Phil Huffman
Encyclopedia
Phillip Lee Huffman is a retired Major League Baseball
player who played pitcher
in two seasons: 1979 and 1985. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays
and Baltimore Orioles
.
near his native Lake Jackson, Texas
.
as the team's second-round draft pick. In 1977, Huffman made 10 starts for the Great Falls Voyagers in the Pioneer Baseball League, a Class A rookie league, going 7-3.
On March 15, 1978, Huffman was part of a massive trade that sent him to the Oakland Athletics
, along with Dave Heaverlo
, Gary Alexander
, John Henry Johnson
, Gary Thomasson
, Alan Wirth
, $300,000 (and Mario Guerrero
, who was named later), in exchange for Vida Blue
.
Huffman began the 1978 season pitching with the Jersey City A's
in the Eastern League AA league. Partway through the 1978 season, he was promoted to San Francisco's AAA Vancouver Canadians
minor-league club.
On August 15, 1978, Oakland traded Huffman and Willie Horton to the Toronto Blue Jays
in exchange for Rico Carty
. He was subsequently transferred to the Blue Jays' AAA Syracuse Chiefs farm club.
On August 27, 1979, Huffman pitched what easily was his best game in his major-league career, tossing a one-hitter against the Oakland Athletics in Toronto. Huffman posted his first win at Exhibition Stadium
after six losses. Huffman retired the first 11 hitters, faced only 30 batters in total, and gave up the lone hit to Jim Essian
in the sixth inning. He also walked Mike Heath
and Mario Guerrero
. The win was Huffman's final victory as a major league pitcher. "It's always great to beat a club you played with," Huffman said after the game. "I know all those guys over there. As for thinking of a no-hitter, I wasn't necessarily doing that. It's tough to pitch a no-hitter. I'm happy I got the shutout and only gave up one hit."
In 1980, Huffman was set to start the season with Toronto, but was optioned to the team's AAA farm club in Syracuse after manager Bobby Mattick
chose to go with a four-man rotation. "Phil has added a changeup to his pitching and he's been one of our top workers," Mattick told the Globe and Mail in April 1980. "But we want him to get a lot of work and he'll get it at Syracuse." Huffman never ended up joining the major-league staff during the 1980 season, however.
Huffman remained in the Blue Jays' system in 1981 as well, going 5-9 with a 5.69 earned-run average while at Syracuse.
for Rance Mulliniks
. Huffman was assigned to the Royals' AAA Omaha Royals
minor-league farm club, where he spent the entire season. On April 2, 1983, the Royals released Huffman.
On May 24, 1983, Huffman signed as a free agent with the New York Mets
. He pitched for the team's Tidewater Tides
AAA farm club during 1983 and 1984. On July 13, 1984, the Baltimore Orioles purchased Huffman's contract from the Mets, and he finished out the season at Baltimore's Charlotte O's
AA farm club.
AAA farm club. On July 10, 1985, Huffman was called up to the majors to fill the roster spot vacated by injured reliever Nate Snell
. At the time, Huffman was 6-7 with Rochester. Huffman only appeared in two games -- one on July 13, 1985 against the Chicago White Sox
(in which he gave up four earned runs in one-third of an inning pitched) -- in his first stint with Baltimore that year before being sent back to the minors. He then was recalled at the end of the season and pitched in just one more game, starting the October 3, 1985 second game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox
, being pulled from the game in the fifth inning after giving up an RBI single to future Hall of Famer Wade Boggs
. For his 1985 major-league season, Huffman went 0-0 and posted a 15.43 earned-run average in two games, pitching four and 2/3 innnings, giving up seven hits, eight earned runs and striking out two.
was quoted as telling the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
. "He would be a stabilizing factor on the ballclub, but we just didn't feel at this time Phil would help us out at the big-league level."
After his release from Rochester, Huffman joined the Minnesota Twins
' Portland Beavers
AAA farm club for the balance of 1987, posting a 1-2 record with a 9.37 earned run average in nine games. After 1987, Huffman stopped playing organized baseball.
and is the supervisor for a welding supply company that distributes high-pressured liquid oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and flammable gas.
