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Wilmer Mizell

April 08, 2024

Wilmer David "Vinegar Bend" Mizell Sr. (August 13, 1930 – February 21, 1999) was an American athlete and politician. From 1952 to 1962, he was a left-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets of Major League Baseball. Six years after retiring, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina's 5th congressional district. He served three terms as a Republican from 1969 to 1975.

Wilmer Mizell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 5th district
In office
January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1975
Preceded byNick Galifianakis
Succeeded byStephen L. Neal
Personal details
Born
Wilmer David Mizell

(1930-08-13)August 13, 1930
Leakesville, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedFebruary 21, 1999(1999-02-21) (aged 68)
Kerrville, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Nancy Mizell (1st wife, died), Ruth Mizell
Baseball career
Pitcher
Batted: Right
Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 22, 1952, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
July 25, 1962, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Win–loss record90–88
Earned run average3.85
Strikeouts918
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Mizell was born in Leakesville, Mississippi, but started playing baseball in Vinegar Bend, Alabama, the town from which he drew his nickname. Signed by the Cardinals in 1949, he debuted with them in 1952, ranking among the Top 10 in the National League (NL) in strikeouts for two years before spending 1954 and 1955 in military service. He returned to the Cardinals in 1956 and was named to two Major League Baseball All-Star Games in 1959, but St. Louis felt like he never attained his full potential. They traded him to Pittsburgh early in the 1960 season, and Mizell led the NL in winning percentage (.636) as the Pirates defeated the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series. He remained with the Pirates until early in the 1962 season, last pitching in the major leagues with the Mets.

While pitching for the Winston-Salem Cardinals in 1951, Mizell had settled in Midway, North Carolina. Six years after he threw his last major league pitch, he was elected to the House of Representatives, serving North Carolina's newly aligned 5th district. In three terms over the next six years, Mizell gained a reputation as a conservative. He opposed the Blue Ridge Power Project, introducing a House Bill in 1974 to add the New River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Though the bill was unsuccessful at the time, it became law in 1976. Mizell, however, lost his seat to Stephen L. Neal in 1974, also losing to the Democrat when he ran against him in 1976. Presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush each appointed him to Assistant Secretary positions within their administrations. After suffering a heart attack in 1998, Mizell died in 1999.

Early life edit

On August 13, 1930, Walter David and Addie Turner Mizell welcomed their son Wilmer David into the world. Contrary to popular belief (caused by his nickname), Wilmer was actually born and raised in Leakesville, Mississippi. His father died when he was two, and his grandmother and uncle brought him up, as his mother was sickly. He grew up laboring on the family farm, which produced fruit and vegetables. The Mizells also raised hogs and cattle. Additional income for Wilmer came from hauling wood, logging, and tapping turpentine from pine trees.[1] "I walked behind more mules than I walked batters – and that's saying a lot," he later reflected, comparing his childhood with his career.[2]

Growing up, Mizell was unable to play catch with his brother because he was such an erratic thrower. He practiced his control by throwing at a smokehouse knothole, eventually knocking the door in because of all his practice. At the age of 16, he started playing for baseball teams, pitching in Sunday leagues around Vinegar Bend, Alabama.[1]

The St. Louis Cardinals held a tryout camp in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1948, and Mizell recorded three strikeouts before a thunderstorm ended it early. Impressed with the youngster, scout Buddy Lewis visited him the following year in Lakeville. Mizell, returning from a local swimming spot, impressed Lewis again with his fastball, and the scout promised to sign him for $500 upon his graduation from Leakeville High School, which would occur later that evening. After receiving his diploma, Mizell signed his contract and went straight to the train station, off to begin his career.[1]

Baseball career edit

Minor leagues (1949–51) edit

Mizell's first team was the Albany Cardinals of the Class D Georgia–Florida League. His first pitch for the team sailed 20 feet over the backstop. Overcoming homesickness, he went on to help Albany win the pennant. He had a 12–3 record and a 1.95 earned run average (ERA) for Albany, recording 175 strikeouts in 141 innings pitched.[1]

Promoted to the Class B Winston-Salem Cardinals of the Carolina League in 1950, Mizell got off to a 1–6 start.[1] However, he went on to post a 17–7 record, finishing tied (with Wes Livengood) for fourth in the Carolina League in wins and second (behind Woody Rich) in ERA with a 2.48 mark.[3] He struck out 227 batters in 207 innings, leading Winston-Salem to a championship.[1] In the last game of the season, he hit a home run, the only professional one of his career, which he referred to as a $220 home run because fans passed a hat around and donated that sum in appreciation of his efforts.[1] One night during the season, he sang country music over the public address system at South Side Park and rode around the field on a mule.[2]

In 1951, Mizell pitched for the Houston Buffaloes of the Class AA Texas League. The team held a "Vinegar Bend Night," flying in 32 visitors reportedly from the town in Alabama for the evening's game. Because the town was so small, Mizell said that some of the guests "must've come from the suburbs."[2] He had 15 strikeouts in that game, a 3–1 loss to the Shreveport Sports. In another outing, against the Dallas Eagles, he struck out 18 batters, tying the league's single-game record.[1] Mizell led the league in strikeouts with 257, finished second in ERA to Tom Gorman (1.97 to 1.94), and tied for seventh in the league with 16 wins.[4][5] With a record of 99–61, Houston won the pennant by 13.5 games over the San Antonio Missions.[6]

St. Louis Cardinals (1952–53, 1956–60) edit

1952–53 edit

When he joined the Cardinals, broadcaster Harry Caray started calling him "Vinegar Bend," and the nickname stuck.[7] He was hailed as "the left-handed Dizzy Dean" by sportswriter Red Smith, which Mizell called "a perty heavy load for a boy to tote."[1][8] Added to St. Louis's starting rotation for the 1952 campaign, Mizell made his major league debut on April 22 against the Cincinnati Reds.[9] He gave up two runs in the first inning, then held the Reds scoreless for the rest of the game, though he took the loss in a 2–1 defeat.[10] Two starts later, on May 2, he limited the Philadelphia Phillies to four hits and two runs in a complete game, winning in the ninth when Peanuts Lowrey broke a 2–2 tie with an RBI-single.[9][11] After that win, he lost three games in a row, then received four consecutive no decisions.[9] He ended the winless streak on June 21, when he struck out 11 in his first major league shutout against the Boston Braves.[12] That started a streak of six decisions won in a row, during which time Mizell posted a 3.05 ERA. He would not lose again until August 27.[9] On September 5, he threw his second shutout of the year, tying his season high with 11 strikeouts in a 4–0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.[9][13] Mizell finished his rookie season with a 10–8 record and a 3.65 ERA in 30 starts.[14] He led the National League (NL) in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched with a 6.9 mark, and his 146 strikeouts ranked fourth in the league (behind Warren Spahn's 183, Bob Rush's 157, and Robin Roberts's 148). However, he also led the league in walks (103, tied with Herm Wehmeier).[15]

Mizell won his first start of 1953, coming within an out of throwing a complete game on April 22 against Cincinnati in an 8–3 victory.[16] On April 28, he held the Phillies to one run for five innings in a tie, as rain forced the game to be called and it was never resumed.[17] His most notable game of the season came on May 4, when he gave up just two hits in a shutout of the Pirates.[1] Mizell had a 2.83 ERA before the All-Star Break, but he had a 4.14 ERA in the second half of the season.[18][19] On August 7, he held the New York Giants to one run in a complete game, 2–1 triumph.[20] Exactly one week later, he held Cincinnati to one run over nine innings, but the Cardinals only scored one for him. After throwing a scoreless 10th, Mizell took the loss in the 11th when Roy McMillan had an RBI single against him.[21] His 11 strikeouts in that contest were a season-high, and he also had five games in which he had nine, including each of his last two starts.[18] In 33 starts, he had a 13–11 record.[14] For the second year in a row, he led the NL in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (6.9), and he finished third in the league with 173 strikeouts this time, behind Roberts's 198 and Carl Erskine's 187. His 3.49 ERA was the ninth-best mark in the league, but his 114 walks trailed only Johnny Lindell's 139 for the league lead.[22]

Military service (1954–55) edit

With the Korean War occurring, Mizell had been drafted to serve in the United States Army as early as 1952, but he managed to get his service deferred twice because he was the support for his mother and grandmother. Finally, shortly after the 1953 season ended, he reported to Fort McPherson, Georgia, where he would be stationed for the next two years.[1] Mizell, who walked with a "two-furrow" stride, had to make a special effort not to step on the heels of the soldier in front of him when he was marching in ranks.[8] He saw no combat, instead winning 36 games (with only two losses) for the fort's baseball team. Mizell threw four no-hitters and 16 shutouts, helping the team reach the Army baseball championship tournament at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in 1955. A sergeant by the time he was discharged, Mizell had struck out 324 batters in two years of service.[1]

Cuba (1955-56) edit

In the winter of 1955–56, Mizell resumed his professional baseball career in Cuba, where he emerged as one of the Cuban League's most popular players.[23] He set records for most strikeouts in a game (15) and in a season (206). With a 12–9 record and a 2.16 ERA, he finished second in most valuable player (MVP) voting. In February, his wife gave birth to their first son. Mizell found out during one of the games and, according to one story, was so excited that he absentmindedly went to hit holding his glove instead of a baseball bat.[1]

