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{{Short description|American baseball player and politician (1930–1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Wilmer Mizell
| image = Wilmer Mizell.jpg
| state = [[North Carolina]]
| district = {{ushr|NC|5|5th}}
| term_start = January 3, 1969
| term_end = January 3, 1975
| predecessor = [[Nick Galifianakis (politician)|Nick Galifianakis]]
| successor = [[Stephen L. Neal]]
| birth_name = Wilmer David Mizell
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|08|13}}
| birth_place = [[Leakesville, Mississippi]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1999|02|21|1930|08|13}}
| death_place = [[Kerrville, Texas]], U.S.
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse = Nancy Mizell (1st wife, died), Ruth Mizell
| module = {{Infobox baseball biography
|embed=yes
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|image=Wilmer Mizell - St. Louis Cardinals - 1957.jpg
|bats=Right
|throws=Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 22
|debutyear=1952
|debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=July 25
|finalyear=1962
|finalteam=New York Mets
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=90–88
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.85
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=918
|teams=
*[[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{baseball year|1952}}–{{baseball year|1953}}, {{baseball year|1956}}–{{baseball year|1960}})
*[[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{baseball year|1960}}–{{baseball year|1962}})
*[[New York Mets]] ({{baseball year|1962}})
|highlights=
*2× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)|1959]], [[1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)|1959²]])
*[[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1960}})
}}
}}
'''Wilmer David''' "'''Vinegar Bend'''" '''Mizell Sr.''' (August 13, 1930 – February 21, 1999) was an American baseball player 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 Party (United States)|Republican]] from 1969 to 1975.
Mizell was born in [[Leakesville, Mississippi]], but started playing baseball in nearby [[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 (baseball)|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 Game]]s 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 (Kanawha River tributary)|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 [[Democratic Party (United States)|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==
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]], though the town of [[Vinegar Bend, Alabama]] was only a few miles away. 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.<ref name="SABR"/> "I walked behind more mules than I walked batters – and that's saying a lot," he later reflected, comparing his childhood with his career.<ref name="nyt obit"/>
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, [[Pitcher (baseball)|pitching]] in Sunday leagues around Vinegar Bend.<ref name="SABR">{{cite web|last=Jaffe|first=Mike|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/vinegar-bend-mizell/|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell|work=SABR|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref>
The [[St. Louis Cardinals]] held a tryout camp in [[Biloxi, Mississippi]], in 1948, and Mizell recorded three [[strikeout]]s before a thunderstorm ended it early. Impressed with the youngster, [[Scout (baseball)|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.<ref name="SABR"/>
== Baseball career ==
===Minor leagues (1949–51)===
Mizell's first team was the [[Albany Cardinals]] of the [[Class D (baseball)|Class D]] [[Georgia–Florida League]]. His first pitch for the team sailed 20 feet over the [[Backstop (baseball)|backstop]]. Overcoming homesickness, he went on to help Albany win the [[Pennant (sports)|pennant]]. He had a 12–3 [[Win–loss record (pitching)|record]] and a 1.95 [[earned run average]] (ERA) for Albany, recording 175 strikeouts in 141 [[innings pitched]].<ref name="SABR"/>
Promoted to the [[Class B (baseball)|Class B]] [[Winston-Salem Cardinals]] of the [[Carolina League]] in 1950, Mizell got off to a 1–6 start.<ref name="SABR"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=49ba8174|title=1950 Carolina League Pitching Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref> He struck out 227 batters in 207 innings, leading Winston-Salem to a championship.<ref name="SABR"/> 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.<ref name="SABR"/> One night during the season, he sang country music over the public address system at [[South Side Park (Winston-Salem)|South Side Park]] and rode around the field on a mule.<ref name="nyt obit"/>
In 1951, Mizell pitched for the [[Houston Buffaloes]] of the [[Class AA (baseball)|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."<ref name="nyt obit"/> He had 15 strikeouts in that game, a 3–1 loss to the [[Shreveport Sports]]. In another outing, against the [[Dallas Rangers|Dallas Eagles]], he struck out 18 batters, tying the league's single-game record.<ref name="SABR"/> Mizell led the league in strikeouts with 257, finished second in ERA to [[Tom Gorman (right-handed pitcher)|Tom Gorman]] (1.97 to 1.94), and tied for seventh in the league with 16 wins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=956f5f12|title=1951 Texas League Pitching Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|page=14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=19520306&id=L-UrAAAAIBAJ&pg=1355,3458773|title=Card Farmhands Were Strikeout Artists|work=The Kentucky New Era|date=March 6, 1952|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref> With a record of 99–61, Houston won the pennant by 13.5 games over the [[San Antonio Missions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=956f5f12|title=1951 Texas League|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref>
====1952–53====
