| Dave Righetti | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Righetti with the San Francisco Giants | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1958-11-28)November 28, 1958 (age 66) San Jose, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 16, 1979, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 18, 1995, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 82–79 |
| Earned run average | 3.46 |
| Strikeouts | 1,112 |
| Saves | 252 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
As player
As coach | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
David Allan Righetti (born November 28, 1958), nicknamed "Rags", is an American professionalbaseballcoach and former player. A left-handedpitcher, Righetti played inMajor League Baseball from 1979 through 1995 for theNew York Yankees,San Francisco Giants,Oakland Athletics,Toronto Blue Jays, andChicago White Sox. He served as the pitching coach for the Giants from 2000 through 2017.
Righetti began his career as astarting pitcher, but the Yankees converted him into arelief pitcher, using him as theircloser, in 1984. He won theAmerican League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award in 1981. As a starter, he threw ano-hitter on July 4, 1983. As a closer, he was twice named theAL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year and pitched in twoMLB All-Star Games. He was the first player in history to both pitch a no-hitter and also lead the league insaves in his career.Dennis Eckersley later duplicated the feat, as didDerek Lowe.
David Allan Righetti was born on November 28, 1958, inSan Jose, California.[1][2] His father,Leo, was a professionalbaseball player. His brother, Steve, is thirteen months older than Dave. Leo trained his sons to become baseball players. Dave and Steve starred for their Lincoln GlenLittle League team, Letterman, with Dave playing in theoutfield and Steve playingshortstop.[3]
Righetti attendedPioneer High School. Paddy Cottrell, ascout for theTexas Rangers ofMajor League Baseball, noticed Righetti and suggested he become apitcher due to his throwing motion. As a senior, he was named to the All-League team.[4]
Righetti enrolled atSan Jose City College, where he continued his development as a pitcher on the school's baseball team.[3] He was named thejunior college player of the year, beating out teammateDave Stieb.[citation needed]
At Cottrell's urging, the Rangers selected Righetti on January 11, 1977, in the first round (10th overall pick) of the amateurdraft. The Rangers selected Steve in the sixth round and told Dave that they would sign Steve only if Dave signed. Both Righetti brothers signed with the Rangers.[3] Dave made his professional debut that year inminor league baseball with theAsheville Tourists of theClass AWestern Carolinas League, where he pitched to an 11–3win–loss record.[5]
In 1978, Righetti pitched for theTulsa Drillers of theClass AATexas League. In a July game against theMidland RockHounds, Righetti recorded a league-record 21strikeouts.[6]Jerry Walker, a scout for theNew York Yankees, was present in the stands. Yankees ownerGeorge Steinbrenner, while negotiating a trade with Rangers ownerBrad Corbett that offseason, specifically waited until late in their negotiations to ask that Righetti be added to the trade.[3] On November 10, 1978, the Yankees acquired Righetti, along withJuan Beníquez,Mike Griffin, Greg Jemison, andPaul Mirabella, while the Rangers acquiredSparky Lyle,Domingo Ramos,Mike Heath,Larry McCall,Dave Rajsich, and cash. The Yankees introduced Righetti as "the nextRon Guidry".[7] Righetti was almost traded to theMinnesota Twins in January 1979; the Twins and Yankees were unable to complete a deal in which Righetti,Chris Chambliss,Juan Beníquez, andDámaso García would have moved to Minnesota in exchange forRod Carew.[8]
Righetti made his major league debut with the Yankees on September 16, 1979, wearing uniform number 56. In this game against theDetroit Tigers he pitched fiveinnings, striking out three and allowing threehits, sixwalks, and threeearned runs. After Righetti made his second start, Yankees'managerBilly Martin declared that Righetti "will win 20 games next season".[7] However, Righetti struggled with hiscontrol, and spent the 1980 season with theColumbus Clippers of theClass AAAInternational League, where he had a 6–10 win–loss record and a 4.63 ERA with 101 walks and 139 strikeouts in 142 innings.[9]
Though Righetti pitched well in spring training in 1981, the Yankees did not have room for him on their roster, so he began the season with Columbus. After he pitched to a 5–0 record and 1.00 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 45 innings, the Yankees recalled Righetti from Columbus in May 1981.[9][10] He was assigneduniform number 19. The Yankees reserved numbers ending in 9 for pitchers they viewed as having promise:Dick Tidrow wore 19 for the Yankees, whileCatfish Hunter wore 29,Ron Davis wore 39, and Guidry wore 49.[11] Righetti pitched strongly as a starter for the Yankees, posting an 8–4 win–loss record in 15games started, with a 2.06earned run average (ERA) and 89 strikeouts in 105innings pitched during the 1981 season.[7] Righetti won theAmerican League'sRookie of the Year award, beatingRich Gedman andBob Ojeda.[12] Righetti defeated theMilwaukee Brewers twice during the1981 American League Division Series.[citation needed] The Yankees reached theWorld Series that year; however, he was knocked out of game three of the1981 World Series early, which was won by theLos Angeles Dodgers.[10]
