Bob Tewksbury
Bob Tewksbury | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
debut | |
April 11, 1986, for the New York Yankees | |
Last appearance | |
September 26, 1998, for the Minnesota Twins | |
Career statistics | |
Record | 110-102 |
ERA | 3.92 |
Strikeouts | 812 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Robert Alan Tewksbury (born November 30, 1960 in Concord, New Hampshire) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.
Tewksbury's talent was initially discovered by Andy Michael in Concord. Michael contacted the New York Yankees and Tewksbury was drafted by them out of Saint Leo University in the 19th round of the 1981 draft. He played for the Yankees for two years, before being sent to the Chicago Cubs. As a free agent in 1988, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he would stay until 1994. Again a free agent, he went to the Texas Rangers for a year. In 1996, he signed with the San Diego Padres for one more year. He then played for two years with the Minnesota Twins, but the shoulder problems effectively ended his baseball career after that.
Due to the shoulder and arm problems he would face over the course of his playing career, Tewksbury became known as an excellent control pitcher. His best year was 1992, in which he went 16-5 on the season and had a 2.16 ERA in 233 innings pitched. He appeared in the All-Star game and was third in the Cy Young Award voting that year. His injury problems would continue to mar his success from that point forward, with his best post-Cardinals year being in San Diego, where he would help the Padres capture the NL West division title.
In 1997, the ever-crafty Tewksbury threw an Eephus pitch, joining an elite few who have thrown the "junkiest pitch in baseball." He threw it to power-hitter Mark McGwire in an interleague play game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and McGwire grounded out on the pitch - twice. Tewksbury has been quoted as calling this pitch "The Dominator."
During and after his baseball career, he became well-known for his philanthropy. He has done a lot of work for the Boys and Girls Club of America, as well as hospital visits for sick children. He was very popular among his fans and peers, his Texas manager saying "He’s a true professional on and off the field — and a pleasure to have in the clubhouse."
Tewksbury still lives in New Hampshire, continuing his charitable work, and appeared as a commentator for Boston Red Sox coverage on the New England Sports Network.
He was inducted into the Saint Leo Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Tewksbury is now a sports psychologist for the Boston Red Sox.
He played himself in the movie The Scout.
See also
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs
- Saint Leo Sports Hall of Fame
- 1960 births
- Living people
- National League All-Stars
- New York Yankees players
- Chicago Cubs players
- St. Louis Cardinals players
- Texas Rangers players
- San Diego Padres players
- Minnesota Twins players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Baseball players from New Hampshire
- Nashville Sounds players
- Oneonta Yankees players
- Fort Lauderdale Yankees players
- Columbus Clippers players
- Iowa Cubs players
- Louisville Redbirds players
- Charlotte Rangers players
- Saint Leo University alumni