Rheal Cormier
Encyclopedia
Rhéal Paul Cormier is a Canadian former Major League Baseball
pitcher
.
He attended Community College of Rhode Island
in Warwick, Rhode Island
, and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals
in the 6th round of the 1988 amateur draft
. Cormier is of Acadian
ancestry.
' game against the New York Mets
, going six innings
, giving up one earned run
, and striking out two. He pitched for St. Louis through 1994 and was traded to Boston for the 1995 season. In Boston, Cormier split time as a starter and a reliever. His 1995 ERA
was 4.07.
Following the 1995 season, Cormier was traded to Montreal
as part of the Wil Cordero
deal. He spent all of 1996 and one game in 1997 for the Expos. In 1998, he signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians
and began the year in the minor leagues
before shoulder problems ended his season.
In 1999, Cormier signed a free agent deal to return to Boston. In two seasons, he made 124 appearances for the Red Sox, all of which came in relief. After the 2000 season, the Philadelphia Phillies
signed the reliever as a free agent. In the next six seasons with the Phillies (his longest tenure with any major league team), Cormier had his most successful years. In 2003, he posted in 84.2 innings a career-best ERA of 1.70. In 2004, he made 84 appearances, a career high. On July 31, , Cormier was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies
to the Cincinnati Reds
for pitching prospect Justin Germano
. The Reds, leading the National League wildcard
race at the time of the trade, sought bullpen help through the trade. The team failed to make the playoffs, however, finishing the season 8 games back in the wildcard race. Cormier's 2006 season with the Reds included 21 appearances and a 4.50 ERA.
On April 28, , Cormier was designated for assignment
by the Reds after a poor start to the 2007 campaign. He had 3 IP, 9.00 ERA, and 1K in his time with Cincinnati that season. On May 13, 2007, the Atlanta Braves
signed Cormier to a minor league contract and assigned him to their AAA-affiliate, the Richmond Braves
. He played only briefly for them before deciding to retire.
In , he joined the Moncton Mets
, a senior team based in Moncton, New Brunswick, in an attempt to make a come-back and join the Canadian Olympic Team participating in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Cormier had pitched for Moncton 21 years earlier, prior to his major league career.
in the World Baseball Classic
. Despite winning two of three games, the team failed to advance beyond the first round. While their record matched Team USA
and Team Mexico
, they were eliminated in the tie breaker because they allowed the most runs. Cormier appeared in two of the games (Mexico and South Africa
), pitching 1.2 innings, giving up 1 hit, and allowing no earned runs.
in Seoul
, South Korea
; at the time baseball was a demonstration sport
. The Canadian team did not win a medal during this competition, ending with a 1-2 record. The squad's lone win, however, did come against the eventual gold medal-winning American team.
In Cormier played for the Canadian national baseball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics
. At age 41, Cormier was the oldest baseball player in the competition.
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...
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...
.
He attended Community College of Rhode Island
Community College of Rhode Island
The Community College of Rhode Island, commonly abbreviated as "CCRI", is the only community college in Rhode Island. It was founded as Rhode Island Junior College, "RIJC", in 1964 with 325 students studying on the former Knight Estate. Today CCRI consists of six campuses and enrolls over 16,000...
in Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
, and was drafted by 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...
in the 6th round of the 1988 amateur draft
1988 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
. Cormier is of Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
ancestry.
Professional career
Cormier made his major league debut on August 15, . He started the St. Louis CardinalsSt. 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...
' game 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...
, going six 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...
, giving up one earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
, and striking out two. He pitched for St. Louis through 1994 and was traded to Boston for the 1995 season. In Boston, Cormier split time as a starter and a reliever. His 1995 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...
was 4.07.
Following the 1995 season, Cormier was traded to Montreal
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...
as part of the Wil Cordero
Wil Cordero
Wilfredo Cordero Nieva is a former first baseman/outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was best known as a member of the Montreal Expos . Cordero made his Major League Baseball debut in 1992 and last played in...
deal. He spent all of 1996 and one game in 1997 for the Expos. In 1998, he signed as a free agent 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...
and began the year in the minor leagues
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...
before shoulder problems ended his season.
In 1999, Cormier signed a free agent deal to return to Boston. In two seasons, he made 124 appearances for the Red Sox, all of which came in relief. After the 2000 season, the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
signed the reliever as a free agent. In the next six seasons with the Phillies (his longest tenure with any major league team), Cormier had his most successful years. In 2003, he posted in 84.2 innings a career-best ERA of 1.70. In 2004, he made 84 appearances, a career high. On July 31, , Cormier was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for pitching prospect Justin Germano
Justin Germano
Justin William Germano is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization.-Early life:...
. The Reds, leading the National League wildcard
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
race at the time of the trade, sought bullpen help through the trade. The team failed to make the playoffs, however, finishing the season 8 games back in the wildcard race. Cormier's 2006 season with the Reds included 21 appearances and a 4.50 ERA.
On April 28, , Cormier was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
by the Reds after a poor start to the 2007 campaign. He had 3 IP, 9.00 ERA, and 1K in his time with Cincinnati that season. On May 13, 2007, 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....
signed Cormier to a minor league contract and assigned him to their AAA-affiliate, 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,...
. He played only briefly for them before deciding to retire.
In , he joined the Moncton Mets
Moncton Mets
The Moncton Mets are an amateur, minor league baseball team based in Moncton, New Brunswick. They play in the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League but participate in a crossover schedule with the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League. In 2006 the team captured the highest honour in amateur league...
, a senior team based in Moncton, New Brunswick, in an attempt to make a come-back and join the Canadian Olympic Team participating in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Cormier had pitched for Moncton 21 years earlier, prior to his major league career.
2006 World Baseball Classic
Prior to the season, Cormier played for the Canada national baseball teamCanada national baseball team
Canada has qualified for two Olympic games, in 2004 and 2008. Canadian teams also competed twice when baseball was a demonstration sport, in 1984 and 1988.-1984 Summer Olympics:...
in the World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
. Despite winning two of three games, the team failed to advance beyond the first round. While their record matched Team USA
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
and Team Mexico
Mexico national baseball team
The Mexico national baseball team is the baseball team which represents Mexico in international tournaments. They are currently the eighth ranked baseball team in the world.-Pan American Games:*1951 Bronze Medal *1963 Bronze Medal...
, they were eliminated in the tie breaker because they allowed the most runs. Cormier appeared in two of the games (Mexico and South Africa
South Africa national baseball team
The South African national baseball team is a baseball team which represents the Republic of South Africa in international baseball competitions such as the World Baseball Classic and formerly the Summer Olympics.-All-Africa Games:...
), pitching 1.2 innings, giving up 1 hit, and allowing no earned runs.
Olympics
Cormier played for the Canada national baseball team in 1988 Summer OlympicsBaseball at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 1988 Summer Olympics was a demonstration sport for the seventh time. Eight teams competed in Seoul in the baseball tournament. The format used was the same as the tournament of four years earlier. Five teams that had competed in the 1984 tournament returned.-Preliminary round:There...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
; at the time baseball was a demonstration sport
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
. The Canadian team did not win a medal during this competition, ending with a 1-2 record. The squad's lone win, however, did come against the eventual gold medal-winning American team.
In Cormier played for the Canadian national baseball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...
. At age 41, Cormier was the oldest baseball player in the competition.
External links
- Baseball Reference minor league statistics