Jesse Orosco
Encyclopedia
Jesse Russell Orosco is a former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who holds the major league record for career pitching appearances. He pitched most notably for the New York Mets
in the 1980s. He won a World Series
in 1986
with the Mets and in 1988
with the Dodgers. He threw left-handed, but batted right-handed. He retired in 2003 after having been with the Mets, Dodgers, Cleveland Indians
, Milwaukee Brewers
, Baltimore Orioles
, St. Louis Cardinals
, San Diego Padres
, New York Yankees
, and Minnesota Twins
. He retired when he was 46 years old, one of the oldest players to still be playing in the modern age. Orosco is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in Major League games in four decades.
Orosco's longevity was greatly aided by the increasing use of left-handed specialist
relief pitcher
s from the 1990s onward; in his last several years, he was used almost exclusively in this role.
. In February , the Twins traded Orosco to the New York Mets to complete a deal that had been made two months earlier. In December the Mets traded veteran starter Jerry Koosman
to the Twins for two players, one of whom was a player to be named later
. The trade of that player, Orosco, completed the deal.
Orosco made his debut on April 5, 1979 with the Mets. He played his last game on September 27, 2003 with the Twins.
Orosco had his best seasons in the early and mid 1980s with the Mets. He had a career-best 1.47 ERA
in 1983. That year, he also won 13 games and saved
17, with 110 innings pitched, making his first All-Star Team
and finishing third in the National League
Cy Young Award
voting. He had 31 saves in 1984, which was 3rd in the National League
, and went 10–6 in 60 appearances; good enough for his second All-Star selection. In 1985, he began sharing closing duties for the Mets with right-hander Roger McDowell
, giving the Mets a vaunted lefty–righty combo coming out of the bullpen to close games.
Orosco's clutch relief pitching in the postseason was one of the key reasons the Mets were world champions. He was on the mound for the final pitch of the final game of both the NLCS
against the Houston Astros
, and the World Series
against the Boston Red Sox
. Orosco ended both series by striking out the final batter. Orosco also provided one of the most memorable images of that World Series and it would become an iconic image to the Mets and their fans: after striking out Marty Barrett to end the series, he threw his glove way up in the air and immediately dropped to his knees while catcher Gary Carter
ran out to the mound to embrace him. The photo was taken by Mets photographer George Kalinsky
, who's also the photographer at Madison Square Garden
. For many years—and probably to the chagrin of Red Sox fans—this was the final scene shown during the ending credits of the syndicated Major League Baseball news show This Week in Baseball
. Having also become the first (and only) relief pitcher to get three wins in one playoff series (which he accomplished in the NLCS against the Astros), Orosco would primarily be remembered for that year.
Coincidentally, Jerry Koosman
, whom the Mets had traded to Minnesota in the deal that brought Orosco to New York, was on the mound for the final out of the 1969 World Series
—to date, the only other Fall Classic the Mets have won. The final batter in that World Series, Davey Johnson
, would be Orosco's manager on the '86 World Championship team.
After getting traded away by the Mets in a huge deal involving over seven players, he found a very brief one-year home with the Dodgers, and then signed with Cleveland and stayed there for three years.
His only real recognizable home besides the Mets came in Baltimore
when he stayed with the Orioles for the latter half of the 1990s. While his best seasons came in New York, he had an excellent 1997 season, finishing with a 2.32 ERA, his best since the 1980s.
His seasons of being a very good reliever were still not finished though. In 2003, he was on three different teams and finished with 33 innings pitched. The 2003 season also marked his return to New York, this time though with the Yankees. He was traded to the Yankees from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. He signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2004 season but decided to retire before spring training and finish a historic career. He was eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009; however, his lifetime stats made him a longshot for the Hall. He was the last active MLB player from the 1970s, outlasting Rickey Henderson
(the last active position player) by over a week. While Henderson got inducted on the first ballot, Orosco was off future Baseball Writers Association of America
ballots after only receiving one vote.
He finished his career with an ERA of 3.16, and is the all-time record holder for games (by a pitcher), with 1252. He has 74 more than Cincinnati Reds
' reliever Mike Stanton who is second with 1178.
Orosco became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. 75% of the vote was necessary for induction, and 5% was necessary to stay on the ballot. He received 0.2% of the vote and dropped off the ballot.