1956–60 edit

In 1956, Sports Illustrated wrote that Mizell's return would help with St. Louis's pitching, a "major problem" for the Cardinals in 1955.[24] His first outing back on April 17 was triumphant, as he allowed 12 hits but just two runs and came within one out of a complete game in a 4–2 victory over the Cincinnati Redlegs.[25] From May 21 through June 9, he won five straight games, though he followed that up with three straight losses from June 15 through June 26.[26] During the winning streak, in the second game of a May 27 doubleheader, he struck out 10 hitters in a 12–2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.[27] In the first game of a doubleheader against Pittsburgh on August 23, he threw a four-hit shutout in a 3–0 victory.[28] On September 7, 1956, facing the Redlegs, who were second to the Braves in a close pennant race, Mizell threw a two-hit shutout in a 1–0 victory.[29][30] Six days later, he threw his second consecutive shutout, beating the Giants 5–0 and allowing just four hits.[31] He had a 3.62 ERA for the Cardinals in 1956, and his 14–14 mark was reflective of St. Louis's .500 record.[1] Mizell's 14 wins tied with Ron Kline and Hersh Freeman for 10th in the NL, but his 14 losses tied with Sam Jones, Al Worthington, and teammate Tom Poholsky for sixth. He ranked fifth in the NL with 153 strikeouts, and his mark of 6.6 strikeouts per nine innings pitched was good for third behind Jones's 8.4 and Harvey Haddix's 6.6. However, his 92 walks were third in the NL, behind Jones's 115 and Bob Buhl's 105.[32]

 
Mizell with the Cardinals

Assessing the Cardinals' pennant chances during 1957 spring training, manager Fred Hutchinson said, "We've got at least three pitchers capable of winning 20-Herm Wehmeier, Sam Jones, and Vinegar Bend Mizell. If a couple of them can do it, we'll make plenty of trouble."[33] Mizell's fastball had slowed a bit in 1956, and it was even slower in 1957. He was giving up more home runs than he had before he joined the Army, and the Cardinals were worried about his weight and his windup motion. Mizell spent much of the early part of the season in the bullpen, and the Cardinals even attempted to send him to Houston, but they were unable to get him through waivers. They had him watch films of his pitching, not common practice at the time, to help him correct his mistakes.[1] On July 18, he relieved Hoyt Wilhelm in the ninth inning with the Cardinals leading the Dodgers 9–4 and the bases loaded. He retired Duke Snider on a groundout but then walked Gino Cimoli to bring up Gil Hodges, a right-handed hitter. Though many managers would have inserted a right-hander in this situation, Hutchinson left Mizell in to face him, and Hodges hit a grand slam, tying the game, which the Cardinals eventually lost 10–9. The decision drew ire from St. Louis fans, and general manager Frank Lane and executive vice president Richard A. Meyer even criticized Hutchinson publicly, prompting a meeting between the three men and team owner August Busch, Jr., in which Hutchinson appealed to the owner to "Let me alone to do my job."[34][35] "That thing with Mizell in Brooklyn, I just wanted to get him over a hump," Hutchinson later explained.[35]

Through July 27, Mizell had a 5.32 ERA, but his control started to improve in the middle of the year.[1][36] Called on for a start on July 29, he held the Pirates to two hits in a 4–0 shutout victory.[37] Thereafter, most of his appearances would be starts.[36] With the second-place Cardinals trailing the NL-leading Milwaukee Braves on August 18, Mizell threw a four-hit shutout, helping the Cardinals sweep a doubleheader and remain in the pennant race.[38] His ERA after July 27 was 2.54.[36] In 33 games (21 starts), he had an 8–10 record, a 3.74 ERA, 87 strikeouts, and 51 walks in 149+1⁄3 innings.[14]

Over the 1957–58 offseason, Mizell practiced throwing with a steel ball. He arrived early to 1958 spring training, claiming to have lost 12 pounds from the previous spring.[1] He had a 3–6 record entering June 21, but from that date through July 12, he won four straight games.[39] On June 25, though he walked five batters, he allowed just three hits and one unearned run in a 3–1 victory over the Pirates.[40] Then, on July 12, he threw a shutout in a 2–0 win over the Pirates.[41] He had a pitching duel against Joe Nuxhall of Cincinnati in the first game of a doubleheader on September 1; Mizell prevailed 1–0, setting an NL record for most walks in a shutout with nine.[1] His season high for strikeouts that year was just seven, achieved in a complete game, four-hit, 4–1 victory over Chicago on September 10.[39][42] In 30 games (29 starts), he had a 10–14 record, 80 strikeouts, and 91 walks in 189+2⁄3 innings pitched.[14] His 14 losses tied with Bob Friend, Roberts, and Curt Simmons for third in the league (behind Kline's 16 and Johnny Podres's 15), but his 3.42 ERA ranked eighth.[43] Sports Illustrated reported, "Mizell and [Larry] Jackson had impressive ERAs between them but lost more than they won."[44]

After working out at the YMCA across from Busch Stadium during the 1958–59 offseason, Mizell showed a stronger fastball in 1959.[1] He did not pitch at the beginning of spring training as he negotiated for a new contract, but he wound up settling for $17,000, his salary each of the previous two seasons.[1] On May 15, he had a season-high 10 strikeouts, allowing just four hits and two unearned runs in an 8–2 victory over the Phillies.[45][46] He had eight strikeouts in the second game of a doubleheader against Philadelphia on June 7, limiting the Phillies to five hits in a 2–0 shutout victory.[47] In the first half of the season, he enjoyed a 9–3 record and a 3.05 ERA.[1] He was named to both National League All-Star teams in 1959 (in those days, two All-Star games were played in a season).[14][48] However, he did not appear in either game.[1][14] The second half of the season saw him post a 4–7 record and a 5.94 ERA.[1] On July 19, 1959, Mizell allowed three runs over seven innings to defeat the Braves, 9–5. He had to leave the game after the seventh with a pulled back muscle, but he was back in action four days later.[45][49] He won just twice more all season, as he dealt with back problems.[1][45][50] On August 1, he again struck out eight Phillies but received a no decision, as he was removed with one out in the ninth and the game tied 1–1. The Cardinals won on a Stan Musial home run in the bottom of the inning.[51] In 31 games (30 starts), he had a 13–10 record, a 4.20 ERA, 108 strikeouts, and 89 walks in 201+1⁄3 innings pitched.[14]

By 1960, Mizell had recovered from his back issues.[50] He began the season with the Cardinals but only won one of his first nine games, posting a 4.55 ERA.[14] By this point, the Cardinals felt that he had never attained his full potential.[1] On May 28, they traded him and Dick Gray to the Pirates for Ed Bauta and Julián Javier, the latter of whom would reach two All-Star Games and win two World Series with the Cardinals over the next decade.[52]

Pittsburgh Pirates (1960–62) edit

Mizell's trade to the Pirates was one of the catalysts of Pittsburgh's championship run that season.[1] Facing the Giants on June 16, 1960, he threw 166 pitches and stayed in the ballgame for three hours and two minutes, allowing two runs through eight innings before allowing three hits to start the ninth and getting charged with three more runs, though he still earned the win in the 10–7 victory. "Shucks, no. I wasn't tired," he quipped after the game.[53][54] On the strength of two shutouts, he pitched 30 consecutive scoreless innings from July 22 to August 9, the longest such streak of his career.[1][55] The first shutout may have been his best game of the season; he held the Cubs to two hits in a 4–0 victory on July 29.[1] Six days later, he allowed five hits but no runs to the Giants, securing a 1–0 triumph.[56] On September 18, he won another 1–0 game, limiting Cincinnati to three hits in nine innings.[1] In the month of September, he had a 5–1 record and a 3.14 ERA as the Pirates clinched the NL pennant.[55] Mizell went 13-5 for the Pirates that season (14–8 overall) and finished sixth in the NL in winning percentage (.636). Between St. Louis and Pittsburgh, he had a 3.50 ERA (3.12 with the Pirates), striking out 113 and walking 74 in 211 innings. Of the walks, 10 were intentional.[14]

Mizell started Game 3 of the 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees but was removed in the first inning, having given up three hits and a walk while only retiring one hitter. He was charged with the loss as the Yankees won 10–0.[57][58] His only other appearance came in Game 6, when he pitched a scoreless fourth and fifth inning's in Pittsburgh's 12–0 defeat.[59] Despite posting a 15.43 ERA, Mizell became a World Series champion for the only time in his career, as the Pirates clinched the series in Game 7 on Bill Mazeroski's game-ending home run.[1]

Entering the 1961 season, Sports Illustrated predicted that Mizell "may win more this year."[60] Indeed, he got off to a 4–1 start, posting a 3.57 ERA through May 24.[61] However, Mizell slumped in 1961.[62] He lost seven straight decisions through the end of July, getting moved to the bullpen and only making two starts between June 15 and July 27.[61] Used as a starter during the week of August 6–12, however, he won two games, the second of which was a five-hit shutout of the Phillies. It would be his only shutout of the year.[61][63] Mizell started two more games that month but lost both and was used only twice in September, as a relief pitcher.[61] In 25 games (17 starts), he had a 7–10 record, a 5.04 ERA, 37 strikeouts, and 31 walks in 100 innings pitched.[14]

