| Calvin Schiraldi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1962-06-16)June 16, 1962 (age 63) Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 1, 1984, for the New York Mets | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 3, 1991, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 32–39 |
| Earned run average | 4.28 |
| Strikeouts | 471 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Calvin Drew Schiraldi (born June 16, 1962) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) from 1984 through 1991 for five different teams. He is best remembered as the losing pitcher of Games 6 and 7 of the1986 World Series, when he pitched for theBoston Red Sox. Listed at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and 215 pounds (98 kg), he threw and batted right-handed.
Schiraldi was born inHouston, Texas, and attendedWestlake High School inAustin, Texas. He was drafted after high school by theChicago White Sox in the 17th round of the1980 Major League Baseball draft, but chose instead to attend theUniversity of Texas. Schiraldi, along with futureBoston Red Sox teammateRoger Clemens, pitched the1983Texas Longhorns baseball team to a1983 College World Series championship. Schiraldi was named theCollege World Series Most Outstanding Player and to the All-Tournament Team.
Following his performance in theCollege World Series, Schiraldi was selected by theNew York Mets in the first round (27th pick) of the1983 Major League Baseball draft. After going 17–4 with a 2.59earned run average for theJackson Mets andTidewater Tides in1984, Schiraldi received a September call-up to the Mets. He made his major league debut on September 1, starting the second game of adouble header against theSan Diego Padres, and gave up fiveruns (four earned) in 3.1 innings.[1] Schiraldi did not figure in the decision in that game. He made two more starts for the Mets that year, losing both.
Schiraldi split1985 between the Mets and Tidewater, earning his first major league win on April 22 against theSt. Louis Cardinals.[2] Following the season, Schiraldi was traded to the Red Sox along withJohn Christensen,Wes Gardner andLa Schelle Tarver forBob Ojeda,Tom McCarthy,John Mitchell and Chris Bayer.[3]
With theInternational League'sPawtucket Red Sox, Schiraldi was converted to areliever. He made his debut with the big league club on July 20,1986. With no outs, runners on first and third, and the Red Sox already down 6-3 to theSeattle Mariners in theKingdome, Schiraldi replacedJeff Sellers in the sixth inning. He allowed both inherited base runners to score, and gave up anearned run of his own in the sixth. However, he pitched a perfect seventh.[4]
He pitched again the next day, striking out four in2+2⁄3 innings without giving up a run.[5] He earned managerJohn McNamara's trust with similarly impressive performances on July 26 and August 1, and on August 3, with the Red Sox leading theKansas City Royals, 5–3, Schiraldi entered in the ninth inning with runners on first and second and no outs. He struck out the first two batters he faced and retired the third for his first careersave.[6]
Whereas closing duties had been split betweenBob Stanley andJoe Sambito up to that point, Schiraldi emerged as the Bosox'scloser for the remainder of the season. He ended the season with a 4–2 record, nine saves, a 1.41 ERA and 55strikeouts in 51 innings.
Schiraldi appeared in four of the seven games of the1986 American League Championship Series against theCalifornia Angels.[7] Although he took the loss in game four, he pitched respectably in the series, striking out five in the final two innings of game seven.
After saving game one of theWorld Series, Schiraldi entered game six in the bottom of the eighth afterRoger Clemens was lifted for a pinch hitter. The Red Sox were ahead, 3–2, but he gave up a game-tyingsacrifice fly to Mets catcherGary Carter. Schiraldi allowed the first two batters to reach base in the ninth but retired the next three. The Sox gave him a two-run lead when he took the mound in the tenth, three outs away from what would have been their first World Series title since 1918.
Schiraldi retired the first two batters but allowed three straight singles to Carter,Kevin Mitchell andRay Knight. Knight's hit knocked in Carter to cut the Red Sox lead to 1 run. Schiraldi was replaced by Bob Stanley, who threw awild pitch, which allowed Mitchell to score the tying run.Mookie Wilson followed by hitting a ground ball that rolled between the legs ofBill Buckner, scoring Knight and giving the Mets an improbable victory.[8]
That led to a deciding game seven. With the score tied, 3–3, in the seventh inning, Schiraldi gave up a leadoff home run to Knight, who became the series MVP. Schiraldi gave up two more earned runs in just1⁄3 of an inning to take the loss in the series clincher. His ERA for the World Series was 13.50.
In1987, Wes Gardner, who also came over from the Mets in the Ojeda trade, emerged as the primary closer for the Red Sox, though Schiraldi did have six saves. Following the season, he andAl Nipper were traded to theChicago Cubs forLee Smith. With the Cubs, Schiraldi was converted back into astarter, and went 9-13 with a 4.38 ERA in1988. The Cubs shifted him back to thebullpen in1989 before sending him to theSan Diego Padres just before the August 30 trade deadline, withDarrin Jackson and a player to be named later forLuis Salazar andMarvell Wynne.
Schiraldi made four starts with the Padres in 1989, going 3–1 with a 2.53 ERA. Though he did make eight starts with the Padres in1990 (including the game whereRoseanne Barr infamously performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" atJack Murphy Stadium),[9] he found himself in the bullpen for most of the season. Schiraldi went 3–8 with one save and a 4.41 ERA in 1990. Schiraldi recorded his final MLB save on April 23, 1990; he pitched the final 3 innings of a 13-3 padres victory over the Giants.[10] The Padres released him duringSpring training the following season. He hit twohome runs during his stint with the Padres.
Schiraldi caught on with theHouston Astros following his release from the Padres. He was assigned to their triple APacific Coast League affiliate, theTucson Toros, with whom he went 3–2 with a 4.47 ERA before being dealt to theTexas Rangers. He made three appearances with the Rangers in1991, spending most of the season with theirAmerican Association affiliate, theOklahoma City 89ers.
Schiraldi was previously the head coach of the baseball team atSt. Michael's Catholic Academy in Austin, Texas, and the 17U Texas Fire travel team.[citation needed] He is currently[when?] the head coach for the Action Baseball Club 17U White team.[11]
Schiraldi is married to Debbie Murphy Schiraldi, whom he met in 1984 inJackson, Mississippi, while pitching for theJackson Mets, a Texas League Class AA affiliate of the New York Mets. That year Schiraldi went 14-3 for the championship squad. Calvin and Debbie Schiraldi have two children, Samantha and Lukas.
Schiraldi's son Lukas played four years of baseball at St. Michael's Catholic Academy under his father as head coach, and was named to the All-State team as a pitcher his senior season.[12] Like his father, Lukas pitched for theUniversity of Texas Longhorns, going 9-4 during the 2014 season.[13] Lukas was signed in June 2014 by theSeattle Mariners and played in their minor league system until July 2017, when he was part of a trade to theMiami Marlins forDavid Phelps. He was released by the Marlins'Jupiter Hammerheads in April 2019.[14]
Schiraldi wrote the bookThe Arena: The True Story of One Man's Search for Excellence and the Price He Paid for Daring to Achieve It about his upbringing, time spent at the University of Texas, his Major League career and post playing days.[15]