1987 Profile: Dave Righetti

1987 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"He dispelled lingering doubts about his conversion into a reliever by posting a major league record of 46 saves- Dan Quisenberry (1983) and Bruce Sutter (1984) had shared the mark with 45. Righetti reached 46 by preserving wins in both games of a doubleheader against Boston at Fenway Park on the next-to-last day of the season. An extremely confident pitcher who challenges hitters, he was named to the All-Star staff for the first time [in 1986].
Third on the all-time Yankee list with 107 saves, Righetti made the switch to the bullpen in 1984. He was reluctant to do so with the memory of his July 4, 1983 no-hitter against Boston at Yankee Stadium still fresh. Righetti's no-hitter represented the first by a Yankee pitcher since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
Born in San Jose, California, his father, Leo, was a Yankee minor league shortstop. The first time he saw his son pitch was when the Yanks clinched the 1981 American League Championship Series.
Selected by Texas in the first round (ninth pick) of the January 1977 draft, Dave was acquired from Texas in November 1978 as the key man in a 10-player deal. He was named AL Rookie of the Year in 1981."

-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1987 Edition

"Dave 'Rags' Righetti rewrote the record book in 1986. His 46 saves set these single season marks:
-most saves in baseball history, edging the previous high of 45, held jointly by Dan Quisenberry and Bruce Sutter
-most saves by a left-handed pitcher since John Hiller's 38 for Detroit in 1973
-most saves by a Yankee reliever, shattering the club record Sparky Lyle set in 1972 with 35.
Additionally, Righetti, who posted an 8-8 record to go along with his 46 saves, won the American League Rolaids Relief Man Award with 100 points, the highest total ever. (Two points are given for each relief win or save, and one point is subtracted for each relief loss). Dave's nearest challenger, Baltimore's Don Aase, was 27 points behind; it was the largest margin of victory in the award's 11-year history.
The 1986 campaign was a great one for Righetti, and his second half performance was especially grand; Rags converted 29 of his last 30 save opportunities. For the season, he had a hand (either a win or a save) in FIFTY-FOUR PERCENT of the Yankees' victories, and he won or saved 22 of the club's final 28 triumphs. He also tied his own club record for games pitched with 74, a mark he established the previous season when he broke Lyle's club record of 72, set in 1977.
It may seen a little crazy, but one of the loudest and most lingering controversies in New York sports turns on this question: should Dave Righetti be a starting pitcher or a relief specialist? Rags, for one, is tired of hearing about it. He now sees himself as a relief pitcher, and the record shows that he is, absolutely, without doubt, the best reliever in baseball.
Since he went to the bullpen in 1984, Righetti has accumulated 241 points under the Rolaids Relief Man system, by far the most among his peers. Closest to him in the count is Chicago Cubs reliever Lee Smith, who posted 224 points from 1984 through 1986. And it is interesting to note that Goose Gossage, the man Rags replaced as the Yanks' bullpen stopper, ranks seventh with 168 points over the same three-year period.
Gossage, nonetheless, was a tough act for Dave Righetti to follow. In his six Yankee seasons (1978-83), Goose probably did his job as well as any player in the history of the Yankees; few were his slumps and virtually constant was his excellence. Righetti, too, seldom slumps, but when he does it is a slump heard 'around the world' for it triggers sometimes heated charges that Rags ought to moved back into the starting rotation.
An occasional bad game is embedded in the nature of relief pitching. It stands to reason that a pitcher counted on to save so many games a year is going to get rocked once in a while. You can't be perfect 74 times a season, and you might even go a week or so without doing the job. 'As a reliever you have to learn to take more setbacks,' says Righetti. 'I've gotten better, but I'm still a lousy loser.'
Which is one reason why Dave is so suited to relief pitching. His competitive fire and his heart are his greatest assets. He battles. He loves to pitch with the game on the line. Only a special kind of hurler can fill the stopper role out of the bullpen. That pitcher must have a killer instinct, and Rags has it.
The 1984 decision by the Yankees to move Righetti to the bullpen was not hastily made. It was a well-thought-out plan that nobody forced on Righetti. He had the qualities to become a consistent relief pitcher, someone who would blossom with patience. As a starter he was one of the league's better pitchers, but Dave would sometimes push too hard and find himself with a tired arm late in the season. He was not his usual self late in 1982 and 1983 when he was losing more than winning. He wanted to capitalize on his bullpen opportunity.
