Al Levine

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Al Levine
Relief pitcher
Born: May 22, 1968 (1968-05-22) (age 43)
Park Ridge, Illinois
Batted: Left Threw: Right 
MLB debut
June 22, 1996 for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
June 10, 2005 for the San Francisco Giants
Career statistics
Win-Loss     24-33
Earned run average     3.96
Strikeouts     278
Teams

Alan Brian "Al" Levine (born May 22, 1968, in Park Ridge, Illinois)[1] is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who currently pitches for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League.

Contents

[edit] Early and personal life

Levine, who is Jewish,[2][3][4] graduated from Hoffman Estates High School and Southern Illinois University.[1] In 1989, Levine walked onto the SIU team as a pitcher. Levine is close friends with Toronto Blue Jays catcher Sal Fasano, and Palatine High School coach Paul Belo.[5]

[edit] Baseball career

The Chicago White Sox drafted him in the 11th round of the 1991 draft.[1]

[edit] Minor leagues

Levine played AA for the Birmingham Barons in 1994, with Michael Jordan (until Al was called up to AAA mid-season; without Jordan). He pitched 234 games in the minor leagues, over 11 seasons.

[edit] Major leagues

Levine made his major league debut in 1996 with the White Sox.[1] In 1997, he held batters to a .125 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In December 1997, he was traded by the White Sox with Larry Thomas to the Texas Rangers for Benji Gil.

In April 1999, he was selected off waivers by the Anaheim Angels from the Texas Rangers. In 2000, he held batters to a .186 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In 2001, he had perhaps his best season. He had a 2.38 ERA for the Angels in 64 games. In 2002, he held batters to a .206 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position.

In January 2003, Levine signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals, but was released in March. In April, he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who then sold him to the Kansas City Royals on July 31. In 2003, he had another excellent season, splitting it between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Kansas City Royals. He had a 2.79 ERA in 54 games. He held batters to a .189 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In December 2003, he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers. In 2004, he held batters to a .154 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position.

For seven seasons in a row, from 1999–2004, he pitched in at least 50 games each year.

In February 2005, he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants, who released him in June. On July 7, 2005, he was signed as a free agent by the Florida Marlins, but was released a week later without pitching a game for them.

Levine played for seven major league teams. For his career, he held batters to a .220 batting average when there were runners in scoring position with 2 out.[6]

Through 2010, he was 5th all-time in career ERA (directly behind 3.96; Harry Eisenstat), and 6th in career games played (behind Larry Sherry), among Jewish major league baseball pitchers.[7]

[edit] Atlantic League

In 2008, Levine pitched for the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[8]

[edit] Pitching

Levine used a lot of motion in his windup to fool hitters. He got good results with a sinking fastball, but his slider was his best pitch. His pitches appeared deceptively fast due to his three-quarters delivery.[9]

[edit] Later life

Levine later lived in Belleville, Illinois.[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e The Big Book of Jewish Baseball: An Illustrated Encyclopedia & Anecdotal History. http://books.google.com/books?id=9ZzxydPInwgC&pg=PA104&dq=%22al+levine%22+jewish&hl=en&ei=dP1WTYjWCsTflgepxsDOBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22al%20levine%22&f=false. Retrieved February 12, 2011. 
  2. ^ The Big Book of Jewish Sports Heros: An Illustrated Compendium of Sports History and The 150 Greatest Jewish Sports Stars. 2007. http://books.google.com/books?id=Xcfef_d2es4C&pg=PA100&dq=%22al+levine%22+jewish&hl=en&ei=dP1WTYjWCsTflgepxsDOBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22al%20levine%22%20jewish&f=false. Retrieved February 12, 2011. 
  3. ^ "Letters to the Editor; The Fan Speaks Out". Baseball Digest. http://books.google.com/books?id=YisDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16&dq=%22al+levine%22+jewish&hl=en&ei=dP1WTYjWCsTflgepxsDOBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=%22al%20levine%22%20jewish&f=false. Retrieved February 12, 2011. 
  4. ^ "A consumer's guide to the best and worst of sports media and merchandise. Ground rules: If it can be read, played, heard, observed, worn, viewed, dialed or downloaded, it's in play here". Los Angeles Times. June 9, 1999. http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jun/09/sports/sp-45788. Retrieved February 12, 2011. 
  5. ^ http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:SiVth-zD-DQJ:www.siude.com/news/2006/09/21/Baseball/Siu-Baseball.Picks.Two.WalkOn.Players-2283431.shtml+%22al+levine%22+pitcher+baseball&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=64&gl=us
  6. ^ "Al Levine Career Pitching Splits". Baseball-Reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=levinal01. Retrieved October 14, 2010. 
  7. ^ "Career Pitching Leaders". Career Leaders. Jewish Major Leaguers. http://www.jewishmajorleaguers.org/. Retrieved February 12, 2011. 
  8. ^ "Bears Sweep Pair From Lancaster, Reach The .500 Mark". OurSports Central. May 11, 2008. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3639060. Retrieved February 12, 2011. 
  9. ^ "Levine, Al". Jewsinsports.org. May 22, 1968. http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=baseball&ID=32. Retrieved October 14, 2010. 

[edit] External links

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