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...
player who played 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...
in two seasons: 1979 and 1985. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
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...
.
Early life and education
Huffman played high school baseball in Texas for Brazoswood High SchoolBrazoswood High School
Brazoswood High School is a secondary school located at 302 West Brazoswood in Clute, Texas. It educates grades nine through twelve and is part of the Brazosport Independent School District....
near his native Lake Jackson, Texas
Lake Jackson, Texas
Lake Jackson is a city in Brazoria County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of a 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city population was 27,614....
.
Baseball career
Huffman was drafted out of high school in Texas in June 1977 by the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
as the team's second-round draft pick. In 1977, Huffman made 10 starts for the Great Falls Voyagers in the Pioneer Baseball League, a Class A rookie league, going 7-3.
On March 15, 1978, Huffman was part of a massive trade that sent him to 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....
, along with Dave Heaverlo
Dave Heaverlo
David Wallace Heaverlo is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher.He attended Moses Lake High School in Moses Lake, Washington, graduating in 1968. He then went on to Central Washington University, in Ellensburg, Washington, where he graduated in 1973...
, Gary Alexander
Gary Alexander (baseball)
Gary Wayne Alexander is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , Oakland Athletics , Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, John Henry Johnson
John Henry Johnson (baseball)
John Henry Johnson is a former Major League Baseball player. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 15th round of the 1974 amateur draft. He made his major league debut for the Oakland A's in after being acquired before the season in the trade that sent Vida Blue to the...
, Gary Thomasson
Gary Thomasson
Gary Leah Thomasson is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1972-1980.He played in 1981-1982 for the Yomiuri Giants in Japanese Nippon Pro Baseball...
, Alan Wirth
Alan Wirth
Alan Lee Wirth is a former professional baseball pitcher. Wirth pitched in parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball, from until , for the Oakland Athletics.- Playing career :...
, $300,000 (and Mario Guerrero
Mario Guerrero
Mario Miguel Guerrero Abud is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played for four teams in an eight-year career from to .Guerrero signed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in...
, who was named later), in exchange for Vida Blue
Vida Blue
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , and Kansas City Royals He won the American League Cy Young award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971...
.
Huffman began the 1978 season pitching with the Jersey City A's
Jersey City A's
The Jersey City A's were a minor league baseball team based in Jersey City, New Jersey which played in the Eastern League for the 1978 season and was the AA affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The team changed their name from the Jersey City Indians after being affiliated with the Cleveland Indians...
in the Eastern League AA league. Partway through the 1978 season, he was promoted to San Francisco's AAA Vancouver Canadians
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
minor-league club.
On August 15, 1978, Oakland traded Huffman and Willie Horton to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in exchange for Rico Carty
Rico Carty
Ricardo Adolfo Jacobo Carty is a former professional baseball player. Nicknamed Beeg Boy, he played mostly as an outfielder in Major League Baseball from to...
. He was subsequently transferred to the Blue Jays' AAA Syracuse Chiefs farm club.
1979 season
Huffman made the Blue Jays' big-league roster in 1979 and remained with the team for the entire season. Overall, the season was a disappointment, as he went 6-18. He made 31 starts, posted a 5.77 earned-run average and gave up 25 home runs.On August 27, 1979, Huffman pitched what easily was his best game in his major-league career, tossing a one-hitter against the Oakland Athletics in Toronto. Huffman posted his first win at Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
after six losses. Huffman retired the first 11 hitters, faced only 30 batters in total, and gave up the lone hit to Jim Essian
Jim Essian
James Sarkis Essian, Jr. is an American former catcher and occasional infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Cleveland Indians. He was signed by the Phillies at age 18, but he only amassed 24 at-bats over three seasons...
in the sixth inning. He also walked Mike Heath
Mike Heath
Michael Thomas Heath is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. Heath played fourteen seasons in the major leagues with the New York Yankees , Oakland Athletics , St...
and Mario Guerrero
Mario Guerrero
Mario Miguel Guerrero Abud is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played for four teams in an eight-year career from to .Guerrero signed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in...
