Ed Sprague Sr.
Ed Sprague, Sr. | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Boston, Massachusetts | September 16, 1945|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 10, 1968, for the Oakland Athletics | |
Last MLB appearance | |
June 5, 1976, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 17–23 |
Earned run average | 3.84 |
Strikeouts | 188 |
Teams | |
Edward Nelson Sprague, Sr. (born September 16, 1945) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball for four teams between 1968 and 1976. Listed at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), 195 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.
Sprague is a 1963 graduate of Sunset High School (Hayward, California).[1]
A hard-thrower, Sprague was scouted while pitching in the U.S. Army in Germany and was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966. A year later he was sold to the Oakland Athletics. He entered the majors in 1968 with the Athletics, playing for them until 1969 before joining the Cincinnati Reds (1971–73), St. Louis Cardinals (1973) and Milwaukee Brewers (1973–76). He filled various pitching roles as a closer and a middle reliever and as an occasional starter. His most productive season came in 1974 with Milwaukee, when he set career-highs in wins (7), strikeouts (57) and earned run average (2.39) in 20 games, including 10 as a starter, before damaging knee ligaments which ended his season.
In an eight-season career, Sprague posted a 17–23 record with 188 strikeouts and a 3.84 ERA in 198 games, including 23 starts, three complete games, nine saves and 408.0 innings pitched.
Following his playing career, Sprague became the owner of the Stockton Ports and his wife the owner of the Lodi Crushers. His son, Ed Jr., was the Toronto Blue Jays' first pick in the 1988 draft and played in the majors from 1991 to 2001.
References
- ^ "Sprague suffers knee injury". Daily Review. Hayward, California. 1975-06-04. p. 39. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
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External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Baseball Gauge
- Baseball Library
- Retrosheet
- Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
- 1945 births
- Living people
- Baltimore Orioles scouts
- Baseball players from California
- Baseball players from Massachusetts
- Caribbean Series players
- Cincinnati Reds players
- Eugene Emeralds players
- Florida Instructional League Cardinals players
- Indianapolis Indians players
- Iowa Oaks players
- Leones del Caracas players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Milwaukee Brewers players
- Modesto Reds players
- Oakland Athletics players
- Rock Hill Cardinals players
- St. Louis Cardinals players
- Sportspeople from Hayward, California
- Tulsa Oilers (baseball) players