Rick Anderson (baseball, born 1956)
Encyclopedia
Richard Arlen Anderson is a retired Major League Baseball
pitcher
and the current pitching coach
for the Minnesota Twins
.
out of the University of Washington
by the New York Mets
. Anderson would see mediocre results in the minors, finishing with a 60-51 record over parts of 11 minor league seasons, as he possessed only average stuff and stuck out an extremely low average of 3.5 batters per nine innings. Despite this, he would be promoted to AAA Tidewater at the end of the 1980 season. However, Anderson would spend the next six season shuttling between AA Jackson
and Tidewater, being continually passed up for promotion to the majors while more promising prospects (such as future all-stars Dwight Gooden
, Sid Fernandez
, Ron Darling
, Rick Aguilera
, Randy Myers
, and Roger McDowell
) debuted with the big club. After pleading "All I want is one chance to prove myself" to Mets General Manager Joe McIlvaine
prior to the 1986 season, Anderson was given that chance and had his major league debut on June 9 against the Philadelphia Phillies
. He pitched seven innings and gave up only one unearned run, but did not figure in the decision. His first win came on August 6, in the second game of a double header
against the Chicago Cubs
. For the season, Anderson went 2-1 with a 2.72 earned run average
and one save in five starts
and ten appearances out of the bullpen
. Pitching rich in , Anderson was left off the Mets' post-season roster and was only able to celebrate their eventual World Series championship as a spectator on the bench.
, along with Mets backup catcher Ed Hearn and minor league pitcher Mauro Gozzo
, which brought future star pitcher David Cone
and minor league outfielder Chris Jelic
to the Mets. In retrospect, with the all-star career of Cone and the journeyman careers of Anderson, Hearn, and Gozzo, this trade is often listed as one of the most lop-sided in major league history. Anderson would split two seasons between Kansas City and AAA Omaha
, going 2-3 with a 6.89 ERA at the major league level, before retiring following the 1988 season.
immediately after retirement. After thirteen seasons as a minor league coach, the last seven at the AAA level, he was named the Minnesota Twins' pitching coach for the season where he was reunited with former Met, and minor league roommate, rookie Twins' manager Ron Gardenhire
. Since 2002, Twins pitchers have posted the third-lowest ERA in the American League, at 4.11. Anderson has followed in the steps of, and some say improved upon, the philosophy of former Twins' manager Tom Kelly
and pitching coach Dick Such
that the way to give your team a chance to win games is for the staff to pitch to contact, limit walks, and allow their players to field their positions. Consequently, no major league team has been more stingy with free passes. Over the past three years, the Twins have issued 1,255 walks; the St. Louis Cardinals are a distant second on that list, at 1,433.
in and attended Everett Community College
before graduating from the University of Washington. He and his wife, Rhonda, have two daughters, Cortnie & Ashley, and one son, Ricky.
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...
and the current pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for 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...
.
New York Mets
Anderson was drafted in the 24th round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft1978 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
out of the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
by 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...
. Anderson would see mediocre results in the minors, finishing with a 60-51 record over parts of 11 minor league seasons, as he possessed only average stuff and stuck out an extremely low average of 3.5 batters per nine innings. Despite this, he would be promoted to AAA Tidewater at the end of the 1980 season. However, Anderson would spend the next six season shuttling between AA Jackson
Jackson Mets
The Jackson Mets were a professional baseball team based in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1975 through 1990. As of 2010, they are the longest-tenured club to be based in the Jackson metropolitan area...
and Tidewater, being continually passed up for promotion to the majors while more promising prospects (such as future all-stars Dwight Gooden
Dwight Gooden
Dwight Eugene Gooden , nicknamed "Doc Gooden" or "Dr. K", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominant and feared pitchers in the National League in the middle and late 1980s.-Career:...
, Sid Fernandez
Sid Fernandez
Charles Sidney Fernandez was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher from to . Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Fernandez was proud of his roots and wore uniform number 50 in honor of Hawaii being the 50th state...
, Ron Darling
Ron Darling
Ronald Maurice Darling, Jr. is an American former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Oakland Athletics and Montreal Expos...
, Rick Aguilera
Rick Aguilera
Richard Warren Aguilera is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 16-year baseball career, he pitched from 1985-2000 for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs....
, Randy Myers
Randy Myers
Randall Kirk Myers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During a 14-year baseball career, he pitched from 1985-1998 for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays.-Career:Myers first began his major league career with...