Mizell was slightly late for spring training due to the birth of his second son in 1962. In his first start of the year, he defeated the expansion New York Mets, limiting them to one unearned run over seven innings.[1] That was his only win through May 7, as he posted a 4.96 ERA in three games (three starts).[14] On May 7, he was traded to the Mets for Jim Marshall, much to the chagrin of Pirates fans and players, with whom Mizell had been popular.[1]

New York Mets (1962), later career, retirement edit

With New York, Mizell was used mainly out of the bullpen.[64] His second appearance with the team (on May 15) was a start, though, in which he allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings against the Cubs. Though he got a no decision, the Mets won 6–5.[65] Against the expansion Houston Colt .45's on June 14, he pitched "rather well" according to sportswriter Louis Effrat, throwing six scoreless innings after starter Jay Hook was unable to record an out in a 10–2 defeat.[66] He failed to win a game with the Mets, however, posting a 7.34 ERA in 17 games (two starts) before getting released on August 4.[14] In his last appearance with New York, on July 25, he had allowed six runs in 2+1⁄3 innings in an 11–5 loss to Milwaukee.[64]

After getting cut by the Mets, Mizell was reacquired by the Pirates. This time, however, he would pitch for the Columbus Jets of the Class AAA International League, and he would have to serve as an instructor until space for him became available on the team's roster.[1] He ultimately made four appearances (three starts) for Columbus, posting a 2–1 record and a 3.27 ERA.[67] Pittsburgh did not recall him after the season. Mizell participated in the Arizona Instructional League following the 1962 season, but when no teams signed him in 1963, he retired.[1]

Career statistics edit

In a nine-season career, Mizell had a 90–88 record with a 3.85 ERA in 268 games, 230 of which were starts. He pitched 61 complete games, including 15 shutouts. Mizell allowed 654 earned runs and struck out 918, walking 680 in 1,528+2⁄3 innings pitched.[14] He enjoyed his greatest success against the Pirates, against whom he went 14–7. Mizell also won 14 of his first 17 decisions against the Cubs, but Chicago did better against him later in his career, winning 12 of their final 16 decisions against him.[1] Writing in 1971, Ray Owen, sports editor for The Southeast Missourian, called Mizell "one of the best strikeout hurlers around the National League scene for a span of ten years."[68]

Pitching style edit

Mizell stood 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m).[14][69] A hard thrower, he had a loose and easy throwing motion.[69] His delivery made it tricky to see the ball; Ken Boyer observed, "The guy shows you his glove, his rear, and somebody tells you it’s a strike."[1] He was known for a high leg kick during his delivery, but this trait made it easier to steal bases against him, as Willie Mays observed.[2][7] Earlier in his career, his fastball was his best pitch, but it had slowed by 1960, by which point his slow curveball was his strength.[8] The fastball moved closer to left-handed hitters, and the curveball went low and farther away on them.[70] Mizell also threw a slider.[1] Control problems plagued him throughout his career, though these were not as bad in 1960.[8][2]

Political career edit

Local offices edit

Since his time with the Winston-Salem Cardinals, Mizell had lived in Midway, North Carolina, right outside of Winston-Salem.[71] After retiring as an active player, Mizell became a broadcaster for the Winston-Salem Red Sox.[1] He also worked in sales and public relations for Pepsi-Cola until 1967.[72]

Dick Groat, Mizell's teammate on the Pirates, recalled that "as a ballplayer, he wasn't political – players didn't really talk politics."[2] However, Mizell entered North Carolina politics in the 1960s. He was elected to the Davidson County Board of Commissioners in 1966, an election that saw the Republicans gain control of all the local offices.[69] Mizell served as the chairman of the board for two years. In 1968, he attempted to arrange a meeting between the Board of Commissioners and District Highway Commissioner George Hundley to discuss the State Highway Department's response to petitions for work on local roads.[73]

House of Representatives edit

In 1968, Mizell was elected to represent the 5th District in the 91st United States Congress.[72] He defeated Democratic nominee Smith Bagley, an R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company official, 84,905 (52.4 percent) to 77,112 (47.6 percent).[74][75] The previous 5th District representative, Democrat Nick Galifianakis, was moved to the 4th District for the 1968 elections.[76] A supporter of Richard Nixon, Mizell ran on a platform vehemently opposed to federal spending and Communism.[69][77] In his first term, he spoke in favor of trade legislation. "I believe no nation in the world need fear the Trade Bill of 1970," he said, praising it for its benefits to foreign nations and American workers alike.[78]

 
Mizell's 1972 Member of Congress license plate

In his first reelection bid, Mizell defeated Democrat James G. White, 68,937 (58.1 percent) to 49,663 (41.9 percent).[79] He was endorsed that year by Americans for Constitutional Action (ACA). Charles McManus, the ACA's president, said, "He has repeatedly stood for fiscal responsibility; firm responsible opposition to the Communists; and for law and order in our streets and institutions of learning."[80] In a 1971 speech to Congress, Mizell voiced his support for MLB's antitrust exemption. "[T]hrough baseball, opportunities have been afforded to young men who otherwise would not have been able to fully enjoy the American dream. Baseball builds character into young men who are going to be the leaders of the future."[81] In 1972, he trounced former Arkansas Congressman Brooks Hays, who had moved to North Carolina, 101,375 (64.8 percent) to 54,986 (35.2 percent).[82][83] During this term, he was a cosponsor of House Resolution 6992, which proposed equal rights to broadcast media outlets for the chance to broadcast sporting events.[84] In 1972, he chaired a committee that tried to set up a Billy Graham Crusade in Washington, D.C., in 1973.[85]

Mizell opposed the Appalachian Power Company's Blue Ridge Power Project, a plan to build two dams on the New River. He was concerned about the project's impact: "Changing the basis for this environmental destruction from ‘pollution‐dilution’ to ‘power crisis’ does not lessen or eliminate the environmental destruction itself...Just as much land will . . . be flooded. The same number of families will be uprooted, business inconvenienced or lost, and farms destroyed . . .mudflats [from reservoir drawdowns] would still blight the land that now provides a classic definition of nature's beauty."[86] He proposed legislation authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers to discover the "recreational, conservation, and preservation uses" of the river in 1972 and 1973.[87] Then, in 1974, he introduced a House Bill that would designate the river part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (NWSRS).[88] North Carolina Senators Sam Ervin and Jesse Helms introduced a parallel bill that passed the Senate, but the House Bill stalled. It was not until 1976 that Congress would amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, adding 26.5 miles of the river to the NWSRS and effectively thwarting the Blue Ridge Power Project.[89][90]

Also in 1974, Mizell proposed an amendment to the Legal Services Corporation Act, preventing the proposed government agency from handling desegregation suits. The amendment was included in the final version of the bill which passed.[91] He was an opponent of desegregation busing as well, stating "Quality education...cannot be achieved while overwhelming additional expenses and administrative duties are required to implement court-ordered busing."[92]

The Watergate scandal affected Republican House members in 1974, and Mizell was upset by Democrat Stephen L. Neal, 64,634 (52.4 percent) to 59,182 (47.6 percent).[93] Mizell had been considering running for the Senate to replace Ervin, but he opted to run for the House again, considering this a safer election bet.[94] In his 1974 defeat, Mizell polled less than three fifths of the total votes that he had received in 1972.[83][93] The year's Almanac of American Politics called his loss, "one of the most stunning House upsets in 1974."[95]

President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., a former House colleague, appointed Mizell as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Economic Development Administration, a post he held from March 1975 to May 1976.[72] In 1976, Mizell challenged Neal again. He criticized the Democrat for not owning a home in the district, calling him a "soft on defense" liberal that changed positions regularly on economic issues.[96] Neal called his opposition "an out-of-state candidate, being financed with out-of-state money and being staffed with out-of-state people for the benefit of out-of-state interests."[97] The race attracted much attention; according to The Winston-Salem Journal, "In Washington, home of the national Republican and Democratic parties and a variety of political splinter groups, the Neal-Mizell contest is seen as one of the key congressional races in the country. The groups are proving their interest by sizeable contributions of money and service to the two candidates."[98] Both candidates charged the other with being a Washington insider.[99] The Washington Post considered the race "a toss-up."[100] Mizell ran on economic issues, and former governor of California Ronald Reagan came to Winston-Salem in October to speak at a fundraiser for him.[101] Mizell lost, 83,129 (45.7 percent) to 98,789 (54.3 percent).[94] Neal, a supporter of the Democratic presidential nominee Jimmy Carter,[96] polled almost the same raw vote as Mizell had four years earlier, when he was running on the Nixon–Agnew slate.[83][94]

During his time in Congress, Mizell was one of the most conservative legislators in Washington, as evidenced by his 1972 rating of "0" from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action.[82] Richard Goldstein of The New York Times called Mizell "a staunch defender of his home state's tobacco industry."[2] Yet Robert Mitchell, historian who studied Stephen Neal, observed that Mizell supported legislation that curtailed tobacco exports.[102] Mizell enjoyed success in the annual Congressional Baseball Game, striking out seven Democrats in a row on one occasion.[2] The Democrats insisted that he play a different position in 1970 (right field); otherwise, they refused to play.[103] In 1974, he was forced to play center field, but he had two runs batted in.[104] Looking back on his time in Congress, Mizell said, "I used to look at it like this: After I was elected to Congress, I thought of my constituency in the same way I thought of the fans in St. Louis and Pittsburgh who watched me pitch. They expected, and I tried to give them, my best. There's another similarity between Congress and sports. The cloakroom is quite a bit like the clubhouse."[105]