When he joined the Cardinals, broadcaster [[Harry Caray]] started calling him "Vinegar Bend," and the nickname stuck.<ref name="Vinegar Bend and Smitty"/> He was hailed as "the left-handed [[Dizzy Dean]]" by sportswriter [[Red Smith (sportswriter)|Red Smith]], which Mizell called "a perty heavy load for a boy to tote."<ref name="SABR"/><ref name="7 Pirates"/> Added to St. Louis's [[starting rotation]] for the 1952 campaign, Mizell made his [[Major League Baseball|major league]] debut on April 22 against the [[Cincinnati Reds]].<ref name="1952 Mizell">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mizelvi01&t=p&year=1952|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell 1952 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN195204220.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, April 22, 1952|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref> Two [[Games started|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 [[Run batted in|RBI]]-[[Single (baseball)|single]].<ref name="1952 Mizell"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195205020.shtml|title=Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, May 2, 1952|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> After that win, he lost three games in a row, then received four consecutive [[no decision]]s.<ref name="1952 Mizell"/> He ended the winless streak on June 21, when he struck out 11 in his first major league [[Shutouts in baseball|shutout]] against the [[History of the Boston Braves|Boston Braves]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN195206210.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at Boston Braves Box Score, June 21, 1952|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="1952 Mizell"/> 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]].<ref name="1952 Mizell"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195209050.shtml|title=Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, September 5, 1952|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> Mizell finished his rookie season with a 10–8 record and a 3.65 ERA in 30 starts.<ref name="reference"/> He led the [[National League (baseball)|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 (baseball)|Bob Rush]]'s 157, and [[Robin Roberts (baseball)|Robin Roberts]]'s 148). However, he also led the league in [[Walk (baseball)|walks]] (103, tied with [[Herm Wehmeier]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1952-pitching-leaders.shtml|title=1952 NL Pitching Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195304220.shtml|title=Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, April 22, 1953|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1953/B04300PHI1953.htm|title=Philadelphia Phillies 1, St. Louis Cardinals 1|work=Retrosheet|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> His most notable game of the season came on May 4, when he gave up just two hits in a shutout of the Pirates.<ref name="SABR"/> Mizell had a 2.83 ERA before the [[1953 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Break]], but he had a 4.14 ERA in the second half of the season.<ref name="1953 Mizell"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1953-allstar-game.shtml|title=1953 All-Star Game Box Score, July 14|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> On August 7, he held the [[History of the New York Giants (baseball)|New York Giants]] to one run in a complete game, 2–1 triumph.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195308070.shtml|title=New York Giants at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, August 7, 1953|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN195308140.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, August 14, 1953|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="1953 Mizell">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mizelvi01&t=p&year=1953|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell 1953 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> In 33 starts, he had a 13–11 record.<ref name="reference"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1953-pitching-leaders.shtml|title=1953 NL Pitching Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref>
====Military service (1954–55)====
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 (U.S. state)|Georgia]], where he would be stationed for the next two years.<ref name="SABR"/> 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.<ref name="7 Pirates"/> He saw no combat, instead winning 36 games (with only two losses) for the fort's baseball team. Mizell threw four [[no-hitter]]s 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.<ref name="SABR"/>
====Cuba (1955-56)====
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.<ref>{{cite journal|last=del Aguila|first=Juan|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2674739|title=Reviewed Work: On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture by Louis A. Pérez Jr.|date=March 1, 2001|publisher=Oxford University Press|journal=The Journal of American History|volume=87|number=4|access-date=November 13, 2020|pages=1447–49|doi=10.2307/2674739|jstor=2674739|url-access=subscription}}</ref> 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.<ref name="SABR"/>
====1956–60====
In 1956, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' wrote that Mizell's return would help with St. Louis's pitching, a "major problem" for the Cardinals in 1955.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1956/04/09/st-louis-cardinals|title=St. Louis Cardinals|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=April 9, 1956|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> 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 Reds|Cincinnati Redlegs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN195604170.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Redlegs Box Score, April 17, 1956|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 13, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="1956 Mizell">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mizelvi01&t=p&year=1956|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell 1956 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> During the winning streak, in the second game of a May 27 [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]], he struck out 10 hitters in a 12–2 victory over the [[Chicago Cubs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195605272.shtml|title=Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, May 27, 1956|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> In the first game of a doubleheader against Pittsburgh on August 23, he threw a four-hit shutout in a 3–0 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195608231.shtml|title=Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, August 23, 1956|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1956/09/17/three-clubs-and-only-a-few-days-to-go|title=Three Clubs, and Only a Few Days to Go|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=September 17, 1956|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195609070.shtml|title=Cincinnati Redlegs at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, September 7, 1956|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> Six days later, he threw his second consecutive shutout, beating the Giants 5–0 and allowing just four hits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NY1/NY1195609130.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at New York Giants Box Score, September 13, 1956|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> He had a 3.62 ERA for the Cardinals in 1956, and his 14–14 mark was reflective of St. Louis's .500 record.<ref name="SABR"/> Mizell's 14 wins tied with [[Ron Kline]] and [[Hersh Freeman]] for 10th in the NL, but his 14 losses tied with [[Sam Jones (baseball)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1956-pitching-leaders.shtml|title=1956 NL Pitching Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=August 10, 2020}}</ref>
