Monday, July 30, 2018
Sunday, July 29, 2018
1990 Profile: Andy Hawkins
"Streaky starter followed career pattern as .500 pitcher. The free agent signee won three straight from April 17-28, then dropped three in a row from May 3-14. His best month was July when he went 3-2 with a 2.39 ERA, three complete games and the first consecutive shutouts by a Yankee since Ron Guidry in 1985. Hawkins threw 23 [consecutive] scoreless innings during that stretch, the longest shutout string by a Yankee starter since Tom Underwood threw 24 2/3 blanks in 1980. He won only twice after August 5.
Hawkins believes he will be a much better pitcher in 1990 after getting his first season as a Yankee under his belt.
Born in Waco, Texas, he was the Padres' first-round pick in 1978, the fifth player taken overall. He allowed one run in 15 2/3 postseason innings for San Diego in 1984."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1990 Edition
"These days you don't hear a lot about Andy Hawkins, which is just fine with him. The Yankee right-hander doesn't say much. And, despite his 6-2 frame, he prefers to blend into the crowd in the Yankee clubhouse.
This is also the way he likes to pitch. Just take the ball every fifth day, no big deal.
That was tough at first. When he came to the pitching-hungry Yankees as a free agent, he was immediately dubbed the anchor of the staff. It was a name he didn't want, not because he couldn't handle the responsibility, but because he didn't want the publicity. 'I don't like to talk about things, and I don't go for names like anchor,' he said. 'I prefer to just play the game, and let the numbers say who did what.'
The 1989 numbers showed that Hawkins led the team in nearly every pitching category, including consistency. Even so, we won't call the 30-year-old an anchor. We'll just let Andy Hawkins quietly continue to do the job for the Yankees."
-The New York Yankees Official 1990 Yearbook
"Hawkins started the 1989 season with two losses, allowing 15 earned runs over nine innings. In his next outing on April 17 at Toronto, he threw a complete game 5-hitter (the first Yankee complete game of the season), allowing two earned runs in a 7-2 win. He followed with wins at Cleveland (7.2 IP, 2 H, the only hits being singles by Jerry Browne and Luis Aguayo) and against Chicago to close out April. In his three wins, Hawkins compiled a 1.11 ERA, ending the month with a 3-2 record and 4.86 ERA.
On May 3 at Texas, Andy lost 4-1 as the Yankees were 2-hit by Kevin Brown, then lost his next two outings, compiling a three-game ERA of 9.93 to start the month. After a win on May 19 at Seattle he lost 4-0 on May 26 in New York against the A's as the Yankees were 1-hit by three A's pitchers. Andy ended the month beating Seattle and finished May with a 2-4 record and a 7.64 ERA, giving him a two-month record of 5-6 with a 6.29 ERA.
On June 5 against Baltimore he allowed 10 runs, all unearned, over 2.1 innings, dropping his ERA from 6.29 to 6.08. In back-to-back starts on June 11 and 16, Hawkins started the first games of twin bills (against Boston and Texas), won both and the Yankees swept both doubleheaders.
After a loss against Chicago, Hawkins had his best stretch from June 25-July 13 when he went 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA. From June 30-July 2 he threw 23 consecutive scoreless innings, the most by a Yankee starter since Tom Underwood hurled 24.2 in 1980. After wins at Kansas City and against Milwaukee he won back-to-back complete game shutouts on July 5 and July 13 at home against Detroit and Kansas City, the first back-to-back shutouts by a Yankee since Ron Guidry in 1985 and the first at home since Dave Righetti in 1983. He allowed eight hits over 18 innings pitched. Before that four-game stretch, Andy was 7-8 with a 5.17 ERA; with the streak he ran his record to 11-8 with a 4.35 ERA.
Andy lost 6-2 at Texas, then pitched on July 25 at Cleveland allowing one unearned run while pitching his fourth complete game of the season, bringing his record to 12-9 and lowering his ERA to a season best 4.13. After netting decisions in 24 straight outings he had two consecutive no-decisions on August 14 at Milwaukee and August 19 at Detroit, the Yankees losing both games 5-4. Losses to Boston and Oakland gave Andy a 1-3 record with two no-decisions and a 6.82 ERA for August.
On September 26 he lasted one third of an inning at Boston (5 H, 8 ER), his shortest career outing. He won his final decision on September 30 against Detroit, evening his record at 15-15. Hawkins went 2-2 in September with two no-decisions. After the 24 straight outings with a decision ending on August 9, he went 2-4 in his final 10 outings with a 5.90 ERA.
Hawkins was 10-8 with a 4.68 ERA before the break and 5-7 with a 4.95 ERA after. In his 15 wins he pitched at least six innings each time and allowed 28 earned runs over 112.1 innings for a 2.24 ERA; in his 19 other outings he pitched at least six innings seven times and allowed 83 earned runs over 96 innings for a 7.78 ERA. Overall, Hawkins pitched six-plus innings in 22 of his 34 starts and the Yankees were 17-17 in games he started. In his wins he was supported with 6.2 runs per game and in his losses he was supported with 2.3 runs per game.
His 15 wins were a team high and a personal best since winning 18 in 1985. He was the only pitcher on the staff with at least 200 innings (208.1, the most by a Yankee since Phil Niekro logged 220 in 1985), the fourth time in the last five seasons Hawkins logged at least 200 innings. He did not miss a start all season and finished with a team best 30 decisions in 34 games started, including decisions in his first 24 outings. Hawkins had a team high five complete games (tying his 1985 career high) and two shutouts. He led the staff with 98 strikeouts (his highest since 1986 when he had 117).
Andy was 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA with a .233 batting average against in day games and 10-14, 5.18 with a .303 batting average against at night. He was 4-1, 6.15 on artificial turf and 11-14, 4.53 on grass surface. He finished with a 9-10 record with a 4.54 ERA at home and 6-5, 5.18 on the road.
He signed a three-year contract in December 1988. The contract runs through the 1991 season.
Signed as a first-round choice in the June 1978 draft, Hawkins was the fifth player taken overall in the draft, behind Bob Horner, Lloyd Moseby, Hubie Brooks and Mike Morgan. He compiled a record of 8-3 with a 2.12 ERA in 14 starts (along with five complete games) in his first pro season, at Walla Walla in the Northwest League.
In 1979 Hawkins had the only sub-.500 minor league season of his career, going 8-13 with a 5.60 ERA for Reno. He made 27 starts, with seven complete games. 1980 was his second straight year in Reno and he improved his California League numbers from the '79 season. Used exclusively as a starter, he was 13-10 with a 4.26 ERA with 10 complete games in 26 starts.
Andy pitched for Amarillo (AA) in 1981 and led the Texas League in starts (27) and complete games (14). Already established as a durable pitcher, the complete game total gave him 36 complete games in only four pro seasons. Andy started 1982 in AAA with Hawaii. He was 9-7 with a 2.17 ERA while pitching for the Islanders, with 10 complete games and a Pacific Coast League-leading six shutouts in 16 starts.
He was recalled by the Padres on July 15 and made his major league debut two days later against Montreal. He got his first big league win in his next outing, on July 23, a 7-hit 11-4 win over the Mets in San Diego.
Andy opened the 1983 season with AAA Las Vegas but received a promotion to San Diego in less than a month. On May 20 he tossed his first career shutout, besting the Phillies and Steve Carlton 5-0 with a 5-hitter. Andy was sent back to the Stars in late June where he remained until late August.
Upon his return to San Diego, he tossed a 4-hitter in an 8-2 win over the Reds. He closed out the season with a 4-1 triumph over Los Angeles in which he set a career high with ten strikeouts.
The 1984 season saw Andy split his time between the starting rotation and the bullpen, with 22 of his 36 outings coming as a starter, including his first 14. He was a sub-.500 pitcher (8-9) during the regular season, but in the postseason allowed only one earned run and four hits in 15.2 innings pitched (six games) for a 0.57 ERA, making three appearances in both the NLCS and the World Series.
Andy held the Cubs hitless for 3.2 innings of relief work, then followed that with 12 innings of four-hit ball against Detroit. He was the winning pitcher in San Diego's only World Series triumph, going 5.1 innings and allowing only one hit in Game 2 on October 10 in San Diego.
He led the Padres with a career-best 18 wins in 1985, including a season-opening 11-0 mark. Hawkins became the first National League pitcher to open a season with that many wins since Roy Face was 17-0 in 1959, and the first pitcher in the majors to start with so many wins since Ron Guidry was 13-0 to begin 1978. He shattered the Padres record for consecutive wins by a starter (Tim Lollar's 5-0 mark in 1982) and also surpassed Butch Metzger's 10-0 ledger as a reliever at the outset of 1976. Of Hawkins' 11 wins, 10 came in as many starts to open the campaign. Hawkins was named National League Pitcher of the Month for May, going 6-0 with a 2.72 ERA. He had his streak broken at Dodger Stadium on June 19 in a 5-1 loss. It marked one of only two road losses all season, as Hawkins won eight of ten away from home.