Other governmental positions edit

Mizell became the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Governmental and Public Affairs on August 23, 1982.[106] He was the Agriculture Department's top lobbyist during the Reagan administration.[71] Later he was appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs in the George H. W. Bush administration.[72] In 1989, he became the executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.[72][69] In this role, he supported the Healthy People 2000 aims of reducing preventable deaths and disabilities. He also helped start local physical fitness and sports councils around the country.[69]

Election history edit

North Carolina's 5th congressional district election, 1968[74]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Wilmer Mizell 84,905 52.4% --
Democratic Smith Bagley 77,112 47.6% --
Total votes '162,017' '100%'
Republican win (new seat)
North Carolina's 5th congressional district election, 1970[82]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Wilmer Mizell (incumbent) 68,937 58.1% +5.7%
Democratic James G. White 49,663 41.9% -5.7%
Total votes '118,600' '100%'
Republican hold
North Carolina's 5th congressional district election, 1972[83]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Wilmer Mizell (incumbent) 101,375 64.8% +6.7%
Democratic Brooks Hays 54,986 35.2% -6.7%
Total votes '156,361' '100%'
Republican hold
North Carolina's 5th congressional district election, 1974[93]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stephen L. Neal 64,634 52.4% +17.2%
Republican Wilmer Mizell (incumbent) 59,182 47.6% -17.2%
Total votes '123,816' '100%'
Democratic gain from Republican
North Carolina's 5th congressional district election, 1976[94]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stephen L. Neal (incumbent) 98,789 54.3% +1.9%
Republican Wilmer Mizell 83,129 45.7% -1.9%
Total votes '181,918' '100%'
Democratic hold

Personal life edit

 
Birthplace marker and memorial to Mizell

Following his rookie season, Mizell married Nancy McAlpine.[1] The couple had two sons: Wilmer David Jr. and James Daniel.[106] Nancy died in 1990, and Mizell married Ruth Cox in 1991. He had met Ruth at a Washington prayer breakfast, and the two spent the next several years "promoting prayer study," according to Mike Jaffe of the Society for American Baseball Research.[1]

Mizell had a friendly disposition.[8] Writing for Sports Illustrated, Robert Creamer observed, "he has an appealing drawl, a facile tongue, a warm, memorable face and that wonderful nickname."[107] His smiling manner drew comparisons to Preacher Roe.[8] Mizell was good friends with teammate Hal Smith. Both players lived in Florissant, Missouri, and would carpool to Busch Stadium together, often with Wally Moon. Smith and Mizell stayed close friends after their careers had ended.[7] He was also close friends with fellow Christian Don Demeter, whom Mizell struck out in his first MLB at bat.[108][109] In 1976, he supported fellow former major leaguer Bobby Richardson in his unsuccessful run for a House seat in South Carolina.[110]

During his time with the Cardinals, Mizell and Smith attended Florissant Valley Baptist Church, going to the early service so they could make it to Busch Stadium in time for the games.[7] While he was a representative, Mizell attended a Christian and Missionary Alliance church.[82] He never swore, explaining, "I decided a long time ago swearin’ was a waste of words. You cain’t get a man out by cussin’ him out."[1]

In the fall of 1998, Mizell had a heart attack while watching his son Dave coach High Point Andrews High School in a football game against North Davidson High School in Welcome. Four months later, on February 21, 1999, Mizell died at the age of 68 in Kerrville, Texas, where he was visiting his wife's family. In moving to have Mizell's obituary recorded in the Congressional Record, Senator Helms observed, "One doesn’t lose a friend like Wilmer Mizell without experiencing a deep and penetrating sadness."[71] His burial site was the Faith Missionary Alliance Church Cemetery in Winston-Salem.[1]

