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Gregg Olson

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This article is about the pitcher. For the catcher, see Greg Olson (baseball). For the United States Marine Corps general, see Gregg P. Olson. For the author, see Gregg Olsen.
Gregg Olson
Olson with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Pitcher
Born: (1966-10-11) October 11, 1966 (age 58)
Scribner, Nebraska
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1988, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
June 22, 2001, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record40–39
Earned run average3.46
Strikeouts588
Saves217
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 1987 Indianapolis Team

Greggory William Olson (born October 11, 1966) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played with the Baltimore Orioles (1988–93), Atlanta Braves (1994), Cleveland Indians (1995), Kansas City Royals (1995, 1997), Detroit Tigers (1996), Houston Astros (1996), Minnesota Twins (1997), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998–99) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2000–01). Olson is the Orioles' all-time saves leader with 160 saves.

High school and college

Olson attended Omaha Northwest High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was a pitcher and led the Huskies to four straight state titles. His father, Bill Olson, was his high school coach. Olson appeared in Sports Illustrated's "Faces In The Crowd" section for the 07-16-84 Vol 61, No. 3.

In the state championship game of his senior year, Olson threw a no-hitter.

After graduating from high school in 1985, Olson went on to pitch at Auburn University for three seasons.

Professional career

Olson was drafted by the Orioles in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1988 amateur draft, and was given a $200,000 signing bonus[1] before making his major league debut on September 2, 1988. A reliever, he threw what baseball historian Sheldon Stewart referred to as a "blazing fastball and devastating curve".[2]

In 1989, Olson became the first reliever to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Olson also set an American League rookie record with 27 saves, and had a 5-2 mark with a 1.69 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 85 innings.

Selected to the All-Star team in 1990, Olson set a club record of 37 saves during the season and collected 31 and 36 in the next two years. On July 13, 1991, Olson combined with 3 other Baltimore pitchers in a no-hitter against the Oakland Athletics.[3] In August 1993, Olson suffered a torn elbow ligament injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year. He finished with 29 saves and a career low 1.60 ERA, but Baltimore opted not to take a risk with him and signed Lee Smith as their new closer. Olson struggled with a succession of injuries over the next years, playing for seven different teams from 1994-97.

In 1998, Olson enjoyed a fruitful comeback with the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks. He set a franchise record of 30 saves (broken by Byung-hyun Kim in 2002) and was also part of a rare feat. On May 28, with Arizona leading the San Francisco Giants 8-5, Olson began the bottom of the ninth inning by striking out Darryl Hamilton, but the Giants then loaded the bases with two walks and a hit before Stan Javier had an RBI grounder that made it 8-6. After pinch-hitter J. T. Snow walked to load the bases, manager Buck Showalter ordered Olson to intentionally walk Barry Bonds, forcing home a run, and bringing up Brent Mayne, who worked the count full before he lined to right field for the third out. Olson put together one of the strangest saves imaginable, working around six walks in 1.1 innings. He threw 49 pitches (not counting the bases-loaded intentional walk) and only 22 of them were for strikes. Olson's only Major League hit was a home run during his last official at-bat of the 1998 season.

Olson was replaced by new closer Matt Mantei in 1999. He finished his career as a setup man for the Dodgers.

In a 14-year career, Olson compiled 217 saves with a 40-39 record, 588 strikeouts, and a 3.46 ERA in 672 innings pitched.

Post-retirement

On March 19, 2008, Olson was elected to the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame, and was inducted during a pre-game ceremony at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 9, 2008.[4] He is currently a scout for the San Diego Padres.

In 2016, Olson served as pitching coach to actress Kylie Bunbury, who played "Ginny Baker" on the scripted FOX television series Pitch.[5]

From 2017 to 2020 Olson was a color analyst for Orioles broadcasts on MASN.[6]

On March 29, 2021, Olson announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.[7][8]

Notes and references

  1. ^ Dickson, Paul (1989). The Dickson Baseball Dictionary. United States: Facts on File. p. 66. ISBN 0816017417.
  2. ^ "Gregg Olson Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac". Baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  3. ^ Smith, Claire (14 July 1991). "Baseball; 1 Game / 4 Arms = Orioles No-Hitter". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  4. ^ Comak, Amanda (August 9, 2008). "Closer Olson enters O's Hall of Fame". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  5. ^ Koblin, John (2016-09-16). "Fox and Major League Baseball Team Up for 'Pitch'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  6. ^ Ruiz, Nathan (January 25, 2021). "Orioles formalize reduced broadcast crew on MASN, radio: 'We're asking fans to embrace a lot of changes'". Baltimore Sun.
  7. ^ @GreggOlson30 (29 March 2021). "Hello Friends ( in best Jim Nantz voice). I found out last week that I have Prostate Cancer. I have surgery in 3 w…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Trezza, Joe (March 30, 2021). "O's HOF Olson reveals cancer diagnosis". MLB.com.
Preceded by No-hit game
July 13, 1991
with Milacki, Flanagan & Williamson 		Succeeded by
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