. The win was Huffman's final victory as a major league pitcher. "It's always great to beat a club you played with," Huffman said after the game. "I know all those guys over there. As for thinking of a no-hitter, I wasn't necessarily doing that. It's tough to pitch a no-hitter. I'm happy I got the shutout and only gave up one hit."
In 1980, Huffman was set to start the season with Toronto, but was optioned to the team's AAA farm club in Syracuse after manager Bobby Mattick
Bobby Mattick
Robert James Mattick was a shortstop, manager and scout in Major League Baseball, most notably in the Toronto Blue Jays organization....
chose to go with a four-man rotation. "Phil has added a changeup to his pitching and he's been one of our top workers," Mattick told the Globe and Mail in April 1980. "But we want him to get a lot of work and he'll get it at Syracuse." Huffman never ended up joining the major-league staff during the 1980 season, however.
Huffman remained in the Blue Jays' system in 1981 as well, going 5-9 with a 5.69 earned-run average while at Syracuse.
After Toronto
On March 25, 1982, the Blue Jays traded Huffman to the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
for Rance Mulliniks
Rance Mulliniks
Steven Rance Mulliniks is a former Major League Baseball player.Originally drafted as a shortstop, Mulliniks made his major league debut in for the California Angels, batting .269 in 78 games...
. Huffman was assigned to the Royals' AAA Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
minor-league farm club, where he spent the entire season. On April 2, 1983, the Royals released Huffman.
On May 24, 1983, Huffman signed as a free agent with 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...
. He pitched for the team's Tidewater Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
AAA farm club during 1983 and 1984. On July 13, 1984, the Baltimore Orioles purchased Huffman's contract from the Mets, and he finished out the season at Baltimore's Charlotte O's
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
AA farm club.
1985 season
In 1985, Huffman began the season with Baltimore's Rochester Red WingsRochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
AAA farm club. On July 10, 1985, Huffman was called up to the majors to fill the roster spot vacated by injured reliever Nate Snell
Nate Snell
Nathaniel Snell is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during four seasons at the major league level for the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers. He was signed by the Orioles as an amateur free agent in 1977...
. At the time, Huffman was 6-7 with Rochester. Huffman only appeared in two games -- one on July 13, 1985 against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(in which he gave up four earned runs in one-third of an inning pitched) -- in his first stint with Baltimore that year before being sent back to the minors. He then was recalled at the end of the season and pitched in just one more game, starting the October 3, 1985 second game of a doubleheader 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"...
, being pulled from the game in the fifth inning after giving up an RBI single to future Hall of Famer Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs
Wade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
. For his 1985 major-league season, Huffman went 0-0 and posted a 15.43 earned-run average in two games, pitching four and 2/3 innnings, giving up seven hits, eight earned runs and striking out two.
Final years
On June 26, 1987, Rochester released Huffman after he went 5-6 with a 4.78 earned-run average. "Phil is one of the older, veteran pitchers," Rochester manager John HartJohn Hart (baseball)
John Henry Hart is an American Major League Baseball executive. In addition, he is the former general manager of the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers; now he currently serves as senior adviser, baseball operations, for the Rangers...
was quoted as telling the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Democrat and Chronicle
The Democrat and Chronicle is the most widely circulated daily newspaper in the greater Rochester, New York area. Located at 55 Exchange Boulevard in downtown Rochester, the Democrat and Chronicle operates under the ownership of Gannett. The paper's production facility is located in the town of...
. "He would be a stabilizing factor on the ballclub, but we just didn't feel at this time Phil would help us out at the big-league level."
After his release from Rochester, Huffman joined the 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...
' Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
AAA farm club for the balance of 1987, posting a 1-2 record with a 9.37 earned run average in nine games. After 1987, Huffman stopped playing organized baseball.
Today
Huffman now lives in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
and is the supervisor for a welding supply company that distributes high-pressured liquid oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and flammable gas.