In 1982, Righetti pitched to an 8.53 ERA duringspring training. Steinbrenner sought to demote Righetti to the minor leagues, but stated he "got outvoted then".Through June 1982, Righetti had pitched to a 5–5 win–loss record with a 4.23 ERA. Though his 77 strikeouts were fourth-best in theAmerican League, his 62 walks were considered a problem. The Yankees demoted Righetti to the minor leagues, for what Steinbrenner termed a "2+1⁄2-week intensive brushing up".[citation needed]Sammy Ellis, Righetti's pitching coach with Columbus, said that Righetti had been rushing his pitching motion, which was likely due to anxiety.[13] Working with Ellis, Righetti made four starts for the Clippers, recording 33 strikeouts in 26 innings, before he was recalled to New York. Righetti finished the 1982 season with 11 wins in 27 starts, with a 3.79 ERA and 162 strikeouts and 108 walks. His strikeouts were third-best in the AL, while his walks led the league.[7]
OnJuly 4, 1983, Righetti threw ano-hitter against theBoston Red Sox atYankee Stadium. It was the first Yankee no-hitter sinceDon Larsen'sperfect game in the1956 World Series, and the first by a Yankee left-hander since 1917. Righetti recorded a swingingstrikeout againstWade Boggs to end the game. Twenty-five years later, Righetti reminisced about the game:
My biggest worry, because I had a tendency to fall toward third base, was him (Boggs) tapping a ball between me andMattingly and me trying to get to first base...I threw a lot of fastballs during the at bat, but the last slider I ended up throwing, he happened to miss it. Thank goodness.[14]
In 1984 Righetti was moved to the Yankees' bullpen to replaceGoose Gossage, who signed with theSan Diego Padres in the offseason, as their closer. Despite the move being due to the Yankees having an excess of starters, many criticized the decision, arguing that Righetti was more valuable pitching as a starter, where he would accrue more innings.[citation needed]
Entering his first game as a relief pitcher with thebases loaded, Righetti did not allow an inherited runner to score, retiring the final seven batters of the game.[15] He proved even more effective in relief, averaging 32 saves per season over the next seven years with the Yankees, and being named anAll-Star in 1986 and 1987. On October 4, 1986, he saved both games of a doubleheader against theBoston Red Sox, finishing the season with 46 saves, and breaking the major league record shared byDan Quisenberry andBruce Sutter. The record would stand untilBobby Thigpen saved 57 games for theChicago White Sox in 1990.[16] Righetti retained the single-season record for left-handers until 1993, whenRandy Myers saved 53 games for theChicago Cubs; Righetti still owns the AL record for left-handers.
Righetti became a free agent after the 1987 season. Amid rumors that Righetti would sign a three-year contract worth $20 million with theTokyo Giants ofNippon Professional Baseball, Righetti'sagent acknowledged that the Giants did make Righetti an offer, but stated that the value was considerably less than what was reported, and stated that Righetti would continue to pitch in MLB.[17] The contract offer was later estimated at $10 million. Righetti chose to re-sign with the Yankees, signing a three-year contract worth $4.5 million.[18]
Righetti struggled with the Yankees early in the 1988 season, blowing four consecutive save opportunities, resulting in boos from theYankee Stadium crowds. He then recorded five saves in consecutive opportunities.[19]
Righetti became concerned with the direction the Yankees were taking, as they had traded awayRickey Henderson,Jack Clark, andDave Winfield.
After the 1990 season, Righetti signed as a free agent with theSan Francisco Giants, receiving a four-year contract worth $10 million.[20] While with the Giants in 1991, he broke Lyle's major league record for left-handers of 238 career saves; Righetti's record stood until 1994, whenJohn Franco surpassed Righetti's career total of 252.
Righetti saved 24 games in 1991. He lost the closer role during the 1992 season toRod Beck.[21] Righetti made a start on June 10, 1992, his first start since September 1983.[22] He pitched in middle relief for the Giants in the 1993 season.
Released by the Giants after the 1993 season, Righetti signed as a free agent with theOakland Athletics. After beginning 1994 with the Athletics, he was released.
Righetti signed as a free agent with theToronto Blue Jays in May 1994.[23] Righetti had a 0–1 win–loss record and 6.75 ERA for the Blue Jays.[24]
After that season, Righetti was released by the Blue Jays.[24]
In 1995, Righetti signed as a free agent with theChicago White Sox. On November 9, 1995, he was again granted free agency; but no team signed him. Righetti retired to end his 16-year career, finishing with 252 saves, a 3.46 ERA, and a record of 82–79 in 718 games.
In 2000, Righetti became the pitching coach for the Giants. Righetti's pitchers helped the Giants win the2002 National League pennant, although the Giants would lose theWorld Series in seven games to theAnaheim Angels.
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Despite uncertainty if he would return to the Giants for the 2007 season due to a managerial change, Righetti announced in early November 2007 that he would remain with the Giants in his present role.[25] He was the pitching coach for the pitching staff that includedMatt Cain,Madison Bumgarner,Tim Lincecum,Jonathan Sánchez, andBrian Wilson that won the2010,2012, and2014 World Series. An analysis byFangraphs showed that Righetti has an uncanny knack for teaching pitchers to avoid giving up home runs.[26]
After the2017 team tied for a Major League-worst 64–98win–loss record, Righetti was removed from his role as pitching coach on October 21, 2017, and moved into a front-office role with the Giants.[27] Righetti spent his entire 18 season coaching career as pitching coach of the San Francisco Giants, working under managersDusty Baker,Felipe Alou, andBruce Bochy. He served as the bullpen coach for theUnited States national baseball team in the2023 World Baseball Classic.[28]
Righetti and his wife had triplets (two daughters and one son), who were born in 1991; Righetti's sister-in-law served as asurrogate mother.[29]
· Baseball Almanac| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher July 4, 1983 | Succeeded by |