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...
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 holds the major league record for career pitching appearances. He pitched most notably 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...
in the 1980s. He won a 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...
in 1986
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...
with the Mets and in 1988
1988 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 15, 1988 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaBecause of using ace Orel Hershiser in Game 7 of the NLCS, the Dodgers had to open with rookie Tim Belcher in Game 1. Meanwhile, Oakland sent a well-rested Dave Stewart to the mound. Both pitchers, however, would have...
with the Dodgers. He threw left-handed, but batted right-handed. He retired in 2003 after having been with the Mets, Dodgers, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland 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...
, 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...
, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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 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...
. He retired when he was 46 years old, one of the oldest players to still be playing in the modern age. Orosco is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in Major League games in four decades.
Orosco's longevity was greatly aided by the increasing use of left-handed specialist
Left-handed specialist
In baseball, a left-handed specialist is a left-handed relief pitcher who specializes in pitching to left-handed batters, or to switch-hitters who bat poorly right-handed...
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...
s from the 1990s onward; in his last several years, he was used almost exclusively in this role.
Biography
Orosco was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft1978 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
. In February , the Twins traded Orosco to the New York Mets to complete a deal that had been made two months earlier. In December the Mets traded veteran starter Jerry Koosman
Jerry Koosman
Jerome Martin Koosman is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies between 1967 and 1985...
to the Twins for two players, one of whom was a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
. The trade of that player, Orosco, completed the deal.
Orosco made his debut on April 5, 1979 with the Mets. He played his last game on September 27, 2003 with the Twins.
Orosco had his best seasons in the early and mid 1980s with the Mets. He had a career-best 1.47 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 1983. That year, he also won 13 games and saved
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...
17, with 110 innings pitched, making his first All-Star Team
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
and finishing third 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...
Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting. He had 31 saves in 1984, which was 3rd 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...
, and went 10–6 in 60 appearances; good enough for his second All-Star selection. In 1985, he began sharing closing duties for the Mets with right-hander Roger McDowell
Roger McDowell
Roger Alan McDowell is the pitching coach of the Atlanta Braves and was a right-handed relief pitcher for twelve seasons in Major League Baseball from 1985 to 1996. He played for the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League and the Texas Rangers and...
, giving the Mets a vaunted lefty–righty combo coming out of the bullpen to close games.
Orosco's clutch relief pitching in the postseason was one of the key reasons the Mets were world champions. He was on the mound for the final pitch of the final game of both the NLCS
1986 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 1986 at Astrodome in Houston, TexasGame 1 featured a pitching duel between eventual NLCS Most Valuable Player Mike Scott and Dwight Gooden. Scott allowed just five hits and walked one while striking out 14 in a complete-game effort as the host Astros prevailed 1–0...
against the Houston Astros
Houston 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...
, and the 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...
against 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"...
. Orosco ended both series by striking out the final batter. Orosco also provided one of the most memorable images of that World Series and it would become an iconic image to the Mets and their fans: after striking out Marty Barrett to end the series, he threw his glove way up in the air and immediately dropped to his knees while catcher 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...
ran out to the mound to embrace him. The photo was taken by Mets photographer George Kalinsky
George Kalinsky
George Kalinsky is a world-renowned, award-winning photographer. He has been the official photographer for Madison Square Garden since 1966 and also serves as the official photographer at Radio City Music Hall. Throughout his career, Kalinsky has captured many of the greatest moments in sports and...
, who's also the photographer at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. For many years—and probably to the chagrin of Red Sox fans—this was the final scene shown during the ending credits of the syndicated Major League Baseball news show This Week in Baseball
This Week in Baseball
This Week in Baseball is a weekly television program, originally designed to show highlights of the previous week's Major League Baseball action. TWIB debuted in .-Genesis of the series:...
. Having also become the first (and only) relief pitcher to get three wins in one playoff series (which he accomplished in the NLCS against the Astros), Orosco would primarily be remembered for that year.
Coincidentally, Jerry Koosman
Jerry Koosman
Jerome Martin Koosman is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies between 1967 and 1985...
, whom the Mets had traded to Minnesota in the deal that brought Orosco to New York, was on the mound for the final out of the 1969 World Series
1969 World Series
The 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever...
