| Al Leiter | |
|---|---|
 Leiter atCitizens Bank Park in November 2009 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1965-10-23)October 23, 1965 (age 60) Toms River, New Jersey, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 15, 1987, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 2005, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 162–132 |
| Earned run average | 3.80 |
| Strikeouts | 1,974 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Alois Terry Leiter (/ˈlaɪtər/; born October 23, 1965) is an American former professionalbaseball player and current televisionsports commentator. He played inMajor League Baseball as a left-handedpitcher from1987 to2005 for theNew York Yankees,Toronto Blue Jays,Florida Marlins, andNew York Mets.
A two-time National League (NL)All-Star player, Leiter pitched for three World Series winning teams and threw ano-hitter in 1996 during his tenure with the Marlins. As a member of the New York Mets, Leiter was named the recipient of the prestigiousRoberto Clemente Award in2000. In 2002, Leiter became the first pitcher in MLB history towin against all thirty teams. After his playing career, he worked as a television color commentator and baseball analyst for theYES Network and theMLB Network.
Leiter was raised in a baseball-oriented family; all five of his brothers played the game.[1] A native ofBerkeley Township, New Jersey,[2] Leiter attendedCentral Regional High School, in the township'sBayville section.[3] During one stretch in high school, he pitched consecutive no-hitters followed by a 32-strikeout game in 13 innings on April 19, 1984 (a game which ended in a tie when it was called for rain).[1][4] Leiter was selected for theWilson First TeamAll-American team. In 2016, the NJSIAA named Leiter to the NJ High School Hall of Fame.
Leiter was drafted byNew York Yankees in1984 MLB draft as a second round pick. Both he and his brotherMark became Yankees prospects.
Leiter made his MLB debut as the starting pitcher for the Yankees on September 15, 1987, earning thewin in a Yankees 4–3 victory over theMilwaukee Brewers atYankee Stadium. Leiter has mentioned on aYES Network broadcast that early in his career with the Yankees, managerBilly Martin walked up to him and asked him why he was lifting weights. Leiter responded, "To strengthen my arm." Billy was quoted as saying, "If you want to strengthen your arm, do some long toss." The young Leiter grew nervous easily; teammateTommy John observed "If they had named him to start on opening day [in 1989], he wouldn't have slept for a week. That's how high-strung he was. He was a rookie bouncing off the walls."[5] In one of his final starts as a young player for the Yankees, managerDallas Green left Leiter in to throw 162 pitches on a cold damp day in 1989.
The Yankees traded Leiter to theToronto Blue Jays foroutfielderJesse Barfield on April 30, 1989.[6] After the trade, the left-hander had arthroscopic surgery. He pitched in fewer than 16 innings for the Blue Jays from 1989 to 1992, because of the surgery, a pinched nerve in his elbow, tendinitis, and another arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder. His statistics during this period were a 5.17 ERA in15+2⁄3 innings, starting once and earning no decisions. He was, however, able to overcome a blisters problem by developing a regimen that included applying aliniment, Band-Aids, and filing his calluses.[7]
Leiter finally got over his injury troubles in 1993, making 32 appearances (12 starts) for the Blue Jays. That year he appeared in 5 postseason games and even picked up a win in relief in Game 1, and hit adouble in Game 3 of theWorld Series, as the Blue Jays won their second consecutive championship. Leiter pitched effectively for the Blue Jays for the next two seasons before departing viafree agency in 1996.
Following the 1995 season, Leiter left Toronto and signed with theFlorida Marlins as a free agent. In his first season as a Marlin, Leiter made his firstAll-Star team, going 16–12 with a 2.93ERA and 200strikeouts.
On May 11, 1996, he pitched ano-hitter against theColorado Rockies, the first no-hitter in Marlins franchise history.[8][9] This was also the first no-hitter that included a three-pitch inning.[10] Leiter was also selected to his first All Star game. The game was played at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia where he recorded the last out of a National League 6–0 win over the American League. The win was the last NL win for 13 years until 2010 when the National League won the All Star Classic in Anaheim.
In 1997, Leiter won anotherWorld Series as the Marlins beat theCleveland Indians. Leiter started Game 7 for the Marlins, pitching 6 innings and giving up twoearned runs while being credited with a no decision. The Marlins would go on to win the game 3–2 in 11 innings to capture the championship.
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In the following off-season, Leiter was traded to theNew York Mets in part of the Marlins'fire sale where ownerWayne Huizenga traded away almost all of the team's higher priced players.
In Leiter's first season as a Met, he reached a career high in wins going 17–6 and a career low in ERA finishing with a 2.47 ERA. In 1999, when the Mets were tied with theCincinnati Reds for the National LeagueWild Card spot after 162 games, Leiter was the Mets starting pitcher in the "winner take all" one game playoff atCinergy Field inCincinnati. Leiter pitched a 2-hitshutout to earn the win in the Mets 5–0 victory. The win put the Mets in theplayoffs for the first time in 11 seasons. The Mets would go on to lose the1999 National League Championship Series to theAtlanta Braves 4 games to 2.
In 2000, Leiter made the All-Star team once again going 16–8 with a 3.20 ERA and 200 strikeouts. The Mets made the playoffs again in 2000 and this time reached the World Series. Leiter started Game 1 of the2000 World Series at Yankee Stadium and Game 5 atShea Stadium. Although he managed to achieve a 2.87 ERA and 16 strikeouts in15+2⁄3 innings, the Mets lost both games he started and eventually lost the World Series 4 games to 1. He was booed by Yankee fans when presented that year'sRoberto Clemente Award prior to Game 2 of the World Series. Leiter was the second New York Met to be honored with the award. During the 2000 season, he pitched in the All Star game, and gave up a single to Derek Jeter.[11]
On April 30, 2002, Leiter became the first Major League pitcher todefeat all 30 teams, after beating theArizona Diamondbacks 10–1.[12][13] Leiter would pitch for the Mets until the end of the 2004 season. In his seven seasons in a Met uniform, all wearing number 22, he went 95–67 with a 3.42 ERA. At the time he left the Mets, he ranked highly on several Mets all-time lists including wins (6th), strikeouts (7th with 1106), innings pitched (7th with 1360.0), and games started (6th with 213). He was the MetsOpening Day starting pitcher in 1999, 2001, and 2002.
