| Mike Witt | |
|---|---|
 Witt with the Angels in 1987 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1960-07-20)July 20, 1960 (age 65) Fullerton, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 11, 1981, for the California Angels | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 17, 1993, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 117–116 |
| Earned run average | 3.83 |
| Strikeouts | 1,373 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Michael Atwater Witt (born July 20, 1960) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played 12 seasons inMajor League Baseball between 1981 and 1993, and threw the 11thperfect game in MLB history in 1984.
Mike Witt was born inFullerton, California, on July 20, 1960, to a family of six children.[1][2] His father worked forColgate-Palmolive and his mother was a teacher at a Catholic school.[3] Witt started playingLittle League Baseball at age 9, and when he was 10, his oldest brother taught him how to throw thecurveball, which became his primary pitch.[2][3]
He played both baseball and basketball competitively forServite High School. As a 6-ft, 7-in tall All-County basketball player, many assumed basketball would be his sport of choice, but he found baseball more enjoyable.[4] His pitching took Servite to a 14-0 record and victory at the 1978CIF Southern Section 4A baseball championship, and he was named theAngelus League's Player of the Year. He was drafted out of high school in the fourth round of the1978 Major League Baseball draft.
He was sent first to theRookie LeagueIdaho Falls Angels of thePioneer League, then theSingle-ASalinas Spurs in 1979. He was promoted to theEl Paso Diablos in 1980, and despite having only a dozen Double-A games to his name, was invited to spring training with the California Angels for 1981.[4]
At 20 years of age, Witt made his major league debut with theCalifornia Angels on April 11, 1981. He went 8-9 with a 3.28 ERA his rookie season, which was shortened by theMajor League Baseball strike.[5] He stumbled in his third season, finishing 7-14 with a 4.91 ERA, and was sent to play for theTiburones de La Guaira of theVenezuelan League, where he won seven of eight decisions.[2]
Possessing a greatcurveball as well as a good fastball, Witt's breakout season came in1984, when he went 15–11 for the Angels. On July 23 of that year, hestruck out 16Seattle Mariners during a complete game five-hitter; but the highlight of the year came on the final day of the season, September 30,[6] when he pitched the 11thperfect game in baseball history against theTexas Rangers atArlington Stadium. He struck out 10 and needed just 94 pitches to complete the gem.Witt's perfect game is, as of 2020, one of fiveno-hitters pitched on the final day of a Major League Baseball regular season.
From 1984 to1987, Witt led the Angels every year inwins, strikeouts, innings pitched, and complete games. His best season was1986, when he was named teamMost Valuable Player after compiling 18 wins and a 2.84earned run average, finishing third behindRoger Clemens andTeddy Higuera for theAmerican LeagueCy Young Award, and guiding the Angels to within one strike of theWorld Series.
In the middle of the 1987 season, however, Witt suddenly lost his overpowering stuff and saw his strikeout numbers decline significantly. He did manage to combine with starterMark Langston to pitch a no-hitter on April 11, 1990, againstSeattle,[7] pitching the last two innings. Combined with his perfect game this makes him the only pitcher to throw a complete game no-hitter and also appear in relief for a combined no-hitter.
Witt was traded to theNew York Yankees on May 11, 1990, forDave Winfield,[6] but suffered his first career injury on his fifth start.[4] He was re-signed by the Yankees to an $8 million, 3-year contract, but missed most of the 1991 and 1992 seasons while recovering fromTommy John surgery, and he won no more than five games before retiring in 1993.[4]
Witt met Lisa Fenn, who worked for the Angels' group sales department, his rookie year.[5] They wed in 1983, and have three children: daughter Kellen Marie and sons Justin and Kevin.[4]
Witt did not pursue a coaching career in college or professional baseball as he wanted to spend time with his family.[8] He transitioned to coaching high school, starting withDana Hills High School in 1994.[9] He followed his sons in 2000 toSanta Margarita Catholic High School, becoming varsity assistant and pitching coach there.[5]
· Baseball Almanac, orRetrosheet| Preceded by | Perfect game pitcher September 30, 1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher September 30, 1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | No-hit game April 11, 1990 (withMark Langston) | Succeeded by |