[[File:1953 Bowman Wilmer Mizell.png|thumb|left|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."<ref>{{cite web|page=11|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19570320&id=oGBgAAAAIBAJ&pg=921,3372792|title=Cards Rated Most Improved Team; Continue Player Shift|work=The Star-News|date=March 20, 1957|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> 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 [[Pitching position|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 (baseball)|waivers]]. They had him watch films of his pitching, not common practice at the time, to help him correct his mistakes.<ref name="SABR"/> 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 (baseball)|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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO195707180.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at Brooklyn Dodgers Box Score, July 18, 1957|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Watson">{{cite magazine|last=Watson|first=Emmett|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1957/08/26/in-sunshine-or-in-shadow|title=In Sunshine or in Shadow|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=August 26, 1957|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref> "That thing with Mizell in Brooklyn, I just wanted to get him over a hump," Hutchinson later explained.<ref name="Watson"/>
Through July 27, Mizell had a 5.32 ERA, but his control started to improve in the middle of the year.<ref name="SABR"/><ref name="1957 Mizell">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mizelvi01&t=p&year=1957|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell 1957 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> Called on for a start on July 29, he held the Pirates to two hits in a 4–0 shutout victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195707290.shtml|title=Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, July 29, 1957|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> Thereafter, most of his appearances would be starts.<ref name="1957 Mizell"/> With the second-place Cardinals trailing the NL-leading [[History of the Atlanta Braves#Milwaukee|Milwaukee Braves]] on August 18, Mizell threw a four-hit shutout, helping the Cardinals sweep a doubleheader and remain in the pennant race.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Creamer|first=Robert|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1957/08/26/the-week-they-waited-for|title=The Week They Waited For|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=August 26, 1957|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> His ERA after July 27 was 2.54.<ref name="1957 Mizell"/> In 33 games (21 starts), he had an 8–10 record, a 3.74 ERA, 87 strikeouts, and 51 walks in {{frac|149|1|3}} innings.<ref name="reference"/>
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.<ref name="SABR"/> He had a 3–6 record entering June 21, but from that date through July 12, he won four straight games.<ref name="1958 Mizell"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT195806250.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score, June 25, 1958|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> Then, on July 12, he threw a shutout in a 2–0 win over the Pirates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195807120.shtml|title=Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, July 12, 1958|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="SABR"/> 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.<ref name="1958 Mizell">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mizelvi01&t=p&year=1958|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell 1958 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195809100.shtml|title=Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, September 10, 1958|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref> In 30 games (29 starts), he had a 10–14 record, 80 strikeouts, and 91 walks in {{frac|189|2|3}} innings pitched.<ref name="reference"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1958-pitching-leaders.shtml|title=1958 NL Pitching Leaders|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=September 1, 2020}}</ref> ''Sports Illustrated'' reported, "Mizell and [[Larry Jackson (baseball)|[Larry] Jackson]] had impressive ERAs between them but lost more than they won."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1959/04/13/st-louis-cardinals|title=St. Louis Cardinals|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=April 13, 1959|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref>
After working out at the [[Young Men's Christian Association|YMCA]] across from [[Sportsman's Park|Busch Stadium]] during the 1958–59 offseason, Mizell showed a stronger fastball in 1959.<ref name="SABR"/> 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.<ref name="SABR"/> 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.<ref name="1959 Mizell"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195905150.shtml|title=Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, May 15, 1959|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 15, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI195906072.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score, June 7, 1959|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 15, 2020}}</ref> In the first half of the season, he enjoyed a 9–3 record and a 3.05 ERA.<ref name="SABR"/> He was named to both National League All-Star teams in 1959 (in those days, two All-Star games were played in a season).<ref name="reference"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/sports/baseball/15sandomir.html?ref=sports|title=When Midsummer Had Two Classics|author=[[Richard Sandomir|Sandomir, Richard]]| work =[[The New York Times]]|date= July 15, 2008|access-date= July 19, 2008}}</ref> However, he did not appear in either game.