Ray Narleski
Encyclopedia
Raymond Edmond Narleski is a former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played with the Cleveland Indians
(1954–58) and Detroit Tigers
(1959). He batted and threw right-handed. His father, Bill Narleski
, was a shortstop
for the Boston Red Sox
from 1929 to 1930.
In a six-season career, Narleski posted a 43-33 record with 454 strikeout
s, a 3.60 ERA
, and 58 saves
in 702 innings
. He made the American League All-Star
team in 1956 and 1958.
Narleski was an overpowering pitcher with a blazing fastball
which he mixed with a sharp-breaking curve
and a change-up that can kept hitters guessing. Unfortunately, Narleski had a simple problem: he was overshadowed by one of the greatest pitching staffs in major league history, the Indians Big Four Bob Feller
, Bob Lemon
, Early Wynn
and Mike Garcia. Nevertheless, in his rookie season Narleski posted 13 saves for the 1954 AL Champions. In 1955 he went 9-1 and led the league with 19 saves and 60 appearances, and in 1957 he finished 11-5 with 16 saves. At this time, he gradually joined the starting rotation.
In 1958 Narleski went 13-10 in 44 games, 24 as a starter. At the end of the season he was sent to Detroit along with bullpen teammate Don Mossi
, in the same trade that brought Billy Martin
to the Indians. Hampered by shoulder problems in 1959, Narleski finished 4-12 with a 5.78 ERA and five saves in 42 games. He retired for good at the end of the season.
Narleski was selected to the Top 100 Greatest Indians Roster as part of the club’s 100th Anniversary Celebration in .
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 with the 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...
(1954–58) and 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...
(1959). He batted and threw right-handed. His father, Bill Narleski
Bill Narleski
William Edward Narleski was a Major League Baseball infielder. Primarily a shortstop, Narleski played two seasons in the majors, and , for the Boston Red Sox. Listed at 5' 9", 160 lb., Narleski batted and threw right-handed...
, was a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for 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"...
from 1929 to 1930.
In a six-season career, Narleski posted a 43-33 record with 454 strikeout
Strikeout
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, a 3.60 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 58 saves
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...
in 702 innings
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...
. He made the American League All-Star
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...
team in 1956 and 1958.
Narleski was an overpowering pitcher with a blazing fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
which he mixed with a sharp-breaking curve
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
and a change-up that can kept hitters guessing. Unfortunately, Narleski had a simple problem: he was overshadowed by one of the greatest pitching staffs in major league history, the Indians Big Four Bob Feller
Bob Feller
On December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
, Bob Lemon
Bob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976....
, Early Wynn
Early Wynn
Early Wynn Jr. , nicknamed "Gus", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 25-year baseball career, he pitched for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox...
and Mike Garcia. Nevertheless, in his rookie season Narleski posted 13 saves for the 1954 AL Champions. In 1955 he went 9-1 and led the league with 19 saves and 60 appearances, and in 1957 he finished 11-5 with 16 saves. At this time, he gradually joined the starting rotation.
In 1958 Narleski went 13-10 in 44 games, 24 as a starter. At the end of the season he was sent to Detroit along with bullpen teammate Don Mossi
Don Mossi
Donald Louis Mossi, , was an American major league pitcher from 1954 to 1965. He was a left-handed control pitcher whose strikeout-to-walk ratio was regularly amongst the league leaders . He retired with a career earned run average of 3.43, 101 wins, and 50 saves.- Biography :Mossi was born in St...
, in the same trade that brought Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
to the Indians. Hampered by shoulder problems in 1959, Narleski finished 4-12 with a 5.78 ERA and five saves in 42 games. He retired for good at the end of the season.
Narleski was selected to the Top 100 Greatest Indians Roster as part of the club’s 100th Anniversary Celebration in .
See also
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
- List of second generation MLB players