R.I.P. - Gus Zernial

Gus Zernial, the former major league slugger who settled in Clovis after his 11-year career ended and became a sports broadcaster and one of the Fresno Grizzlies' biggest advocates, died Thursday after a long illness.


He was 87.


Mr. Zernial died at a Fresno hospice care center from the effects of congestive heart failure, said his daughter, Lisa Pearlstein.



Nicknamed "Ozark Ike" during his playing days after a popular comic strip character and "Big Gus" around the central San Joaquin Valley for his burly 6-foot-2 frame, Mr. Zernial swatted 237 home runs and drove in 776 runs while playing outfield for the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics and Detroit Tigers from 1949-59


Read more:  http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/20/2240708/ex-major-leaguer-zernial-dies.html#ixzz1Bg5pZelT