<ref name="SABR"/><ref name="reference"/> The second half of the season saw him post a 4–7 record and a 5.94 ERA.<ref name="SABR"/> 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.<ref name="1959 Mizell">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mizelvi01&t=p&year=1959|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell 1959 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|page=9|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1913&dat=19590720&id=Cb4gAAAAIBAJ&pg=997,1708146|title=Giants-Dodgers Still at Each Others Throats|work=The Lewiston Evening Journal|date=July 20, 1959|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> He won just twice more all season, as he dealt with back problems.<ref name="SABR"/><ref name="1959 Mizell"/><ref name="1960 Cardinals">{{cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1960/04/11/st-louis-cardinals|title=St. Louis Cardinals|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=April 11, 1960|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195908070.shtml|title=Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, August 7, 1959|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 15, 2020}}</ref> In 31 games (30 starts), he had a 13–10 record, a 4.20 ERA, 108 strikeouts, and 89 walks in {{frac|201|1|3}} innings pitched.<ref name="reference"/>
By 1960, Mizell had recovered from his back issues.<ref name="1960 Cardinals"/> He began the season with the Cardinals but only won one of his first nine games, posting a 4.55 ERA.<ref name="reference"/> By this point, the Cardinals felt that he had never attained his full potential.<ref name="SABR"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/javieju01.shtml|title=Julian Javier Stats|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 15, 2020}}</ref>
===Pittsburgh Pirates (1960–62)===
Mizell's trade to the Pirates was one of the catalysts of Pittsburgh's championship run that season.<ref name="SABR"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|page=11|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=897&dat=19600617&id=Ok1PAAAAIBAJ&pg=5464,7339356|title='Vinegar Bend' Pitches Long Game In Win|work=The Prescott Evening Courier|date=June 17, 1960|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN196006160.shtml|title=Pittsburgh Pirates at San Francisco Giants Box Score, June 16, 1960|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="SABR"/><ref name="1960 Mizell">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mizelvi01&t=p&year=1960|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell 1960 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 15, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="SABR"/> Six days later, he allowed five hits but no runs to the Giants, securing a 1–0 triumph.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT196008050.shtml|title=San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score, August 5, 1960|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 15, 2020}}</ref> On September 18, he won another 1–0 game, limiting Cincinnati to three hits in nine innings.<ref name="SABR"/> In the month of September, he had a 5–1 record and a 3.14 ERA as the Pirates clinched the NL pennant.<ref name="1960 Mizell"/> 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 base on balls|intentional]].<ref name="reference"/>
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.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Terrell|first=Roy|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1960/10/17/the-knife-and-the-hammer|title=The Knife and the Hammer|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=October 17, 1960|access-date=April 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA196010080.shtml|title=1960 World Series Game 3, Pirates at Yankees, October 8|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref> His only other appearance came in Game 6, when he pitched a scoreless fourth and fifth inning's in Pittsburgh's 12–0 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT196010120.shtml|title=1960 World Series Game 6, Yankees at Pirates, October 12|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="SABR"/>
Entering the 1961 season, ''Sports Illustrated'' predicted that Mizell "may win more this year."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1961/04/10/pittsburgh-pirates|title=Pittsburgh Pirates|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=April 10, 1961|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref> Indeed, he got off to a 4–1 start, posting a 3.57 ERA through May 24.<ref name="1961 Mizell"/> However, Mizell slumped in 1961.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1962/04/09/pittsburgh-pirates|title=Pittsburgh Pirates|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=April 9, 1962|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="1961 Mizell"/> 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.<ref name="1961 Mizell">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mizelvi01&t=p&year=1961|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell 1961 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1961/08/21/baseballs-week|title=Baseball's Week|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=August 21, 1961|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> Mizell started two more games that month but lost both and was used only twice in September, as a relief pitcher.<ref name="1961 Mizell"/> In 25 games (17 starts), he had a 7–10 record, a 5.04 ERA, 37 strikeouts, and 31 walks in 100 innings pitched.<ref name="reference"/>
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.<ref name="SABR"/> That was his only win through May 7, as he posted a 4.96 ERA in three games (three starts).<ref name="reference"/> On May 7, he was traded to the Mets for [[Jim Marshall (baseball)|Jim Marshall]], much to the chagrin of Pirates fans and players, with whom Mizell had been popular.<ref name="SABR"/>
===New York Mets (1962), later career, retirement===
With New York, Mizell was used mainly out of the bullpen.<ref name="1962 Mizell">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mizelvi01&t=p&year=1962|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell 1962 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196205150.shtml|title=Chicago Cubs at New York Mets Box Score, May 15, 1962|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> Against the expansion [[Houston Astros|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.<ref>{{cite web|page=19|last=Effrat|first=Louis|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/06/15/82127918.html?pageNumber=19|title=Colts Score Seven Runs in First and Rout Mets, 10 to 2|work=The New York Times|date=June 15, 1962|access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="reference"/> In his last appearance with New York, on July 25, he had allowed six runs in {{frac|2|1|3}} innings in an 11–5 loss to Milwaukee.<ref name="1962 Mizell"/>
