Larry Jaster
Encyclopedia
Larry Edward Jaster is a former left-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the St. Louis Cardinals
, Montreal Expos
and Atlanta Braves
between 1965 and 1972 with the exception of 1971.
Before Jaster was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals on January 1, , he attended Northwood University
. Jaster made his major league debut on September 17, versus the Los Angeles Dodgers
at the age of 21. He finished the year by with a record of 3-0 and an ERA of 1.61. All three of Jaster's starts were complete game victories.
Jaster spent most of in the big leagues where he finished with a record of 11-5 with an ERA of 3.26 which earned him a tie for 4th in the Rookie of the Year
balloting for that season. The main highlight of Jaster's 1966 season, were his league leading five shutouts, all of which were against the NL pennant winning Los Angeles Dodgers
.
Because of his success against Los Angeles, some people nicknamed Jaster 'The Dodger Killer'. Others gave him the nickname, 'The Creeper'.
Over Jaster's seven-year MLB playing career, he batted .170. Of his twenty-nine career hits, only three were for extra bases, two of which were home runs.
Jaster pitched two more years for St. Louis but never won more than nine games in a season. On May 31st 1968, Jaster pitched no-hit baseball for 7.2 innings against the New York Mets
. After retiring the first twenty-three batters he faced, Jaster gave up a single to Greg Goossen
.
Larry Jaster made appearances in both the 1967
and 1968 World Series
. It was during Game 6 of the 1968 series that he surrendered a grand slam
to Jim Northrup. Detroit went on to win the game 13-1, and the series four games to three after being down three games to one.
After the World Series, Jaster was drafted 47th overall by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 MLB expansion draft. He made history on April 14, 1969 by throwing the first pitch in a Major League regular season game in Canada
. The Expos defeated Jaster's former team, the Cardinals, 8-7 at Jarry Park
that day. Jaster, who gave up seven runs (only two of which were earned) in 3.2 innings of pitching, did not get the decision.
Jaster made six of his eight career errors while playing for Montreal. He finished the 1969 season with a .684 Fielding percentage
.
After the 1969 season was over, Jaster was sent to the Atlanta Braves
in exchange for pitcher Jim Britton
and minor league catcher
Don Johnson.
Jaster was only twenty-eight years old when he played his last MLB game on October 4, 1972. After that he played two more years of professional baseball with the Richmond Braves
.
After his playing days were over, Jaster has worked as a minor league pitching coach or pitching coordinator in the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles
organizations. At present he lives in Jacksonville, Florida
.
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 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...
, 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...
and 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....
between 1965 and 1972 with the exception of 1971.
Before Jaster was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals on January 1, , he attended Northwood University
Northwood University
Northwood University is a private university with multiple locations. The school has four residential campuses: Midland, Michigan , Cedar Hill, Texas , West Palm Beach, Florida and a joint program with Hotel Institute Montreux in Montreux, Switzerland, began in 2001...
. Jaster made his major league debut on September 17, versus the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
at the age of 21. He finished the year by with a record of 3-0 and an ERA of 1.61. All three of Jaster's starts were complete game victories.
Jaster spent most of in the big leagues where he finished with a record of 11-5 with an ERA of 3.26 which earned him a tie for 4th in the Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
balloting for that season. The main highlight of Jaster's 1966 season, were his league leading five shutouts, all of which were against the NL pennant winning Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
.
Because of his success against Los Angeles, some people nicknamed Jaster 'The Dodger Killer'. Others gave him the nickname, 'The Creeper'.
Over Jaster's seven-year MLB playing career, he batted .170. Of his twenty-nine career hits, only three were for extra bases, two of which were home runs.
Jaster pitched two more years for St. Louis but never won more than nine games in a season. On May 31st 1968, Jaster pitched no-hit baseball for 7.2 innings against 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...
. After retiring the first twenty-three batters he faced, Jaster gave up a single to Greg Goossen
Greg Goossen
Gregory Bryant Goossen was an American catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball, playing from 1965 through 1970 for four different clubs in the American and National leagues...
.
Larry Jaster made appearances in both the 1967
1967 World Series
The 1967 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the 1946 World Series, with the Cardinals winning in seven games for their second championship in four years and their eighth overall...
and 1968 World Series
1968 World Series
The 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
. It was during Game 6 of the 1968 series that he surrendered a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
to Jim Northrup. Detroit went on to win the game 13-1, and the series four games to three after being down three games to one.
After the World Series, Jaster was drafted 47th overall by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 MLB expansion draft. He made history on April 14, 1969 by throwing the first pitch in a Major League regular season game in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Expos defeated Jaster's former team, the Cardinals, 8-7 at Jarry Park
Jarry Park Stadium
Jarry Park Stadium is a former baseball stadium in Montreal which served as home to the Montreal Expos, Major League Baseball's first Canadian franchise, from 1969–1976. It served as a temporary home until the domed Olympic Stadium was finished and made available to the Expos...
that day. Jaster, who gave up seven runs (only two of which were earned) in 3.2 innings of pitching, did not get the decision.
Jaster made six of his eight career errors while playing for Montreal. He finished the 1969 season with a .684 Fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
After the 1969 season was over, Jaster was sent to 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....
in exchange for pitcher Jim Britton
Jim Britton
James Allan Britton is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1967-1971 with the Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos. He was 6'5" tall and weighed 225 pounds....
and minor league catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Don Johnson.
Jaster was only twenty-eight years old when he played his last MLB game on October 4, 1972. After that he played two more years of professional baseball with the Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
.
After his playing days were over, Jaster has worked as a minor league pitching coach or pitching coordinator in the Atlanta Braves and 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...
organizations. At present he lives in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
.