He missed two starts at mid-season due to a circulatory problem in his index finger. Both of his shutouts came on the road in August, 6-0 at Atlanta and 3-0 at Montreal.
The 18 victories were the most by a San Diego pitcher since Gaylord Perry won 21 in 1978. He surpassed his three-year big league total of 15 wins entering the '85 season.
His best stretch of 1986 came from June 3-16 when he was 2-0 in four outings (5 ER, 22.2 IP). After compiling a 9-8 record through August 19, Andy went nine consecutive outings (eight starts) without a decision. Finally, on the last day of the season, he won at Cincinnati to finish at 10-8.
Andy never won or lost more than two games in a row in '86. He led the staff in starts (35), innings (209.1) and strikeouts (117).
In 1987 he was plagued with an injured shoulder throughout most of the season, missing nearly two months of action. Hawkins started the year by dropping five straight decisions before finally beating the Phillies 6-5 on May 17 in Philadelphia. He won his next start on May 22 against Montreal, but would win only one other game all season, on June 13 at San Francisco; only once did he go beyond six innings after May 22. Late in June he was forced to miss a couple days between starts due to some tenderness in his shoulder, then made only three starts in July.
Hawkins was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 29 after being diagnosed with tendinitis in his right shoulder. He was activated on September 1 but did not see any action until a two-inning relief stint on September 15. He managed only five appearances (one start) after returning to the active roster.
Hawkins believes he will be a much better pitcher in 1990 after getting his first season as a Yankee under his belt.
Born in Waco, Texas, he was the Padres' first-round pick in 1978, the fifth player taken overall. He allowed one run in 15 2/3 postseason innings for San Diego in 1984."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1990 Edition
"These days you don't hear a lot about Andy Hawkins, which is just fine with him. The Yankee right-hander doesn't say much. And, despite his 6-2 frame, he prefers to blend into the crowd in the Yankee clubhouse.
This is also the way he likes to pitch. Just take the ball every fifth day, no big deal.
That was tough at first. When he came to the pitching-hungry Yankees as a free agent, he was immediately dubbed the anchor of the staff. It was a name he didn't want, not because he couldn't handle the responsibility, but because he didn't want the publicity. 'I don't like to talk about things, and I don't go for names like anchor,' he said. 'I prefer to just play the game, and let the numbers say who did what.'
The 1989 numbers showed that Hawkins led the team in nearly every pitching category, including consistency. Even so, we won't call the 30-year-old an anchor. We'll just let Andy Hawkins quietly continue to do the job for the Yankees."
-The New York Yankees Official 1990 Yearbook
"Hawkins started the 1989 season with two losses, allowing 15 earned runs over nine innings. In his next outing on April 17 at Toronto, he threw a complete game 5-hitter (the first Yankee complete game of the season), allowing two earned runs in a 7-2 win. He followed with wins at Cleveland (7.2 IP, 2 H, the only hits being singles by Jerry Browne and Luis Aguayo) and against Chicago to close out April. In his three wins, Hawkins compiled a 1.11 ERA, ending the month with a 3-2 record and 4.86 ERA.
On May 3 at Texas, Andy lost 4-1 as the Yankees were 2-hit by Kevin Brown, then lost his next two outings, compiling a three-game ERA of 9.93 to start the month. After a win on May 19 at Seattle he lost 4-0 on May 26 in New York against the A's as the Yankees were 1-hit by three A's pitchers. Andy ended the month beating Seattle and finished May with a 2-4 record and a 7.64 ERA, giving him a two-month record of 5-6 with a 6.29 ERA.
On June 5 against Baltimore he allowed 10 runs, all unearned, over 2.1 innings, dropping his ERA from 6.29 to 6.08. In back-to-back starts on June 11 and 16, Hawkins started the first games of twin bills (against Boston and Texas), won both and the Yankees swept both doubleheaders.
After a loss against Chicago, Hawkins had his best stretch from June 25-July 13 when he went 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA. From June 30-July 2 he threw 23 consecutive scoreless innings, the most by a Yankee starter since Tom Underwood hurled 24.2 in 1980. After wins at Kansas City and against Milwaukee he won back-to-back complete game shutouts on July 5 and July 13 at home against Detroit and Kansas City, the first back-to-back shutouts by a Yankee since Ron Guidry in 1985 and the first at home since Dave Righetti in 1983. He allowed eight hits over 18 innings pitched. Before that four-game stretch, Andy was 7-8 with a 5.17 ERA; with the streak he ran his record to 11-8 with a 4.35 ERA.
Andy lost 6-2 at Texas, then pitched on July 25 at Cleveland allowing one unearned run while pitching his fourth complete game of the season, bringing his record to 12-9 and lowering his ERA to a season best 4.13. After netting decisions in 24 straight outings he had two consecutive no-decisions on August 14 at Milwaukee and August 19 at Detroit, the Yankees losing both games 5-4. Losses to Boston and Oakland gave Andy a 1-3 record with two no-decisions and a 6.82 ERA for August.
On September 26 he lasted one third of an inning at Boston (5 H, 8 ER), his shortest career outing. He won his final decision on September 30 against Detroit, evening his record at 15-15. Hawkins went 2-2 in September with two no-decisions. After the 24 straight outings with a decision ending on August 9, he went 2-4 in his final 10 outings with a 5.90 ERA.
Hawkins was 10-8 with a 4.68 ERA before the break and 5-7 with a 4.95 ERA after. In his 15 wins he pitched at least six innings each time and allowed 28 earned runs over 112.1 innings for a 2.24 ERA; in his 19 other outings he pitched at least six innings seven times and allowed 83 earned runs over 96 innings for a 7.78 ERA. Overall, Hawkins pitched six-plus innings in 22 of his 34 starts and the Yankees were 17-17 in games he started. In his wins he was supported with 6.2 runs per game and in his losses he was supported with 2.3 runs per game.
His 15 wins were a team high and a personal best since winning 18 in 1985. He was the only pitcher on the staff with at least 200 innings (208.1, the most by a Yankee since Phil Niekro logged 220 in 1985), the fourth time in the last five seasons Hawkins logged at least 200 innings. He did not miss a start all season and finished with a team best 30 decisions in 34 games started, including decisions in his first 24 outings. Hawkins had a team high five complete games (tying his 1985 career high) and two shutouts. He led the staff with 98 strikeouts (his highest since 1986 when he had 117).
Andy was 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA with a .233 batting average against in day games and 10-14, 5.18 with a .303 batting average against at night. He was 4-1, 6.15 on artificial turf and 11-14, 4.53 on grass surface. He finished with a 9-10 record with a 4.54 ERA at home and 6-5, 5.18 on the road.
He signed a three-year contract in December 1988. The contract runs through the 1991 season.
Signed as a first-round choice in the June 1978 draft, Hawkins was the fifth player taken overall in the draft, behind Bob Horner, Lloyd Moseby, Hubie Brooks and Mike Morgan. He compiled a record of 8-3 with a 2.12 ERA in 14 starts (along with five complete games) in his first pro season, at Walla Walla in the Northwest League.
In 1979 Hawkins had the only sub-.500 minor league season of his career, going 8-13 with a 5.60 ERA for Reno. He made 27 starts, with seven complete games. 1980 was his second straight year in Reno and he improved his California League numbers from the '79 season. Used exclusively as a starter, he was 13-10 with a 4.26 ERA with 10 complete games in 26 starts.
Andy pitched for Amarillo (AA) in 1981 and led the Texas League in starts (27) and complete games (14). Already established as a durable pitcher, the complete game total gave him 36 complete games in only four pro seasons. Andy started 1982 in AAA with Hawaii. He was 9-7 with a 2.17 ERA while pitching for the Islanders, with 10 complete games and a Pacific Coast League-leading six shutouts in 16 starts.
He was recalled by the Padres on July 15 and made his major league debut two days later against Montreal. He got his first big league win in his next outing, on July 23, a 7-hit 11-4 win over the Mets in San Diego.
Andy opened the 1983 season with AAA Las Vegas but received a promotion to San Diego in less than a month. On May 20 he tossed his first career shutout, besting the Phillies and Steve Carlton 5-0 with a 5-hitter. Andy was sent back to the Stars in late June where he remained until late August.
Upon his return to San Diego, he tossed a 4-hitter in an 8-2 win over the Reds. He closed out the season with a 4-1 triumph over Los Angeles in which he set a career high with ten strikeouts.
The 1984 season saw Andy split his time between the starting rotation and the bullpen, with 22 of his 36 outings coming as a starter, including his first 14. He was a sub-.500 pitcher (8-9) during the regular season, but in the postseason allowed only one earned run and four hits in 15.2 innings pitched (six games) for a 0.57 ERA, making three appearances in both the NLCS and the World Series.
Andy held the Cubs hitless for 3.2 innings of relief work, then followed that with 12 innings of four-hit ball against Detroit. He was the winning pitcher in San Diego's only World Series triumph, going 5.1 innings and allowing only one hit in Game 2 on October 10 in San Diego.