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 (baseball)|Class AAA]] [[International League]], and he would have to serve as an instructor until space for him became available on the team's roster.<ref name="SABR"/> He ultimately made four appearances (three starts) for Columbus, posting a 2–1 record and a 3.27 ERA.<ref name="minors">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mizell002wil|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell Minor Leagues Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref name="SABR"/>
===Career statistics===
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 {{frac|1,528|2|3}} innings pitched.<ref name="reference"/> 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.<ref name="SABR"/> 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."<ref>{{cite web|last=Owen|first=Ray|page=11|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19710210&id=emkfAAAAIBAJ&pg=1788,3918067|title=From baseball to politics|work=The Southeast Missourian|date=February 10, 1971|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref>
===Pitching style===
Mizell stood {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m}}.<ref name="reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mizelvi01&t=p&year=1959|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell Stats|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name="ERIC">{{cite report|last=Corbett|first=Doris R.|url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED381526.pdf|title=Sport Heroes in Congress|pages=17–19|date=April 1, 1995|publisher=ERIC|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> A hard thrower, he had a loose and easy throwing motion.<ref name="ERIC"/> 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."<ref name="SABR"/> 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.<ref name="nyt obit"/><ref name="Vinegar Bend and Smitty"/> 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.<ref name="7 Pirates">{{cite magazine|last=Terrell|first=Roy|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1960/10/10/seven-bold-bucs|title=Seven Bold Bucs|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=October 10, 1960|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> The fastball moved closer to left-handed hitters, and the curveball went low and farther away on them.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Creamer|first=Robert|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1956/05/28/the-gaudy-ones|title=The Gaudy Ones|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=May 28, 1956|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> Mizell also threw a [[Slider (baseball)|slider]].<ref name="SABR"/> Control problems plagued him throughout his career, though these were not as bad in 1960.<ref name="7 Pirates"/><ref name="nyt obit"/>
==Political career==
===Local offices===
Since his time with the Winston-Salem Cardinals, Mizell had lived in [[Midway, North Carolina]], right outside of [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina|Winston-Salem]].<ref name="Congress Obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/crec/1999/02/23/CREC-1999-02-23-pt1-PgS1775.pdf|title=Congressional Record - Senate|date=February 23, 1999|work=United States Senate|access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> After retiring as an active player, Mizell became a broadcaster for the [[Winston-Salem Red Sox]].<ref name="SABR"/> He also worked in sales and [[public relations]] for [[Pepsi-Cola]] until 1967.<ref name="Congressional Bio">{{cite web|author=United States Congress|title=Wilmer Mizell (id: M000833)|work=Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress|url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=M000833|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref>
[[Dick Groat]], Mizell's teammate on the Pirates, recalled that "as a ballplayer, he wasn't political – players didn't really talk politics."<ref name="nyt obit"/> However, Mizell entered North Carolina politics in the 1960s. He was elected to the [[Davidson County, North Carolina|Davidson County]] Board of Commissioners in 1966, an election that saw the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]s gain control of all the local offices.<ref name="ERIC"/> 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 [[North Carolina Department of Transportation|State Highway Department]]'s response to petitions for work on local roads.<ref>{{cite web|last=McCrary|first=Joe (Scoop)|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19680702&id=nNsbAAAAIBAJ&pg=1841,87583|page=1|title=County Commissioners Cite Need For Better Link With N.C. Board|work=The Dispatch|date=July 2, 1968|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref>
===House of Representatives===
In 1968, Mizell was elected to represent the 5th District in the [[91st United States Congress]].<ref name="Congressional Bio"/> He defeated [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee Smith Bagley, an [[R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company]] official, 84,905 (52.4 percent) to 77,112 (47.6 percent).<ref name="1968 House">{{cite web|last1=Guthrie|first1=Benjamin J.|last2=Jennings|first2=W. Pat|date=1969|url=https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1968election.pdf|title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1968|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|___location=Washington|access-date=November 9, 2020|page=33}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hevesi|first=Dennis|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/06/us/06bagley.html|title=Smith Bagley, Executive and Democratic Fund-Raiser, Dies at 74|work=The New York Times|date=January 5, 2010|access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref> The previous 5th District representative, Democrat [[Nick Galifianakis (politician)|Nick Galifianakis]], was moved to the 4th District for the 1968 elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/wilson-daily-times-jan-06-1968-p-4/|title=Gardner Maps Intricate Plan To Campaign, Hold House Seat|work=The Wilson Daily Times|page=4|date=January 6, 1968|access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref> A supporter of [[Richard Nixon]], Mizell ran on a platform vehemently opposed to federal spending and Communism.<ref name="ERIC"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1968/11/18/people|title=People|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=November 18, 1968|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite journal|pages=87–88|last=Holbik|first=Karel|year=1972|url=https://ideas.repec.org/a/bxr/bxrceb/2013-12091.html|title=U.S. trade policy and congressional opinion|journal=Brussels Economic Review|volume=53|publisher=Universite Libre de Bruxelles|access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref>
