ESPN Classic - Ex-teammates honor Mathews at funeral

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Quotable Eddie Mathews

Tuesday, February 27, 2001
Ex-teammates honor Mathews at funeral
Associated Press

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Eddie Mathews was remembered Tuesday by former teammate Johnny Logan as his "fighting partner."

Logan, former Milwaukee Braves All-Star, attended the private graveside service for the Hall of Famer on Tuesday at the Santa Barbara Cemetery. Mathews died Feb. 18 at age 69.

"He was my battler," said Logan, a teammate of Mathews in Boston and Milwaukee between 1951-61. "I would start the fights; he would finish them. Eddie was a good, silent man in the clubhouse. Everybody respected him.

"But I am alone now, I've got to do all my fighting. I know Eddie will tell me, 'Logan, be careful now, because those younger guys are a little stronger and bigger.' But we could always handle ourselves."

Darrell Evans, an All-Star first baseman with Atlanta in the 1970s, spent much of his career emulating Mathews. Evans wore the same No. 41 and worked tirelessly with the former third baseman on his swing and defense.

"I think I still have some of the bruises from balls he hit at my chest," said Evans, who played under Mathews. "He took the fear out of playing baseball. He taught me how to be a leader. He wanted me to be a leader. He is gone, but he is certainly going to live on with everybody here."

Tommy Ferguson, who was the Boston equipment manager and also was Mathews' first roommate when the player was a rookie, looked to the Hall of Famer as an older brother, saying: "No matter what it was, he would be there to sort it out."

"Baseball has lost many, many Hall of Famers. But they got their captain today," said Ferguson, who gave Mathews his first No. 41 jersey.

Mathews signed with the Boston Braves two days after becoming a graduate of Santa Barbara High in 1949. He is the only player to play for the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978, Mathews hit 512 home runs, eighth on the career list. He and Hank Aaron combined to hit 863 homers from 1954-66, the highest total for teammates in major league history, four more than Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Mathews played 17 years in the major Leagues and managed the Atlanta Braves from 1972-74.