The Bitter End For Leon Wagner On The Streets Of The City

Bill Plaschke reports on the bitter end for baseball great Leon Wagner. He died homeless on the streets of the city that once loved him a long, long time ago. His body was found in a tiny shed next to a dumpster.

Leon Wagner was the first great slugger in Angel history, a 1962 All-Star game MVP, an engaging prince to kings Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. With his huge smile, loopy swing and funky throwing motion, the man known as "Daddy Wags" once held the Southern California baseball world in his giant palms. Yet on Jan. 3, at age 69, he died with nothing. He had no address, no car, little money. His final days were spent wandering the Crenshaw corridor streets. Apparently bitter at baseball, clearly forgotten by nearly everyone in the game, he died after a long, losing bout with drug addiction and anger.


Leon Wager in Yankee Stadium in 1962

Rob is the founder and editor of the progressive news site robwire.com and is a frequent contributor to rob.dailykos.com