References edit

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External links edit

April 08, 2024
wilmer, mizell, wilmer, david, vinegar, bend, mizell, august, 1930, february, 1999, american, athlete, politician, from, 1952, 1962, left, handed, pitcher, louis, cardinals, pittsburgh, pirates, york, mets, major, league, baseball, years, after, retiring, elec. Wilmer David Vinegar Bend Mizell Sr August 13 1930 February 21 1999 was an American athlete and politician From 1952 to 1962 he was a left handed pitcher for the St Louis Cardinals Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets of Major League Baseball Six years after retiring he was elected to the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina s 5th congressional district He served three terms as a Republican from 1969 to 1975 Wilmer MizellMember of the U S House of Representatives from North Carolina s 5th districtIn office January 3 1969 January 3 1975Preceded byNick GalifianakisSucceeded byStephen L NealPersonal detailsBornWilmer David Mizell 1930 08 13 August 13 1930Leakesville Mississippi U S DiedFebruary 21 1999 1999 02 21 aged 68 Kerrville Texas U S Political partyRepublicanSpouse s Nancy Mizell 1st wife died Ruth MizellBaseball careerPitcherBatted RightThrew LeftMLB debutApril 22 1952 for the St Louis CardinalsLast MLB appearanceJuly 25 1962 for the New York MetsMLB statisticsWin loss record90 88Earned run average3 85Strikeouts918TeamsSt Louis Cardinals 1952 1953 1956 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates 1960 1962 New York Mets 1962 Career highlights and awards2 All Star 1959 1959 World Series champion 1960 Mizell was born in Leakesville Mississippi but started playing baseball in Vinegar Bend Alabama the town from which he drew his nickname Signed by the Cardinals in 1949 he debuted with them in 1952 ranking among the Top 10 in the National League NL in strikeouts for two years before spending 1954 and 1955 in military service He returned to the Cardinals in 1956 and was named to two Major League Baseball All Star Games in 1959 but St Louis felt like he never attained his full potential They traded him to Pittsburgh early in the 1960 season and Mizell led the NL in winning percentage 636 as the Pirates defeated the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series He remained with the Pirates until early in the 1962 season last pitching in the major leagues with the Mets While pitching for the Winston Salem Cardinals in 1951 Mizell had settled in Midway North Carolina Six years after he threw his last major league pitch he was elected to the House of Representatives serving North Carolina s newly aligned 5th district In three terms over the next six years Mizell gained a reputation as a conservative He opposed the Blue Ridge Power Project introducing a House Bill in 1974 to add the New River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System Though the bill was unsuccessful at the time it became law in 1976 Mizell however lost his seat to Stephen L Neal in 1974 also losing to the Democrat when he ran against him in 1976 Presidents Gerald Ford Ronald Reagan and George H W Bush each appointed him to Assistant Secretary positions within their administrations After suffering a heart attack in 1998 Mizell died in 1999 Contents 1 Early life 2 Baseball career 2 1 Minor leagues 1949 51 2 2 St Louis Cardinals 1952 53 1956 60 2 2 1 1952 53 2 2 2 Military service 1954 55 2 2 3 Cuba 1955 56 2 2 4 1956 60 2 3 Pittsburgh Pirates 1960 62 2 4 New York Mets 1962 later career retirement 2 5 Career statistics 2 6 Pitching style 3 Political career 3 1 Local offices 3 2 House of Representatives 3 3 Other governmental positions 4 Election history 5 Personal life 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editOn August 13 1930 Walter David and Addie Turner Mizell welcomed their son Wilmer David into the world Contrary to popular belief caused by his nickname Wilmer was actually born and raised in Leakesville Mississippi His father died when he was two and his grandmother and uncle brought him up as his mother was sickly He grew up laboring on the family farm which produced fruit and vegetables The Mizells also raised hogs and cattle Additional income for Wilmer came from hauling wood logging and tapping turpentine from pine trees 1 I walked behind more mules than I walked batters and that s saying a lot he later reflected comparing his childhood with his career 2 Growing up Mizell was unable to play catch with his brother because he was such an erratic thrower He practiced his control by throwing at a smokehouse knothole eventually knocking the door in because of all his practice At the age of 16 he started playing for baseball teams pitching in Sunday leagues around Vinegar Bend Alabama 1 The St Louis Cardinals held a tryout camp in Biloxi Mississippi in 1948 and Mizell recorded three strikeouts before a thunderstorm ended it early Impressed with the youngster scout Buddy Lewis visited him the following year in Lakeville Mizell returning from a local swimming spot impressed Lewis again with his fastball and the scout promised to sign him for 500 upon his graduation from Leakeville High School which would occur later that evening After receiving his diploma Mizell signed his contract and went straight to the train station off to begin his career 1 Baseball career editMinor leagues 1949 51 edit Mizell s first team was the Albany Cardinals of the Class D Georgia Florida League His first pitch for the team sailed 20 feet over the backstop Overcoming homesickness he went on to help Albany win the pennant He had a 12 3 record and a 1 95 earned run average ERA for Albany recording 175 strikeouts in 141 innings pitched 1 Promoted to the Class B Winston Salem Cardinals of the Carolina League in 1950 Mizell got off to a 1 6 start 1 However he went on to post a 17 7 record finishing tied with Wes Livengood for fourth in the Carolina League in wins and second behind Woody Rich in ERA with a 2 48 mark 3 He struck out 227 batters in 207 innings leading Winston Salem to a championship 1 In the last game of the season he hit a home run the only professional one of his career which he referred to as a 220 home run because fans passed a hat around and donated that sum in appreciation of his efforts 1 One night during the season he sang country music over the public address system at South Side Park and rode around the field on a mule 2 In 1951 Mizell pitched for the Houston Buffaloes of the Class AA Texas League The team held a Vinegar Bend Night flying in 32 visitors reportedly from the town in Alabama for the evening s game Because the town was so small Mizell said that some of the guests must ve come from the suburbs 2 He had 15 strikeouts in that game a 3 1 loss to the Shreveport Sports In another outing against the Dallas Eagles he struck out 18 batters tying the league s single game record 1 Mizell led the league in strikeouts with 257 finished second in ERA to Tom Gorman 1 97 to 1 94 and tied for seventh in the league with 16 wins 4 5 With a record of 99 61 Houston won the pennant by 13 5 games over the San Antonio Missions 6 St Louis Cardinals 1952 53 1956 60 edit 1952 53 edit When he joined the Cardinals broadcaster Harry Caray started calling him Vinegar Bend and the nickname stuck 7 He was hailed as the left handed Dizzy Dean by sportswriter Red Smith which Mizell called a perty heavy load for a boy to tote 1 8 Added to St Louis s starting rotation for the 1952 campaign Mizell made his major league debut on April 22 against the Cincinnati Reds 9 He gave up two runs in the first inning then held the Reds scoreless for the rest of the game though he took the loss in a 2 1 defeat 10 Two starts later on May 2 he limited the Philadelphia Phillies to four hits and two runs in a complete game winning in the ninth when Peanuts Lowrey broke a 2 2 tie with an RBI single 9 11 After that win he lost three games in a row then received four consecutive no decisions 9 He ended the winless streak on June 21 when he struck out 11 in his first major league shutout against the Boston Braves 12 That started a streak of six decisions won in a row during which time Mizell posted a 3 05 ERA He would not lose again until August 27 9 On September 5 he threw his second shutout of the year tying his season high with 11 strikeouts in a 4 0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates 9 13 Mizell finished his rookie season with a 10 8 record and a 3 65 ERA in 30 starts 14 He led the National League NL in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched with a 6 9 mark and his 146 strikeouts ranked fourth in the league behind Warren Spahn s 183 Bob Rush s 157 and Robin Roberts s 148 However he also led the league in walks 103 tied with Herm Wehmeier 15 Mizell won his first start of 1953 coming within an out of throwing a complete game on April 22 against Cincinnati in an 8 3 victory 16 On April 28 he held the Phillies to one run for five innings in a tie as rain forced the game to be called and it was never resumed 17 His most notable game of the season came on May 4 when he gave up just two hits in a shutout of the Pirates 1 Mizell had a 2 83 ERA before the All Star Break but he had a 4 14 ERA in the second half of the season 18 19 On August 7 he held the New York Giants to one run in a complete game 2 1 triumph 20 Exactly one week later he held Cincinnati to one run over nine innings but the Cardinals only scored one for him After throwing a scoreless 10th Mizell took the loss in the 11th when Roy McMillan had an RBI single against him 21 His 11 strikeouts in that contest were a season high and he also had five games in which he had nine including each of his last two starts 18 In 33 starts he had a 13 11 record 14 For the second year in a row he led the NL in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched 6 9 and he finished third in the league with 173 strikeouts this time behind Roberts s 198 and Carl Erskine s 187 His 3 49 ERA was the ninth best mark in the league but his 114 walks trailed only Johnny Lindell s 139 for the league lead 22 Military service 1954 55 edit With the Korean War occurring Mizell had been drafted to serve in the United States Army as early as 1952 but he managed to get his service deferred twice because he was the support for his mother and grandmother Finally shortly after the 1953 season ended he reported to Fort McPherson Georgia where he would be stationed for the next two years 1 Mizell who walked with a two furrow stride had to make a special effort not to step on the heels of the soldier in front of him when he was marching in ranks 8 He saw no combat instead winning 36 games with only two losses for the fort s baseball team Mizell threw four no hitters and 16 shutouts helping the team reach the Army baseball championship tournament at Fort Belvoir Virginia in 1955 A sergeant by the time he was discharged Mizell had struck out 324 batters in two years of service 1 Cuba 1955 56 edit In the winter of 1955 56 Mizell resumed his professional baseball career in Cuba where he emerged as one of the Cuban League s most popular players 23 He set records for most strikeouts in a game 15 and in a season 206 With a 12 9 record and a 2 16 ERA he finished second in most valuable player MVP voting In February his wife gave birth to their first son Mizell found out during one of the games and according to one story was so excited that he absentmindedly went to hit holding his glove instead of a baseball bat 1 1956 60 edit In 1956 Sports Illustrated wrote that Mizell s return would help with St Louis s pitching a major problem for the Cardinals in 1955 24 His first outing back on April 17 was triumphant as he allowed 12 hits but just two runs and came within one out of a complete game in a 4 2 victory over the Cincinnati Redlegs 25 From May 21 through June 9 he won five straight games though he followed that up with three straight losses from June 15 through June 26 26 During the winning streak in the second game of a May 27 doubleheader he struck out 10 hitters in a 12 2 victory over the Chicago Cubs 27 In the first game of a doubleheader against Pittsburgh on August 