[[File:MizellCutlass.jpg|thumb|left|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).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Guthrie|first1=Benjamin J.|last2=Jennings|first2=W. Pat|date=1971|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1970election.pdf |title=Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1970|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|___location=Washington|access-date=November 9, 2020|page=25}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19701031&id=hZcbAAAAIBAJ&pg=3580,5036613|title=Mizell Endorsed by Americans for Constitutional Action|work=The Dispatch|date=October 31, 1970|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite journal|last=Baum|first=Dean V.|date=1998–99|title=The Rational Behavior behind NFL Relocations|url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/utol30&div=27&id=&page=|journal=The University of Toledo Law Review|page=443|volume=30|access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref> 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).<ref name="Johnson"/><ref name="1972 House">{{cite web|last1=Guthrie|first1=Benjamin J.|last2=Jennings|first2=W. Pat|date=1973|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electioninfo/1972election.pdf |title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|___location=Washington|access-date=November 9, 2020|page=34}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Hochberg|first=Philip R.|url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/nyls18&div=41&id=&page=|title=Second and Goal to Go: The Legislative Attack in the 92nd Congress on Sports Broadcasting Practices|journal=N.y.l.f.|page=851|volume=18|year=1972–73|access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref> In 1972, he chaired a committee that tried to set up a [[Billy Graham Crusade]] in Washington, D.C., in 1973.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Zercher|first=John E.|url=https://mosaic.messiah.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3178&context=evanvisitor|title=Evangelical Visitor|date=August 25, 1972|journal=Evangelical Visitor|publisher=Messiah University|volume=85|number=16|access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref>
Mizell opposed the [[American Electric Power|Appalachian Power Company]]'s Blue Ridge Power Project, a plan to build two dams on the [[New River (Kanawha River tributary)|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."<ref>{{cite web|last=Kenworthy|first=E. W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/16/archives/fpc-criticized-over-blue-ridge-other-federal-agencies-say.html|title=F.P.C. Criticized Over Blue Ridge|work=The New York Times|date=April 16, 1973|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref> He proposed legislation authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers to discover the "recreational, conservation, and preservation uses" of the river in 1972 and 1973.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Feldman|first=David Lewis|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4532114|title=The Defeat of the Blue Ridge Pump-Storage Project as Microcosm of Environmental Policy Change|journal=Policy Sciences|publisher=Springer|page=246|volume=20|number=3|date=September 1, 1987|doi=10.1007/BF00156586|jstor=4532114|s2cid=153581558|access-date=November 10, 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Then, in 1974, he introduced a House Bill that would designate the river part of the [[National Wild and Scenic Rivers System]] (NWSRS).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19740617&id=lmgiAAAAIBAJ&pg=895,2061068|title=Power Project Draws Quick Criticism|page=8B|work=The Daily Item|date=June 15, 1974|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kenworthy|first=E. W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/04/archives/bill-to-block-dams-on-a-river-in-blue-ridge-a-rea-is-periled.html|title=Bill to Block Dams on a River In Blue Ridge Area Is Periled|work=The New York Times|date=August 4, 1974|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=DiSanto|first=Edmund|date=April 1, 1978|url=https://archives.law.nccu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1354&context=ncclr|title=The Conflict over the New River, and the Test Case for the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: North Carolina v. FPC|journal=North Carolina Central Law Review|volume=9|issue=2|pages=192–207|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref>
Also in 1974, Mizell proposed an amendment to the [[Legal Services Corporation]] Act, preventing the proposed government agency from handling [[Desegregation in the United States|desegregation]] suits. The amendment was included in the final version of the bill which passed.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Strassberg|first=Maura Irene|pages=1630–1664|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1122476|title=The Constitutionality of Excluding Desegregation from the Legal Services Program|journal=Columbia Law Review|volume=84|number=6|date=October 1, 1984|doi=10.2307/1122476|jstor=1122476|access-date=November 10, 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bridge|first=Dave|url=https://web.b.ebscohost.com/abstract?direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=00984612&AN=120882604&h=fwEIeGwchA3qKhqYgwkVGQj%2bXUaR9mnu8lRVAhk5338zjIC0cBhqmAHSRVXAKqixjHe4c5KD0skMTI3OmL9v2Q%3d%3d&crl=c&resultNs=AdminWebAuth&resultLocal=ErrCrlNotAuth&crlhashurl=login.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26profile%3dehost%26scope%3dsite%26authtype%3dcrawler%26jrnl%3d00984612%26AN%3d120882604|title=Supreme Court Attacks as a Mechanism for Coalition Building:How the Republican Party Used Court-Curbing Proposals to Pursue Southern Voters|journal=Journal of Political Science|year=2016|volume=44|pages=59–86|publisher=EBSCO|access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref>