He led the Padres with a career-best 18 wins in 1985, including a season-opening 11-0 mark. Hawkins became the first National League pitcher to open a season with that many wins since Roy Face was 17-0 in 1959, and the first pitcher in the majors to start with so many wins since Ron Guidry was 13-0 to begin 1978. He shattered the Padres record for consecutive wins by a starter (Tim Lollar's 5-0 mark in 1982) and also surpassed Butch Metzger's 10-0 ledger as a reliever at the outset of 1976. Of Hawkins' 11 wins, 10 came in as many starts to open the campaign. Hawkins was named National League Pitcher of the Month for May, going 6-0 with a 2.72 ERA. He had his streak broken at Dodger Stadium on June 19 in a 5-1 loss. It marked one of only two road losses all season, as Hawkins won eight of ten away from home.
He missed two starts at mid-season due to a circulatory problem in his index finger. Both of his shutouts came on the road in August, 6-0 at Atlanta and 3-0 at Montreal.
The 18 victories were the most by a San Diego pitcher since Gaylord Perry won 21 in 1978. He surpassed his three-year big league total of 15 wins entering the '85 season.
His best stretch of 1986 came from June 3-16 when he was 2-0 in four outings (5 ER, 22.2 IP). After compiling a 9-8 record through August 19, Andy went nine consecutive outings (eight starts) without a decision. Finally, on the last day of the season, he won at Cincinnati to finish at 10-8.
Andy never won or lost more than two games in a row in '86. He led the staff in starts (35), innings (209.1) and strikeouts (117).
In 1987 he was plagued with an injured shoulder throughout most of the season, missing nearly two months of action. Hawkins started the year by dropping five straight decisions before finally beating the Phillies 6-5 on May 17 in Philadelphia. He won his next start on May 22 against Montreal, but would win only one other game all season, on June 13 at San Francisco; only once did he go beyond six innings after May 22. Late in June he was forced to miss a couple days between starts due to some tenderness in his shoulder, then made only three starts in July.
Hawkins was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 29 after being diagnosed with tendinitis in his right shoulder. He was activated on September 1 but did not see any action until a two-inning relief stint on September 15. He managed only five appearances (one start) after returning to the active roster.
In 1988, Hawkins posted a record of 14-11 with a 3.35 ERA in 33 games (all starts). He had four complete games (including two shutouts) and had 76 walks and 91 strikeouts [and a 1.25 WHIP] in 217.2 innings pitched. His 14 wins tied for the second highest total on the Padres and was the second highest single-season total of his career, and his 217.2 IP was the second highest figure on the team.
Andy had the single best day of his career on April 24 at San Diego, tossing a 1-hitter against Houston and winning 3-0, with the only hit being a single by Bill Doran to lead off the seventh inning. His other shutout came on May 31 at Philadelphia, tossing a 4-hitter in the Padres' 8-0 win.
After starting the season with a loss, Andy posted wins in each of his next three decisions, covering four starts from April 12-29 (including his 1-hitter), going 3-0 with a 3.25 ERA (10 ER, 27.2 IP). He had another three-game winning streak, covering three starts from June 20-July 1, going 3-0 with a 0.76 ERA (2 ER, 23.2 IP) in that span. The third game of that stretch, July 1 against St. Louis, was a 3-hit complete game, with Hawkins winning 5-1. At the All-Star break, he was 8-7 with a 3.12 ERA (41 ER, 118.1 IP) in 18 starts.
In his first start after the break, on July 14 at St. Louis, Hawkins pitched his fourth complete game, winning 3-1. He lost three of his next four decisions, covering six starts from July 19-August 15, going 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA (23 ER, 45 IP), but won his next four starts, August 21-September 7, his longest winning streak of the year, going 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA (6 ER, 28.1 IP).
He finished the season by pitching ten shutout innings on September 28 against Los Angeles, allowing just four hits but receiving a no-decision in the Padres' 16-inning, 2-1 win as Orel Hershiser also pitched ten scoreless innings to set the major league record of 59 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.
Hawkins pitched six innings or more in 26 of his 33 starts and pitched seven innings in 16 of those starts. He had a high of five walks on August 31 at New York and a high of six strikeouts three times (April 17 against San Francisco, May 15 against Montreal, September 28 against Los Angeles).
Overall in his six-plus years with the Padres, he was 60-58 with a 3.84 ERA.
Andy has spent three seasons as co-chairman of the San Diego March of Dimes Walk America. He is co-chairman of the Sixty-Five Roses Club, working closely with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
He enjoys hunting, fishing, watching the Dallas Cowboys and raising cattle on his Circle H Ranch."
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
Led Northwest League in balks (4), 1978.
Led Texas League in complete games (14) and tied for lead in games started (27), 1981.
Led Pacific Coast League in shutouts (6), 1982.
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
Andy had the single best day of his career on April 24 at San Diego, tossing a 1-hitter against Houston and winning 3-0, with the only hit being a single by Bill Doran to lead off the seventh inning. His other shutout came on May 31 at Philadelphia, tossing a 4-hitter in the Padres' 8-0 win.
After starting the season with a loss, Andy posted wins in each of his next three decisions, covering four starts from April 12-29 (including his 1-hitter), going 3-0 with a 3.25 ERA (10 ER, 27.2 IP). He had another three-game winning streak, covering three starts from June 20-July 1, going 3-0 with a 0.76 ERA (2 ER, 23.2 IP) in that span. The third game of that stretch, July 1 against St. Louis, was a 3-hit complete game, with Hawkins winning 5-1. At the All-Star break, he was 8-7 with a 3.12 ERA (41 ER, 118.1 IP) in 18 starts.
In his first start after the break, on July 14 at St. Louis, Hawkins pitched his fourth complete game, winning 3-1. He lost three of his next four decisions, covering six starts from July 19-August 15, going 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA (23 ER, 45 IP), but won his next four starts, August 21-September 7, his longest winning streak of the year, going 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA (6 ER, 28.1 IP).
He finished the season by pitching ten shutout innings on September 28 against Los Angeles, allowing just four hits but receiving a no-decision in the Padres' 16-inning, 2-1 win as Orel Hershiser also pitched ten scoreless innings to set the major league record of 59 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.
Hawkins pitched six innings or more in 26 of his 33 starts and pitched seven innings in 16 of those starts. He had a high of five walks on August 31 at New York and a high of six strikeouts three times (April 17 against San Francisco, May 15 against Montreal, September 28 against Los Angeles).
Overall in his six-plus years with the Padres, he was 60-58 with a 3.84 ERA.
Andy has spent three seasons as co-chairman of the San Diego March of Dimes Walk America. He is co-chairman of the Sixty-Five Roses Club, working closely with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
He enjoys hunting, fishing, watching the Dallas Cowboys and raising cattle on his Circle H Ranch."
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
Led Northwest League in balks (4), 1978.
Led Texas League in complete games (14) and tied for lead in games started (27), 1981.
Led Pacific Coast League in shutouts (6), 1982.
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
1990 Profile: Pascual Perez
"A startling three-year $5.7 million contract brings him to Yankee Stadium. As a free agent, he'd rejected Montreal's three-year $ 4-million offer- all this after alcohol and drug problems, a 9-13 mark in 1989 and a 64-62 career record.
The animated crowd favorite began the season with seven straight losses after rehab treatment. Perez faces a one-year suspension for any violation of his after-care program. He was ejected for beaning LA's Mike Scioscia on May 31.
Born in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Perez was signed as a free agent by the Pirates in January 1976. His brother Melido pitches for the White Sox and his brother Vladimir pitches in the Mets' system."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1990 Edition
" 'Free spirit' is the tag that seems to follow new Yankee right-hander Pascual Perez. A wallflower he's not. A flamethrower he is.
After almost a decade in the National League, Perez comes to New York in the hope of lighting a fire under the Yankees. This guy can do it, with his arm and with his 'spirit.' You can bet fans will make the extra effort to get to Yankee Stadium on the days Pascual throws. He's unpredictable, yet he brings a track record of a winner.
Perez will firm up the starting rotation and with a strong offense behind him, he is sure to conquer a few new enemies."
-The New York Yankees Official 1990 Yearbook
"Perez was 9-13 with a 3.31 ERA with the Expos last season. He appeared in 33 games (28 starts) and allowed 178 hits, 45 walks and 152 strikeouts over 198.1 innings pitched [1.12 WHIP].
The season did not start out as planned for Pascual, as he was 0-7, 4.87 (57.1 IP) through his first 11 appearances (April 6-May 27). Prior to 1989 he had not lost consecutive decisions since 1985.
He made five April starts and was 0-2 with a 3.48 ERA. In his three no-decisions Perez had a 1.71 ERA (21 IP) and the Expos were 2-1 in those games. From April 26-May 20, he lost six consecutive games (five starts), compiling a 6.60 ERA (30 IP) in that span.
