Matt Keough
Encyclopedia
Matthew Lon Keough Drafted by the Oakland A's out of Corona del Mar High School
in 1973. Keough is a former Major League Baseball
(MLB) pitcher
who played from through for the Oakland Athletics
(1977–1983), New York Yankees
(1983–1984), St. Louis Cardinals
(1985), Chicago Cubs
(1986) and Houston Astros
(1986). Keough batted and threw right-handed.
s and a 4.17 ERA
in 1190 innings pitched
, including seven shutout
s and 57 complete games.
Keough was signed by Oakland as an infielder
. He was supposed to replace departed Sal Bando
at third base
, but after hitting a disappointing .210 in Double-A in 1976, he was converted to a pitcher. Keough joined Oakland a year later. He was selected to the All-Star Game in his rookie
season for the Athletics, recording a 3.24 ERA despite his 8-15 mark. In , he tied a major league record by losing his first 14 decisions and finished with a 2-17 record. His winning percentage
of .105 was the worst recorded by a major league pitcher since , which was shared between Jack Nabors
and Tom Sheehan
. From 1978–79, Keough made 28 consecutive starts without a victory, tying Cliff Curtis (1910–11) for the longest streak in MLB history according to the Elias Sports Bureau
. The streak was later tied by Jo-Jo Reyes
(2008–11).
But Keough resurged in with a 16-13 mark, earning AL Comeback Player of the Year
honors. In the strike-shortened season he finished 10-6, helping Oakland to clinch the AL Division Series
. He pitched well in a losing effort in Game Three of the AL Championship Series
, giving up one earned run in 8-1/3 innings in a game won by the New York Yankees 4–0. Keough slumped again in 1982, tying for the AL lead with 18 losses against 11 wins in 34 starts. He also walked
more batters than he struck out (101-to-75) and led the league in home run
s (38) and earned runs (133) allowed.
In the 1983 mid-season Keough was traded to the New York Yankees. Nursing a sore arm, he spent parts of two seasons in the minors and returned to the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals late in 1985. The next year, he divided his playing time between Triple-A, the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs. In 1987 he joined the Hanshin Tigers
in Japan and pitched for them until 1990. He attempted a comeback to the major leagues with the Anaheim Angels
in 1991 spring training
but did not make the roster. The next year, he tried again with the Angels, but while sitting in the dugout
during an exhibition game he was hit in the right temple by a foul ball off the bat of San Francisco Giants
' John Patterson
, nearly killing him and ending his playing career.
Following his playing career, Keough worked for the Angels both as a minor league coach
and executive from 1992 to 1999. After that, he scouted for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and is currently an executive for the Oakland Athletics.
Keough would occasionally throw a spitball. One time, however, his spitball backfired on him. Keough threw a spitball that Boston Red Sox
second baseman Jerry Remy
missed completely and had seemingly struck out. The umpire, seeing the tremendous break on the pitch, assumed Remy had fouled off the pitch and so he remained at bat with two strikes. On the next pitch, Remy hit a home run, the last of his career.
and nephew of Joe Keough
, who also played in the majors. His son, Shane Keough
, currently is a minor league
prospect for the Oakland Athletics organization.
Keough appeared, along with his family consisting of his three children, wife, and long time friend who was his batboy while playing in the MLB, in the reality TV-show
The Real Housewives of Orange County
, with his wife, former Playboy Playmate Jeana Tomasino
being one of the 'housewives'. As of Season 3 of the show, Tomasino announced the couple had separated.
In 2005, Keough pleaded guilty to felony charges associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, during which he rear-ended a car at a red light in Orange County which, in turn, rolled into a pedestrian walking his bicycle across the street who was briefly hospitalized with a knee injury. The incident occurred following a family squabble. Making matters worse, Keough wandered away after the accident. He said he did not flee the scene, as some reports indicated, but he was so disoriented, he walked toward some nearby shops where he was tracked down by police officers. His blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
While his case was going through the court system, he was receiving help for binge drinking. He voluntarily checked himself into the Betty Ford Clinic for a month, and followed that with five months in a private outpatient program in Newport Beach, where he also served three months in jail following his conviction.
