Calvin Schiraldi
Encyclopedia
Calvin Drew Schiraldi is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He is best remembered as the losing pitcher of Game 6
and Game 7 of the 1986 World Series
.
by the Chicago White Sox
in the 17th round of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft
, but chose, instead to attend the University of Texas. Schiraldi, along with future Boston Red Sox
teammate Roger Clemens
, pitched the Texas Longhorns baseball
team to a 1983 College World Series
championship. Schiraldi was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player
and to the All-Tournament Team.
, Schiraldi was selected by the New York Mets
in the first round (27th pick) of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft
. After going 17-4 with a 2.59 earned run average
for the Jackson Mets
and Tidewater Tides in , Schiraldi received a September call-up to the Mets. He made his major league debut on September 1, starting the second game of a double header
against the San Diego Padres
, and gave up five runs
(four earned) in 3.1 innings. Schiraldi did not figure in the decision in that game. He made two more starts for the Mets that year, losing both.
Schiraldi split between the Mets and Tidewater, earning his first major league win on April 22 against the St. Louis Cardinals
. Following the season, Schiraldi was traded to the Red Sox along with John Christensen
, Wes Gardner
and La Schelle Tarver
for Bob Ojeda
, Tom McCarthy
, John Mitchell
and Chris Bayer.
's Pawtucket Red Sox
, Schiraldi was converted to a reliever
. He made his debut with the big league club on July 20, . With no outs, runners on first and third, and the Red Sox already down 6-3 to the Seattle Mariners
in the Kingdome
, Schiraldi replaced Jeff Sellers
in the sixth inning. He allowed both inherited base runners to score, and gave up an earned run
of his own in the sixth, however, pitched a perfect seventh.
He pitched again the next day, striking out four in 2.2 innings without giving up a run. He earned manager John McNamara
's trust with similarly impressive performances on July 26 and August 1, and on August 3, with the Red Sox leading the Kansas City Royals
5-3, Schiraldi entered in the ninth inning with runners on first and second and no outs. He struck out the first two batters he faced and retired the third for his first career save.
Whereas closing duties had been split between Bob Stanley
and Joe Sambito
up to that point, Schiraldi emerged as the Bosox's closer
for the remainder of the season. He ended the season with a 4-2 record, nine saves, a 1.41 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 51 innings.
Schiraldi appeared in four of the seven games of the 1986 American League Championship Series
against the California Angels. Although he took the loss in game four, he pitched respectably in the series, striking out five in the final two innings of game seven.
, Schiraldi entered game six in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied at three. The Sox gave Schiraldi a two run lead when he took the mound in the tenth. After retiring the first two batters, he allowed three straight singles to Gary Carter
, Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight
and was replaced by Bob Stanley. Stanley threw a wild pitch
, which allowed Kevin Mitchell to score the tying run, and Mookie Wilson
followed by hitting a ground ball that rolled between the legs of Bill Buckner
, scoring Ray Knight
and giving the Mets an improbable victory. With the score tied 3-3 in the seventh inning of game seven, Schiraldi gave up a leadoff home run to Knight, the series MVP. He gave up two more earned runs in just one-third of an inning to take the loss in the series clincher. His ERA for the World Series was 13.50.
were traded to the Chicago Cubs
for Lee Smith
. With the Cubs, Schiraldi was converted back into a starter
, and went 9-13 with a 4.38 ERA in . The Cubs shifted him back to the bullpen
in before sending him to the San Diego Padres
just before the August 30 traded deadline, with Darrin Jackson
and a player to be named later for Luis Salazar
and Marvell Wynne.
the following season.
following his release from the Padres. He was assigned to their triple A Pacific Coast League
affiliate, the Tucson Toros
, with whom he went 3-2 with a 4.47 ERA before being dealt to the Texas Rangers
. He made three appearances with the Rangers in , spending most of the season with their American Association affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers.
He also hit two home run
s during his stint with the Padres.
while pitching for the Jackson Mets
. They have two children, Samantha and Lukas. Schiraldi is the head coach of St. Michael's Catholic Academy
baseball team in Austin, Texas.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He is best remembered as the losing pitcher of Game 6
Game 6
Game 6 is a 2005 American film directed by Michael Hoffman, first presented at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005 and released in the United States in 2006...
and Game 7 of the 1986 World Series
1986 World Series
The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It was cited in the legend of the "Curse of the Bambino" to explain the error by Bill Buckner in Game 6 that allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game...