Pascual made four straight relief appearances to end May and notched his first win on May 29 at Los Angeles, pitching two hitless innings in relief. The win came in the club's 50th game of the season. Through May, he was 1-7 with a 5.10 ERA (60 IP).
From June on Perez became a consistent pitcher. He made five June appearances and was 3-1 in four starts with a 2.03 ERA, lowering his overall ERA from 5.10 to 4.05, and walked only five batters in 31 innings pitched during the month. He notched his first win as a starter on June 6 against St. Louis (6 IP, 1 ER) and won against Philadelphia in his next outing (8 IP, 2 ER). On June 26, Pascual threw his first complete game of the season, beating the Mets with a 5-hitter and a season best 11 strikeouts.
Pascual was 1-2 with a 3.25 ERA for July in five starts and threw six-plus innings in all nine of his June and July starts. He pitched eight innings of shutout ball on August 2 at Pittsburgh and pitched his second complete game of the season on August 18 against San Diego (6H, 2 ER) for his two wins in August. Overall for the month, Pascual was 2-2 in six starts with a 2.27 ERA, lowering his season ERA to 3.43.
He again pitched well in September, going 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA. Pascual was impressive in his final seven starts, compiling a 3-1 record with a 1.95 ERA (50.2 IP); he averaged 7.2 innings per start in that span and did not allow more than three earned runs in any one game. He pitched the final two games of the season against the Mets, winning on September 16 at home (7 IP, 1 ER) and getting a no-decision on September 22 at Shea (6 IP, 2 ER).
Perez went 9-6 with a 2.86 ERA (141 IP) after his 0-7 start and really turned it on after the break, going 5-4 with a 2.19 ERA (94 IP) in 13 starts as compared to 4-9 with a 4.33 ERA (104 IP) before the break.
For the season he averaged just under seven innings per start. He ranked sixth in the National League for fewest walks per nine innings (2.0) and averaged 3.4 strikeouts/one walk. Of the 30 NL pitchers with at least 190 innings pitched in 1989, Perez had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio. He allowed 15 home runs, or one every 13.2 innings pitched and had a .237 batting average against, second among Expo starters.
As a batter, Perez hit .204 (11-for-54) with a club best [among pitchers] three doubles and eight RBIs.
He signed a three-year contract with the Yankees as a free agent in November 1989. The contract extends through the 1992 season.
Perez was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a free agent in January 1976. In 1980, he was 12-10 with a 4.05 ERA at AAA Portland. He made his major league debut with a start against the Dodgers on May 7. Overall, Pascual was 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts for the Pirates.
He started the 1981 season at Portland (1-2 with a 4.94 ERA in five starts) yet spent a majority of the season with the Pirates. He appeared in 17 games (13 starts) for Pittsburgh, compiling a 2-7 record with a 3.98 ERA over 86 innings. Pascual notched his first major league win on May 22 pitching a complete game against Philadelphia.
Pascual began 1982 at Portland but was traded with a player to named later to the Braves at the end of June for pitcher Larry McWilliams. He won all five of his starts at AAA Richmond before being promoted to the Braves for the drive to the divisional title, which they eventually won. Perez helped solidify the Atlanta staff in the second half of the '82 season.
A large part of the Perez mystique revolves around an incident on the day of a game against the Expos on August 19, 1982. Pascual, fresh from passing his driver exam that morning, attempted the drive to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium by himself for the first time. He became lost and circled Atlanta three times on the interstate (I-285) which runs around the city before running out of gas. By the time Pascual entered the ballpark, Phil Niekro, the substitute starter, was well on his way to beating the Expos and snapping the Braves' slump.
In 1983 Pascual was 15-8 and tied for the club lead in wins and was second in the league in winning percentage (.652) behind John Denny. He established personal highs in wins, starts (33), complete games (7) and innings pitched (215.1) and was named to the All-Star Game. In 1984, he led the Braves in wins despite missing the first month of the schedule and had a career high 145 strikeouts.
Pascual was 1-13 in 1985, a season which saw him on the disabled list three times as well as on the restricted list once, for missing a team flight to Montreal on July 21. Prior to his injury-plagued 1985 season, he was 33-20 in three seasons with the Braves for a .623 winning percentage.
He was released by the Braves in the April 1, 1986 purge which also saw the release of veterans Len Barker, Rick Camp and Terry Forster. Perez did not pitch during the 1986 season but reported to Dominican Republic winter baseball where he posted a 4-3 record in 11 starts for Aguilas with a 3.36 ERA.
Perez was signed to a minor league contract by the Expos in February 1987 while at the Caribbean World Series in Mexico. He arrived on May 1 due to visa problems, reported to AAA Indianapolis on May 12 and then reported to the Expos on August 19.
At Indianapolis, Perez was twice named American Association Player of the Week: June 8-14 (2-0, 1.00 ERA) and June 22-28 (2-0, 1.50 ERA). His June stats at Indy were an impressive 6-0, 1.40 ERA, with five complete games and two shutouts. He won Indy's Player of the Month award as well as the AA's, along with the Expos organization Pitcher of the Month honors. Perez finished at 9-7 with a 3.79 ERA in 19 starts and earned the nod as the American Association's Pitcher of the Year.
Perez was 7-0 with a 2.30 ERA in 10 starts following his recall to Montreal. Counting two contests in which he pinch-ran and scored key runs, the Expos were 11-1 in games in which he appeared. He warmed to the task with two no-decision starts in August before reeling off a 7-0 mark with a 2.28 ERA in September, establishing a club record along the way. He was named National League Pitcher of the Month for September and Expos Player of the Month.
A stopper in all definitions of the word, Perez posted six of his seven wins following an Expos loss: on August 28 he had worked a 3-hitter through nine but left that game without a decision; on September 2 at San Francisco he won his first game in the majors since July 14, 1985; he tossed consecutive complete games on September 12 and 17- the first against the Cubs (9/12) was his first such effort since September 12, 1984. Pascual struck out 11 Cubs in that game for a career high- his previous best was 10 on September 12, 1983; on September 17 against the Mets, he tossed a 4-hitter, tying his career best for a complete game.
In 1988 Perez was 12-8 with a 2.44 ERA in 27 starts surrounding 44 days on the disabled list with a broken middle fingertip. He had career bests in ERA and shutouts and was sixth in the NL in ERA. His season went from the sublime (a five-inning no-hitter at Philadelphia) to the ridiculous (a league leading 14 pinch running assignments).
Pascual threw a 2-hitter in a 1-0 win against the Reds on April 27. He was attempting bunt a Nolan Ryan fastball on May 7 when the injury occurred, causing him to miss eight starts. Pascual was sent to Indianapolis on rehab option on June 13, pitching twice with no decisions before returning to the ranks of the active on June 21.
He had a streak of 22 scoreless innings from May 7 to July 1- six before and 16 after his injury. Before his injury, Pascual was 3-3 with a 1.87 ERA, with his losses being by scores of 3-0, 2-0 and 3-2. Immediately upon his return, he was 3-0, 1.77 in his first five starts back.
After the game of July 14, Perez led the league with a 1.58 ERA. He suffered a seven-start one-month dip from July 19 to August 18 with a 4.43 ERA (42.2 IP).
He made the Pascual Pitch (a version of the Eephus) part of his repertoire. Throwing it an average of two or three times per start, Pascual allowed just one extra-base hit on this, the paragon of parabolic pelotes- a towering blast by former slo-pitch softball player Glenn Davis of the Astros on July 19 at Olympic Stadium.
Pascual was ejected from the August 28 game against the Giants for one of his 10 balk calls for the season. The sixth-inning balk had broken a 1-1 tie. He went 361 days and 51 at-bats between hits, collecting a line-drive single to right against Don Robinson of the Giants on September 3. His previous hit had been on September 7, 1987 against Danny Cox of the Cardinals.
His no-hitter, a rain-shortened 1-0 win on September 24, was the first no-hitter in Philadelphia since Bill Stoneman turned the trick in 1969. Pascual walked one and struck out eight of the last 11 batters he faced. He followed with a combined 2-hitter with Andy McGaffigan on September 30 in a 2-1 loss to the Cubs.
With 133 hits, 44 walks [0.94 WHIP] and seven hit batters, he allowed 184 baserunners in 188 innings, the best runners per nine innings pitched ratio in the NL. Perez was the only pitcher to allow fewer runners than innings pitched; second and third in this category were Mike Scott of the Astros and Bob Ojeda of the Mets. Opponents managed just a .196 average against Perez, second to Sid Fernandez of the Mets (.191) and ahead of Scott (.204).
In games where the Expos scored four or more runs, Perez was 10-1 with three no-decisions. In eight starts with zero or one run, he was an amazing 2-3 with two no-decisions. In two of his starts, he pitched eight shutout innings and got no decision. The Expos scored a total of 13 runs in his eight losses.
Pascual was 6-3 with a 1.68 ERA at Olympic Stadium and is 9-3 at home in an Expo uniform. He did not lose more than one straight game in 1988.