'Actually, I wanted to do it,' Righetti insists. 'I looked at it as a challenge. It was a big hole, trying to fill Goose's shoes, but I didn't go out there thinking I was filling his shoes. Then it would have been tougher. I went out there with the idea of helping the club, whatever it takes, and responding to the new challenge of relieving. All athletes look for a challenge.'
Righetti, in his relief role, may be the most valuable player on the team. At least many close to the club feel that way.
In terms of relief pitchers, Righetti is unique in that he doesn't rely on a specialty pitch. Gossage throws heat. Quisenberry relies on his submarine delivery, Sutter hurls the split-fingered fastball. But Righetti uses a full assortment of pitches: the fastball- and at 6'3" and 195 pounds, he can throw hard- and several breaking pitches, including a dynamite curve ball.
Righetti in 1986 climbed over Joe 'Fireman' Page and Johnny 'Grandma' Murphy to move into third place on the Yankees' all-time saves list. Page had 76 saves, Murphy 104 and Righetti now stands at 107. (Only Gossage with 150 saves, and Lyle, with 141, are ahead of him.) Ironically, Murphy, Page and Righetti all began their careers as starting pitchers. Switching to the bullpen worked just fine for Murphy and Page; in fact, it saved their careers.
Murphy was unimpressive in the Yankees' farm system until Newark manager Al Mamaux put him in the bullpen in 1933- and Johnny blossomed. Still, after reaching the Yankees in 1934, he started 20 of the 40 games he pitched that season.
When manager Joe McCarthy asked him to be his relief specialist in 1935, Johnny was less than exuberant. In those days the bullpen was a graveyard for over-the-hill starters and kids too green to be trusted with the responsibility of a starting assignment, and the pay reflected both of the above. But McCarthy assured Murphy that he would draw a first-rate salary- a starter's salary- if he did the job asked of him. And Murphy came through. He led the league in relief wins six times and in saves four times.
Murphy possessed only an average fastball. But with his rocking chair motion- that's why they called him 'Grandma'- he threw a honey of a curve ball, which he kept low, and McCarthy liked to bring him into tight situations when he needed a double play grounder.
Years later Murphy said he enjoyed relief pitching, but only because he did it for McCarthy and the Yankees, and man and a club that were ahead of the times in recognizing the value of the bullpen stopper.
Page joined the Yankees in 1944. In his first three seasons he made 42 starts in 70 appearances. The results were mixed and his career seemed to be going nowhere.
The turning point for Page came in a May 26, 1947 game against Boston. With New York down 3-1, Page took over in relief, and- after Ted Williams reached on an error to load the bases- proceeded to fan Rudy York and Bobby Doerr, but only after running the count to 3-and-0 on both batters. Page then got the final out, leaving the field at Yankee Stadium to a great ovation, and the Yankees rallied to win 9-3. Afterwards, Yankee manager Bucky Harris said, 'If Page had walked York, he was through as a Yankee.'
Instead, Page found his niche as the most awesome fireman of his day- a position he held for four splendid seasons until beset by arm troubles. Like Righetti, Page was a southpaw, and he was similarly built, at 6'3" and 200 pounds. Besides being the same kind of tough competitor that Righetti is, Joe threw a blazing, rising fastball, which allowed him the distinction of being he first reliever to use the strikeout as his prime weapon.
If Murphy gave relief pitching respectability, Page gave it status.
The 1950s saw three other starters-turned-relievers on the Yankees- Allie Reynolds, Johnny Sain and Bob Grim. Reynolds, the 'Big Chief' out of Oklahoma, was known as a great 'two-way pitcher,' meaning he was equally effective starting or coming out of the bullpen. But most of the burly fireballer's 86 Yankee relief appearances came late in his fabulous career.
Same thing with Sain, a four-time 20-game winner as a starter with the Boston Braves. In his next-to-last season, with the Yankees in 1954, he was used exclusively in relief and led the league with 22 saves.
Grim won 20 games and Rookie of the Year honors in 1954, with most of his victories recorded in a starting role. Arm troubles later forced him to bullpen duty- he couldn't go the full nine innings any longer- and in 1957 he led the American League in saves (19) and relief wins (12).
But great relief pitching is a Yankees tradition. Remember Luis Arroyo's dream season in 1961?