In ten straight seasons, from 1995 to 2004, Leiter had at least 10 wins and at least a .500 record.
Following the 2004 season, the Mets declined Leiter's US$10 million option for 2005, making him afree agent. His former team, the Marlins, signed Leiter to a one-year, $8 million contract on December 8, 2004.
Leiter struggled during his return to the Marlins. Hewalked more batters than usual (60 in 80 innings, in addition to 88 hits). In 17 appearances (16 starts), he had a 3–7 record and a 6.64 ERA, and he took much criticism for the Marlins' first-half struggles in 2005 (they were 7 games behind the surprisingWashington Nationals at the All-Star break). He was demoted to the bullpen in late June, but he returned to the rotation after an injury toJosh Beckett. On July 10, when the Marlins played their last game before the three-day All-Star break, he gave up six runs in three-plus innings.
On July 14, 2005, the Florida Marlins designated Leiter for assignment.
On July 15, 2005, Leiter was acquired by the New York Yankees, who had four starting pitchers on the disabled list, for a player to be named later. His first start as a Yankee since April 26, 1989, came on July 17, 2005, against the division-leadingBoston Red Sox. Leiter won the game, pitching6+1⁄3 innings, allowing one run and threehits, and striking out eight. After several starts with mixed success, he informedJoe Torre that he would be willing to pitch out of the bullpen, where he would stay for the latter part of the season, yielding his starting slot toAaron Small.
Leiter worked out of the bullpen in the2005 American League Division Series pitching in four of the five games between the Yankees andLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Angels won the series 3 games to 2.[14] In his final official appearance in a Major League uniform, Leiter earned a win, pitching2⁄3 scoreless innings in Game 4 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won the game 3–2.
Leiter signed a minor league contract with the Yankees in 2006; however, he stated he would likely retire. The primary reason he spent part ofspring training with the Yankees was to keep in shape for theWorld Baseball Classic. After the United States team was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic, he officially retired in an interview on YES, after a Yankees spring training victory versus the Indians where Leiter pitched1⁄3 of an inning.[15]
Leiter joined the United States roster for the2006 World Baseball Classic, pitching2⁄3 of an inning.
Al Leiter has worked in the television broadcast booth forFox during the playoffs for several seasons, mainly to provide in-depth analysis of various pitchers. Worked the post season for ESPN as studio analyst in 1998 and 1999. While still playing for the NY Mets, his first opportunity as a color commentator for Fox Sports was in2003 NLCS. The Marlins went on to win the World Series that year beating the Yankees. Leiter worked as an analyst alongsideThom Brennaman andSteve Lyons. The following year, Leiter was in the booth withJoe Buck andTim McCarver for the Boston Red Sox Vs. NY Yankees in the ALCS. Since 2006, Leiter has worked as acolor commentator and a studio analyst for theYES Network. He won a NY Emmy in 2007 for the "Manny game" in Boston. In 2009, Leiter was hired by MLB Network and appeared on the first show the Network produced on January 1, 2009. He became a studio analyst forMLB Network in addition to his commentating job for theYES Network. In 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2019 he received a National Sports Emmy Award Nomination for Studio Analyst. In 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019 he received the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Studio Show-Daily MLB Tonight Segment Producer. He also worked select games for theMiami Marlins onFox Sports Florida in 2016. In 2016, he won the NY Sports Emmy for game analyst for the YES Network.[16]
On March 3, 2019, he was named a baseball operations advisor for theMets. Leiter will focus on scouting and player development with an emphasis on mental preparation for pitchers, working with players at every level of the organization, from newly drafted players to Major Leaguers.
Leiter has won nearly every philanthropic award MLB offers, including theRoberto Clemente Award in 2000 and theBranch Rickey Award in 1999.
Leiter has expressed interest in running for political office as aRepublican in his home state of New Jersey.[17] He served as a member ofNew Jersey GovernorChris Christie's transition team. Leiter was appointed as a member to the New Jersey Sports, Gaming, and Entertainment Committee. Governor Christie nominated him for theNew Jersey Hall of Fame Commission and he was appointed to the commission by the state senate.[18]
Leiter has donated thousands of dollars to GOP candidates, includingDonald Trump,David Perdue,Kelly Loeffler,Lindsey Graham, Chris Christie, andRudy Giuliani.[19]
Leiter is of Austrian,Czech and British descent.[20] He and his wife Lori have four children: three daughters, Lindsay, Carly and Katelyn, and one son,Jack (who made his MLB debut with theTexas Rangers in 2024). His brother, Kurt, played in theBaltimore Orioles organization and reached as high asDouble-A.[21] Another brother,Mark Leiter, pitched 11 seasons in the Majors.[22] His nephewMark Leiter Jr. is also a professional baseball pitcher, making Mark Sr. and Al the first brothers to play in Major League Baseball who also had sons play in the Majors.[23]
'I don't give a —— how it feels,' said a laughing Leiter, whose last hit came for Central Regional High in Bayville, N.J., where he batted .220 in 1984.
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher May 11, 1996 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | NL hits per nine innings 1996 | Succeeded by |