His younger brother Melido pitched for the White Sox in 1988. Pascual (12) and Melido (12) combined for more wins than any brothers in the majors."
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
Tied for Carolina League lead in shutouts (5), 1978.
Tied for American Association lead in shutouts (2), 1987.
Named American Association Pitcher of the Year, 1987.
Pitched five-inning, no-hit victory against Philadelphia, September 24, 1988.
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
The animated crowd favorite began the season with seven straight losses after rehab treatment. Perez faces a one-year suspension for any violation of his after-care program. He was ejected for beaning LA's Mike Scioscia on May 31.
Born in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Perez was signed as a free agent by the Pirates in January 1976. His brother Melido pitches for the White Sox and his brother Vladimir pitches in the Mets' system."
-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1990 Edition
" 'Free spirit' is the tag that seems to follow new Yankee right-hander Pascual Perez. A wallflower he's not. A flamethrower he is.
After almost a decade in the National League, Perez comes to New York in the hope of lighting a fire under the Yankees. This guy can do it, with his arm and with his 'spirit.' You can bet fans will make the extra effort to get to Yankee Stadium on the days Pascual throws. He's unpredictable, yet he brings a track record of a winner.
Perez will firm up the starting rotation and with a strong offense behind him, he is sure to conquer a few new enemies."
-The New York Yankees Official 1990 Yearbook
"Perez was 9-13 with a 3.31 ERA with the Expos last season. He appeared in 33 games (28 starts) and allowed 178 hits, 45 walks and 152 strikeouts over 198.1 innings pitched [1.12 WHIP].
The season did not start out as planned for Pascual, as he was 0-7, 4.87 (57.1 IP) through his first 11 appearances (April 6-May 27). Prior to 1989 he had not lost consecutive decisions since 1985.
He made five April starts and was 0-2 with a 3.48 ERA. In his three no-decisions Perez had a 1.71 ERA (21 IP) and the Expos were 2-1 in those games. From April 26-May 20, he lost six consecutive games (five starts), compiling a 6.60 ERA (30 IP) in that span.
Pascual made four straight relief appearances to end May and notched his first win on May 29 at Los Angeles, pitching two hitless innings in relief. The win came in the club's 50th game of the season. Through May, he was 1-7 with a 5.10 ERA (60 IP).
From June on Perez became a consistent pitcher. He made five June appearances and was 3-1 in four starts with a 2.03 ERA, lowering his overall ERA from 5.10 to 4.05, and walked only five batters in 31 innings pitched during the month. He notched his first win as a starter on June 6 against St. Louis (6 IP, 1 ER) and won against Philadelphia in his next outing (8 IP, 2 ER). On June 26, Pascual threw his first complete game of the season, beating the Mets with a 5-hitter and a season best 11 strikeouts.
Pascual was 1-2 with a 3.25 ERA for July in five starts and threw six-plus innings in all nine of his June and July starts. He pitched eight innings of shutout ball on August 2 at Pittsburgh and pitched his second complete game of the season on August 18 against San Diego (6H, 2 ER) for his two wins in August. Overall for the month, Pascual was 2-2 in six starts with a 2.27 ERA, lowering his season ERA to 3.43.
He again pitched well in September, going 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA. Pascual was impressive in his final seven starts, compiling a 3-1 record with a 1.95 ERA (50.2 IP); he averaged 7.2 innings per start in that span and did not allow more than three earned runs in any one game. He pitched the final two games of the season against the Mets, winning on September 16 at home (7 IP, 1 ER) and getting a no-decision on September 22 at Shea (6 IP, 2 ER).
Perez went 9-6 with a 2.86 ERA (141 IP) after his 0-7 start and really turned it on after the break, going 5-4 with a 2.19 ERA (94 IP) in 13 starts as compared to 4-9 with a 4.33 ERA (104 IP) before the break.
For the season he averaged just under seven innings per start. He ranked sixth in the National League for fewest walks per nine innings (2.0) and averaged 3.4 strikeouts/one walk. Of the 30 NL pitchers with at least 190 innings pitched in 1989, Perez had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio. He allowed 15 home runs, or one every 13.2 innings pitched and had a .237 batting average against, second among Expo starters.
As a batter, Perez hit .204 (11-for-54) with a club best [among pitchers] three doubles and eight RBIs.
He signed a three-year contract with the Yankees as a free agent in November 1989. The contract extends through the 1992 season.
Perez was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a free agent in January 1976. In 1980, he was 12-10 with a 4.05 ERA at AAA Portland. He made his major league debut with a start against the Dodgers on May 7. Overall, Pascual was 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts for the Pirates.
He started the 1981 season at Portland (1-2 with a 4.94 ERA in five starts) yet spent a majority of the season with the Pirates. He appeared in 17 games (13 starts) for Pittsburgh, compiling a 2-7 record with a 3.98 ERA over 86 innings. Pascual notched his first major league win on May 22 pitching a complete game against Philadelphia.
Pascual began 1982 at Portland but was traded with a player to named later to the Braves at the end of June for pitcher Larry McWilliams. He won all five of his starts at AAA Richmond before being promoted to the Braves for the drive to the divisional title, which they eventually won. Perez helped solidify the Atlanta staff in the second half of the '82 season.
A large part of the Perez mystique revolves around an incident on the day of a game against the Expos on August 19, 1982. Pascual, fresh from passing his driver exam that morning, attempted the drive to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium by himself for the first time. He became lost and circled Atlanta three times on the interstate (I-285) which runs around the city before running out of gas. By the time Pascual entered the ballpark, Phil Niekro, the substitute starter, was well on his way to beating the Expos and snapping the Braves' slump.
In 1983 Pascual was 15-8 and tied for the club lead in wins and was second in the league in winning percentage (.652) behind John Denny. He established personal highs in wins, starts (33), complete games (7) and innings pitched (215.1) and was named to the All-Star Game. In 1984, he led the Braves in wins despite missing the first month of the schedule and had a career high 145 strikeouts.
Pascual was 1-13 in 1985, a season which saw him on the disabled list three times as well as on the restricted list once, for missing a team flight to Montreal on July 21. Prior to his injury-plagued 1985 season, he was 33-20 in three seasons with the Braves for a .623 winning percentage.
He was released by the Braves in the April 1, 1986 purge which also saw the release of veterans Len Barker, Rick Camp and Terry Forster. Perez did not pitch during the 1986 season but reported to Dominican Republic winter baseball where he posted a 4-3 record in 11 starts for Aguilas with a 3.36 ERA.
Perez was signed to a minor league contract by the Expos in February 1987 while at the Caribbean World Series in Mexico. He arrived on May 1 due to visa problems, reported to AAA Indianapolis on May 12 and then reported to the Expos on August 19.
At Indianapolis, Perez was twice named American Association Player of the Week: June 8-14 (2-0, 1.00 ERA) and June 22-28 (2-0, 1.50 ERA). His June stats at Indy were an impressive 6-0, 1.40 ERA, with five complete games and two shutouts. He won Indy's Player of the Month award as well as the AA's, along with the Expos organization Pitcher of the Month honors. Perez finished at 9-7 with a 3.79 ERA in 19 starts and earned the nod as the American Association's Pitcher of the Year.
Perez was 7-0 with a 2.30 ERA in 10 starts following his recall to Montreal. Counting two contests in which he pinch-ran and scored key runs, the Expos were 11-1 in games in which he appeared. He warmed to the task with two no-decision starts in August before reeling off a 7-0 mark with a 2.28 ERA in September, establishing a club record along the way. He was named National League Pitcher of the Month for September and Expos Player of the Month.
A stopper in all definitions of the word, Perez posted six of his seven wins following an Expos loss: on August 28 he had worked a 3-hitter through nine but left that game without a decision; on September 2 at San Francisco he won his first game in the majors since July 14, 1985; he tossed consecutive complete games on September 12 and 17- the first against the Cubs (9/12) was his first such effort since September 12, 1984. Pascual struck out 11 Cubs in that game for a career high- his previous best was 10 on September 12, 1983; on September 17 against the Mets, he tossed a 4-hitter, tying his career best for a complete game.
In 1988 Perez was 12-8 with a 2.44 ERA in 27 starts surrounding 44 days on the disabled list with a broken middle fingertip. He had career bests in ERA and shutouts and was sixth in the NL in ERA. His season went from the sublime (a five-inning no-hitter at Philadelphia) to the ridiculous (a league leading 14 pinch running assignments).
Pascual threw a 2-hitter in a 1-0 win against the Reds on April 27. He was attempting bunt a Nolan Ryan fastball on May 7 when the injury occurred, causing him to miss eight starts. Pascual was sent to Indianapolis on rehab option on June 13, pitching twice with no decisions before returning to the ranks of the active on June 21.
He had a streak of 22 scoreless innings from May 7 to July 1- six before and 16 after his injury. Before his injury, Pascual was 3-3 with a 1.87 ERA, with his losses being by scores of 3-0, 2-0 and 3-2. Immediately upon his return, he was 3-0, 1.77 in his first five starts back.
