| Bob Owchinko | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Owchinko in 1978 | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1955-01-01)January 1, 1955 (age 71) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| September 25, 1976, for the San Diego Padres | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| October 1, 1986, for the Montreal Expos | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 37–60 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 4.28 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 490 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Robert Dennis Owchinko (born January 1, 1955) is an American former professionalbaseball left-handedpitcher who played all or parts of ten seasons inMajor League Baseball (MLB). Initially drafted by theSan Diego Padres, he played for five teams during the 1980s. During his career, he worked as both astarter andrelief pitcher.
Owchinko pitched forFrank Cody High School andEastern Michigan University. He helped lead EMU to two straightNCAACollege World Series appearances, with a fifth-place finish in 1975 and second place finish in 1976. He was voted Eastern Michigan's Most Valuable Pitcher in 1975 with an 11-1 record. After the season, Owchinko helped leadthe U.S. Men's National Team to a silver medal in the1975 Pan American Games.
In 1976 he went 14-3 to earn Most Valuable Pitcher honors a second year in a row, and was named to the second-team All-America and first-team Academic All-America. Over his college career, he went 29–9 with a 2.15earned run average and a school record 309strikeouts in 305innings pitched. He earned four varsity letters in his time at EMU.[1]
Owchinko was picked in the first round (fifth overall) byPeter Bavasi for theSan Diego Padres in the1976 Major League Baseball draft. After going 6-2 with a 3.26 ERA for the double ATexas LeagueAmarillo Gold Sox, Owchinko was called up to the majors in his very first professional season. He made his major league debut on September 25 against theAtlanta Braves atAtlanta–Fulton County Stadium. After escaping the firstinning unscathed, he surrendered fourearned runs in .2 of an inning in the second before being pulled.[2] In his second start against theLos Angeles Dodgers, Owchinko lasted 2.2 innings, and gave up four earned runs. In two starts, Owchinko went 0-2 with a 16.62 ERA as a major leaguer in1976.
He began the1977 season with the triple AHawaii Islanders, but after going 5-1 with a 1.43 ERA through his first six starts, he was called up the majors in May. His first major league win came in relief on June 7 against theSt. Louis Cardinals.[3] He would also earn his first careershutout against the Cardinals later in the season.[4] All told, Owchinko went 9-12 with a 4.45 ERA with a career best 101 strikeouts his rookie season, and was named National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year.[5]
In1978, Owchinko went 10-13 with a 3.56 ERA in 202.1 innings pitched, all career highs. He was used more out of thebullpen in1979, appearing in a career-high 42 games. He went 4-7 as a starter, and 2-5 in relief despite having a much better ERA in relief (2.19) than as a starter (4.25).
After the season, Owchinko andoutfielderJim Wilhelm were traded to theCleveland Indians forJerry Mumphrey.[6] He began the season as a starter, but after going 0-4 with a 6.52 ERA through his first five starts, he was moved to the bullpen, making the occasional spot start. Injuries depleted Cleveland's starting rotation, giving Owchinko a second shot at starting. He responded with a four hitshutout of theDetroit Tigers,[7] however, would lose his next three starts to finish the season with a 2-9 record and 5.27 ERA. After just one season in Cleveland, he was included in a six-player trade to thePittsburgh Pirates forBert Blyleven andManny Sanguillén.[8] Just as the1981 season was set to begin, the Pirates flipped him to theOakland Athletics for aplayer to be named later & cash.
Owchinko was used exclusively out of the bullpen by A'smanagerBilly Martin. He earned his first careersave on May 2 against theNew York Yankees,[9] and was 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA with two saves in the first half of thestrike shortened 1981 season to help the A's capture theAmerican League East first half crown. He made his onlypost season appearance that year, pitching 1.2 innings and allowing one earned run in the1981 American League Championship Series against the Yankees.[10]
Owchinko led the A's in relief appearances in1982, going 2-4 with a 5.21 ERA and three saves in 54 games.
The A's released Owchinko just as the1983 season was set to start. He signed with the Pirates in May, and made one appearance with the club against the Cardinals. The first batter he faced,Andy Van Slyke, clubbed ahome run. Owchinko was pulled without recording anout after the second batter,Darrell Porter,doubled toright field.[11]
He pitched to a respectable 3-5 record and 4.12 ERA in 49 appearances for theCincinnati Reds in1984. After that, he became something of a minor league journeyman, pitching in the A's,Chicago White Sox andMontreal Expos organizations. He made three starts with the Expos toward the end of the1986 season, winning one,[12] before retiring.
| Category | W | L | PCT | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | WP | HBP | Fld% | Avg. | RBI | SH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 37 | 60 | .381 | 4.28 | 275 | 104 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 890.2 | 937 | 461 | 424 | 88 | 363 | 490 | 25 | 6 | .973 | .135 | 5 | 26 |
He was inducted into Eastern Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989,[1] and theMid-American Conference Hall of Fame in 1992.[13]
After retiring, Owchinko transitioned into a career in business. He gives back to his alma mater through theBob Owchinko Baseball Technology Endowment and theBob Owchinko Baseball Technology Expendable Funds.[14]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link) · Baseball Almanac