[Deathwatch] Dave McNally, athlete, 60

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Friends, Family Remember Dave McNally
Thu Dec 5, 5:17 PM ET

By BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press Writer

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Dave McNally was remembered more as a family man
and friend rather than a former All-Star at his funeral Thursday.

Hundreds of mourners attended the ceremony at St. Thomas the Apostle
Catholic Church, including Andy Etchebarren, a catcher who played with
McNally, and Jeff Ballard, a former Orioles' pitcher. McNally died
Sunday of cancer at the age of 60.

Little mention was made of the left-hander's baseball career with
Baltimore and later Montreal, of his two World Series (news - web
sites) titles, or even his American Legion baseball days in Billings.

No one mentioned how McNally helped change the sport he loved by
joining with pitcher Andy Messersmith to win the 1975 legal challenge
that overturned baseball's reserve clause, ushering in the era of free
agency and big-money paydays for today's players.

To McNally's family he was a good father and husband who just happened
to be a fine baseball player.

Jeff McNally, who eulogized his father, choked back tears as he spoke
of the family's bonds.

"My family's spent the last few days remembering what a wonderful man
he was," said Jeff McNally, who is one of five children.

A few light moments prompted laughs, such as Jeff McNally's story of
his father's leaving school early, as a boy, to watch the World Series
on TV.

McNally was known for a stubborn streak, his son said, but he always
did what he believed was right.

For all his baseball accomplishments — the string of four straight
20-win seasons from 1968 to 1971, the three All-Star games and becoming
the first pitcher elected into the Orioles Hall of Fame among them —
McNally was mostly proud of the respect he earned from his teammates,
Jeff McNally said.

The Rev. Steve Tokarski said it was not McNally's athleticism or
statistics that caused so many people to mourn his death, but the loss
of a "good and loving man."

"Courage, graciousness and integrity were the true Dave McNally," Jeff
McNally said.

After his baseball career, McNally returned to Montana, where he
co-owned a car dealership and continued his charity work.