23 he threw a four hit shutout in a 3 0 victory 28 On September 7 1956 facing the Redlegs who were second to the Braves in a close pennant race Mizell threw a two hit shutout in a 1 0 victory 29 30 Six days later he threw his second consecutive shutout beating the Giants 5 0 and allowing just four hits 31 He had a 3 62 ERA for the Cardinals in 1956 and his 14 14 mark was reflective of St Louis s 500 record 1 Mizell s 14 wins tied with Ron Kline and Hersh Freeman for 10th in the NL but his 14 losses tied with Sam Jones Al Worthington and teammate Tom Poholsky for sixth He ranked fifth in the NL with 153 strikeouts and his mark of 6 6 strikeouts per nine innings pitched was good for third behind Jones s 8 4 and Harvey Haddix s 6 6 However his 92 walks were third in the NL behind Jones s 115 and Bob Buhl s 105 32 nbsp Mizell with the CardinalsAssessing the Cardinals pennant chances during 1957 spring training manager Fred Hutchinson said We ve got at least three pitchers capable of winning 20 Herm Wehmeier Sam Jones and Vinegar Bend Mizell If a couple of them can do it we ll make plenty of trouble 33 Mizell s fastball had slowed a bit in 1956 and it was even slower in 1957 He was giving up more home runs than he had before he joined the Army and the Cardinals were worried about his weight and his windup motion Mizell spent much of the early part of the season in the bullpen and the Cardinals even attempted to send him to Houston but they were unable to get him through waivers They had him watch films of his pitching not common practice at the time to help him correct his mistakes 1 On July 18 he relieved Hoyt Wilhelm in the ninth inning with the Cardinals leading the Dodgers 9 4 and the bases loaded He retired Duke Snider on a groundout but then walked Gino Cimoli to bring up Gil Hodges a right handed hitter Though many managers would have inserted a right hander in this situation Hutchinson left Mizell in to face him and Hodges hit a grand slam tying the game which the Cardinals eventually lost 10 9 The decision drew ire from St Louis fans and general manager Frank Lane and executive vice president Richard A Meyer even criticized Hutchinson publicly prompting a meeting between the three men and team owner August Busch Jr in which Hutchinson appealed to the owner to Let me alone to do my job 34 35 That thing with Mizell in Brooklyn I just wanted to get him over a hump Hutchinson later explained 35 Through July 27 Mizell had a 5 32 ERA but his control started to improve in the middle of the year 1 36 Called on for a start on July 29 he held the Pirates to two hits in a 4 0 shutout victory 37 Thereafter most of his appearances would be starts 36 With the second place Cardinals trailing the NL leading Milwaukee Braves on August 18 Mizell threw a four hit shutout helping the Cardinals sweep a doubleheader and remain in the pennant race 38 His ERA after July 27 was 2 54 36 In 33 games 21 starts he had an 8 10 record a 3 74 ERA 87 strikeouts and 51 walks in 149 1 3 innings 14 Over the 1957 58 offseason Mizell practiced throwing with a steel ball He arrived early to 1958 spring training claiming to have lost 12 pounds from the previous spring 1 He had a 3 6 record entering June 21 but from that date through July 12 he won four straight games 39 On June 25 though he walked five batters he allowed just three hits and one unearned run in a 3 1 victory over the Pirates 40 Then on July 12 he threw a shutout in a 2 0 win over the Pirates 41 He had a pitching duel against Joe Nuxhall of Cincinnati in the first game of a doubleheader on September 1 Mizell prevailed 1 0 setting an NL record for most walks in a shutout with nine 1 His season high for strikeouts that year was just seven achieved in a complete game four hit 4 1 victory over Chicago on September 10 39 42 In 30 games 29 starts he had a 10 14 record 80 strikeouts and 91 walks in 189 2 3 innings pitched 14 His 14 losses tied with Bob Friend Roberts and Curt Simmons for third in the league behind Kline s 16 and Johnny Podres s 15 but his 3 42 ERA ranked eighth 43 Sports Illustrated reported Mizell and Larry Jackson had impressive ERAs between them but lost more than they won 44 After working out at the YMCA across from Busch Stadium during the 1958 59 offseason Mizell showed a stronger fastball in 1959 1 He did not pitch at the beginning of spring training as he negotiated for a new contract but he wound up settling for 17 000 his salary each of the previous two seasons 1 On May 15 he had a season high 10 strikeouts allowing just four hits and two unearned runs in an 8 2 victory over the Phillies 45 46 He had eight strikeouts in the second game of a doubleheader against Philadelphia on June 7 limiting the Phillies to five hits in a 2 0 shutout victory 47 In the first half of the season he enjoyed a 9 3 record and a 3 05 ERA 1 He was named to both National League All Star teams in 1959 in those days two All Star games were played in a season 14 48 However he did not appear in either game 1 14 The second half of the season saw him post a 4 7 record and a 5 94 ERA 1 On July 19 1959 Mizell allowed three runs over seven innings to defeat the Braves 9 5 He had to leave the game after the seventh with a pulled back muscle but he was back in action four days later 45 49 He won just twice more all season as he dealt with back problems 1 45 50 On August 1 he again struck out eight Phillies but received a no decision as he was removed with one out in the ninth and the game tied 1 1 The Cardinals won on a Stan Musial home run in the bottom of the inning 51 In 31 games 30 starts he had a 13 10 record a 4 20 ERA 108 strikeouts and 89 walks in 201 1 3 innings pitched 14 By 1960 Mizell had recovered from his back issues 50 He began the season with the Cardinals but only won one of his first nine games posting a 4 55 ERA 14 By this point the Cardinals felt that he had never attained his full potential 1 On May 28 they traded him and Dick Gray to the Pirates for Ed Bauta and Julian Javier the latter of whom would reach two All Star Games and win two World Series with the Cardinals over the next decade 52 Pittsburgh Pirates 1960 62 edit Mizell s trade to the Pirates was one of the catalysts of Pittsburgh s championship run that season 1 Facing the Giants on June 16 1960 he threw 166 pitches and stayed in the ballgame for three hours and two minutes allowing two runs through eight innings before allowing three hits to start the ninth and getting charged with three more runs though he still earned the win in the 10 7 victory Shucks no I wasn t tired he quipped after the game 53 54 On the strength of two shutouts he pitched 30 consecutive scoreless innings from July 22 to August 9 the longest such streak of his career 1 55 The first shutout may have been his best game of the season he held the Cubs to two hits in a 4 0 victory on July 29 1 Six days later he allowed five hits but no runs to the Giants securing a 1 0 triumph 56 On September 18 he won another 1 0 game limiting Cincinnati to three hits in nine innings 1 In the month of September he had a 5 1 record and a 3 14 ERA as the Pirates clinched the NL pennant 55 Mizell went 13 5 for the Pirates that season 14 8 overall and finished sixth in the NL in winning percentage 636 Between St Louis and Pittsburgh he had a 3 50 ERA 3 12 with the Pirates striking out 113 and walking 74 in 211 innings Of the walks 10 were intentional 14 Mizell started Game 3 of the 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees but was removed in the first inning having given up three hits and a walk while only retiring one hitter He was charged with the loss as the Yankees won 10 0 57 58 His only other appearance came in Game 6 when he pitched a scoreless fourth and fifth inning s in Pittsburgh s 12 0 defeat 59 Despite posting a 15 43 ERA Mizell became a World Series champion for the only time in his career as the Pirates clinched the series in Game 7 on Bill Mazeroski s game ending home run 1 Entering the 1961 season Sports Illustrated predicted that Mizell may win more this year 60 Indeed he got off to a 4 1 start posting a 3 57 ERA through May 24 61 However Mizell slumped in 1961 62 He lost seven straight decisions through the end of July getting moved to the bullpen and only making two starts between June 15 and July 27 61 Used as a starter during the week of August 6 12 however he won two games the second of which was a five hit shutout of the Phillies It would be his only shutout of the year 61 63 Mizell started two more games that month but lost both and was used only twice in September as a relief pitcher 61 In 25 games 17 starts he had a 7 10 record a 5 04 ERA 37 strikeouts and 31 walks in 100 innings pitched 14 Mizell was slightly late for spring training due to the birth of his second son in 1962 In his first start of the year he defeated the expansion New York Mets limiting them to one unearned run over seven innings 1 That was his only win through May 7 as he posted a 4 96 ERA in three games three starts 14 On May 7 he was traded to the Mets for Jim Marshall much to the chagrin of Pirates fans and players with whom Mizell had been popular 1 New York Mets 1962 later career retirement edit With New York Mizell was used mainly out of the bullpen 64 His second appearance with the team on May 15 was a start though in which he allowed four runs three earned in six innings against the Cubs Though he got a no decision the Mets won 6 5 65 Against the expansion Houston Colt 45 s on June 14 he pitched rather well according to sportswriter Louis Effrat throwing six scoreless innings after starter Jay Hook was unable to record an out in a 10 2 defeat 66 He failed to win a game with the Mets however posting a 7 34 ERA in 17 games two starts before getting released on August 4 14 In his last appearance with New York on July 25 he had allowed six runs in 2 1 3 innings in an 11 5 loss to Milwaukee 64 After getting cut by the Mets Mizell was reacquired by the Pirates This time however he would pitch for the Columbus Jets of the Class AAA International League and he would have to serve as an instructor until space for him became available on the team s roster 1 He ultimately made four appearances three starts for Columbus posting a 2 1 record and a 3 27 ERA 67 Pittsburgh did not recall him after the season Mizell participated in the Arizona Instructional League following the 1962 season but when no teams signed him in 1963 he retired 1 Career statistics edit In a nine season career Mizell had a 90 88 record with a 3 85 ERA in 268 games 230 of which were starts He pitched 61 complete games including 15 shutouts Mizell allowed 654 earned runs and struck out 918 walking 680 in 1 528 2 3 innings pitched 14 He enjoyed his greatest success against the Pirates against whom he went 14 7 Mizell also won 14 of his first 17 decisions against the Cubs but Chicago did better against him later in his career winning 12 of their final 16 decisions against him 1 Writing in 1971 Ray Owen sports editor for The Southeast Missourian called Mizell one of the best strikeout hurlers around the National League scene for a span of ten years 68 Pitching style edit Mizell stood 6 feet 3 inches 1 91 m 14 69 A hard thrower he had a loose and easy throwing motion 69 His delivery made it tricky to see the ball Ken Boyer observed The guy shows you his glove his rear and somebody tells you it s a strike 1 He was known for a high leg kick during his delivery but this trait made it easier to steal bases against him as Willie Mays observed 2 7 Earlier in his career his fastball was his best pitch but it had slowed by 1960 by which point his slow curveball was his strength 8 The fastball moved closer to left handed hitters and the curveball went low and farther away on them 70 Mizell also threw a slider 1 Control problems plagued him throughout his career though these were not as bad in 1960 8 2 Political career editLocal offices edit Since his time with the Winston Salem Cardinals Mizell had lived in Midway North Carolina right outside of Winston Salem 71 After retiring as an active player Mizell became a broadcaster for the Winston Salem Red Sox 1 He also worked in sales and