.
Amateur career
Schiraldi was originally drafted out of Westlake High School in Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the 17th round of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft
1980 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft.- Compensation Picks :*William Erickson, was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants, 31st pick overall. *Jeff Horne was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Pirates,...
, but chose, instead to attend the University of Texas. Schiraldi, along with future Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
teammate Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, pitched the Texas Longhorns baseball
Texas Longhorns baseball
The Texas Longhorns baseball team represents The University of Texas at Austin and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.The Texas Longhorns are the winningest program in college baseball history in terms of win percentage with .740 and ranks second all-time in total wins to the...
team to a 1983 College World Series
1983 College World Series
The 1983 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 3 to June 11. The thirty-seventh tournament's champion was The University of Texas, coached by Cliff Gustafson...
championship. Schiraldi was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player
College World Series Most Outstanding Player
The College World Series Most Outstanding Player is an award for the best individual performance during the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The recipient of the award is announced at the completion of the College World Series Championship Game...
and to the All-Tournament Team.
New York Mets
Following his performance in the College World SeriesCollege World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, Schiraldi was selected by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in the first round (27th pick) of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft
1983 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Other notable players :*Kevin Ward, 6th round...
. After going 17-4 with a 2.59 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
for the Jackson Mets
Jackson Mets
The Jackson Mets were a professional baseball team based in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1975 through 1990. As of 2010, they are the longest-tenured club to be based in the Jackson metropolitan area...
and Tidewater Tides in , Schiraldi received a September call-up to the Mets. He made his major league debut on September 1, starting the second game of a double header
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, and gave up five runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(four earned) in 3.1 innings. Schiraldi did not figure in the decision in that game. He made two more starts for the Mets that year, losing both.
Schiraldi split between the Mets and Tidewater, earning his first major league win on April 22 against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Following the season, Schiraldi was traded to the Red Sox along with John Christensen
John Christensen (baseball)
John Lawrence Christensen is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball between 1984 and 1988.- New York Mets :...
, Wes Gardner
Wes Gardner
Wesley Brian Gardner is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher drafted by the New York Mets in the 22nd round of the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Central Arkansas.-New York Mets:...
and La Schelle Tarver
La Schelle Tarver
La Schelle Tarver is a former backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox during the season. Listed at 5' 11", 165 lb., he batted and threw left-handed....
for Bob Ojeda
Bob Ojeda
Robert Michael Ojeda is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. Ojeda is best remembered as an anchor in the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets starting rotation , and for being the lone survivor of a March 22, boating accident that killed fellow Cleveland Indians pitchers...
, Tom McCarthy
Tom McCarthy (1980s pitcher)
Thomas Michael McCarthy is a former middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox...
, John Mitchell
John Mitchell (baseball)
John Kyle Mitchell is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in parts of five Major League Baseball seasons, from through , for the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles.-Boating accident:...
and Chris Bayer.
Boston Red Sox
With the International LeagueInternational League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
's Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
, Schiraldi was converted to a reliever
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He made his debut with the big league club on July 20, . With no outs, runners on first and third, and the Red Sox already down 6-3 to the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the Kingdome
Kingdome
The Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
, Schiraldi replaced Jeff Sellers
Jeff Sellers
Jeffrey Doyle Sellers is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox from 1985 through 1988...
in the sixth inning. He allowed both inherited base runners to score, and gave up an earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
of his own in the sixth, however, pitched a perfect seventh.
He pitched again the next day, striking out four in 2.2 innings without giving up a run. He earned manager John McNamara
John McNamara (baseball)
John Francis McNamara is a former manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He managed six major league teams, directing the 1986 Boston Red Sox to the American League pennant, only to experience an excruciating defeat in that season's World Series at the hands of the New York Mets.-Playing,...
's trust with similarly impressive performances on July 26 and August 1, and on August 3, with the Red Sox leading the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
5-3, Schiraldi entered in the ninth inning with runners on first and second and no outs. He struck out the first two batters he faced and retired the third for his first career save.
Whereas closing duties had been split between Bob Stanley
Bob Stanley
Robert William "Bob" Stanley is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher who played with the Boston Red Sox.Over his 13-year career, Stanley played only for the Red Sox from 1977-89...
and Joe Sambito
Joe Sambito
Joseph Charles Sambito is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Houston Astros , New York Mets and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw left-handed...
up to that point, Schiraldi emerged as the Bosox's closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
for the remainder of the season. He ended the season with a 4-2 record, nine saves, a 1.41 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 51 innings.