, and Roger McDowell
Roger McDowell
Roger Alan McDowell is the pitching coach of the Atlanta Braves and was a right-handed relief pitcher for twelve seasons in Major League Baseball from 1985 to 1996. He played for the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League and the Texas Rangers and...
) debuted with the big club. After pleading "All I want is one chance to prove myself" to Mets General Manager Joe McIlvaine
Joe McIlvaine
Joseph McIlvaine is a baseball executive and former professional baseball player.McIlvaine played in the Detroit Tigers minor league system for 5 seasons. He posted a win-loss record of 16-16 and an ERA of 3.84. During the 1970s, he was a scout in the Baltimore Orioles, California Angels and...
prior to the 1986 season, Anderson was given that chance and had his major league debut on June 9 against 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...
. He pitched seven innings and gave up only one unearned run, but did not figure in the decision. His first win came on August 6, in the second game of a double header
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the 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...
. For the season, Anderson went 2-1 with a 2.72 earned run average
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 one save in five starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
and ten appearances out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
. Pitching rich in , Anderson was left off the Mets' post-season roster and was only able to celebrate their eventual World Series championship as a spectator on the bench.
Kansas City Royals
On 27 March 1987, Anderson was included in a trade with 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...
, along with Mets backup catcher Ed Hearn and minor league pitcher Mauro Gozzo
Mauro Gozzo
Mauro Gozzo is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of six seasons in the majors, from until ....
, which brought future star pitcher David Cone
David Cone
David Brian Cone is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1986-2003 for six different teams. Cone pitched the sixteenth perfect game in baseball history. He also set the MLB record for most years between 20-win seasons. He was a member of five...
and minor league outfielder Chris Jelic
Chris Jelic
Christopher John Jelic , is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder who appeared in four games with the New York Mets in...
to the Mets. In retrospect, with the all-star career of Cone and the journeyman careers of Anderson, Hearn, and Gozzo, this trade is often listed as one of the most lop-sided in major league history. Anderson would split two seasons between Kansas City and AAA Omaha
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,...
, going 2-3 with a 6.89 ERA at the major league level, before retiring following the 1988 season.
Coaching career
Always looking at coaching as a fallback once his playing career was over, Anderson accepted a job as pitching coach for the Gulf Coast League TwinsGulf Coast League Twins
The Gulf Coast League Twins are the Rookie "A" Level Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Lee County Sports Complex....
immediately after retirement. After thirteen seasons as a minor league coach, the last seven at the AAA level, he was named the Minnesota Twins' pitching coach for the season where he was reunited with former Met, and minor league roommate, rookie Twins' manager Ron Gardenhire
Ron Gardenhire
Ronald Clyde "Gardy" Gardenhire is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and current manager of the Minnesota Twins.He is six feet tall and weighed 175 pounds during most of his baseball career....
. Since 2002, Twins pitchers have posted the third-lowest ERA in the American League, at 4.11. Anderson has followed in the steps of, and some say improved upon, the philosophy of former Twins' manager Tom Kelly
Tom Kelly (baseball)
Jay Thomas Kelly , is the former manager of the Minnesota Twins baseball team from to . Currently, he serves as a Special Assistant to the General Manager for the Twins....
and pitching coach Dick Such
Dick Such
Richard Stanley "Dick" Such is a former pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball. A right-hander who batted left-handed, Such stood 6'4" tall and weighed 190 pounds .-Playing career:...
that the way to give your team a chance to win games is for the staff to pitch to contact, limit walks, and allow their players to field their positions. Consequently, no major league team has been more stingy with free passes. Over the past three years, the Twins have issued 1,255 walks; the St. Louis Cardinals are a distant second on that list, at 1,433.
Personal life
Anderson graduated from Mariner High SchoolMariner High School (Everett, Washington)
Mariner High School is located south of Everett, Washington in the Mukilteo School District. It was built in Everett, Washington in 1970 as the only high school serving the Mukilteo School District, until 1993 when Kamiak High School opened. Its school colors are Blue, Gold, and Silver. Mariner’s...
in and attended Everett Community College
Everett Community College
Everett Community College is a community college located in Everett, Washington. EvCC educates more than 20,000 students every year at seven learning centers throughout Snohomish County, with most students and faculty at the main campus in north Everett....
before graduating from the University of Washington. He and his wife, Rhonda, have two daughters, Cortnie & Ashley, and one son, Ricky.