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Calvin Schiraldi

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Template:Infobox MLB retired Calvin Drew Schiraldi (born June 16, 1962 in Houston, Texas) was a Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Boston Red Sox. He is best known for being the losing pitcher of Game 6 and Game 7 of the 1986 World Series.

Schiraldi, with teammate Roger Clemens, also pitched for the 1983 University of Texas baseball team that won the College World Series. He was drafted by the New York Mets in the first round of the 1983 draft, and made his major-league debut with the Mets in 1984. After two seasons with the Mets, Schiraldi was traded to the Red Sox in a multiplayer deal that sent Bob Ojeda to the Mets. Ojeda, ironically, would go on to defeat Boston in Game 3 of the World Series that season.

Schiraldi had his best season in 1986, finishing with a 1.41 ERA in 25 appearances. He struggled in the playoffs, though, taking the loss in Game 4 of the 1986 American League Championship Series against the California Angels. The Red Sox rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to stun the Angels, advancing to the World Series.

In Game 6 of the World Series, Schiraldi entered the bottom of the 10th with a two-run lead. After retiring the first two batters, he allowed three straight singles to Gary Carter, Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight and was replaced by Bob Stanley. Stanley proceeded to throw a wild pitch, which allowed Kevin Mitchell to score the tying run, and Mookie Wilson followed by hitting a ground ball that rolled between the legs of Bill Buckner, scoring Ray Knight and giving the Mets an improbable victory. With the score tied 3-3 in Game 7, Schiraldi gave up a leadoff home run to Knight, the series MVP. Schiraldi allowed three runs, all earned, in just one-third of an inning, and the Red Sox lost 8-5.

Schiraldi spent one more season with the Red Sox before being traded to the Chicago Cubs in a trade that sent Lee Smith to Boston. In 1989 Schiraldi was traded to the San Diego Padres, and he finished his career in 1991 with the Texas Rangers. For his career, Schiraldi was 32-39 with a 4.28 ERA in 235 games. He also hit two home runs.

He is married to Debbie Murphy Schiraldi, whom he met while pitching for the former AA Texas League affiliate Jackson Mets in Jackson, Mississippi. They have two children, Samantha and Lukas. Schiraldi is the head coach of St. Michael's Catholic Academy baseball team in Austin, Texas.