After the game of July 14, Perez led the league with a 1.58 ERA. He suffered a seven-start one-month dip from July 19 to August 18 with a 4.43 ERA (42.2 IP).
He made the Pascual Pitch (a version of the Eephus) part of his repertoire. Throwing it an average of two or three times per start, Pascual allowed just one extra-base hit on this, the paragon of parabolic pelotes- a towering blast by former slo-pitch softball player Glenn Davis of the Astros on July 19 at Olympic Stadium.
Pascual was ejected from the August 28 game against the Giants for one of his 10 balk calls for the season. The sixth-inning balk had broken a 1-1 tie. He went 361 days and 51 at-bats between hits, collecting a line-drive single to right against Don Robinson of the Giants on September 3. His previous hit had been on September 7, 1987 against Danny Cox of the Cardinals.
His no-hitter, a rain-shortened 1-0 win on September 24, was the first no-hitter in Philadelphia since Bill Stoneman turned the trick in 1969. Pascual walked one and struck out eight of the last 11 batters he faced. He followed with a combined 2-hitter with Andy McGaffigan on September 30 in a 2-1 loss to the Cubs.
With 133 hits, 44 walks [0.94 WHIP] and seven hit batters, he allowed 184 baserunners in 188 innings, the best runners per nine innings pitched ratio in the NL. Perez was the only pitcher to allow fewer runners than innings pitched; second and third in this category were Mike Scott of the Astros and Bob Ojeda of the Mets. Opponents managed just a .196 average against Perez, second to Sid Fernandez of the Mets (.191) and ahead of Scott (.204).
In games where the Expos scored four or more runs, Perez was 10-1 with three no-decisions. In eight starts with zero or one run, he was an amazing 2-3 with two no-decisions. In two of his starts, he pitched eight shutout innings and got no decision. The Expos scored a total of 13 runs in his eight losses.
Pascual was 6-3 with a 1.68 ERA at Olympic Stadium and is 9-3 at home in an Expo uniform. He did not lose more than one straight game in 1988.
His younger brother Melido pitched for the White Sox in 1988. Pascual (12) and Melido (12) combined for more wins than any brothers in the majors."
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
Tied for Carolina League lead in shutouts (5), 1978.
Tied for American Association lead in shutouts (2), 1987.
Named American Association Pitcher of the Year, 1987.
Pitched five-inning, no-hit victory against Philadelphia, September 24, 1988.
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
Sunday, July 8, 2018
1990 Profile: Dave LaPoint
"The 1989 season was a mixed bag for native New Yorker Dave LaPoint. After an impressive 5-1 start, the 31-year-old lefty twice landed on the disabled list and finished the year a disappointing 6-9. A bout with tendinitis and a hand contusion suffered from a ball hit back through the box forced Dave to miss most of the second half.
But count on the optimistic LaPoint to bounce back from his season of adversity. Armed with one of the league's best changeups, LaPoint's consistency on the mound, and easy-going style off, will play a major role in the Yankees' climb to the top of the AL East."
-The New York Yankees Official 1990 Yearbook
"Dave started the 1989 season with a loss at Minnesota on April 6, taking a 1-hitter into the fifth inning before surrendering five runs on four hits in the fifth. That was followed by a no-decision against Toronto on April 11.
He then went on a tear, winning five straight games from April 18-May 9. Dave started with 6.2 innings of 5-hit ball at Toronto and then followed with a win at Cleveland (6 IP, 3 ER). On April 29 he won against Chicago, allowing two runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. He won a wild game on May 4 at Texas, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits including three home runs over 5.1 innings, yet was the winner in an 11-7 Yankee win. Dave again beat Texas in his next time out on May 9, allowing three earned runs over six innings in a 5-3 win in New York. During the 5-0 streak (which was the best by a Yankee pitcher in 1989), he had a 4.55 ERA (29.2 IP, 15 ER).
The streak was snapped with a no-decision on May 15 at California, when he left after seven innings trailing 3-2 in a game the Yankees came back to tie then lose. From May 20-June 1 LaPoint then lost three straight games (two road, one home), posting a 6.48 ERA in those games (16.2 IP, 12 ER).
On June 6 against Baltimore, LaPoint pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits in a 4-0 win in what turned out to be his final win of the campaign. He lost back-to-back games, on June 13 at Baltimore and June 18 against Texas, to even his record at 6-6. On June 24 at Kansas City, he could not log the necessary five innings for a victory after being staked to an 11-1 lead and wound up with a no-decision (4.1 IP, 5 ER). Dave pitched again on June 29 at Detroit and left with a 5-4 lead but was not involved in the decision (4.1 IP, 5 R, 4 ER). The next day he went on the 15-day disabled list with tendonitis in his left shoulder.
Dave was reinstated on July 17 and made four more starts, going 0-3 with a 5.89 ERA. He lost three straight games (at Chicago, at Texas and at home against Toronto) from July 17-28, compiling a 6.19 ERA. Dave made his season-ending outing on August 2 (game 1) against Minnesota and lasted just 2.1 innings before leaving after being struck on the left hand by a line drive off the bat off the bat of Kirby Puckett, resulting in a contusion; he went on the DL on August 3.
On August 21, while still on the disabled list, he underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to repair a small tear in the rotator of his left shoulder. He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list where he remained for the rest of the season.
Overall, LaPoint made 23 starts in 1989 and the club was 8-12 in his starts. He pitched at least six innings in 11 of his 20 starts. He needs wins over Kansas City and Detroit in 1990 to have wins against every American League team.
LaPoint signed a three-year contract as a free agent in December of 1988. The contract extends through the 1991 season.
LaPoint was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers organization in the 10th round of the free agent of June 1977 and began his professional career at Class-A Newark. He struck out nine batters in a row in a game against Geneva. With Class-A Burlington in 1978, he tied for fifth in the Midwest League with five complete games. LaPoint pitched at Class-A Stockton of the California League in 1979 and led the loop in strikeouts with 208 in 180 innings pitched. He tied for the league with 11 complete games and three shutouts while posting a 3.15 ERA.
He opened the 1980 season at AAA Vancouver and was 7-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 17 starts. He was on the disabled list twice with elbow soreness. LaPoint was recalled by Milwaukee on September 6 and made his major league debut on September 10 at Minnesota with three shutout innings of relief to earn a save. He made his first big league start on September 20 against Seattle and won an 8-4 decision.
LaPoint was acquired by the Cardinals in December 1980 in a major trade that sent pitchers Pete Vukovich and Rollie Fingers and catcher Ted Simmons to Milwaukee. LaPoint, pitcher Lary Sorensen and outfielders Sixto Lezcano and David Green came to St. Louis.
During his time with AAA Springfield in 1981, LaPoiint led the American Association with 129 strikeouts and 24 starts and tied for the league lead with nine complete games. He appeared with the Cardinals in late September and went 1-0 with a save in three appearances (two starts). Dave became the second youngest pitcher (22) to win games in both the National and American Leagues when he recorded his first NL win on September 27 at Pittsburgh.
In 1982, Dave alternated between starting and relieving for the World Champion Cardinals, posting a 9-3 record and a 3.42 ERA. His 4-2 win over Montreal on September 27 clinched the Eastern Division title for the Cardinals. Dave did not appear in the National Championship Series against the Braves.
He had no decisions in a pair of appearances (one start) in the '82 World Series against Milwaukee. He relieved in the eighth inning of Game One and was touched for two earned runs on three hits in 1.2 innings in Milwaukee's 10-0 win.
LaPoint started Game Four and was not involved in the final decision in Milwaukee's come-from-behind 7-5 win at County Stadium. He worked 6.2 innings and allowed four runs (just one earned) on seven hits. LaPoint's error (dropping a throw while covering first) opened the door for Milwaukee's six-run seventh inning that decided the game.
He posted a 12-9 record in 1983 and tied for the staff lead in wins. In 1984, he was 12-10 with the Cardinals with a 3.96 ERA in 33 starts, a career high as were Dave's 130 strikeouts. He recorded his first big league shutout on June 3, blanking the Mets on six hits in a 1-0 win.
Dave went to San Francisco prior the 1985 season in a multi-player trade that sent slugger Jack Clark to St. Louis. He suffered through the first losing season of his pro career, going 7-17 with the last place Giants, but led the staff in starts (31) and innings (206.2). In his 17 losses, the Giants mustered a total of 29 runs, an average of 1.7 per game, and scored three runs or less in 20 of Dave's 31 starts. Highlighting his season was a 6-hit, 5-0 blanking of the Cardinals on May 5.
After being traded by the Giants following that season, Dave opened the 1986 season with Detroit where he was used in both starting and long relief roles. He earned his first Tiger win on May 17 against California with seven strong innings. He beat the Angels again on May 29, this time at Anaheim, and fired hitless ball for the first five frames. LaPoint was 3-6 with a 5.72 ERA with Detroit when he was traded to San Diego on July 9 for pitcher Mark Thurmond. He appeared in 24 games with the Padres, all but four in relief. He was not tendered a contract by the Padres after the season and signed as a free agent with the Cardinals in January of 1987.
