Galen Cisco
Encyclopedia
Galen Bernard Cisco is a former pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for three different teams between and . Listed at 6' 0", 200 lb., Cisco batted and threw right-handed. He was signed by the Boston Red Sox
in 1958 out of Ohio State University
.
A two-sport star, Cisco earned All-America and All-Big Ten honors and was a captain on the 1957 Ohio State Buckeyes football
team, which won the national championship with a 9-1 record, playing both fullback
and linebacker
. As a pitcher for the Buckeyes, he compiled a career record of 12-2.
A curveball
specialist, Cisco entered the Majors in with the Boston Red Sox, playing one-and-a-half years for them before joining the New York Mets
(-), again with Boston , and the Kansas City Royals
. In a seven-season career, he posted a 25-56 record with a 4.56 ERA
in 192 appearances, including 78 starts
, nine complete games, three shutout
s, two saves
, and a 1.16 strikeout-to-walk ratio (325-to-281).
Following his playing retirement, Cisco became a respected pitching coach
for the Royals, Montreal Expos
, San Diego Padres
, Toronto Blue Jays
and Philadelphia Phillies
. He spent six seasons with the Blue Jays (-), helping his team to won three consecutive American League East Division titles (1991–93) and two World Series
(1992–93). Under his tweaking and guidance, Paul Byrd
, Robert Person
and Randy Wolf
developed as starters with the Phillies (-).
Currently, Cisco resides in St. Marys, Ohio
.
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 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...
who played for three different teams between and . Listed at 6' 0", 200 lb., Cisco batted and threw right-handed. He was signed by 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"...
in 1958 out of Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
.
A two-sport star, Cisco earned All-America and All-Big Ten honors and was a captain on the 1957 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
team, which won the national championship with a 9-1 record, playing both fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. As a pitcher for the Buckeyes, he compiled a career record of 12-2.
A curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
specialist, Cisco entered the Majors in with the Boston Red Sox, playing one-and-a-half years for them before joining 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...
(-), again with Boston , and 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...
. In a seven-season career, he posted a 25-56 record with a 4.56 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...
in 192 appearances, including 78 starts
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....
, nine complete games, three shutout
Shutout
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....
s, two saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and a 1.16 strikeout-to-walk ratio (325-to-281).
Following his playing retirement, Cisco became a respected pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Royals, Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
, 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...
, Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and 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...
. He spent six seasons with the Blue Jays (-), helping his team to won three consecutive American League East Division titles (1991–93) and two 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...
(1992–93). Under his tweaking and guidance, Paul Byrd
Paul Byrd
Paul Gregory Byrd is an American professional baseball right-handed starting pitcher who is currently a free agent. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1995 to 2009. He is known as being the "nicest guy in baseball"...
, Robert Person
Robert Person
Robert Alan Person is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played 9 seasons in Major League Baseball: two for the New York Mets, two and a half for the Toronto Blue Jays, three and a half for the Philadelphia Phillies, and only 7 games pitched for the Boston Red Sox in the last year of his...
and Randy Wolf
Randy Wolf
Randall Christopher Wolf is a left-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball. Randy's older brother Jim is a Major League umpire. Unlike his brother Jim and Houston Astros relief pitcher Ross Wolf, Randy is a boss...
developed as starters with the Phillies (-).
Currently, Cisco resides in St. Marys, Ohio
St. Marys, Ohio
St. Marys is a city in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. The population was 8,342 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
Awards and recognitions
- In 1995, Cisco was elected to the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame as a football and baseball player.
- The St. Marys Rotary ClubRotary InternationalRotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
annually sponsors the presentation of the Galen Cisco Award. To be eligible for the award, a baseball player must be twelve years old (the last year of Little LeagueLittle LeagueLittle League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
eligibility), and voted by his teammates to be Team Most Valuable Player.