| Ron Rightnowar | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1964-09-05)September 5, 1964 (age 61) Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 20, 1995, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 26, 1995, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 2–1 |
| Earned run average | 5.40 |
| Strikeouts | 22 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Ronald Gene Rightnowar (born September 5, 1964) is an American former professionalbaseball player who played for theMilwaukee Brewers inMajor League Baseball (MLB) in 1995.
Rightnowar was the firstreplacement player during the1994–95 MLB strike to subsequently play in the majors.
Rightnowar graduated fromWhitmer High School inToledo, Ohio.[1] He also attended and played baseball atEastern Michigan University.
After college, theDetroit Tigers signed Rightnowar as an amateur free agent on September 30, 1986.[2] In 1987, he began his minor-league career by spending the entire season pitching for theFayetteville Generals in the Class ASouth Atlantic League. He went 7–7 for Fayetteville (which was in its first season of existence), making 39 appearances,striking out 65,walking 37,saving 6 games and posting a 4.96earned run average.[3]
In 1988, Rightnowar was promoted to theLakeland Flying Tigers in the High-AFlorida State League, where he went 2–0 in 17 games with 32 strikeouts and just 11 walks in49+1⁄3 innings pitched. Rightnowar also posted a 1.46 ERA.[3]
In 1989, Rightnowar advanced to Double-A, pitching for theLondon Tigers and going 2–8 with a 5.00 ERA in 36 appearances. Rightnowar saved five games that season.[3]
The following year, Rightnowar divided his time between three Detroit Tigers minor-league teams: London (2-2, 3.25 ERA, 33 strikeouts, 9 walks, 4 saves,44+1⁄3 innings pitched and 23 games), the Class-ANiagara Falls Rapids (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk, 7 innings pitched in just one appearance), and the Triple-AToledo Mud Hens (4-5, 4.74 ERA, 28 strikeouts, 10 walks, 6 saves, 38 innings pitched in 28 games).[3]
In 1991, Rightnowar divided his time between London (2-1, 3.91 ERA, 18 strikeouts, 8 walks, 3 saves,25+1⁄3 innings pitched in 15 appearances) and Toledo (1-1, 3.94 ERA, 5 strikeouts, 15 walks, 3 saves,29+2⁄3 innings pitched in 23 games). The following year, Rightnowar played solely for his hometown Mud Hens and continued his role as amiddle reliever, posting a 3–2 record but a high 6.16 ERA. He pitched 57 innings in 34 games, picking up three saves, striking out 33 and walking 18.[3]
In 1993, Rightnowar began the season with Toledo again, going 2–2 with a 3.55 ERA in 58-1/3 innings pitched. Appearing in 22 games, Rightnowar struck out 32, walked 19 and saved one game.[3] On August 28, 1993, the Detroit Tigers traded Rightnowar to theMilwaukee Brewers for aplayer to be named later.[2] With the trade, Rightnowar joined the Brewers' Triple-ANew Orleans Zephyrs minor-league club for the remaining week of the minor-league season, pitching in four games and posting an 0–0 record with a 10.38 ERA. Rightnowar also struck out eight and walked two in 8-2/3 innings pitched.[3]
In 1994, Rightnowar's pitching improved dramatically, as he played a full season for the Zephyrs. He went 8–2 with a 2.25 ERA in 51 games, pitching 88 innings, striking out 79, walking just 21 and saving 11 games.[3] Rightnowar did not receive a September call-up, because major league players went on strike on August 12, 1994.
As the 1995 baseball season neared, Rightnowar said Brewers coaches asked if he would be interested in being areplacement player. "The major-league coaching staff made it clear that I needed to pitch," Rightnowar said later in 1995. "They said they needed to see me and see what I could offer the club."[4]
The players strike ended before the1995 MLB season began. Rightnowar pitched inspring training games, sufficient for theplayers union to classify Rightnowar and similar players as strike-breakers. After the strike, he was sent down to Triple-A New Orleans, where he started the season.
AfterCal Eldred went on thedisabled list, the Brewers promoted Rightnowar to the major leagues on May 19. He was to be the first replacement player to join the Brewers that season. Before he even threw a pitch, Rightnowar was given a frosty reception from the major-leaguers. "My first day, everyone was kind of cold toward me," Rightnowar said. "I understood. I respect their right to be angry. But then I called the leaders on the club and asked to speak to the team. I wanted to tell them my side of the story." Rightnowar's teammateKevin Seitzer said Rightnowar regretted breaking the picket line.[4]
Rightnowar later said he felt some bitterness about how his teammates responded to his choice during the strike. "It really stunk, to be honest with you," Rightnowar told theToledo Blade in 2005. "From the time I was 8 or 9 years old, I had dreamed of what the day would be like if, and when, I ever made it to the big leagues. I figured it would be a real special day in my life, just like the day I got married. But I felt awful. They were all giving me the cold shoulder."[1]
On May 20, Rightnowar made his major league debut, working2+1⁄3 innings of scoreless relief against theTexas Rangers.[2] On May 22, Rightnowar won his first big-league game against theCleveland Indians, pitching two innings of relief and giving up oneearned run.[5] "That first major-league victory - man, what a great feeling!" Rightnowar said after the game. "This is really special."[6]
Rightnowar stayed with the Brewers until August 5, when he was sent down to New Orleans. He finished his season with New Orleans with a 1–1 record and a 2.67 ERA. Rightnowar also struck out 22, walked 9, saved 10 games, and pitched in30+1⁄3 innings in 25 games.[3]
Rightnowar rejoined the Brewers on September 6, returning to the team's40-man roster once New Orleans' season ended and MLB teams wereable to expand their rosters. Rightnowar ended his Brewers season, and his major-league career, with a 2–1 record, a 5.40 ERA, 22 strikeouts, 18 walks, and one save in 36-2/3 innings pitched in 34 games.[2] His one MLB save came on June 7. Rightnowar went 1 scoreless inning to close out a 6-3 Brewers win over the Twins.[7]
On October 16, 1995, Rightnowar was granted free agency.[2] No MLB teams showed an interest in Rightnowar after the 1995 season, so he retired.[1]
In 1997, Rightnowar was hired as admissions director atToledo Christian Schools. He also has co-owned a sports training center and coached a nine-team travel baseball league.[1] He has worked as a bank loan officer in Ohio since 2011, according to his LinkedIn profile.[8]
· Baseball Almanac