Dave opened the season with St. Louis, spent time at AAA Louisville and finished the season with the White Sox after being traded for minor league reliever Brad Hulstrom on July 30.
He was 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two separate tours of duty with the Cardinals. He was optioned to Louisville on April 27 and returned to St. Louis on July 8. He remained with the Cardinals until traded to Chicago.
In his White Sox debut on August 1, LaPoint no-hit the Brewers in Milwaukee for six innings before yielding a seventh-inning leadoff single to Steve Kiefer. He did not finish the game but earned the win. He earned his second Sox win on August 17 over Boston, allowing just six hits and one earned run in seven innings.
His first Chicago loss came in his next start, at Texas on August 22. His final loss of the year came on September 7 at Minnesota, when he lasted just three batters and was forced to leave the game after being struck on his pitching hand by a hard Kirby Puckett grounder. Puckett eventually came around to score the go-ahead run to give LaPoint the loss.
On September 14 against Minnesota, LaPoint narrowly missed a complete game and allowed just two earned runs on four hits in 8.2 innings, with the two earned runs coming after he left the game.
LaPoint fired back-to-back complete-game victories in his final two starts. The first was a career best 2-hit shutout at Oakland on September 27, the third shutout of his career and first since his May 1985 shutout with San Francisco. He followed that with a complete game in a 17-1 Sox win over Oakland on October 3 at Comiskey Park.
He was 4-1 in September/October with a 1.51 ERA. He finished 6-3 with the Sox with a 2.94 ERA in 14 appearances (12 starts).
Dave began the 1988 season with the Chicago White Sox and had a record of 10-11 with a 3.40 ERA (61 ER, 161.1 IP) in 25 starts for Chicago. He was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 13 for pitcher Barry Jones. He posted a 4-2 record and a 2.77 ERA (16 ER, 52 IP) in eight starts with the Pirates. Overall with both clubs, LaPoint was 14-13 with a 3.25 ERA (77 ER, 213.1 IP).
He got off to a fast start with Chicago, posting a 3-1 record with a 0.94 ERA in five starts in April. LaPoint opened the season with a 2-1 win on April 7 against California, recording seven strikeouts in 8.1 innings. He was credited with the win on a combined 5-hit shutout with Bill Long in a 4-0 victory at Seattle on April 18, going seven scoreless innings and giving up four hits. In his last start that month, on April 28 against Boston, Dave notched his fourth career shutout, throwing a 4-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Red Sox- his only shutout and only complete game with Chicago in 1988.
Dave pitched eight scoreless innings at Cleveland on May 19, allowing just six hits, but received a no-decision in the Indians' eventual 1-0 victory on a Greg Swindell 2-hit shutout. At that point, he was 4-2 with a 1.64 ERA. From May 24 through June 14, however, he lost each of his next five starts, with a 5.59 ERA. Included in that streak was his worst performance of the year, on June 3 against Texas, lasting just 1.2 innings (his shortest outing of the season), giving up four runs (all earned) and being charged with the White Sox' 9-3 loss.
He broke that streak with a win on June 19 at Milwaukee, pitching seven scoreless innings and giving up three hits with a season high eight strikeouts to combine with Jeff Bittiger on a 3-hit 5-0 shutout. He duplicated that performance on July 10 at Boston, again pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing three hits to gain credit for Chicago's 4-1 win. LaPoint finished his tenure with the White Sox by winning his last three starts, from August 2-12, going 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA. He pitched at least six innings in 21 of his 25 starts with Chicago in 1988, including his first 11 starts.
LaPoint won his first four decisions with the Pirates, covering five starts from August 17-September 10, with a 1.19 ERA. By winning his last three games with the White Sox and his first four with the Pirates, with a 1.91 ERA in his eight games started in that span, he put together a seven-game winning streak from August 2 through September 10, the longest of his career.
Dave made his debut with the Pirates a winning one, going seven innings on August 17 against Atlanta and allowing three hits and one run (unearned) to gain credit for Pittsburgh's 2-1 victory. He followed that by pitching 7.2 scoreless innings on August 23 against Cincinnati, allowing just four hits, and was credited with the win on a combined 5-hit 2-0 shutout with Jim Gott. LaPoint finished that winning streak with his second complete game of the year (and first with the Pirates) on September 10 against Philadelphia, allowing one run (earned) on six hits in Pittsburgh's 5-1 victory. He went 0-2 in his final three starts of the season to finish with a 4-2 record and a 2.77 ERA with Pittsburgh. LaPoint pitched six or more innings in six of the eight starts he made for the Pirates. Covering his last 11 starts of 1988 (his last three with the White Sox and his eight with the Pirates), he was 7-2 with a 2.92 ERA.
Dave set career bests in 1988 with 14 wins (he won 12 games in 1983 and 1984 with the St. Louis Cardinals), 33 games started (he also started 33 with St. Louis in 1984), 213.1 innings pitched (surpassing his previous best of 206.2 innings pitched in 1985 as a member of the Giants) and a 3.25 ERA (bettering his previous low ERA of 3.42 set in 1982 with St. Louis). Dave pitched a shutout (April 28 against Boston) and combined on three others.
A native of Glens Falls, New York, Dave still makes his home there. He is a 1977 graduate of Glens Falls High School and was named New York State Pitcher of the Year as a senior. Dave also was named an all-conference defensive end and lettered in bowling."
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
Tied for Midwest League lead in home runs allowed (20), 1978.
Pitched 4-0 no-hit victory against Reno (California League), July 25, 1979.
Tied for California League lead in shutouts (3) and complete games (11), 1979.
Tied for American Association lead in complete games (9), 1981.
Led National League in wild pitches (15), 1984.
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
But count on the optimistic LaPoint to bounce back from his season of adversity. Armed with one of the league's best changeups, LaPoint's consistency on the mound, and easy-going style off, will play a major role in the Yankees' climb to the top of the AL East."
-The New York Yankees Official 1990 Yearbook
"Dave started the 1989 season with a loss at Minnesota on April 6, taking a 1-hitter into the fifth inning before surrendering five runs on four hits in the fifth. That was followed by a no-decision against Toronto on April 11.
He then went on a tear, winning five straight games from April 18-May 9. Dave started with 6.2 innings of 5-hit ball at Toronto and then followed with a win at Cleveland (6 IP, 3 ER). On April 29 he won against Chicago, allowing two runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. He won a wild game on May 4 at Texas, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits including three home runs over 5.1 innings, yet was the winner in an 11-7 Yankee win. Dave again beat Texas in his next time out on May 9, allowing three earned runs over six innings in a 5-3 win in New York. During the 5-0 streak (which was the best by a Yankee pitcher in 1989), he had a 4.55 ERA (29.2 IP, 15 ER).
The streak was snapped with a no-decision on May 15 at California, when he left after seven innings trailing 3-2 in a game the Yankees came back to tie then lose. From May 20-June 1 LaPoint then lost three straight games (two road, one home), posting a 6.48 ERA in those games (16.2 IP, 12 ER).
On June 6 against Baltimore, LaPoint pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits in a 4-0 win in what turned out to be his final win of the campaign. He lost back-to-back games, on June 13 at Baltimore and June 18 against Texas, to even his record at 6-6. On June 24 at Kansas City, he could not log the necessary five innings for a victory after being staked to an 11-1 lead and wound up with a no-decision (4.1 IP, 5 ER). Dave pitched again on June 29 at Detroit and left with a 5-4 lead but was not involved in the decision (4.1 IP, 5 R, 4 ER). The next day he went on the 15-day disabled list with tendonitis in his left shoulder.
Dave was reinstated on July 17 and made four more starts, going 0-3 with a 5.89 ERA. He lost three straight games (at Chicago, at Texas and at home against Toronto) from July 17-28, compiling a 6.19 ERA. Dave made his season-ending outing on August 2 (game 1) against Minnesota and lasted just 2.1 innings before leaving after being struck on the left hand by a line drive off the bat off the bat of Kirby Puckett, resulting in a contusion; he went on the DL on August 3.
On August 21, while still on the disabled list, he underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to repair a small tear in the rotator of his left shoulder. He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list where he remained for the rest of the season.
Overall, LaPoint made 23 starts in 1989 and the club was 8-12 in his starts. He pitched at least six innings in 11 of his 20 starts. He needs wins over Kansas City and Detroit in 1990 to have wins against every American League team.
LaPoint signed a three-year contract as a free agent in December of 1988. The contract extends through the 1991 season.
LaPoint was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers organization in the 10th round of the free agent of June 1977 and began his professional career at Class-A Newark. He struck out nine batters in a row in a game against Geneva. With Class-A Burlington in 1978, he tied for fifth in the Midwest League with five complete games. LaPoint pitched at Class-A Stockton of the California League in 1979 and led the loop in strikeouts with 208 in 180 innings pitched. He tied for the league with 11 complete games and three shutouts while posting a 3.15 ERA.
