Curt Leskanic
Encyclopedia
Curtis John Leskanic is an American
former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. During a 12-year baseball career, he pitched from 1993-2004 for the Boston Red Sox
, Colorado Rockies
, Milwaukee Brewers
, and Kansas City Royals
. He is currently a professional scout for the Red Sox.
, but was traded in to the Minnesota Twins
with Oscar Munoz
for Paul Sorrento
. Later that same year, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 1992 Expansion Draft. In , he made his major league debut with the Rockies.
In , during the Kansas City Royals disastrous 58-104 season he was released on June 18. On June 22, he was picked up by the Boston Red Sox and then made three appearances during the 2004 ALCS
against the New York Yankees
and was credited with the Game 4 win. His one and a third innings of shutout baseball during Game 4 were the last he would ever throw; he retired following the 2004 season. He did make a return to Fenway Park
for Opening Day ; there he received his World Series
ring, as well as a large ovation. For Opening Day , he got to carry out the World Series trophy.
Leskanic was a little league coach in Florida
and a scouting consultant for Boston before joining the Red Sox professional scouting staff for the 2008 season.
, best known for the hit single "Walking on Sunshine
."
In September 2011, Leskanic was arrested and charged with driving under the influence
of alcohol.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former Major League Baseball
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...
relief pitcher
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...
. During a 12-year baseball career, he pitched from 1993-2004 for the 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"...
, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and 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...
. He is currently a professional scout for the Red Sox.
Career
Leskanic was drafted in the eighth round of the baseball amateur entry draft by the Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, but was traded in to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
with Oscar Munoz
Oscar Munoz
Oscar Munoz is an American magician, 1999 winner of the "Gold Cups" award from the International Brotherhood of Magicians organization. He is also a charter member and past head of "Ring 269" in Texas.-Awards:* 1999, IBM "Gold Cups" winner...
for Paul Sorrento
Paul Sorrento
Paul Anthony Sorrento is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 1999, Sorrento played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Devil Rays . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
. Later that same year, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 1992 Expansion Draft. In , he made his major league debut with the Rockies.
In , during the Kansas City Royals disastrous 58-104 season he was released on June 18. On June 22, he was picked up by the Boston Red Sox and then made three appearances during the 2004 ALCS
2004 American League Championship Series
The 2004 American League Championship Series was the Major League Baseball playoff series to decide the American League champion for the 2004 season. It was played between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, at Fenway Park and the original Yankee Stadium, from October 12 to October 20, 2004...
against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and was credited with the Game 4 win. His one and a third innings of shutout baseball during Game 4 were the last he would ever throw; he retired following the 2004 season. He did make a return to Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
for Opening Day ; there he received his World Series
World 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...
ring, as well as a large ovation. For Opening Day , he got to carry out the World Series trophy.
Leskanic was a little league coach in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and a scouting consultant for Boston before joining the Red Sox professional scouting staff for the 2008 season.
Personal life
Leskanic has a son, Brandon, and two daughters, Chloe and Chandler. His cousin Katrina Leskanich is the lead singer of the music group Katrina and the WavesKatrina and the Waves
Katrina and the Waves was an English pop rock band, best known for their 1985 hit "Walking on Sunshine" and their 1997 Eurovision Song Contest victory with the song "Love Shine a Light".-Pre-history: The Waves and Mama's Cookin' :...
, best known for the hit single "Walking on Sunshine
Walking on Sunshine (song)
"Walking on Sunshine" is a song written by Kimberley Rew for Katrina and the Waves' 1983 eponymous debut full-length album. The re-recorded version was at first released on the band's 1985 self-titled album as the album's second single and reached No. 4 in Australia, No. 9 in the United States,...
."
In September 2011, Leskanic was arrested and charged with driving under the influence
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
of alcohol.