Schiraldi appeared in four of the seven games of the 1986 American League Championship Series
1986 American League Championship Series
The 1986 American League Championship Series was a back-and-forth battle between the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels for the right to advance to the 1986 World Series to face the winner of the 1986 National League Championship Series...
against the California Angels. Although he took the loss in game four, he pitched respectably in the series, striking out five in the final two innings of game seven.
1986 World Series
After saving game one of the World SeriesWorld Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, Schiraldi entered game six in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied at three. The Sox gave Schiraldi a two run lead when he took the mound in the tenth. After retiring the first two batters, he allowed three straight singles to Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
, Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight
Ray Knight
Charles Ray Knight is a former right-handed Major League Baseball third baseman best remembered for his time with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets...
and was replaced by Bob Stanley. Stanley threw a wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
, which allowed Kevin Mitchell to score the tying run, and Mookie Wilson
Mookie Wilson
William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder and current coach for the New York Mets. He played 12 years in baseball for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays . He was a switch hitter primarily known for his impressive speed and positive attitude...
followed by hitting a ground ball that rolled between the legs of Bill Buckner
Bill Buckner
William Joseph Buckner is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. Despite winning a batting crown in , representing the Chicago Cubs at the All-Star Game the following season and accumulating over 2,700 hits in his twenty-year career, he is best remembered for a fielding error during Game 6...
, scoring Ray Knight
Ray Knight
Charles Ray Knight is a former right-handed Major League Baseball third baseman best remembered for his time with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets...
and giving the Mets an improbable victory. With the score tied 3-3 in the seventh inning of game seven, Schiraldi gave up a leadoff home run to Knight, the series MVP. He gave up two more earned runs in just one-third of an inning to take the loss in the series clincher. His ERA for the World Series was 13.50.
Chicago Cubs
In , Wes Gardner, who also came over from the Mets in the Ojeda trade, emerged as the primary closer for the Red Sox, though Schiraldi did have six saves. Following the season, he and Al NipperAl Nipper
Albert Samuel Nipper is an American professional baseball coach and a former Major League pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians...
were traded to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for Lee Smith
Lee Smith (baseball)
Lee Arthur Smith is an American right-handed former baseball pitcher who played 18 years in Major League Baseball for eight teams. Pitching primarily for the Chicago Cubs, with whom he spent his first eight seasons, Lee served mostly as a relief pitcher during his career...
. With the Cubs, Schiraldi was converted back into a starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, and went 9-13 with a 4.38 ERA in . The Cubs shifted him back to the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
in before sending him to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
just before the August 30 traded deadline, with Darrin Jackson
Darrin Jackson
Darrin "D. J." Jay Jackson is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played 12 years for the Chicago Cubs , San Diego Padres , Toronto Blue Jays , New York Mets , Chicago White Sox , Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers...
and a player to be named later for Luis Salazar
Luis Salazar
Luis Ernesto Salazar Garcia is a former third baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball, a right-handed batter who played from 1980 to 1992....
and Marvell Wynne.
San Diego Padres
Schiraldi made four starts with the Padres in 1989, going 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA. Though he did make eight starts with the Padres in , he found himself in the bullpen for most of the season. He went 3-8 with one save and a 4.41 ERA in 1990. The Padres released him during Spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
the following season.
Texas Rangers
Schiraldi caught on with the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
following his release from the Padres. He was assigned to their triple A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
affiliate, the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
, with whom he went 3-2 with a 4.47 ERA before being dealt to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He made three appearances with the Rangers in , spending most of the season with their American Association affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers.
He also hit two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s during his stint with the Padres.
Private life
He is married to Debbie Murphy Schiraldi, whom he met in Jackson, MississippiJackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
while pitching for the Jackson Mets
Jackson Mets
The Jackson Mets were a professional baseball team based in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1975 through 1990. As of 2010, they are the longest-tenured club to be based in the Jackson metropolitan area...
. They have two children, Samantha and Lukas. Schiraldi is the head coach of St. Michael's Catholic Academy
St. Michael's Catholic Academy
St. Michael's Catholic Academy is a co-educational Roman Catholic high school in Austin, Texas. Located on the edge of the Texas Hill Country, it currently has an enrollment of about 500 students. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin....
baseball team in Austin, Texas.