George Sherrill
Encyclopedia
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
), also known as "The Brim Reaper", "Flat Breezy", and "Duckbill" (all because he keeps the brim of his hat very flat while he plays), is a 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...
, who is a free agent
College and independent baseball
Sherrill was not drafted after graduating from Austin Peay State UniversityAustin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools .-History:...
.
Sherrill began his professional career in the independent Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
pitching for the Evansville Otters
Evansville Otters
The Evansville Otters are a professional baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana, in the United States. The Otters are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
. In 22 games he was 2-4 with a 3.15 ERA. He played for Evansville in 1999 and 2000. He also pitched for the Quebec Capitales
Quebec Capitales
The Québec Capitales are a professional baseball team based in Quebec City, in Canada. The Capitales are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
in the Northeast League in 2000. He moved to the Northern League in 2001 and pitched for the Sioux Falls Canaries. In 2002 and 2003, he played for the Winnipeg Goldeyes
Winnipeg Goldeyes
The Winnipeg Goldeyes are a professional baseball team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Canada. The Goldeyes play in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From 1994 to 2010, the team was a member of the Northern League.The...
of the Northern League.
Seattle Mariners
In July 2003, Sherrill’s was signed to a minor league contract by the Seattle MarinersSeattle 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...
. He played the balance of the season for the Double-A San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
, and was selected as a Seattle representative for the Arizona Fall League.
In 2004, he started the season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
making the Triple-A All-Star team
Triple-A All-Star Game
The Triple-A All-Star Game is a single baseball game held between the two Triple-A leagues in minor league baseball—the International League and the Pacific Coast League...
. However, he was not allowed to play in the All-Star game since he was being promoted to the Mariners.
Sherrill made his MLB debut on July 16, 2004, against the Cleveland Indians
2004 Cleveland Indians season
-Offseason:*November 13, 2003: Jason Bere was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.*December 1, 2003: Ernie Young was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians....
, he took the loss after working one inning of relief and allowing two runs to score. He split 2005 between Tacoma and Seattle and joined the Mariners full-time in 2006.
2007 was a breakout season for Sherrill; he posted career numbers, with a sub-2 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...
for most of the season. With the 2006 injury of Mark Lowe
Mark Lowe
Mark Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers. He made his Major League debut for the Seattle Mariners on July 7, in relief against the Detroit Tigers, loading the bases before striking out the side. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. His fastball...
, and the trading away of Rafael Soriano
Rafael Soriano
Rafael Soriano is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the New York Yankees. He bats and throws right-handed...
during the offseason, Sherrill became the primary 8th inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
bridge to Mariners closer J. J. Putz.
Baltimore Orioles
On February 8, 2008, Sherrill was traded to the Baltimore Orioles along with Adam JonesAdam Jones (baseball)
Adam La Marque Jones is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Baltimore Orioles. Jones was born and raised in San Diego, California where he starred at Samuel F. B. Morse High School. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 draft by the Seattle Mariners...
and minor league pitchers Kam Mickolio
Kam Mickolio
Kameron Kraig 'Kam' Mickolio is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball.-Amateur career:...
, Chris Tillman
Chris Tillman
Christopher Steven Tillman is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. According to Baseball America, he was Baltimore's second best prospect, behind only Matt Wieters....
, and Tony Butler, for Orioles lefty Érik Bédard
Erik Bedard
Érik Joseph Bédard is a free agent Canadian professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball.Bédard previously pitched for the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners. With Baltimore, he was the staff ace, setting the franchise single-season strikeouts per nine innings record at 10.93 in...
. On March 18, 2008, Sherrill was named the closer for Baltimore Orioles.
On July 6, 2008, Sherrill was named as one of the closing pitchers to represent the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in the 2008 All-Star Game
2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 79th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, home of the New York Yankees, on...
. In his first All-Star game appearance, Sherrill struck out
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....
2 batters and gave up one hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
over 2 1/3 innings. He pitched part of the 12th, and all of the 13th and 14th innings in the record-setting 15 inning game.
He signed a one-year $2.5 million dollar contract with the Orioles for the 2009 season. He had a 2.40 era in 42 appearances for the Orioles, including 20 saves over the first half of 2009.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On July 30, 2009, Sherrill was traded to the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for two prospects: third baseman Josh Bell and pitcher Steve Johnson. The next night, he struck out the side against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
on his debut. He appeared in 30 games for the Dodgers, finishing with an 0.65 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
Sherrill struggled in 2010 to the point where he was once put on outright waivers, though he refused a minor league assignment and remained on the Dodgers roster the full season. He appeared in 65 games with the Dodgers in 2010 with a 6.69 ERA, the highest total in his Major League career. On December 2, 2010 the Dodgers chose not to offer him a new contract, and he became a free agent.
Atlanta Braves
On December 8, 2010 George Sherrill signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
worth 1.2 million dollars.
Signature style
Sherrill is noted for wearing his hat flat-billed as a statement of independence (his teammates in the minor leagues used to joke that he did not even know how to bend the brim of his hat like a proper professional).During the 2008 season, some of Sherrill's Baltimore teammates would flip up the brims of their hats every time he successfully closed out a game. Orioles fans nicknamed this move the Flat Breezy, and the Orioles television announcers would sometimes announce an Orioles win after a Sherrill save as "flat breezy time." In a MASN post-game interview, Sherrill credited former Orioles first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Kevin Millar
Kevin Millar
Kevin Charles Millar is an American former professional baseball first baseman and current analyst for MLB Network and New England Sports Network. Millar played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where he continues to reside in the off-season. Millar is the nephew of former...
, a noted prankster, as the originator of this gesture. Sherrill also acquired the nickname of the "Brim Reaper" from Millar which Sherrill carried over to the L.A. Dodgers and eventually trademarked in 2009 (although it was abandoned as of February, 2010).
External links
- Sherrill’s professional career
- Lindsay Kitt and George Sherrill Engagement video on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....