He opened the 1980 season at AAA Vancouver and was 7-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 17 starts. He was on the disabled list twice with elbow soreness. LaPoint was recalled by Milwaukee on September 6 and made his major league debut on September 10 at Minnesota with three shutout innings of relief to earn a save. He made his first big league start on September 20 against Seattle and won an 8-4 decision.
LaPoint was acquired by the Cardinals in December 1980 in a major trade that sent pitchers Pete Vukovich and Rollie Fingers and catcher Ted Simmons to Milwaukee. LaPoint, pitcher Lary Sorensen and outfielders Sixto Lezcano and David Green came to St. Louis.
During his time with AAA Springfield in 1981, LaPoiint led the American Association with 129 strikeouts and 24 starts and tied for the league lead with nine complete games. He appeared with the Cardinals in late September and went 1-0 with a save in three appearances (two starts). Dave became the second youngest pitcher (22) to win games in both the National and American Leagues when he recorded his first NL win on September 27 at Pittsburgh.
In 1982, Dave alternated between starting and relieving for the World Champion Cardinals, posting a 9-3 record and a 3.42 ERA. His 4-2 win over Montreal on September 27 clinched the Eastern Division title for the Cardinals. Dave did not appear in the National Championship Series against the Braves.
He had no decisions in a pair of appearances (one start) in the '82 World Series against Milwaukee. He relieved in the eighth inning of Game One and was touched for two earned runs on three hits in 1.2 innings in Milwaukee's 10-0 win.
LaPoint started Game Four and was not involved in the final decision in Milwaukee's come-from-behind 7-5 win at County Stadium. He worked 6.2 innings and allowed four runs (just one earned) on seven hits. LaPoint's error (dropping a throw while covering first) opened the door for Milwaukee's six-run seventh inning that decided the game.
He posted a 12-9 record in 1983 and tied for the staff lead in wins. In 1984, he was 12-10 with the Cardinals with a 3.96 ERA in 33 starts, a career high as were Dave's 130 strikeouts. He recorded his first big league shutout on June 3, blanking the Mets on six hits in a 1-0 win.
Dave went to San Francisco prior the 1985 season in a multi-player trade that sent slugger Jack Clark to St. Louis. He suffered through the first losing season of his pro career, going 7-17 with the last place Giants, but led the staff in starts (31) and innings (206.2). In his 17 losses, the Giants mustered a total of 29 runs, an average of 1.7 per game, and scored three runs or less in 20 of Dave's 31 starts. Highlighting his season was a 6-hit, 5-0 blanking of the Cardinals on May 5.
After being traded by the Giants following that season, Dave opened the 1986 season with Detroit where he was used in both starting and long relief roles. He earned his first Tiger win on May 17 against California with seven strong innings. He beat the Angels again on May 29, this time at Anaheim, and fired hitless ball for the first five frames. LaPoint was 3-6 with a 5.72 ERA with Detroit when he was traded to San Diego on July 9 for pitcher Mark Thurmond. He appeared in 24 games with the Padres, all but four in relief. He was not tendered a contract by the Padres after the season and signed as a free agent with the Cardinals in January of 1987.
Dave opened the season with St. Louis, spent time at AAA Louisville and finished the season with the White Sox after being traded for minor league reliever Brad Hulstrom on July 30.
He was 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two separate tours of duty with the Cardinals. He was optioned to Louisville on April 27 and returned to St. Louis on July 8. He remained with the Cardinals until traded to Chicago.
In his White Sox debut on August 1, LaPoint no-hit the Brewers in Milwaukee for six innings before yielding a seventh-inning leadoff single to Steve Kiefer. He did not finish the game but earned the win. He earned his second Sox win on August 17 over Boston, allowing just six hits and one earned run in seven innings.
His first Chicago loss came in his next start, at Texas on August 22. His final loss of the year came on September 7 at Minnesota, when he lasted just three batters and was forced to leave the game after being struck on his pitching hand by a hard Kirby Puckett grounder. Puckett eventually came around to score the go-ahead run to give LaPoint the loss.
On September 14 against Minnesota, LaPoint narrowly missed a complete game and allowed just two earned runs on four hits in 8.2 innings, with the two earned runs coming after he left the game.
LaPoint fired back-to-back complete-game victories in his final two starts. The first was a career best 2-hit shutout at Oakland on September 27, the third shutout of his career and first since his May 1985 shutout with San Francisco. He followed that with a complete game in a 17-1 Sox win over Oakland on October 3 at Comiskey Park.
He was 4-1 in September/October with a 1.51 ERA. He finished 6-3 with the Sox with a 2.94 ERA in 14 appearances (12 starts).
Dave began the 1988 season with the Chicago White Sox and had a record of 10-11 with a 3.40 ERA (61 ER, 161.1 IP) in 25 starts for Chicago. He was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 13 for pitcher Barry Jones. He posted a 4-2 record and a 2.77 ERA (16 ER, 52 IP) in eight starts with the Pirates. Overall with both clubs, LaPoint was 14-13 with a 3.25 ERA (77 ER, 213.1 IP).
He got off to a fast start with Chicago, posting a 3-1 record with a 0.94 ERA in five starts in April. LaPoint opened the season with a 2-1 win on April 7 against California, recording seven strikeouts in 8.1 innings. He was credited with the win on a combined 5-hit shutout with Bill Long in a 4-0 victory at Seattle on April 18, going seven scoreless innings and giving up four hits. In his last start that month, on April 28 against Boston, Dave notched his fourth career shutout, throwing a 4-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Red Sox- his only shutout and only complete game with Chicago in 1988.
Dave pitched eight scoreless innings at Cleveland on May 19, allowing just six hits, but received a no-decision in the Indians' eventual 1-0 victory on a Greg Swindell 2-hit shutout. At that point, he was 4-2 with a 1.64 ERA. From May 24 through June 14, however, he lost each of his next five starts, with a 5.59 ERA. Included in that streak was his worst performance of the year, on June 3 against Texas, lasting just 1.2 innings (his shortest outing of the season), giving up four runs (all earned) and being charged with the White Sox' 9-3 loss.
He broke that streak with a win on June 19 at Milwaukee, pitching seven scoreless innings and giving up three hits with a season high eight strikeouts to combine with Jeff Bittiger on a 3-hit 5-0 shutout. He duplicated that performance on July 10 at Boston, again pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing three hits to gain credit for Chicago's 4-1 win. LaPoint finished his tenure with the White Sox by winning his last three starts, from August 2-12, going 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA. He pitched at least six innings in 21 of his 25 starts with Chicago in 1988, including his first 11 starts.
LaPoint won his first four decisions with the Pirates, covering five starts from August 17-September 10, with a 1.19 ERA. By winning his last three games with the White Sox and his first four with the Pirates, with a 1.91 ERA in his eight games started in that span, he put together a seven-game winning streak from August 2 through September 10, the longest of his career.
Dave made his debut with the Pirates a winning one, going seven innings on August 17 against Atlanta and allowing three hits and one run (unearned) to gain credit for Pittsburgh's 2-1 victory. He followed that by pitching 7.2 scoreless innings on August 23 against Cincinnati, allowing just four hits, and was credited with the win on a combined 5-hit 2-0 shutout with Jim Gott. LaPoint finished that winning streak with his second complete game of the year (and first with the Pirates) on September 10 against Philadelphia, allowing one run (earned) on six hits in Pittsburgh's 5-1 victory. He went 0-2 in his final three starts of the season to finish with a 4-2 record and a 2.77 ERA with Pittsburgh. LaPoint pitched six or more innings in six of the eight starts he made for the Pirates. Covering his last 11 starts of 1988 (his last three with the White Sox and his eight with the Pirates), he was 7-2 with a 2.92 ERA.
Dave set career bests in 1988 with 14 wins (he won 12 games in 1983 and 1984 with the St. Louis Cardinals), 33 games started (he also started 33 with St. Louis in 1984), 213.1 innings pitched (surpassing his previous best of 206.2 innings pitched in 1985 as a member of the Giants) and a 3.25 ERA (bettering his previous low ERA of 3.42 set in 1982 with St. Louis). Dave pitched a shutout (April 28 against Boston) and combined on three others.
A native of Glens Falls, New York, Dave still makes his home there. He is a 1977 graduate of Glens Falls High School and was named New York State Pitcher of the Year as a senior. Dave also was named an all-conference defensive end and lettered in bowling."
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
Tied for Midwest League lead in home runs allowed (20), 1978.
Pitched 4-0 no-hit victory against Reno (California League), July 25, 1979.
Tied for California League lead in shutouts (3) and complete games (11), 1979.
Tied for American Association lead in complete games (9), 1981.
Led National League in wild pitches (15), 1984.
-1990 New York Yankees Information Guide
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)