public relations for Pepsi Cola until 1967 72 Dick Groat Mizell s teammate on the Pirates recalled that as a ballplayer he wasn t political players didn t really talk politics 2 However Mizell entered North Carolina politics in the 1960s He was elected to the Davidson County Board of Commissioners in 1966 an election that saw the Republicans gain control of all the local offices 69 Mizell served as the chairman of the board for two years In 1968 he attempted to arrange a meeting between the Board of Commissioners and District Highway Commissioner George Hundley to discuss the State Highway Department s response to petitions for work on local roads 73 House of Representatives edit In 1968 Mizell was elected to represent the 5th District in the 91st United States Congress 72 He defeated Democratic nominee Smith Bagley an R J Reynolds Tobacco Company official 84 905 52 4 percent to 77 112 47 6 percent 74 75 The previous 5th District representative Democrat Nick Galifianakis was moved to the 4th District for the 1968 elections 76 A supporter of Richard Nixon Mizell ran on a platform vehemently opposed to federal spending and Communism 69 77 In his first term he spoke in favor of trade legislation I believe no nation in the world need fear the Trade Bill of 1970 he said praising it for its benefits to foreign nations and American workers alike 78 nbsp Mizell s 1972 Member of Congress license plateIn his first reelection bid Mizell defeated Democrat James G White 68 937 58 1 percent to 49 663 41 9 percent 79 He was endorsed that year by Americans for Constitutional Action ACA Charles McManus the ACA s president said He has repeatedly stood for fiscal responsibility firm responsible opposition to the Communists and for law and order in our streets and institutions of learning 80 In a 1971 speech to Congress Mizell voiced his support for MLB s antitrust exemption T hrough baseball opportunities have been afforded to young men who otherwise would not have been able to fully enjoy the American dream Baseball builds character into young men who are going to be the leaders of the future 81 In 1972 he trounced former Arkansas Congressman Brooks Hays who had moved to North Carolina 101 375 64 8 percent to 54 986 35 2 percent 82 83 During this term he was a cosponsor of House Resolution 6992 which proposed equal rights to broadcast media outlets for the chance to broadcast sporting events 84 In 1972 he chaired a committee that tried to set up a Billy Graham Crusade in Washington D C in 1973 85 Mizell opposed the Appalachian Power Company s Blue Ridge Power Project a plan to build two dams on the New River He was concerned about the project s impact Changing the basis for this environmental destruction from pollution dilution to power crisis does not lessen or eliminate the environmental destruction itself Just as much land will be flooded The same number of families will be uprooted business inconvenienced or lost and farms destroyed mudflats from reservoir drawdowns would still blight the land that now provides a classic definition of nature s beauty 86 He proposed legislation authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers to discover the recreational conservation and preservation uses of the river in 1972 and 1973 87 Then in 1974 he introduced a House Bill that would designate the river part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System NWSRS 88 North Carolina Senators Sam Ervin and Jesse Helms introduced a parallel bill that passed the Senate but the House Bill stalled It was not until 1976 that Congress would amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act adding 26 5 miles of the river to the NWSRS and effectively thwarting the Blue Ridge Power Project 89 90 Also in 1974 Mizell proposed an amendment to the Legal Services Corporation Act preventing the proposed government agency from handling desegregation suits The amendment was included in the final version of the bill which passed 91 He was an opponent of desegregation busing as well stating Quality education cannot be achieved while overwhelming additional expenses and administrative duties are required to implement court ordered busing 92 The Watergate scandal affected Republican House members in 1974 and Mizell was upset by Democrat Stephen L Neal 64 634 52 4 percent to 59 182 47 6 percent 93 Mizell had been considering running for the Senate to replace Ervin but he opted to run for the House again considering this a safer election bet 94 In his 1974 defeat Mizell polled less than three fifths of the total votes that he had received in 1972 83 93 The year s Almanac of American Politics called his loss one of the most stunning House upsets in 1974 95 President Gerald R Ford Jr a former House colleague appointed Mizell as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Economic Development Administration a post he held from March 1975 to May 1976 72 In 1976 Mizell challenged Neal again He criticized the Democrat for not owning a home in the district calling him a soft on defense liberal that changed positions regularly on economic issues 96 Neal called his opposition an out of state candidate being financed with out of state money and being staffed with out of state people for the benefit of out of state interests 97 The race attracted much attention according to The Winston Salem Journal In Washington home of the national Republican and Democratic parties and a variety of political splinter groups the Neal Mizell contest is seen as one of the key congressional races in the country The groups are proving their interest by sizeable contributions of money and service to the two candidates 98 Both candidates charged the other with being a Washington insider 99 The Washington Post considered the race a toss up 100 Mizell ran on economic issues and former governor of California Ronald Reagan came to Winston Salem in October to speak at a fundraiser for him 101 Mizell lost 83 129 45 7 percent to 98 789 54 3 percent 94 Neal a supporter of the Democratic presidential nominee Jimmy Carter 96 polled almost the same raw vote as Mizell had four years earlier when he was running on the Nixon Agnew slate 83 94 During his time in Congress Mizell was one of the most conservative legislators in Washington as evidenced by his 1972 rating of 0 from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action 82 Richard Goldstein of The New York Times called Mizell a staunch defender of his home state s tobacco industry 2 Yet Robert Mitchell historian who studied Stephen Neal observed that Mizell supported legislation that curtailed tobacco exports 102 Mizell enjoyed success in the annual Congressional Baseball Game striking out seven Democrats in a row on one occasion 2 The Democrats insisted that he play a different position in 1970 right field otherwise they refused to play 103 In 1974 he was forced to play center field but he had two runs batted in 104 Looking back on his time in Congress Mizell said I used to look at it like this After I was elected to Congress I thought of my constituency in the same way I thought of the fans in St Louis and Pittsburgh who watched me pitch They expected and I tried to give them my best There s another similarity between Congress and sports The cloakroom is quite a bit like the clubhouse 105 Other governmental positions edit Mizell became the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Governmental and Public Affairs on August 23 1982 106 He was the Agriculture Department s top lobbyist during the Reagan administration 71 Later he was appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs in the George H W Bush administration 72 In 1989 he became the executive director of the President s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports 72 69 In this role he supported the Healthy People 2000 aims of reducing preventable deaths and disabilities He also helped start local physical fitness and sports councils around the country 69 Election history editNorth Carolina s 5th congressional district election 1968 74 Party Candidate Votes Republican Wilmer Mizell 84 905 52 4 Democratic Smith Bagley 77 112 47 6 Total votes 162 017 100 Republican win new seat North Carolina s 5th congressional district election 1970 82 Party Candidate Votes Republican Wilmer Mizell incumbent 68 937 58 1 5 7 Democratic James G White 49 663 41 9 5 7 Total votes 118 600 100 Republican holdNorth Carolina s 5th congressional district election 1972 83 Party Candidate Votes Republican Wilmer Mizell incumbent 101 375 64 8 6 7 Democratic Brooks Hays 54 986 35 2 6 7 Total votes 156 361 100 Republican holdNorth Carolina s 5th congressional district election 1974 93 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Stephen L Neal 64 634 52 4 17 2 Republican Wilmer Mizell incumbent 59 182 47 6 17 2 Total votes 123 816 100 Democratic gain from RepublicanNorth Carolina s 5th congressional district election 1976 94 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Stephen L Neal incumbent 98 789 54 3 1 9 Republican Wilmer Mizell 83 129 45 7 1 9 Total votes 181 918 100 Democratic holdPersonal life edit nbsp Birthplace marker and memorial to MizellFollowing his rookie season Mizell married Nancy McAlpine 1 The couple had two sons Wilmer David Jr and James Daniel 106 Nancy died in 1990 and Mizell married Ruth Cox in 1991 He had met Ruth at a Washington prayer breakfast and the two spent the next several years promoting prayer study according to Mike Jaffe of the Society for American Baseball Research 1 Mizell had a friendly disposition 8 Writing for Sports Illustrated Robert Creamer observed he has an appealing drawl a facile tongue a warm memorable face and that wonderful nickname 107 His smiling manner drew comparisons to Preacher Roe 8 Mizell was good friends with teammate Hal Smith Both players lived in Florissant Missouri and would carpool to Busch Stadium together often with Wally Moon Smith and Mizell stayed close friends after their careers had ended 7 He was also close friends with fellow Christian Don Demeter whom Mizell struck out in his first MLB at bat 108 109 In 1976 he supported fellow former major leaguer Bobby Richardson in his unsuccessful run for a House seat in South Carolina 110 During his time with the Cardinals Mizell and Smith attended Florissant Valley Baptist Church going to the early service so they could make it to Busch Stadium in time for the games 7 While he was a representative Mizell attended a Christian and Missionary Alliance church 82 He never swore explaining I decided a long time ago swearin was a waste of words You cain t get a man out by cussin him out 1 In the fall of 1998 Mizell had a heart attack while watching his son Dave coach High Point Andrews High School in a football game against North Davidson High School in Welcome Four months later on February 21 1999 Mizell died at the age of 68 in Kerrville Texas where he was visiting his wife s family In moving to have Mizell s obituary recorded in the Congressional Record Senator Helms observed One doesn t lose a friend like Wilmer Mizell without experiencing a deep and penetrating sadness 71 His burial site was the Faith Missionary Alliance Church Cemetery in Winston Salem 1 References edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap Jaffe Mike Vinegar Bend Mizell SABR Retrieved November 9 2020 a b c d e f g h Goldstein Richard February 23 1999 Vinegar Bend Mizell Pitcher Is Dead at 68 The New York Times p A20 Retrieved November 10 2020 1950 Carolina League Pitching Leaders Baseball Reference Retrieved November 12 2020 1951 Texas League Pitching Leaders Baseball Reference Retrieved November 12 2020 Card Farmhands Were Strikeout Artists The Kentucky New Era March 6 1952 p 14 Retrieved November 8 2020 1951 Texas League Baseball Reference Retrieved November 12 2020 a b c d Warfel Raymond 2000 Vinegar Bend and Smitty In Wright Tina ed Cardinal Memories Recollections from Baseball s Greatest Fans Columbia MO University of Missouri pp 17 21 ISBN 9780826212689 a b c d e f Terrell Roy October 10 1960 Seven Bold Bucs Sports Illustrated Retrieved November 11 2020 a b c d e Vinegar Bend Mizell 1952 