hrabosky is a not an uncommon name amongst the Magyars. This particular Hrabosky liked sports, and was prepared to go on at great lengths about soccer legend Ferenc Puskas; however, he had never heard of his famous baseball-playing namesake across the pond: Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky.

As with other intimidating pitchers of the time, such as Luis Tiant and Goose Gossage, you could sense a hitter’s fear every time Al Hrabosky strode to the mound back in the late 1970s. Somehow the smell of trepidation in the batter’s box was more pronounced than the grainy images on our old Zenith color TV. (more…)