Steve Wapnick
Encyclopedia
Steven Lee "Steve" Wapnick (born September 25, 1965, in Panorama City, California) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers
and the Chicago White Sox
. He held batters to a .222 batting average, holding righties to a .115 batting average.
Wapnick attended Monroe High School
in Sepulveda, California. He then attended Fresno State University, where he pitched for the Bulldogs, and he threw and batted right handed.
drafted him in the second round of the 1985 Major League Baseball Draft
. When he did not sign with them, the Oakland Athletics
drafted him in fifth round of the June Secondary Phase, but again he didn't sign. Finally, he was drafted in 1987
by the Toronto Blue Jays
, but not until round 30. He finally signed with them, and reported to the minor league St. Catharines Blue Jays
shortly thereafter.
in the Rule 5 Draft
. His first Major League
game was April 14, 1990 at the age of 24. He appeared in just four games for the Tigers, posting an ERA
of 6.43, and was returned to the Blue Jays on May 1.
Wapnick was one of two Jewish baseball players to make his major league debut in 1990. The other was Scott Radinsky
. He wore number 43 for the Tigers.
as the player to be named later
in a deal that involved Shawn Jeter
going to the Sox for outfielder
Cory Snyder
. Now wearing uniform number 51, Wapnick appeared in six more games for Chicago down the stretch, winning none and losing one with an ERA of 1.80. He never appeared in the majors again.
, which was the beginning of the end for his career. He pitched two more seasons in the minors, one in the White Sox organization and one for the Seattle Mariners
top farm team, the Calgary Cannons
.
Overall, in 12 career innings of work over 10 games, during 2 seasons, Wapnick walked 14 and struck out 7. He was known as a power pitcher
, with his fastball
being clocked consistently at 94 MPH.
http://www.fortcollinsbaseballclub.org/CompTeamDetails.aspx?TeamID=135, where he resides and works as a pharmaceutical sales representative.http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:8co6uR-5LGcJ:libertysports.proboards29.com/index.cgi%3Fboard%3DOther%26action%3Ddisplay%26thread%3D1137099079+%22steve+wapnick%22+%22fresno+state%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=24 Wapnick is married with two sons. His oldest son plays baseball and basketball for his high school.
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...
and 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...
. He held batters to a .222 batting average, holding righties to a .115 batting average.
Wapnick attended Monroe High School
Monroe High School (Los Angeles)
Monroe High School is a high school in the North Hills area of Los Angeles, California, belonging to the Los Angeles Unified School District. Its address is 9229 Haskell Ave., North Hills, CA 91343. Home of The Vikings...
in Sepulveda, California. He then attended Fresno State University, where he pitched for the Bulldogs, and he threw and batted right handed.
Amateur draft
Wapnick, who was 6'2" and 200 pounds, was drafted three times. Each time, his place in the draft slipped. The San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
drafted him in the second round of the 1985 Major League Baseball Draft
1985 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1985 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:Six of the first eight draft picks from the June regular phase had at least one full year of major league experience prior to the start of the 1987 season. Included in that list were...
. When he did not sign with them, 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....
drafted him in fifth round of the June Secondary Phase, but again he didn't sign. Finally, he was drafted in 1987
1987 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
by 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 ....
, but not until round 30. He finally signed with them, and reported to the minor league St. Catharines Blue Jays
St. Catharines Blue Jays
The St. Catharines Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team that played at Community Park in St. Catharines, Ontario. They were the Short-Season A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays in the New York-Penn League. The team began play in 1986 as the Blue Jays, though were later renamed the St....
shortly thereafter.
Detroit Tigers
On December 4, 1989, Wapnick was drafted from the Blue Jays by the Detroit TigersDetroit 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...
in the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. His first Major League
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...
game was April 14, 1990 at the age of 24. He appeared in just four games for the Tigers, posting an 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...
of 6.43, and was returned to the Blue Jays on May 1.
Wapnick was one of two Jewish baseball players to make his major league debut in 1990. The other was Scott Radinsky
Scott Radinsky
Scott David Radinsky is the pitching coach of the Cleveland Indians.He is also a left-handed former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, who had an 11-year career from – and –...
. He wore number 43 for the Tigers.
Chicago White Sox
After spending most of the season with the Blue Jays top farm club, the Syracuse Chiefs, on September 4 Wapnick was sent to the Chicago White SoxChicago 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...
as the player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
in a deal that involved Shawn Jeter
Shawn Jeter
Shawn Darrell Jeter was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He is the son of former Major League Baseball outfielder Johnny Jeter....
going to the Sox for outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Cory Snyder
Cory Snyder
James Cory Snyder is a former Major League Baseball player for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1986 to 1994. Snyder's best season came in 1987 with the Indians when he hit 33 home runs and had 82 runs batted in...
. Now wearing uniform number 51, Wapnick appeared in six more games for Chicago down the stretch, winning none and losing one with an ERA of 1.80. He never appeared in the majors again.
Back to the minors
He injured his arm in 1992 during spring trainingSpring 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...
, which was the beginning of the end for his career. He pitched two more seasons in the minors, one in the White Sox organization and one for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
top farm team, the Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
.
Overall, in 12 career innings of work over 10 games, during 2 seasons, Wapnick walked 14 and struck out 7. He was known as a power pitcher
Power pitcher
In baseball, a power pitcher is a pitcher who relies on the velocity of his pitches, sometimes at the expense of accuracy. Power pitchers usually record a high number of strikeouts and statistics such as strikeouts per 9 innings pitched are common measures of power...
, with his 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...
being clocked consistently at 94 MPH.
Personal life
After his playing career, Wapnick coached at Clovis High School and Sierra High School, and also coached a Junior USA baseball team. He now coaches youth sports in Fort Collins, ColoradoFort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
http://www.fortcollinsbaseballclub.org/CompTeamDetails.aspx?TeamID=135, where he resides and works as a pharmaceutical sales representative.http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:8co6uR-5LGcJ:libertysports.proboards29.com/index.cgi%3Fboard%3DOther%26action%3Ddisplay%26thread%3D1137099079+%22steve+wapnick%22+%22fresno+state%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=24 Wapnick is married with two sons. His oldest son plays baseball and basketball for his high school.