Arroyo was just a so-so National League pitcher when, in the summer of 1960, the Yankees bought his contract from Cincinnati. Manager Casey Stengel desperately needed a southpaw reliever for the stretch drive, and Arroyo filled the bill. By season's end, the Yankees were pennant winners.
But the next year was Arroyo's sterling masterpiece. The affable, cigar-smoking screwball artist led the American League in relief wins (15), saves (29) and games pitched (65), much to the delight of Whitey Ford who, with Arroyo's late-inning assistance, won a career high 25 games.
The Ford-Arroyo team reminded sage Yankee fans of the Lefty Gomez-Johnny Murphy duo. Gomez, as great a pitcher in his prime as ever there was, began to fade late in his career and would need Murphy to bail him out. After taking a defense job in the war-torn forties, Lefty was asked about his working conditions. 'It's all very strange,' he replied. 'I work eight hours a day- and no Murphy to relieve me.'
Before Arroyo, who was prevented from repeating his 1961 performance by arm troubles, the Yankees had the intimidating Ryne Duren, and in the years that followed, Yankee relief specialists like Steve Hamilton, Pedro Ramos, Lindy McDaniel and Sparky Lyle garnered widespread attention for their ability to put out the fire.
The heart of the 1980-81 Yankees championship clubs was the bullpen combination of Ron Davis and Goose Gossage. Both had stints as starters. Headed nowhere as a starter in the Cubs organization in the seventies, Davis was traded to the Yankees, got switched to relief pitching and enjoyed several productive seasons. Chicago's other team, the White Sox, foolishly took Gossage out of their bullpen and made him a starter in 1976- and Goose went 9-17.
Righetti is different from those that have gone before him. He was reaching his peak as a starter when he was transferred to the bullpen in 1984. This is a guy who in 1981 was the American League's Rookie of the Year, posting a 2.06 earned run average in 105 innings pitched, who that year won the pennant-clinching game of the playoffs against Oakland, and who pitched a no-hitter against Boston on July 4, 1983, the first no-hitter by a Yankee pitcher since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
In other words, Righetti had earned his stripes as a starter. He had all the pitches, he wasn't too old and he wasn't crippled. He was, in fact, one of the game's most talented starting pitchers. Righetti is unique in that he'd be a success whether starting or relieving. Thus, the continuing, maddening debate.
Righetti (whose father, Leo, was a minor league shortstop in the Yankees' farm system) grew up in San Jose, California, where he was All-League in baseball at Pioneer High School. In 1977, at the age of 19, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers, signed, and in 1978 drew attention to himself when he struck out 21 batters in a Texas League game. Righetti became a hot property.
He was certainly the key player, as far as the Yankees were concerned, in a 10-player trade made with Texas in November 1978; ironically, the key to the deal in the eyes of the Rangers was Sparky Lyle, probably the greatest left-handed fireman in Yankees history until the emergence of Righetti as a reliever.
Rags made his major league debut with the Yankees in 1979 and finally stuck with the big club in 1981. He posted a 14-8 record in 1983, then moved to the bullpen the following season.
Relief pitching was so new to Dave that at first he didn't even know how to warm up. He had to learn how to be prepared to throw every day, and adjust to the fact that he might occasionally be called upon to pitch four, maybe even five, days in a row. A far cry from a starter, who pitches every fourth or fifth day.
Things began slowly for Rags in 1984. The Yankees got off to a slow start, playing so badly that Righetti, as the stopper, wasn't needed to protect non-existent Yankee leads. Then he cut his left index finger and was on the disabled list from June 17 to July 2. Yet, when the dust cleared, Righetti finished the season with 31 saves (in 40 save situations). It was an admirable effort for what in effect was his rookie season.
Righetti started out strong in 1985, but a broken toe contributed to a slump running from late May through late June. Then he got into gear, going 8-1 with 18 saves and finishing the campaign with totals of 12 wins and 29 saves. And he was the American League Pitcher of the Month for August.
Next came his unbelievable 1986 season. Things weren't going so well for Dave in June, but he was given a shot of confidence by Yankees manager Lou Piniella, who quickly and steadfastly put to rest any talk of Rags moving out of the bullpen. Dave appreciated Lou's faith; it not only defined his role in no uncertain terms, it also helped clear his head, and Rags went on to the riches of 46 saves.