On December 18, 2007, Keough was arrested for violating his probation when he was found drinking at a bar. Under terms of his probation, he was to not consume alcohol. He was then sentenced to 180 days in an Orange County jail on January 11, 2008.
Keough was arrested August 15, 2009 for DUI with 3 times the legal blood alcohol content
. Deputies say they saw him make a "rolling stop" at a stop sign in the gated community and tried to pull him over. Armomino says Keough ran into his home, but deputies followed him inside and arrested him.
On September 19, 2009, Keough was charged with two felonies following his DUI arrest on August 15.
Corona del Mar High School
Corona del Mar High School is a school located in the East Bluff neighborhood of Newport Beach, California, and belongs to the Newport Mesa Unified School District...
in 1973. Keough is a former 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...
(MLB) pitcher
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...
who played from through for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1977–1983), 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...
(1983–1984), 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...
(1985), Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1986) and 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...
(1986). Keough batted and threw right-handed.
Career
In a nine-season career, Keough posted a 54-84 record with 590 strikeoutStrikeout
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....
s and a 4.17 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 1190 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...
, including seven 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 and 57 complete games.
Keough was signed by Oakland as an infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. He was supposed to replace departed Sal Bando
Sal Bando
Salvatore Leonard Bando is a former third baseman and executive in professional baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw right-handed. During the A's championship years of 1971-75, he captained the team and led the club in runs batted...
at third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, but after hitting a disappointing .210 in Double-A in 1976, he was converted to a pitcher. Keough joined Oakland a year later. He was selected to the All-Star Game in his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season for the Athletics, recording a 3.24 ERA despite his 8-15 mark. In , he tied a major league record by losing his first 14 decisions and finished with a 2-17 record. His winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
of .105 was the worst recorded by a major league pitcher since , which was shared between Jack Nabors
Jack Nabors
Herman John Nabors , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Philadelphia Athletics. From April 28 to September 28, 1916, Nabors lost 19 consecutive decisions, a major league record that has never been matched.-External links:...
and Tom Sheehan
Tom Sheehan
Thomas Clancy Sheehan was an American pitcher, scout and manager in Major League Baseball.Born in Grand Ridge, Illinois, Sheehan, a right-hander, had a six-year pitching career from 1915–1916, 1921 and 1924–1926, playing for the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees of the American League...
. From 1978–79, Keough made 28 consecutive starts without a victory, tying Cliff Curtis (1910–11) for the longest streak in MLB history according to the Elias Sports Bureau
Elias Sports Bureau
The Elias Sports Bureau is an American company that provides historical research and statistical services in the field of professional sports.In 1913, Al Munro Elias and his brother Walter established the Al Munro Elias Bureau in New York City...
. The streak was later tied by Jo-Jo Reyes
Jo-Jo Reyes
Joseph Albert "Jo-Jo" Reyes is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball...
(2008–11).
But Keough resurged in with a 16-13 mark, earning AL Comeback Player of the Year
MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award
The Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award is presented by Major League Baseball to the player who is judged to have "re-emerged on the baseball field during a given season." The award was developed in 2005, as part of a sponsorship agreement between MLB and Viagra...
honors. In the strike-shortened season he finished 10-6, helping Oakland to clinch the AL Division Series
American League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series...
. He pitched well in a losing effort in Game Three of the AL Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
, giving up one earned run in 8-1/3 innings in a game won by the New York Yankees 4–0. Keough slumped again in 1982, tying for the AL lead with 18 losses against 11 wins in 34 starts. He also walked
Base on balls
A 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...
more batters than he struck out (101-to-75) and led the league in home run
Home run
In 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 (38) and earned runs (133) allowed.
