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Byron McLaughlin

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Byron McLaughlin
Pitcher
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
debut
September 18, 1977, for the Seattle Mariners
Last appearance
September 27, 1983, for the California Angels
Career statistics
Win–loss record16–25
Earned run average5.11
Strikeouts248
Teams
Byron McLaughlin
Born
Byron Scott McLaughlin

(1955-09-29) September 29, 1955 (age 68)
Van Nuys, California
NationalityAmerican
OccupationRetired professional baseball player
Criminal statusAt-large
Conviction(s)Unknown
Criminal chargeMoney laundering
PenaltyUnknown

Byron Scott McLaughlin (born September 29, 1955 in Van Nuys, California) is a retired professional baseball player, alleged counterfeit shoes manufacturer, and convicted money launderer. His baseball career spanned nine seasons, four of which were spent in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Seattle Mariners (1977–1980), and the California Angels (1983). McLaughlin, a right-handed pitcher used primarily in relief, compiled a major league record of 16–25 with a 5.11 earned run average, five complete games, 14 saves, and 74 strikeouts in 3781⁄3 innings pitched.

After his career, McLaughlin allegedly worked in the counterfeit consumer goods industry in Mexico making knock-off athletic footwear, which included shoes designed to look like Converse, Vans, and Adidas. In 1990, he was arrested for trafficking the counterfeit shoes and money laundering. He pleaded guilty to the money laundering charges, and proceeded to post bail. Before being sentenced, McLaughlin fled and his current whereabouts are unknown.

Early life

McLaughlin was born on September 29, 1955 in Van Nuys, California. He attended Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California and Los Angeles Valley College.[1] He played high school baseball at Santa Monica, and played the position of outfielder in his last three years.[2]

Professional career

Early career

On December 24, 1974, the Montreal Expos signed McLaughlin as an amateur free agent.[3] He was assigned to their minor league organization where he played seven games as a position player with the West Palm Beach Expos of the Class-A Florida State League.[4] In those games, he batted .313 with one run scored, five hits, and one run batted in (RBI). In June 1974, McLaughlin was released by the Expos.[5] On March 4, 1975, McLaughlin signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He began the season with the rookie-level Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League. McLaughlin was used as a pitcher when he joined Bluefield.[6] He compiled a 1–2 record with a 7.46 earned run average (ERA), one save, and 32 strikeouts in 14 games, two starts with Bluefield that year. He was promoted to the Class-A Lodi Orioles during the season. With Lodi, McLaughlin went 0–1 with a 4.67 ERA, and 12 strikeouts in 12 games, all in relief. Years later, McLaughlin gave an interview to the Associated Press where he said he was bitter at the Baltimore organization for releasing him.[7] In 1976, McLaughlin joined the Class-A Victoria Cowboys of the Gulf States League. The Cowboys were a non-affiliated minor league team.[8] That season, McLaughlin went 10–4 with a 3.05 ERA in 15 games, 14 starts. During his tenure with the Cowboys, the California Angels were reportedly interested in buying McLaughlin's contract,[9] but nothing ever came of it.

Seattle Mariners

On January 8, 1977, McLaughlin signed with the Seattle Mariners. On April 1, 1977, the Mariners loaned him to the Nuevo Laredo Mexican League franchise. At the time, the Mariners did not have a complete minor league organization.[10] In the Mexican League that season, McLaughlin compiled a record of 18–13 with a 1.84 ERA and 221 strikeouts as his team, the Tescolotes, won the league championship.[11] On September 11, 1977, he was returned to the Mariners. McLaughlin made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on September 18, against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium.[12] In 11⁄3 innings pitched, he gave-up five hits, four runs (all earned), and struck out one in his only major league appearance that season.[12]

McLaughlin split the 1978 season between the major leagues and minors. McLaughlin made his season debut with Seattle on April 25, against the California Angels.[13] In that game, which also marked his first MLB start, McLaughlin gave up three runs (all earned) and struck out 10 in six innings pitched.[14] He came away with the loss, which was his first MLB decision.[13] In late June the Mariners sent him down to the minor leagues.[15] With the San Jose Missions, who were the Mariners Triple-A affiliate at the time, he went 5–2 with a 3.50 ERA, and 52 strikeouts in eight games, all starts. Two of those starts were complete games. McLaughlin was called back up to the majors in July after pitcher John Montague was placed on the disabled list.[16] McLaughlin's first major league win came on August 16, against the Baltimore Orioles.[13] In the majors that season, McLaughlin went 4–8 with a 4.37 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 20 games, 17 starts. Four of his starts were complete games. After the 1978 season, McLaughlin pitched in the Mexican Pacific League, where he led all pitchers with a 1.05 ERA and 143 strikeouts.[17][18]

In March 1979, McLaughlin re-signed with the Mariners.[19] McLaughlin spent the entire regular season with the Mariners that year. He made his season debut on April 6, against the Cleveland Indians, where he pitched seven innings, and came away with a win.[20] In mid-April, he missed a game after bruising his hand in his hotel room when he was practicing his pitching motion.[21] McLaughlin earned his first major league save on June 6, against the Detroit Tigers.[20] On July 3, he threw his only complete game of the season in a game against the Minnesota Twins. In August, McLaughlin missed a game to get married in Mexico.[22] On August 14, it was reported by The Miami News that McLaughlin was carrying a .357 Magnum when he traveled.[23] With Seattle that season, McLaughlin compiled a record of 7–7 with a 4.22 with 14 saves, and 74 strikeouts in 47 games, seven starts.[20]

In 1980, McLaughlin started the season with the Seattle Mariners. In June, the Cleveland Indians were reportedly attempting to trade for McLaughlin and teammate Larry Milbourne in exchange for Bo Díaz.[24] However, nothing ever came of the deal. With Seattle that season, he went 3–6 with a 6.85 ERA, two saves, and 41 strikeouts in 45 games, four of which were starts. Over his four year tenure with the Mariners, McLaughlin had a combined record of 14–21 with a 5.10 ERA, five complete games, 16 saves, and 203 strikeouts in 113 games. Of those games, he made 28 starts and finished 47.[25]

Later career

On December 12, 1980, McLaughlin was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Willie Norwood.[26] McLaughlin played with the Twins during spring training in 1981.[27] However, on March 31, Minnesota released him. In the 1981 and 1982 seasons, McLaughlin played in the Mexican League.[28][29] He moved his primary residence to Hermosillo during his two-year stint in Mexico.[30] In August 1982, he joined the Spokane Indians, who were Triple-A affiliates of the California Angels at the time.[31] With the Indians that season, McLaughlin went 1–0 with a 1.26 ERA, and nine strikeouts in six games, one of which was a start.[32]

After spring training in 1983, the California Angels assigned McLaughlin to minor league camp in Casa Grande, Arizona.[33] He was eventually assigned to the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers, but was called-up to the majors in June after pitcher Bruce Kison was placed on the disabled list.[34] McLaughlin made his season debut with the Angels on June 7, against the Chicago White Sox, pitching 11⁄3 innings, giving up one earned run.[35] When asked what it felt like to be back in the majors, McLaughlin responded, "I'm just thankful the Angels gave me this an opportunity to get back in the big leagues [...] I always knew I could pitch but I had been labeled a trouble-maker".[29] McLaughlin commented that the personnel on his previous teams felt he had an attitude problem, but that he did not want that to affect him while playing with the Angels, and that it was "in the past".[29] He picked up his first win of the season on July 1, against the Kansas City Royals.[35] McLaughlin was optioned to the minor leagues in August.[36] After hearing the news, McLaughlin was reportedly furious at the Angels front office staff and even threatened to retire.[36] However, McLaughlin continued to play in the California minor league system, and even returned to the majors in September.[35] In the minors that year, he played for the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers and the Double-A Beaumont Golden Gators, going a combined 5–4 with a 4.26 ERA in 26 games in 961⁄3 innings pitched.[32] With the Angels, McLaughlin compiled a 2–4 record with a 5.17 ERA, and 45 strikeouts in 16 games, seven of which were starts.[35]

Later life

In October 1984, a warrant was issued for McLaughlin's arrest after he failed to appear in court on previous charges.[37] McLaughlin was arrested in for illegally trafficking counterfeit shoes and money laundering in 1990.[38] According The New Yorker, McLaughlin, who had ties in Mexico from when he played baseball there, made deals with Korean businesspeople to make counterfeit footwear.[38] The brands that he counterfeited included Converse, Vans, and Adidas, which he manufactured to sell in the Mexican market.[38] Harley Lewin, a lawyer who pursued people in the counterfeit business, found that McLaughlin was making 80,000 pairs of sneakers for about $750,000 any given month.[38] Lewin also discovered that half of all counterfeit footwear in Mexico could be traced back to McLaughlin's business.[38] McLaughlin pled guilty to the money laundering charges, but fled the county before being sentenced.[38] Although his whereabouts are uncertain, he is believed to be living near Cannes.[38]

See also

References

General references
  1. "Byron McLaughlin Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  2. "Byron McLaughlin Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
Inline citations
  1. ^ "Byron McLaughlin Stats". BaseballAlmanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  2. ^ "A Million Miles To Go". The Palm Beach Post. April 21, 1974. p. E4. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  3. ^ "Byron McLaughlin Trades and Transactions". BaseballAlmanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Miami Win Trims Expos' South Lead". The Palm Beach Post. The Palm Beach Post. 22 May 1974. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  5. ^ "West Palm Stops Yanks". The Palm Beach Post. The Palm Beach Post. 7 June 1974. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  6. ^ "Orioles humbled by Salinas, 12-2". Lodi News-Sentinel. Lodi News-Sentinel. 18 April 1975. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  7. ^ "Mariners Cool Down Orioles". Associated Press. Gettysburg Times. 26 July 1979. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  8. ^ "1976 Victoria Cowboys". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  9. ^ "Greene Sold To Brewers By cowboys". The Victoria Advocate. The Victoria Advocate. 7 December 1976. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  10. ^ "1977 Seattle Mariners Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  11. ^ Klein, Alan M. (1999). "3". Baseball on the Border: A Tale of Two Laredos. Princeton University Press. p. 110. ISBN 0691007446. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  12. ^ a b "Byron McLaughlin 1977 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  13. ^ a b c "Byron McLaughlin 1978 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  14. ^ "Apr 25, 1978, Mariners at Angels Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  15. ^ "McLaughlin Sent Down". Associated Press. Reading Eagle. 28 June 1978. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  16. ^ "Scoreboard". Daily Union. Daily Union. 29 July 1978. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  17. ^ "Names And Faces". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane Daily Chronicle. 21 December 1978. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  18. ^ Bjarkman, Peter C. (2005). Diamonds Around the Globe: the Encyclopedia of International Baseball. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 311. ISBN 0313322686. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  19. ^ "People: More surgery for Van Brocklin, divorce for O.J." The Modesto Bee. The Modesto Bee. 10 March 1979. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  20. ^ a b c "Byron McLaughlin 1979 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  21. ^ "A's Deck Mariners Again". Ellensburg Daily Record. 17 April 1979. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  22. ^ "Mariners play Cupid, leave manager in dark". Associated Press. The Baltimore Sun (subscription required). 13 August 1979. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  23. ^ Dowd, John (14 August 1979). "Hard times in Seattle". The Miami News. The Miami News. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  24. ^ "Red Sox notebook; Brohamer to A's? Sullivan trying". Boston Globe. Boston Globe. 9 June 1980. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  25. ^ "Byron McLaughlin 1980 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  26. ^ "Swamps may make Brewers contenders next year". United Press International. Ellensburg Daily Record. 13 December 1980. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  27. ^ "White Sox snap Jays' streak; Twins slip by Mets". Associated Press; United Press International. St. Petersburg Times. 26 March 1981. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  28. ^ Blanchette, John (7 September 1982). "Tribe trips on foreign aid". The Spokesman-Review. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  29. ^ a b c "Comeback players lead Angels past Royals". Associated Press. Lawrence Journal-World. 2 July 1983. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  30. ^ Weyler, John (13 June 1983). "Angels Get a Good Start on Way to Long Loss". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company (subscription required). Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  31. ^ Blanchette, John (13 August 1982). "Salt Lake gets away with split". The Spokesman-Review. The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  32. ^ a b "Byron McLaughlin Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  33. ^ "Sports Transactions". Associated Press. The Sumter Daily Item. 5 April 1983. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  34. ^ Newhan, Ross (7 June 1983). "California Ends Road Trip With a Disarming Loss, 9-7". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company (subscription required). Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  35. ^ a b c d "Byron McLaughlin 1983 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  36. ^ a b Weyler, John (18 August 1983). "McLaughlin Optioned, Angry at McNamara, Bavasi". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company (subscription required). Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  37. ^ "Davis, Hurt at Forum, Out at Least 6 Weeks". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company (subscription required). 14 October 1984. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g MacFarquhar, Larissa (19 March 2007). "Bag Man". The New Yorker. The New Yorker (subscription required). Retrieved 24 November 2010.

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