And so after only three years in the Yankees bullpen, Dave Righetti has set new standards of excellence. Look at it this way: Dave owns the No. 1 season for saves in Yankees history (46 saves), the No. 4 season (31 saves) and the No. 6 season (29 saves).
Relief pitching has revolutionized baseball. Now every club, like the Yankees of McCarthy's day, realizes the importance of having that stopper in the bullpen. A championship can't be won without one.
Hoyt Wilhelm is the only pure relief artist in Baseball's Hall of Fame, but relievers like Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage, Dan Quisenberry and Bruce Sutter might well join him there. And though he has a long way to go yet, Dave Righetti is already beginning to forge his own path to Coopperstown."

-The New York Yankees Official 1987 Yearbook

"In 1986, just his third season out of the bullpen, Dave established a new major league single season save record of 46, breaking the record of 45, previously set by Dan Quisenberry in 1983 and later matched by Bruce Sutter in 1984. In addition to Righetti, Quisenberry (who also had 44 in '84) and Sutter, the only other reliever to record 40+ saves is Jeff Reardon (41 in 1985).
His 36th save, notched on September 9 at Toronto, broke the Yankee save record of 35 set in 1972 by Sparky Lyle. His 39th save, recorded on September 14 against Boston, broke John Hiller's major league record of 38 saves by a left-hander, set in 1973. He saved both ends of a doubleheader in Boston on October 4, notching saves 45 & 46 and setting the new all-time mark. Dave matched his own Yankee record for games in a single season, appearing in 74 for the second consecutive year. He failed to finish just six of those 74 appearances.
Dave was successful in 46 of 56 save opportunities. Eight of his 'blown saves' came in his first 32 outings (24 save opportunities), and nine came in his first 36 games (26 save opportunities). He failed in three of five save situations from April 19 through April 27 (five games), then failed in four of six save situations from May 24 through June 9 (seven games). After a June 20 appearances at Toronto (0.2 IP, three hits, four earned runs including a George Bell ninth inning grand slam), he did not allow more than one run in any of his remaining 43 games (67.0 IP, 10 ER, 1.34 ERA with New York 37-6). Beginning on July 3, Dave was successful in 29 of his final 30 save opportunities, spanning his final 38 games.
In nine games from May 2 through May 22 he was 1-0 with five saves, allowing just four hits and no runs in 11.2 innings, with the five saves coming in consecutive outings, May 5-13. He recorded saves in four consecutive appearances, June 10-14, with just two hits and no runs in 4.2 innings pitched. In 15 games from June 21 through August 1, he was 3-0 with eight saves (22.1 IP, 2 ER, 0.81 ERA).
Dave lost back-to-back games (neither a save situation) on August 2 at Cleveland and August 8 against Milwaukee, allowing one run in each contest, then notched saves in six consecutive outings, August 8-22, allowing no runs in 10.2 innings pitched. He was also awarded saves in 10 straight appearances, August 28-September 15, allowing just one earned run in 15.1 innings pitched (0.59 ERA). Dave closed out '86 with saves in his final four games, September 30-October 4, allowing no runs in 4.2 innings pitched.
Between July 1, the date of his ninth blown save, and September 23, the date of his tenth and final blown save, he recorded saves in 24 consecutive save opportunities. He saved 21 and won one of New York's final 28 wins. Rags had a .226 batting average-against in '86.
His 46 saves were a major factor in the Yankees tying the American League record of 58 team saves, first set by the Minnesota Twins in 1970. With 46 saves he secured 51 percent of the Yankees' 90 wins; add to the 46 saves his eight wins and he directly contributed to 54 of those 90 wins, or 60 percent. Overall, the Yankees were 60-14 in games Righetti pitched, an .811 winning percentage.
He has now allowed 90 home runs in his career, but only four in 1986: Rob Deer on April 19 at Milwaukee, Wally Joyner on May 26 against California, George Bell on June 20 at Toronto, and Cal Ripken on September 23 at Baltimore. He has allowed just eight homers to left-handed batters in his career, just one in '86 (Joyner).
Righetti finished fourth in the BBWAA voting for the Cy Young Award, finishing behind Roger Clemens, Ted Higuera and Mike Witt, with Righetti receiving five second place and five third place votes. He finished 10th in the BBWAA voting for AL MVP, tallying 71 votes, and won the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award. Rags was named to the AP All-Star team and selected AL Fireman of the Year by the Sporting News.
