| Larry Jaster | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Larry Jaster in 2017 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1944-01-13)January 13, 1944 (age 81) Midland, Michigan, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 17, 1965, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 4, 1972, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 35–33 |
| Earned run average | 3.65 |
| Strikeouts | 313 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Larry Edward Jaster (born January 13, 1944) is an American former professionalbaseball player andcoach. He played inMajor League Baseball as a left-handedpitcher between 1965 and 1972 for theSt. Louis Cardinals,Montreal Expos and theAtlanta Braves. After his playing career, Jaster served as a major league coach and then as a pitching coordinator for the Braves.
Before Jaster was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals on January 1, 1962, he attendedNorthwood University. Jaster made his major league debut on September 17, 1965 versus theLos Angeles Dodgers at the age of 21. He finished the year with a record of 3–0 and an ERA of 1.61. All three of Jaster's starts were complete game victories.
Jaster spent most of 1966 in the big leagues where he finished with a record of 11–5 with an ERA of 3.26 which earned him a tie for 4th in theRookie of the Year balloting for that season. The main highlight of Jaster's 1966 season, were his league leading five shutouts, all of which were against the NL pennant winningLos Angeles Dodgers.[1]
Because of his success against Los Angeles, some people nicknamed Jaster 'The Dodger Killer'. Others gave him the nickname, 'The Creeper'.[2]
Over Jaster's seven-year MLB playing career, he batted .170. Of his twenty-nine career hits, only three were for extra bases, two of which were home runs.
Jaster pitched two more years for St. Louis but never won more than nine games in a season. On May 31, 1968, Jaster pitched no-hit baseball for 7.2 innings against theNew York Mets. After retiring the first twenty-three batters he faced, Jaster gave up a single toGreg Goossen.[3]
Larry Jaster made appearances in both the1967 and1968 World Series. It was during Game 6 of the 1968 series that he surrendered agrand slam toJim Northrup.[4] Detroit went on to win the game 13–1, and the series four games to three after being down three games to one.
After the World Series, Jaster was drafted 47th overall by the Montreal Expos in the1968 MLB expansion draft. He made history on April 14, 1969 by throwing the first pitch in a Major League regular season game inCanada. The Expos defeated Jaster's former team, the Cardinals, 8–7 atJarry Park that day.[5] Jaster, who gave up seven runs (only two of which were earned) in 3.2 innings of pitching, did not get the decision.
Jaster made six of his eight career errors while playing for Montreal. He finished the 1969 season with a .684fielding percentage.
After the 1969 season was over, Jaster was sent to theAtlanta Braves in exchange for pitcherJim Britton and minor leaguecatcher Don Johnson.
Jaster was only twenty-eight years old when he played his last MLB game on October 4, 1972. After that he played two more years of professional baseball with theRichmond Braves.
After his playing days were over, Jaster has worked as a minor leaguepitching coach or pitching coordinator in the Atlanta Braves[6] andBaltimore Orioles organizations.[7] At present he lives inWest Palm Beach, Florida.[8]