| Mike Caldwell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1949-01-22)January 22, 1949 (age 77) Tarboro, North Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 4, 1971, for the San Diego Padres | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 25, 1984, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 137–130 |
| Earned run average | 3.81 |
| Strikeouts | 939 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Ralph Michael Caldwell (born January 22, 1949) is anAmerican former professionalbaseball left-handedpitcher.
Caldwell was drafted in the 12th round of the1971 amateur draft by theSan Diego Padres after graduating fromNorth Carolina State University, where he playedcollege baseball for theWolfpack.[1] He made his major league debut on September 4, 1971, against theAtlanta Braves. His Padres won‐lost record of 13–25 included a second full major‐league season in1973 in which he was mostly arelief pitcher who went 5–14 with a 3.74earned run average (ERA). He was traded from the Padres to theSan Francisco Giants forWillie McCovey andBernie Williams on October 25, 1973. The Giants were desperate for more left‐handed pitchers beyondRon Bryant.[2]
Caldwell was traded again in 1976, this time to theSt. Louis Cardinals withJohn D'Acquisto andDave Rader forWillie Crawford,Vic Harris andJohn Curtis. Before the start of the 1977 season, Caldwell was traded for the third time, going to theCincinnati Reds forPat Darcy. After just 14 games, the Reds traded him to theMilwaukee Brewers for minor leaguers Dick O'Keeffe and Garry Pyka.
Caldwell had his best season in 1978 when he went 22–9 with a 2.36 ERA and led the AL in complete games with 23. Caldwell was named theAL Comeback Player of the Year byThe Sporting News and finished second in theCy Young Award balloting toRon Guidry. Caldwell finished in double figures in victories for six consecutive seasons for the Brewers (1978–1983) and won two games in the 1982 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals in a losing effort, the first win being a complete game shutout in game 1. Caldwell was given his unconditional release by the Brewers organization in 1985. Caldwell, as of 2019, is still the Brewers' all-time leader in wins by a left-handed pitcher, with 102.
In 1978, he was one of the three left-handed pitchers named "Mike" (the others beingMike Flanagan andMike Willis) to hand the New York Yankees'Ron Guidry a loss in his 25–3 season. He and the Brewersshut out theNew York Yankees and Guidry 6–0 on July 7,1978. During his prime years in Milwaukee, Caldwell was known as a "Yankee killer", and proved to be very successful against them. From 1977 to 1982, Caldwell was 12–5 with a 2.66 ERA against the Yankees.
Caldwell threw mainly a sinker and a regular fastball, relying on control and varying speeds of pitches to get outs, rather than overpowering hitters. In his entire MLB career, Caldwell struck out 100 or more batters in a full-season only twice.
· Baseball Almanac