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).<ref name=45and8>Mitchell, pp. 4-5, 8</ref> 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.<ref name="page 16">Mitchell, p. 16</ref> In his 1974 defeat, Mizell polled less than three fifths of the total votes that he had received in 1972.<ref name="1972 House"/><ref name=45and8/> The year's ''[[Almanac of American Politics]]'' called his loss, "one of the most stunning House upsets in 1974."<ref>Mitchell, p. 8</ref>
President [[Gerald Ford|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.<ref name="Congressional Bio"/> 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.<ref name="page 5">Mitchell, p. 5</ref> 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."<ref>Mitchell, pp. 6-7</ref> 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."<ref>Mitchell, p. 6</ref> Both candidates charged the other with being a Washington insider.<ref>Mitchell, pp. 5, 7</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' considered the race "a toss-up."<ref>Mitchell, p. 42</ref> 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.<ref>Mitchell, pp. 42-43</ref> Mizell lost, 83,129 (45.7 percent) to 98,789 (54.3 percent).<ref name="page 16"/> Neal, a supporter of the Democratic presidential nominee [[Jimmy Carter]],<ref name="page 5"/> polled almost the same raw vote as Mizell had four years earlier, when he was running on the Nixon–[[Spiro Agnew|Agnew]] slate.<ref name="1972 House"/><ref name="page 16"/>
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]].<ref name="Johnson">{{cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Stephen D|last2=Tamney|first2=Joseph B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uzv3DwAAQBAJ&q=Wilmer+Mizell&pg=PA71|title=The Political Role Of Religion In The United States|publisher=Routledge|___location=Philadelphia|year=2019|pages=77–78|isbn=9781000232745}}</ref> Richard Goldstein of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called Mizell "a staunch defender of his home state's tobacco industry."<ref name="nyt obit">{{cite web|last=Goldstein|first=Richard|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/23/sports/vinegar-bend-mizell-pitcher-is-dead-at-68.html|title=Vinegar Bend Mizell, Pitcher, Is Dead at 68|work=The New York Times|page=A20|date=February 23, 1999|access-date=August 2, 2025|url-access=limited|url-status=live|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140910200105/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/23/sports/vinegar-bend-mizell-pitcher-is-dead-at-68.html|archive-date=September 10, 2014}}</ref> Yet Robert Mitchell, historian who studied Stephen Neal, observed that Mizell supported legislation that curtailed tobacco exports.<ref>Mitchell, p. 24</ref> Mizell enjoyed success in the annual [[Congressional Baseball Game]], striking out seven Democrats in a row on one occasion.<ref name="nyt obit"/> The Democrats insisted that he play a different position in 1970 (right field); otherwise, they refused to play.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Flood|first=Gay|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1970/07/06/people|title=Letters|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=July 6, 1970|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> In 1974, he was forced to play center field, but he had two [[runs batted in]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Reid|first=Ron|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1974/08/12/people|title=People|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=August 12, 1974|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Wulf|first=Steve|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1987/02/23/the-jock-caucus-the-bloc-of-ex-athletes-on-capitol-hill-is-growing-heres-a-look-at-two-new-additions-to-the-lineup-jim-bunning-r-ky|title=Jim Bunning (R., Ky.)|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=February 23, 1987|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref>
===Other governmental positions===
Mizell became the [[United States Department of Agriculture|Assistant Secretary of Agriculture]] for Governmental and Public Affairs on August 23, 1982.<ref name="Banquet">{{cite web|page=5A|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19870325&id=XYUyAAAAIBAJ&pg=1216,3774519|title=BPC banquet set for April 13|work=The Daily Item|date=March 25, 1987|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> He was the Agriculture Department's top lobbyist during the Reagan administration.<ref name="Congress Obit"/> Later he was appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|Department of Veterans Affairs]] in the [[George H. W. Bush]] administration.<ref name="Congressional Bio"/> In 1989, he became the executive director of the [[President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports]].<ref name="Congressional Bio"/><ref name="ERIC"/> In this role, he supported the [[Healthy People program|Healthy People 2000]] aims of reducing preventable deaths and disabilities. He also helped start local physical fitness and sports councils around the country.<ref name="ERIC"/>
==Election history==
{{Election box begin | title=North Carolina's 5th congressional district election, 1968<ref name="1968 House"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Wilmer Mizell
| votes = 84,905
| percentage = 52.4%
| change= --
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Smith Bagley
| votes = 77,112
| percentage = 47.6%
| change= --
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = '''162,017'''
| percentage = '''100%'''
}}
{{Election box new seat win
|winner=Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=North Carolina's 5th congressional district election, 1970<ref name="Johnson"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Wilmer Mizell (incumbent)
| votes = 68,937
| percentage = 58.1%
| change= +5.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = James G. White
| votes = 49,663
| percentage = 41.9%
| change= -5.7%
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = '''118,600'''
| percentage = '''100%'''
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=North Carolina's 5th congressional district election, 1972<ref name="1972 House"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Wilmer Mizell (incumbent)
| votes = 101,375
| percentage = 64.8%
| change= +6.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = [[Brooks Hays]]
| votes = 54,986
| percentage = 35.2%
| change= -6.7%
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = '''156,361'''
| percentage = '''100%'''
