Dick Selma
Encyclopedia
Richard Jay Selma was a professional baseball player who played pitcher
in the Major Leagues from 1965-1974. He played for the New York Mets
, Chicago Cubs
, San Diego Padres
, Philadelphia Phillies
, California Angels
, and Milwaukee Brewers
during his 10-year major league career.
. After a year, Selma was signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets on May 28, 1963 and made his Major League
debut two seasons later.
in a 1-0 victory against the Milwaukee Braves, throwing 13 strikeout
s in the process. The 13 strikeouts thrown were at the time a Mets franchise record. He had two wins and one loss in four games that season, and spent the next two seasons with the Mets as a relief pitcher
. During the 1968 season, Selma became a starting pitcher
again like he was his rookie year, and started 23 games, posting a 9-10 record with an ERA
of 2.76. This, along with his 117 strikeouts, led the expansion San Diego Padres
to draft him with the fifth pick in the 1968 expansion draft on October 14, 1968.
Selma was given the start for the Padres on opening day of the 1969 season. On April 8, 1969, Selma pitched a complete game
and threw 12 strikeouts en route to a 2-1 victory, the Padres' first in franchise history. Selma ended up pitching only four games for the Padres, as they traded him to the Chicago Cubs
on April 25, 1969 for Joe Niekro
, Gary Ross, and Frankie Libran. It was during his time with the Cubs that Selma became known as a cheerleader for those sitting in Wrigley Field
's bleachers. He finished his tenure with the Cubs with a 10-8 record, 161 strikeouts, and a 3.63 ERA. However, he had a 7-1 record before finishing 10-8, and partially as a result of this skid was traded. Selma was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
on November 17, 1969 with Oscar Gamble
for a player to be named later (who became Larry Colton) and Johnny Callison
.
The Phillies turned Selma into their closer for the 1970 season. He converted 22 saves in 73 appearances, and his 73 games played and 47 games finished were both second highest in the National League
. He started 10 games in the 1972 season, but in his four seasons in Philadelphia, Selma was primarily used as a reliever. He was released by the Phillies on May 8, 1973, but was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals
on May 21. He never appeared in a game for the Cardinals, and at the end of the season his contract was purchased by the California Angels. He played 18 games for the Angels during the 1974 season, his contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers
, who he only played two games with. Selma was returned to the Angels after the two appearances, and did not appear in a major league game again.
After retiring from the game, Selma returned to Fresno and took a night job so that he could play and coach baseball in the area. He was an assistant coach at his alma mater and served as the pitching coach at Clovis High School
. Selma died on August 29, 2001 in Clovis, California
, as a result of liver cancer.
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...
in the Major Leagues from 1965-1974. He played for 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, and 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...
during his 10-year major league career.
College and minor league career
Selma played college baseball at Fresno City CollegeFresno City College
Fresno City College is a community college in Fresno, California. Established in 1910, it was the first community college in California and the second in the nation...
. After a year, Selma was signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets on May 28, 1963 and made his Major League
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...
debut two seasons later.
Major league career
In only his second career start, he threw a 10-inning shutoutShutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in a 1-0 victory against the Milwaukee Braves, throwing 13 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in the process. The 13 strikeouts thrown were at the time a Mets franchise record. He had two wins and one loss in four games that season, and spent the next two seasons with the Mets as a 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 the 1968 season, Selma became a starting pitcher
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....
again like he was his rookie year, and started 23 games, posting a 9-10 record with an ERA
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...
of 2.76. This, along with his 117 strikeouts, led the expansion 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...
to draft him with the fifth pick in the 1968 expansion draft on October 14, 1968.
Selma was given the start for the Padres on opening day of the 1969 season. On April 8, 1969, Selma pitched a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
and threw 12 strikeouts en route to a 2-1 victory, the Padres' first in franchise history. Selma ended up pitching only four games for the Padres, as they traded him 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...
on April 25, 1969 for Joe Niekro
Joe Niekro
Joseph Franklin Niekro was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of Minor League Baseball pitcher Lance Niekro. A native of Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio and attended West...
, Gary Ross, and Frankie Libran. It was during his time with the Cubs that Selma became known as a cheerleader for those sitting in Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
's bleachers. He finished his tenure with the Cubs with a 10-8 record, 161 strikeouts, and a 3.63 ERA. However, he had a 7-1 record before finishing 10-8, and partially as a result of this skid was traded. Selma was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on November 17, 1969 with Oscar Gamble
Oscar Gamble
Oscar Charles Gamble is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. He played for 17 seasons, from 1969 to 1985, on seven different teams: the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on two separate occasions, as well as the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland...
for a player to be named later (who became Larry Colton) and Johnny Callison
Johnny Callison
John Wesley Callison was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball, best known for his years with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1960 to 1969...
.
The Phillies turned Selma into their closer for the 1970 season. He converted 22 saves in 73 appearances, and his 73 games played and 47 games finished were both second highest in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. He started 10 games in the 1972 season, but in his four seasons in Philadelphia, Selma was primarily used as a reliever. He was released by the Phillies on May 8, 1973, but was signed by 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...
on May 21. He never appeared in a game for the Cardinals, and at the end of the season his contract was purchased by the California Angels. He played 18 games for the Angels during the 1974 season, his contract was purchased by the 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...
, who he only played two games with. Selma was returned to the Angels after the two appearances, and did not appear in a major league game again.
After retiring from the game, Selma returned to Fresno and took a night job so that he could play and coach baseball in the area. He was an assistant coach at his alma mater and served as the pitching coach at Clovis High School
Clovis High School (Clovis, California)
Clovis High School, or simply “Clovis High” as it is known to the locals, was founded in 1899. It is a four-year high school located in Clovis, California. The school is located at 1055 Fowler Avenue.-Campus and Facilities:...
. Selma died on August 29, 2001 in Clovis, California
Clovis, California
Clovis is a city in Fresno County, California, United States, northeast of Fresno. The population is estimated to be 97,218 as of September, 2011. Clovis is located northeast of downtown Fresno, at an elevation of 361 feet .-History:...
, as a result of liver cancer.