He has recorded 107 saves and is currently in third place on the all-time Yankee list, trailing only Rich Gossage (150) and Sparky Lyle (141). His total of 294 games ranks 14th on the all-time Yankee list, while his total of 699 strikeouts ranks 15th.
Righetti struck out 21 batters for Tulsa on July 16, 1978 at Midland, striking out the side four times and having a stretch of seven straight strikeouts. Named to the Topps National Association Class AAA All-Star team in 1979, he made his major league debut on September 16, 1979 against Detroit at Yankee Stadium on Catfish Hunter Day, with no decision.
He had a disappointing season at Columbus in 1980, hampered by control problems, but did strike out 139 in 142 innings pitched. He was 3-0, 1.80 in the instructional league.
Dave was named American League Rookie of the Year in 1981 and narrowly missed winning the AL ERA crown with a 2.06 ERA- he fell just 1.2 innings short [of qualifying]. In the '81 postseason he started and won Game 2 of the Division Series against Milwaukee and relieved in Game 5, earning the deciding win. Rags also won the clinching game 3 of the ALCS at Oakland, but started and and got a no-decision in Game 3 of the World Series.
In 1982 Dave suffered a slight sophomore jinx but still led the Yankee staff with 163 strikeouts, third in the AL. In 1983, he beat Boston at Yankee Stadium, 4-0, on July 4th with a no-hitter (nine innings pitched, no runs, no hits, four walks, nine strikeouts, Righetti throwing 132 pitches). It was sunny and hot, with the temperature in the 90s. Only four Red Sox reached base, all via walks, including one caught stealing off first by Righetti. It was the first no-hitter by a Yankee since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, the first regular season no-hitter by a Yankee since Allie Reynolds no-hit Boston in September of 1951 at Yankee Stadium, and the first no-hitter by a Yankee southpaw since George Mogridge no-hit Boston at Fenway Park in April of 1917.
Dave was 10-3 in the first half of the '83 season and ended the year 7-3 against the American League East. He pitched career highs in starts, complete games, innings pitched, wins and strikeouts. He hurled back-to-back shutouts, June 29 against Baltimore (his first major league shutout) followed by the no-hitter. Dave struck out 11 White Sox on August 15, and struck out seven or more on 12 occasions.
 He moved to the bullpen in 1984 and registered saves in 31 of 40 save situations. He got his 500th career strikeout against the Angels' Brian Downing on September 1 at California. His 74 appearances in 1985 set a new Yankee record, breaking Sparky Lyle's mark of 72, set in 1977.
Dave began the '85 season impressively, not allowing any runs in his first seven outings, going 1-0 with four saves in 8.1 innings. He struck out a season high four batters three times: May 30 against California, June 30 against Milwaukee and September 5 against Oakland. Dave had a rough stint from May 25 though June 20, going 1-4 with just two saves (17.1 IP, 14 ER, 7.27 ERA). Beginning with his next appearance, he went 8-1 with 18 saves through the season's end (60.1 IP, 14 ER, 2.09 ERA), lowering his ERA from 3.66 to 2.78. From July 29 through September 29, he went 5-0 with 10 saves. He was named AL Player of the Month in August (4-0 with five saves and a 1.17 ERA, 23 IP, 14 H, 3 ER and 22 K's). He recorded saves in each of his last four games of the season.
He allowed just five home runs in 107 innings pitched in 1985. Dave finished 60 of his 74 appearances (81%) and was 9-1 with a 2.24 ERA at Yankee Stadium. Opposing batters combined for a .231 average against him.
Dave grew up in San Jose where he was All-League in baseball at Pioneer High School, and also played basketball. An A's and Giants fan growing up with Willie McCovey his favorite player, he played against A's third baseman Carney Lansford in American Legion ball. He attended San Jose City College where he was a teammate of Blue Jays pitcher Dave Stieb, and won JC Player of the Year honors in 1977. His brother, Steve, played in the Texas organization from 1977-79. His father, Leo, is a former Yankee minor league shortstop, and first saw Dave pitch professionally in the clinching game of the ALCS at Oakland in 1981.
During the '86-'87 off-season, Dave posed with Magic Johnson for the anti-drug poster 'Anyone can be a pro. It takes a special person to say no.'"

-1987 New York Yankees Information Guide