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=North Carolina's 5th congressional district election, 1974<ref name=45and8/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = [[Stephen L. Neal]]
| votes = 64,634
| percentage = 52.4%
| change= +17.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Wilmer Mizell (incumbent)
| votes = 59,182
| percentage = 47.6%
| change= -17.2%
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = '''123,816'''
| percentage = '''100%'''
}}
{{Election box gain with party link without swing
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
|loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=North Carolina's 5th congressional district election, 1976<ref name="page 16"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Stephen L. Neal (incumbent)
| votes = 98,789
| percentage = 54.3%
| change= +1.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Wilmer Mizell
| votes = 83,129
| percentage = 45.7%
| change= -1.9%
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = '''181,918'''
| percentage = '''100%'''
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
==Personal life==
[[File:Birthplace marker and memorial of Wilmer Mizell.jpg|thumb|left|Birthplace marker and memorial to Mizell]]
Following his rookie season, Mizell married Nancy McAlpine.<ref name="SABR"/> The couple had two sons: Wilmer David Jr. and James Daniel.<ref name="Banquet"/> 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]].<ref name="SABR"/>
Mizell had a friendly disposition.<ref name="7 Pirates"/> Writing for ''Sports Illustrated'', Robert Creamer observed, "he has an appealing drawl, a facile tongue, a warm, memorable face and that wonderful nickname."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Creamer|first=Robert|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1956/06/25/are-lefties-human|title=Are Lefties Human?|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=June 25, 1956|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> His smiling manner drew comparisons to [[Preacher Roe]].<ref name="7 Pirates"/> Mizell was good friends with teammate [[Hal Smith (catcher)|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.<ref name="Vinegar Bend and Smitty"/> He was also close friends with fellow Christian [[Don Demeter]], whom Mizell struck out in his first MLB at bat.<ref name=hef48>{{cite book |title=Play Ball! True Stories of Faith in Action |last=Hefley |first=James C. |year=1964 |publisher=[[Zondervan|Zondervan Publishing House]] |___location=[[Grand Rapids, Michigan]] |page=50}}</ref><ref name=debut>{{cite news |title=Newk, Big Strutter in Pitching, Also Helps Out With the Hitting |work=The Sporting News |last=McGowen |first=Roscoe |page=4 |date=26 September 1956}}</ref> In 1976, he supported fellow former major leaguer [[Bobby Richardson]] in his unsuccessful run for a House seat in [[South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite book |title=October 1964 |last= Halberstam |first=David |year=1995 |publisher=Random House Digital, Inc. |isbn= 0-449-98367-6 |pages=366–367 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sZ7sUkp5eBcC&q=october%201964&pg=PA366 }}</ref>
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.<ref name="Vinegar Bend and Smitty">{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ab68t3Xkm8C&q=Wilmer+Mizell&pg=PR9|title=Cardinal Memories: Recollections from Baseball's Greatest Fans|last=Warfel|first=Raymond|editor-last=Wright|editor-first=Tina|chapter=Vinegar Bend and Smitty|publisher=University of Missouri|___location=Columbia, MO|year=2000|pages=17–21|isbn=9780826212689}}</ref> While he was a representative, Mizell attended a [[Alliance World Fellowship|Christian and Missionary Alliance]] church.<ref name="Johnson"/> 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."<ref name="SABR"/>
In the fall of 1998, Mizell had a heart attack while watching his son Dave coach [[High Point, North Carolina|High Point]] Andrews High School in a football game against [[North Davidson High School]] in [[Welcome, North Carolina|Welcome]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB09D8A8D4DDBA4|title=Mizell's condition serious after heart attack|work=Winston-Salem Journal|page=2B|date=October 18, 1998|access-date=August 2, 2025|via=Newsbank}}</ref> 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."<ref name="Congress Obit"/> His burial site was the Faith Missionary Alliance Church Cemetery in Winston-Salem.<ref name="SABR"/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite thesis|last=Mitchell|first=Robert Wayne|date=2003|title=Political Shifts During the Carter Years: North Carolina Conservatism and Stokes County's Perception of Tobacco, The Economy, and Foreign Policy|publisher=North Carolina State University|url=https://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/bitstream/handle/1840.16/597/etd.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|access-date=November 10, 2020}}
==External links==
{{CongBio|M000833}}
{{Baseballstats |mlb=119208 |espn= |br=m/mizelvi01 |fangraphs= |cube= |brm=mizell002wil }}
*[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0775387.html Mizell's Infoplease Bio]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{succession box |
before=[[Nick Galifianakis (politician)|Nick Galifianakis (D)]] |
title=[[United States Representative]] for [[North Carolina's 5th congressional district]]|
years=1969–1975|
after=[[Stephen L. Neal|Stephen Neal (D)]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{1960 Pittsburgh Pirates}}
{{St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mizell, Wilmer David}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Washington County, Alabama]]
[[Category:American Protestants]]
[[Category:Members of the Christian and Missionary Alliance]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:New York Mets players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Alabama]]
[[Category:American athlete-politicians]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Davidson County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Leakesville, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Albany Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Winston-Salem Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Houston Buffaloes players]]
[[Category:Columbus Jets players]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:American anti-communists]]
[[Category:American segregationists]]
[[Category:New Right (United States)]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
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