Stan Bahnsen
Encyclopedia
Stanley Raymond Bahnsen (born December 15, 1944) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. Nicknamed the "Bahnsen Burner," he once made 118 starts
over a three year stretch while playing with the Chicago White Sox
in the mid 1970s.
in the fourth round of the 1965 Major League Baseball Draft
. After two seasons in the minor leagues, in which he went 12-9 with a 2.87 earned run average
, he received his first call up to the majors in September . In four games with the Yanks, he was 1-1 with a save and 3.52 ERA. He earned an invitation to Spring training
camp in , but was assigned to the triple A Syracuse Chiefs.
After arriving at camp late due to an army commitment, Bahnsen was given a second chance at a roster spot in . He made the club, and proceeded to go 17-12 with a team best 2.05 ERA and struck out a career-high 162 batters to be named the American League
Rookie of the Year
. His finest performance of the season and only shutout
came on August 1 against the Boston Red Sox
at Fenway Park
. He struck out twelve, while allowing only three hits
and walking
no one.
Bahnsen spent three more seasons with the Yankees, never matching his rookie success. Perhaps the most famous moment of his Yankee career from that point forward was a brawl with the Cleveland Indians
Vada Pinson
in which he was knocked down with one punch. Following the season, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for infielder
Rich McKinney
.
employed a unique strategy with his starting rotation for the season. Recognizing the talent he had at the top of his rotation, he started Wilbur Wood
, Bahnsen or Tom Bradley as much as possible, leaving only 24 starts for the rest of the staff. The strategy worked, as the White Sox finished over .500 for the first time since , and in second place in the American League West
. For his part, Bahnsen made 41 starts, and went 21-16 with a 3.60 ERA in his first season with the South Siders.
The next season, Bahnsen made 42 starts, however his record dipped to 18-21 as the White Sox finished the season in fifth place. In one of those 18 wins, a 4-0 shutout over the Cleveland Indians on August 21 at Municipal Stadium
, Bahnsen had a no-hitter
broken up with two out in the ninth on a single
by former teammate Walt Williams
.
Bahnsen made another 35 starts for the White Sox in . Along the way, he started another bench-clearing brawl; this time with the Kansas City Royals
' John Mayberry
. Coincidentally, Pinson was also a member of the Royals, and in the starting line-up that day. He had already made twelve starts in when he was dealt with Skip Pitlock
to the Oakland Athletics
for Chet Lemon
and Dave Hamilton
on June 15. In a little over three seasons in Chicago, Bahnsen made 130 starts, and was 55-58.
and Mike Torrez
as much as possible. Bahnsen only made fourteen starts, seeing most of his work in relief
. He went 8-7 with a 3.34 ERA for the season. Early into the season, he was traded to the Montreal Expos
for first baseman
Mike Jorgensen
.
, collecting seventeen saves over the next four seasons with the Expos, and leading the team in innings pitched out of the bullpen in (94.1).
Shortly afterwards, he signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies
, and went 4-3 with a 4.89 ERA for the triple A Oklahoma City 89ers. He appeared briefly with the Phillies that September, giving up just two earned runs in 13.1 innings pitched. After going 0-3 with a 9.59 ERA for the Pacific Coast League
's Portland Beavers
in , he retired.
For his career, Bahnsen posted a 146-149 record. Other statistics: 574 games, 327 games started, 73 complete games, 16 shutouts, 90 games finished, 20 saves, 2,529 innings pitched, 2,440 hits allowed, 1,127 runs allowed, 1,013 earned runs allowed, 223 home runs allowed, 924 walks (59 intentional), 1,359 strikeouts, 34 hit batsmen, 89 wild pitches, 10,701 batters faced, three balks and a 3.60 ERA. Bahnsen has a career .117 batting average
, and has driven in nineteen runs. His only career home run
came on August 19, 1979 against the Atlanta Braves
' Tony Brizzolara
.
, a south Florida radio station that broadcasts Yankee games.
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...
. Nicknamed the "Bahnsen Burner," he once made 118 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....
over a three year stretch while playing with 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 the mid 1970s.
New York Yankees
Bahnsen was drafted out of the University of Nebraska by the New York YankeesNew 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...
in the fourth round of the 1965 Major League Baseball Draft
1965 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1965 Major League Baseball Draft is the first year in which a draft took place for Major League Baseball.In Major League Baseball's first Free Agent Amateur Draft, the Kansas City Athletics selected Arizona State sophomore Rick Monday as the number one pick...
. After two seasons in the minor leagues, in which he went 12-9 with a 2.87 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...
, he received his first call up to the majors in September . In four games with the Yanks, he was 1-1 with a save and 3.52 ERA. He earned an invitation to 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...
camp in , but was assigned to the triple A Syracuse Chiefs.
After arriving at camp late due to an army commitment, Bahnsen was given a second chance at a roster spot in . He made the club, and proceeded to go 17-12 with a team best 2.05 ERA and struck out a career-high 162 batters to be named the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
. His finest performance of the season and only 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....
came on August 1 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"...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. He struck out twelve, while allowing only three hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and walking
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...
no one.
Bahnsen spent three more seasons with the Yankees, never matching his rookie success. Perhaps the most famous moment of his Yankee career from that point forward was a brawl 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...
Vada Pinson
Vada Pinson
Vada Edward Pinson, Jr. was an American center fielder and coach in Major League Baseball. Pinson played in the major leagues for 18 years, from 1958 through 1975, and his greatest seasons were with the Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds, for whom he played from 1958–68.Pinson combined power, speed and...
in which he was knocked down with one punch. Following the season, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for 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...