—to date, the only other Fall Classic the Mets have won. The final batter in that World Series, Davey Johnson
Davey Johnson
David Allen "Davey" Johnson is an American Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Washington Nationals. He was the starting second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles when they won four American League pennants and two World Series championships between 1965 and 1972...
, would be Orosco's manager on the '86 World Championship team.
After getting traded away by the Mets in a huge deal involving over seven players, he found a very brief one-year home with the Dodgers, and then signed with Cleveland and stayed there for three years.
His only real recognizable home besides the Mets came in Baltimore
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
when he stayed with the Orioles for the latter half of the 1990s. While his best seasons came in New York, he had an excellent 1997 season, finishing with a 2.32 ERA, his best since the 1980s.
His seasons of being a very good reliever were still not finished though. In 2003, he was on three different teams and finished with 33 innings pitched. The 2003 season also marked his return to New York, this time though with the Yankees. He was traded to the Yankees from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. He signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2004 season but decided to retire before spring training and finish a historic career. He was eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009; however, his lifetime stats made him a longshot for the Hall. He was the last active MLB player from the 1970s, outlasting Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
(the last active position player) by over a week. While Henderson got inducted on the first ballot, Orosco was off future Baseball Writers Association of America
Baseball Writers Association of America
The Baseball Writers' Association of America is a professional association for baseball journalists writing for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying Web sites. The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908, to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century...
ballots after only receiving one vote.
He finished his career with an ERA of 3.16, and is the all-time record holder for games (by a pitcher), with 1252. He has 74 more than Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
' reliever Mike Stanton who is second with 1178.
Orosco became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. 75% of the vote was necessary for induction, and 5% was necessary to stay on the ballot. He received 0.2% of the vote and dropped off the ballot.
Pitching
- WinWin (baseball)In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
s - 87 - Losses - 80
- Games - 1252
- Games started - 4
- SavesSave (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...
- 144 - Innings pitchedInnings pitchedIn baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
- 1295.0 - HitsHit (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....
- 1055 - RunsRun (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...
- 512 - Earned runs - 455
- Home runHome runIn 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 - 113 - Bases on ballsBase on ballsA base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
- 581 - StrikeoutStrikeoutIn 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 - 1179 - Hit batsmenHit by pitchIn baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
- 34 - Avg. ERAEarned run averageIn 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...
- 3.16 - Winning percentage - .521
Batting
- At batAt batIn baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s - 59 - Runs - 3
- Hits - 10
- Extra base hits - 0
- RBIRun batted inRuns batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
s - 4 - Bases on balls - 8
- Strikeouts - 25
- Batting averageBatting averageBatting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
- .169 - On base percentageOn base percentageIn baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
- .261 - Total basesTotal basesIn baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
- 10
Information
- Made the NL All-Star team in 1983 and 1984.
- Went 3-1 in postseason play in 24 games all-time.
- Pitched 5 scoreless innings in the 1986 World Series1986 World SeriesThe 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...
, and had an RBI single in his only career postseason at-bat in the deciding Game 7. - Led the league in Games in 1995 (65).
- Committed only 4 errors in 1,295 career innings pitched over 24 MLB seasons for a .985 fielding percentage.
- Ranks #1 in Games Pitched on the All-time leaderboard All-time G leaderboard from Baseball-Reference.com.
- Ranks #17 in Strikeouts/9 Innings Pitched on the All-time leaderboard with 8.194/9 ip All-time K/9 ip leaderboard from Baseball-Reference.com.
- Ranks #23 in Hits Allowed/9 Innings Pitched All-time with 7.332 Hits/9 ip All-time H/9 ip leaderboard from Baseball-Reference.com.
- Ranks #30 in Games Finished on the All-Time leaderboard with 501 [ All-time S leaderboard from Baseball-Reference.com http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/GF_career.shtml]
- Ranks #64 (tie) in Saves on the All-time leaderboard All-time S leaderboard from Baseball-Reference.com.
- The last player who played in the 1970s to play a major league game, 8 days after Rickey HendersonRickey HendersonRickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
's final game. - The last player from the 1986 Mets championship team to play a major league game.
- Pitched the last pitch of the 1986 NLCS against the Astros and the 1986 World Series against the Red Sox. He struck out the opposing hitters with both pitches.
See also
- List of oldest Major League Baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders