| Bobby Sprowl | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1956-04-14)April 14, 1956 (age 69) Sandusky, Ohio | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 5, 1978, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 1981, for the Houston Astros | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 0–3 |
| Earned run average | 5.44 |
| Strikeouts | 34 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Robert John Sprowl (born April 14, 1956) is an American former professionalbaseball player who was apitcher inMajor League Baseball from 1978 to 1981. He played for theBoston Red Sox andHouston Astros.
Sprowl attendedGeorge D. Chamberlain High School, graduating in 1974[1] and was a star pitcher at theUniversity of Alabama. In 1976, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theWareham Gatemen of theCape Cod Baseball League, and received the league's Outstanding Pro Prospect award, and helped lead Wareham to the league title.[2] Sprowl led the nation instrikeouts per nine innings in 1977,[3] and was selected by the Red Sox in that year's amateur draft.
Sprowl is best known for losing two critical games in the 1978 pennant race between theRed Sox andNew York Yankees. He had compiled a 9-3 record in the AAEastern League,[4] and Boston's minor league organization claimed that he "had ice water in his veins."[5] Boston managerDon Zimmer gave Sprowl three starts late in the season.
Sprowl's first start was inBaltimore on September 5, where he went seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks, but took the loss whenOrioles ace (and future Hall-of-Famer)Jim Palmer stifled the Red Sox, who got a second-inning run on aDwight Evans RBI double and then nothing more. Sprowl carried the 1-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh, having allowed only two hits to that point, but then surrendered a game-tying home run toLee May.Andres Mora then hit a ground ball through the legs of Red Soxthird basemanButch Hobson, reaching second base. Sprowl retiredRick Dempsey on a ground ball to shortstop, as pinch-runnerMike Dimmel advanced to third, and then with the infield playing in,Carlos Lopez hit a soft liner that dropped for a hit and allowed Dimmel to score the eventual winning run.[6]
Sprowl's Boston teammates lauded his effort, and Zimmer gave him a second start on September 10 against the Yankees, in the fourth game of a four-game series atFenway Park. Sprowl walked the first two batters and gotThurman Munson to hit into a double play, but was unable to retireReggie Jackson and escape the inning, surrendering an RBI single. Sprowl then walkedLou Piniella andChris Chambliss and was pulled forBob Stanley, who allowed a hit to drive in two more runs (which were charged to Sprowl) before finishing the inning. The Yankees won the game 7-4, tying Boston for the division lead, and subjecting Zimmer to much second-guessing due to Sprowl's perceived "nerves".
The Red Sox were 1.5 games behind the Yankees when they arrived inNew York on September 15, which would have been Sprowl's next start. However, Zimmer instead startedLuis Tiant on short rest; Tiant lasted only 32/3 innings and allowed all four runs in Boston's 4-0 defeat. Zimmer did not use Sprowl at all against the Yankees that weekend, but he started on September 18 inDetroit against theTigers. He allowed three runs in five innings, leaving with a 4-3 lead, and Boston won the game in 11 innings. This was Sprowl's last start of the season, as Zimmer went with a four-man rotation of Tiant,Mike Torrez,Dennis Eckersley, and Stanley for the final two weeks. Overall, Sprowl went 0-2 with a 6.39earned run average with Boston.
The following season, Sprowl was traded to the Astros. He pitched in 19 games over the next three years, mostly in middle relief. He was sent back to the minors in 1982, and spent three seasons in the Astros andBaltimore Orioles organizations. The closest he ever got to the majors again was three games for the Astros' top affiliate, theTucson Toros. He ended his major-league career with an 0-3 record in four years.
He is currently the head coach of theShelton State Community College baseball team.[7]
· Baseball Almanac, orRetrosheet