Larry Bearnarth
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Donald Bearnarth (September 11, 1941 — December 31, 1999) was a relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the New York Mets
(1963–66) and Milwaukee Brewers
(1971). Bearnarth batted and threw right-handed. He was born in New York, New York.
In a five-season career, Bearnarth posted a 13-21 record with a 4.13 ERA
and eight saves in 173 games pitched
.
Bearnarth was signed by the New York Mets in 1962 after he graduated from St. John's University
with a degree in English literature
. He went directly to Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs of the International League
. A year later, he started his major league career for the horrible Mets, a team coming off a disappointing 40-120 record in his inaugural season. Despite his 3-8 record in his rookie year Bearnarth maintained a 3.46 ERA in a career-high 126.1 innings pitched
. The next three seasons he divided his playing time between the Mets and Triple-A Buffalo
and Jacksonville
.
From 1967-70 Bearnarth pitched in Triple-A with the Jacksonville Suns
(1967–68) and Tidewater Tides. In 1971 he was signed as a free agent
by the Milwaukee Brewers, retiring at the end of the season. Following his playing career, he became a pitching coach
.
Bearnarth coached for the Montreal Expos
in 1976 and between 1985 and 1991. Under his guidance, the team's ERA never was higher than 3.92 (in 1986), including the best ERA in Expos' history, at 3.08 (1988), and a 3.37 National League
lead (1990). He also was a minor league pitching instructor in the Montreal farm system between those terms.
In 1993 Bearnarth became the first pitching coach in Colorado Rockies
history, continuing in the charge until 1995. After that, he scouted
during four seasons for the Detroit Tigers
(1996–99).
Bearnarth died in Seminole, Florida
, following a heart attack
at age 58.
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 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...
(1963–66) 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...
(1971). Bearnarth batted and threw right-handed. He was born in New York, New York.
In a five-season career, Bearnarth posted a 13-21 record with a 4.13 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...
and eight saves in 173 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
.
Bearnarth was signed by the New York Mets in 1962 after he graduated from St. John's University
St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
with a degree in English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
. He went directly to Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. A year later, he started his major league career for the horrible Mets, a team coming off a disappointing 40-120 record in his inaugural season. Despite his 3-8 record in his rookie year Bearnarth maintained a 3.46 ERA in a career-high 126.1 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In 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...
. The next three seasons he divided his playing time between the Mets and Triple-A Buffalo
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
and Jacksonville
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
.
From 1967-70 Bearnarth pitched in Triple-A with the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
(1967–68) and Tidewater Tides. In 1971 he was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Milwaukee Brewers, retiring at the end of the season. Following his playing career, he became a 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...
.
Bearnarth coached for the 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...
in 1976 and between 1985 and 1991. Under his guidance, the team's ERA never was higher than 3.92 (in 1986), including the best ERA in Expos' history, at 3.08 (1988), and a 3.37 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...
lead (1990). He also was a minor league pitching instructor in the Montreal farm system between those terms.
In 1993 Bearnarth became the first pitching coach in 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...
history, continuing in the charge until 1995. After that, he scouted
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
during four seasons for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1996–99).
Bearnarth died in Seminole, Florida
Seminole, Florida
Seminole is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,890 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 19,195. St. Petersburg College has a campus in the city.-Geography:...
, following a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at age 58.