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Larry Andersen

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For other people named Larry Anderson, see Larry Anderson (disambiguation).
Larry Andersen
Larry Andersen in Philadelphia in August 2010
Pitcher
Born: (1953-05-06) May 6, 1953 (age 71)
Portland, Oregon
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 5, 1975, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
July 31, 1994, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Win–loss record40–39
Earned run average3.15
Strikeouts758
Teams

Larry Eugene Andersen (born May 6, 1953) is an American former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball and current radio color commentator for the Philadelphia Phillies. From 1975 through 1994, Andersen played for the Cleveland Indians (1975, 1977–1979), Seattle Mariners (1981–1982), Philadelphia Phillies (1983–1986, 1993–1994), Houston Astros (1986–1990), Boston Red Sox (1990), and San Diego Padres (1991–1992).

Playing and coaching career

Andersen possessed an average fastball and outstanding slider. He was drafted out of high school in the seventh round in 1971 by the Cleveland Indians. He signed immediately. In 1972 in his first full season he played for Reno of the California League, going 4-14, with a 6.53 ERA in 124 innings, with a 1.80 WHIP.

He gained notoriety for his 1990 trade to the Red Sox straight up for minor league prospect Jeff Bagwell. Andersen played a month in Boston.

In a 17-season career, Andersen posted a 40-39 record with 49 saves and a 3.15 ERA in 699 games pitched. His best season was 1987 when he recorded nine wins, 94 strikeouts, and 1012⁄3 innings pitched in 67 games, all career highs. He is the only member of the Phillies to play in both the 1983 World Series and the 1993 World Series (Darren Daulton had been called up, but did not make a game appearance in 1983).

On May 13, 1986, he was released by the Philadelphia Phillies. Three days later he was signed as a Free Agent by the Houston Astros, who released him on November 12.

December 21, 1986 he was signed as a Free Agent by the Houston Astros, who released him on November 9, 1987.

In 1995, Andersen was a player/coach for the Reading Phillies after he failed to make the Major League club out of Spring Training. He spent the following two seasons as the pitching coach for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.

Broadcasting career

Andersen joined Philadelphia's broadcast team as a color commentator prior to the 1998 season, filling the position left vacant by the death of Richie Ashburn late in the 1997 campaign. Andersen worked on both television and radio from 1998 to 2006 before moving exclusively to radio in 2007. Early in his broadcasting tenure, Andersen occasionally provided television color commentary when the Phillies were featured regionally on Fox Saturday afternoon telecasts. During the 2007 season, he began doing play-by-play work on Phillies radio broadcasts during the fifth and sixth innings, but returned to full-time color commentary in 2008.

During his broadcasting career, Andersen said, "In the seventh inning fans all get up and sing 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game,' and they're already there. It's really a stupid thing to say and I don't know who made 'em sing it. Why would somebody that's there get up and sing take me out to the ball game? The first person to do it must have been a moron."[1] The moron in question was fellow broadcaster Harry Caray.[2]

In 2012, Andersen was ranked #12 on the MLB Network Countdown of the Top 25 personalities in Major League Baseball history.[3]

References

  1. ^ Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved on October 24, 2019.
  2. ^ “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is the 3rd Most Sung Song in America – All Thanks to Harry Caray. The Big Show. Retrieved on October 24, 2019.
  3. ^ Countdown takes a look at the top 25 personalities. MLB.com. Retrieved on April 24, 2016.

Further reading

  • The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia – Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English. ISBN 1-4027-4771-3
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Preceded by Philles Baseball commentator (with Harry Kalas)
1998–2006 		Succeeded by
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