Rich McKinney
Rich McKinney
Charles Richard "Rich" McKinney is a former professional baseball player. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball between and...
.
Chicago White Sox
White Sox manager Chuck TannerChuck Tanner
Charles William "Chuck" Tanner was a left fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He was known for his unwavering confidence and infectious optimism. He managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Series championship in 1979...
employed a unique strategy with his starting rotation for the season. Recognizing the talent he had at the top of his rotation, he started Wilbur Wood
Wilbur Wood
Wilbur Forrester Wood, Jr. is a former knuckleball pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and most notably the Chicago White Sox, where he got 163 of his 164 wins...
, Bahnsen or Tom Bradley as much as possible, leaving only 24 starts for the rest of the staff. The strategy worked, as the White Sox finished over .500 for the first time since , and in second place in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
. For his part, Bahnsen made 41 starts, and went 21-16 with a 3.60 ERA in his first season with the South Siders.
The next season, Bahnsen made 42 starts, however his record dipped to 18-21 as the White Sox finished the season in fifth place. In one of those 18 wins, a 4-0 shutout over the Cleveland Indians on August 21 at Municipal Stadium
Cleveland Stadium
Cleveland Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in Cleveland, Ohio. In its final years, the stadium seated 74,438, for baseball and 81,000, for football. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football...
, Bahnsen had a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
broken up with two out in the ninth on a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
by former teammate Walt Williams
Walt Williams (baseball)
Walter Allen Williams is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the Houston Colt .45s , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , and the New York Yankees .-Early life:Williams was nicknamed No-Neck due to his relatively short stature...
.
Bahnsen made another 35 starts for the White Sox in . Along the way, he started another bench-clearing brawl; this time with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas 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...
' John Mayberry
John Mayberry
John Claiborn Mayberry is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees from 1968 to 1982.-High school and minor leagues:...
. Coincidentally, Pinson was also a member of the Royals, and in the starting line-up that day. He had already made twelve starts in when he was dealt with Skip Pitlock
Skip Pitlock
Lee Patrick Thomas Pitlock is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Noted for his unusual wind-up, he had a "herky-jerky" motion which deceived major league batters, and led to 124 career strikeouts in 192.2 innings pitched....
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....
for Chet Lemon
Chet Lemon
Chester Earl Lemon is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. A three time All-Star, he was a member of the World Series champion 1984 Detroit Tigers.-Early years:...
and Dave Hamilton
Dave Hamilton (baseball)
David Edward Hamilton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who won three World Series championships as a member of the Oakland Athletics in the early 1970s.-Oakland A's:...
on June 15. In a little over three seasons in Chicago, Bahnsen made 130 starts, and was 55-58.
Oakland Athletics
After going 6-7 with a 3.24 ERA for the A's in 1975, he was reunited with former White Sox manager Chuck Tanner for . Tanner employed a similar strategy with the A's to that which he had with the White Sox, starting Vida BlueVida 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...
and Mike Torrez
Mike Torrez
Michael Augustine Torrez is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Career:Torrez had an 18-year career from 1967 to 1984. He played for the St...
as much as possible. Bahnsen only made fourteen starts, seeing most of his work in relief
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...
. He went 8-7 with a 3.34 ERA for the season. Early into the season, he was traded to the Montreal Expos
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...
for first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Mike Jorgensen
Mike Jorgensen
Michael Jorgensen is a former Major League Baseball player drafted by the New York Mets in the fourth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft...
.
Montreal Expos
After making 22 starts for the Expos in 1977, Bahnsen became a full-time reliever in , making just one emergency start. He became a valuable member of the bullpenBullpen
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"...
, collecting seventeen saves over the next four seasons with the Expos, and leading the team in innings pitched out of the bullpen in (94.1).
Career twilight
The Expos released Bahnsen at the end of Spring training, just as the season was set to begin. He joined the California Angels shortly afterwards, but was released after seven games with a 4.66 ERA on May 14.Shortly afterwards, he signed a minor league deal with 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...
, and went 4-3 with a 4.89 ERA for the triple A Oklahoma City 89ers. He appeared briefly with the Phillies that September, giving up just two earned runs in 13.1 innings pitched. After going 0-3 with a 9.59 ERA for the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
's 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...
in , he retired.
For his career, Bahnsen posted a 146-149 record. Other statistics: 574 games, 327 games started, 73 complete games, 16 shutouts, 90 games finished, 20 saves, 2,529 innings pitched, 2,440 hits allowed, 1,127 runs allowed, 1,013 earned runs allowed, 223 home runs allowed, 924 walks (59 intentional), 1,359 strikeouts, 34 hit batsmen, 89 wild pitches, 10,701 batters faced, three balks and a 3.60 ERA. Bahnsen has a career .117 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, and has driven in nineteen runs. His only career 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...
came on August 19, 1979 against 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....
' Tony Brizzolara
Tony Brizzolara
Anthony John Brizzolara is a for Major League Baseball pitcher with the Atlanta Braves.Brizzolara graduated from Memorial High School in Beloit, Wisconsin, and played ball at University of Texas at Austin before being drafted by the Braves in the second round of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft...
.
Career after baseball
Bahnsen works with the promotions department of MSC Cruises seeking and securing retired major league players to participate in activities on cruise ships such as autograph and story-telling sessions. He also works with 640 AMWMEN
WMEN is a sports talk radio station in Florida. The station currently carries many programs from Sporting News Radio. Up until April of 2009, WMEN was a Fox Sports Radio affiliate, but lost the affiliation to WINZ. WMEN also carries FAU and FSU football and basketball games. Local shows include...
, a south Florida radio station that broadcasts Yankee games.