Pitching Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved November 12 2020 St Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds Box Score April 22 1952 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 12 2020 Philadelphia Phillies at St Louis Cardinals Box Score May 2 1952 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 13 2020 St Louis Cardinals at Boston Braves Box Score June 21 1952 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 13 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates at St Louis Cardinals Box Score September 5 1952 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 13 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Vinegar Bend Mizell Stats Baseball Reference Retrieved November 9 2020 1952 NL Pitching Leaders Baseball Reference Retrieved August 9 2020 Cincinnati Reds at St Louis Cardinals Box Score April 22 1953 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 13 2020 Philadelphia Phillies 1 St Louis Cardinals 1 Retrosheet Retrieved November 13 2020 a b Vinegar Bend Mizell 1953 Pitching Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved November 13 2020 1953 All Star Game Box Score July 14 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 13 2020 New York Giants at St Louis Cardinals Box Score August 7 1953 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 13 2020 St Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds Box Score August 14 1953 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 13 2020 1953 NL Pitching Leaders Baseball Reference Retrieved November 13 2020 del Aguila Juan March 1 2001 Reviewed Work On Becoming Cuban Identity Nationality and Culture by Louis A Perez Jr The Journal of American History 87 4 Oxford University Press 1447 49 doi 10 2307 2674739 JSTOR 2674739 Retrieved November 13 2020 St Louis Cardinals Sports Illustrated April 9 1956 Retrieved November 11 2020 St Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Redlegs Box Score April 17 1956 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 13 2020 Vinegar Bend Mizell 1956 Pitching Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved November 14 2020 Chicago Cubs at St Louis Cardinals Box Score May 27 1956 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 14 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates at St Louis Cardinals Box Score August 23 1956 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 14 2020 Three Clubs and Only a Few Days to Go Sports Illustrated September 17 1956 Retrieved November 11 2020 Cincinnati Redlegs at St Louis Cardinals Box Score September 7 1956 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 11 2020 St Louis Cardinals at New York Giants Box Score September 13 1956 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 14 2020 1956 NL Pitching Leaders Baseball Reference Retrieved August 10 2020 Cards Rated Most Improved Team Continue Player Shift The Star News March 20 1957 p 11 Retrieved November 9 2020 St Louis Cardinals at Brooklyn Dodgers Box Score July 18 1957 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 12 2020 a b Watson Emmett August 26 1957 In Sunshine or in Shadow Sports Illustrated Retrieved November 12 2020 a b c Vinegar Bend Mizell 1957 Pitching Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved November 14 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates at St Louis Cardinals Box Score July 29 1957 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 14 2020 Creamer Robert August 26 1957 The Week They Waited For Sports Illustrated Retrieved November 11 2020 a b Vinegar Bend Mizell 1958 Pitching Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved November 14 2020 St Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score June 25 1958 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 14 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates at St Louis Cardinals Box Score July 12 1958 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 14 2020 Chicago Cubs at St Louis Cardinals Box Score September 10 1958 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 14 2020 1958 NL Pitching Leaders Baseball Reference Retrieved September 1 2020 St Louis Cardinals Sports Illustrated April 13 1959 Retrieved November 11 2020 a b c Vinegar Bend Mizell 1959 Pitching Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved November 9 2020 Philadelphia Phillies at St Louis Cardinals Box Score May 15 1959 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 15 2020 St Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score June 7 1959 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 15 2020 Sandomir Richard July 15 2008 When Midsummer Had Two Classics The New York Times Retrieved July 19 2008 Giants Dodgers Still at Each Others Throats The Lewiston Evening Journal July 20 1959 p 9 Retrieved November 9 2020 a b St Louis Cardinals Sports Illustrated April 11 1960 Retrieved November 11 2020 Philadelphia Phillies at St Louis Cardinals Box Score August 7 1959 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 15 2020 Julian Javier Stats Baseball Reference Retrieved November 15 2020 Vinegar Bend Pitches Long Game In Win The Prescott Evening Courier June 17 1960 p 11 Retrieved November 9 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates at San Francisco Giants Box Score June 16 1960 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 9 2020 a b Vinegar Bend Mizell 1960 Pitching Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved November 15 2020 San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score August 5 1960 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 15 2020 Terrell Roy October 17 1960 The Knife and the Hammer Sports Illustrated Retrieved April 17 2020 1960 World Series Game 3 Pirates at Yankees October 8 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 12 2020 1960 World Series Game 6 Yankees at Pirates October 12 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 16 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates Sports Illustrated April 10 1961 Retrieved November 12 2020 a b c d Vinegar Bend Mizell 1961 Pitching Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved November 11 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates Sports Illustrated April 9 1962 Retrieved November 11 2020 Baseball s Week Sports Illustrated August 21 1961 Retrieved November 11 2020 a b Vinegar Bend Mizell 1962 Pitching Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved November 16 2020 Chicago Cubs at New York Mets Box Score May 15 1962 Baseball Reference Retrieved November 16 2020 Effrat Louis June 15 1962 Colts Score Seven Runs in First and Rout Mets 10 to 2 The New York Times p 19 Retrieved November 16 2020 Vinegar Bend Mizell Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference Retrieved November 16 2020 Owen Ray February 10 1971 From baseball to politics The Southeast Missourian p 11 Retrieved November 9 2020 a b c d e f Corbett Doris R April 1 1995 Sport Heroes in Congress PDF Report ERIC pp 17 19 Retrieved November 9 2020 Creamer Robert May 28 1956 The Gaudy Ones Sports Illustrated Retrieved November 11 2020 a b c Congressional Record Senate PDF United States Senate February 23 1999 Retrieved November 16 2020 a b c d e United States Congress Wilmer Mizell id M000833 Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress Retrieved November 8 2020 McCrary Joe Scoop July 2 1968 County Commissioners Cite Need For Better Link With N C Board The Dispatch p 1 Retrieved November 8 2020 a b Guthrie Benjamin J Jennings W Pat 1969 Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5 1968 PDF Washington U S Government Printing Office p 33 Retrieved November 9 2020 Hevesi Dennis January 5 2010 Smith Bagley Executive and Democratic Fund Raiser Dies at 74 The New York Times Retrieved November 10 2020 Gardner Maps Intricate Plan To Campaign Hold House Seat The Wilson Daily Times January 6 1968 p 4 Retrieved November 10 2020 People Sports Illustrated November 18 1968 Retrieved November 11 2020 Holbik Karel 1972 U S trade policy and congressional opinion Brussels Economic Review 53 Universite Libre de Bruxelles 87 88 Retrieved November 10 2020 Guthrie Benjamin J Jennings W Pat 1971 Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3 1970 PDF Washington U S Government Printing Office p 25 Retrieved November 9 2020 Mizell Endorsed by Americans for Constitutional Action The Dispatch October 31 1970 Retrieved November 8 2020 Baum Dean V 1998 99 The Rational Behavior behind NFL Relocations The University of Toledo Law Review 30 443 Retrieved November 10 2020 a b c d Johnson Stephen D Tamney Joseph B 2019 The Political Role Of Religion In The United States Philadelphia Routledge pp 77 78 ISBN 9781000232745 a b c d Guthrie Benjamin J Jennings W Pat 1973 Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7 1972 PDF Washington U S Government Printing Office p 34 Retrieved November 9 2020 Hochberg Philip R 1972 73 Second and Goal to Go The Legislative Attack in the 92nd Congress on Sports Broadcasting Practices N y l f 18 851 Retrieved November 10 2020 Zercher John E August 25 1972 Evangelical Visitor Evangelical Visitor 85 16 Messiah University Retrieved November 10 2020 Kenworthy E W April 16 1973 F P C Criticized Over Blue Ridge The New York Times Retrieved November 8 2020 Feldman David Lewis September 1 1987 The Defeat of the Blue Ridge Pump Storage Project as Microcosm of Environmental Policy Change Policy Sciences 20 3 Springer 246 doi 10 1007 BF00156586 JSTOR 4532114 S2CID 153581558 Retrieved November 10 2020 Power Project Draws Quick Criticism The Daily Item June 15 1974 p 8B Retrieved November 8 2020 Kenworthy E W August 4 1974 Bill to Block Dams on a River In Blue Ridge Area Is Periled The New York Times Retrieved November 8 2020 DiSanto Edmund April 1 1978 The Conflict over the New River and the Test Case for the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act North Carolina v FPC North Carolina Central Law Review 9 2 192 207 Retrieved November 8 2020 Strassberg Maura Irene October 1 1984 The Constitutionality of Excluding Desegregation from the Legal Services Program Columbia Law Review 84 6 1630 1664 doi 10 2307 1122476 JSTOR 1122476 Retrieved November 10 2020 Bridge Dave 2016 Supreme Court Attacks as a Mechanism for Coalition Building How the Republican Party Used Court Curbing Proposals to Pursue Southern Voters Journal of Political Science 44 EBSCO 59 86 Retrieved November 10 2020 a b c Mitchell pp 4 5 8 a b c d Mitchell p 16 Mitchell p 8 a b Mitchell p 5 Mitchell pp 6 7 Mitchell p 6 Mitchell pp 5 7 Mitchell p 42 Mitchell pp 42 43 Mitchell p 24 Flood Gay July 6 1970 Letters Sports Illustrated Retrieved November 11 2020 Reid Ron August 12 1974 People Sports Illustrated Retrieved November 11 2020 Wulf Steve February 23 1987 Jim Bunning R Ky Sports Illustrated Retrieved November 12 2020 a b BPC banquet set for April 13 The Daily Item March 25 1987 p 5A Retrieved November 9 2020 Creamer Robert June 25 1956 Are Lefties Human Sports Illustrated Retrieved November 11 2020 Hefley James C 1964 Play Ball True Stories of Faith in Action Grand Rapids Michigan Zondervan Publishing House p 50 McGowen Roscoe 26 September 1956 Newk Big Strutter in Pitching Also Helps Out With the Hitting The Sporting News p 4 Halberstam David 1995 October 1964 Random House Digital Inc pp 366 367 ISBN 0 449 98367 6 Mitchell Robert Wayne 2003 Political Shifts During the Carter Years North Carolina Conservatism and Stokes County s Perception of Tobacco The Economy and Foreign Policy PDF Thesis North Carolina State University Retrieved November 10 2020 External links editUnited States Congress Wilmer Mizell id M000833 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Career statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors Mizell s Infoplease BioU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byNick Galifianakis D United States Representative for North Carolina s 5th congressional district1969 1975 Succeeded byStephen Neal D Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilmer Mizell amp oldid 1208964448, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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