In the 1983 mid-season Keough was traded to the New York Yankees. Nursing a sore arm, he spent parts of two seasons in the minors and returned to the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals late in 1985. The next year, he divided his playing time between Triple-A, the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs. In 1987 he joined the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
in Japan and pitched for them until 1990. He attempted a comeback to the major leagues with the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in 1991 spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
but did not make the roster. The next year, he tried again with the Angels, but while sitting in the dugout
Dugout (baseball)
In baseball, the dugout is a team's bench area and is located in foul territory between home plate and either first or third base. There are two dugouts, one for the home team and one for the visiting team. In general, the dugout is occupied by all players not prescribed to be on the field at that...
during an exhibition game he was hit in the right temple by a foul ball off the bat of San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
' John Patterson
John Patterson (infielder)
John Allen Patterson is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played from to for the San Francisco Giants....
, nearly killing him and ending his playing career.
Following his playing career, Keough worked for the Angels both as a minor league coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and executive from 1992 to 1999. After that, he scouted for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and is currently an executive for the Oakland Athletics.
Keough would occasionally throw a spitball. One time, however, his spitball backfired on him. Keough threw a spitball that 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"...
second baseman Jerry Remy
Jerry Remy
Gerald Peter "Rem Dawg" Remy is a Major League Baseball broadcaster and former Major League Baseball second baseman. Remy grew up in Somerset, Massachusetts.-Playing career:...
missed completely and had seemingly struck out. The umpire, seeing the tremendous break on the pitch, assumed Remy had fouled off the pitch and so he remained at bat with two strikes. On the next pitch, Remy hit a home run, the last of his career.
Personal life
Keough is son of Marty KeoughMarty Keough
Richard Martin Keough is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , Cincinnati Reds , Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs...
and nephew of Joe Keough
Joe Keough
Joseph William Keough is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1968 through 1973 for the Oakland Athletics , Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox . Keough batted and threw left-handed...
, who also played in the majors. His son, Shane Keough
Shane Keough
Shane Keough was a minor league outfielder in the Oakland Athletics farm system. Keough appeared in the Bravo reality show The Real Housewives of Orange County, in which his mother, Jeana Keough, was one of the featured "housewives."-Biography:Keough is the oldest child of Matt Keough, a former...
, currently is a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
prospect for the Oakland Athletics organization.
Keough appeared, along with his family consisting of his three children, wife, and long time friend who was his batboy while playing in the MLB, in the reality TV-show
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
The Real Housewives of Orange County
The Real Housewives of Orange County
The Real Housewives of Orange County is a reality television program on the Bravo network. It is the first and seminal installation in the The Real Housewives of... series...
, with his wife, former Playboy Playmate Jeana Tomasino
Jeana Tomasino
Jeana Tomasino was born on September 18, 1955 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Tomasino graduated from Whitnall High School located in Greenfield, Wisconsin in 1972. When she was younger, she worked as a model and actress...
being one of the 'housewives'. As of Season 3 of the show, Tomasino announced the couple had separated.
In 2005, Keough pleaded guilty to felony charges associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, during which he rear-ended a car at a red light in Orange County which, in turn, rolled into a pedestrian walking his bicycle across the street who was briefly hospitalized with a knee injury. The incident occurred following a family squabble. Making matters worse, Keough wandered away after the accident. He said he did not flee the scene, as some reports indicated, but he was so disoriented, he walked toward some nearby shops where he was tracked down by police officers. His blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
While his case was going through the court system, he was receiving help for binge drinking. He voluntarily checked himself into the Betty Ford Clinic for a month, and followed that with five months in a private outpatient program in Newport Beach, where he also served three months in jail following his conviction.
On December 18, 2007, Keough was arrested for violating his probation when he was found drinking at a bar. Under terms of his probation, he was to not consume alcohol. He was then sentenced to 180 days in an Orange County jail on January 11, 2008.
Keough was arrested August 15, 2009 for DUI with 3 times the legal blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes....
. Deputies say they saw him make a "rolling stop" at a stop sign in the gated community and tried to pull him over. Armomino says Keough ran into his home, but deputies followed him inside and arrested him.
On September 19, 2009, Keough was charged with two felonies following his DUI arrest on August 15.