| Gregg Olson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Olson with the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1966-10-11)October 11, 1966 (age 58) Scribner, Nebraska, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 2, 1988, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 22, 2001, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 40–39 |
| Earned run average | 3.46 |
| Strikeouts | 588 |
| Saves | 217 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Greggory William Olson (born October 11, 1966) is an American former professionalbaseball player,coach,scout and televisionsports commentator. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) as a right-handedpitcher from 1988 through 2001, most prominently as a member of theBaltimore Orioles where he established himself as one of the premierrelief pitchers in theAmerican League (AL). Olson was named the ALRookie of the Year in 1989, his first full season in the major leagues and, the following season was named to his onlyAmerican League All-Star team. He set an Orioles team record of 41 consecutive scorelessinnings and, he holds the team record for careersaves.
During Olson's major league tenure, he also played for theAtlanta Braves,Cleveland Indians,Kansas City Royals,Detroit Tigers,Houston Astros,Minnesota Twins,Arizona Diamondbacks andLos Angeles Dodgers. In 2008, Olson was inducted into theBaltimore Orioles Hall of Fame and, in 2021 he was inducted into theNational College Baseball Hall of Fame.[1][2]
Olson attendedOmaha Northwest High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was a pitcher. He was named to theABCA High School All-America Baseball Team in 1985.[3] He led the Huskies to four straight state titles. His father, Bill Olson, was his high school coach. Olson appeared inSports Illustrated's "Faces In The Crowd" section for the 07-16-84 Vol 61, No. 3.[citation needed] In the state championship game of his senior year, Olson threw a no-hitter.[citation needed]
After graduating from high school in 1985, Olson attendedAuburn University, where he playedcollege baseball for theAuburn Tigers for three seasons. He was a decorated pitcher for the Tigers, earning First-Team All-America honors fromBaseball America in both 1987 and 1988. Olson was a two-time SECERA leader, including a 1.27 mark in 1987, when he won back-to-backSEC Tournament games to lead the Tigers to theirfirst NCAA Tournament since 1978.[4]
TheBaltimore Orioles selected Olson in the first round, with the fourth pick, of the1988 MLB draft, and he signed for a $200,000signing bonus[5] before making his major league debut on September 2, 1988. A reliever, he threw what baseball historian Sheldon Stewart referred to as a "blazing fastball and devastating curve".[6]
In 1989, Olson became the first reliever to win theAmerican League Rookie of the Year Award. Olson also set an American League rookie record with 27 saves, and had a 5–2 mark with a 1.69earned run average (ERA) and 90strikeouts in 85innings.
Selected to theAll-Star team in 1990, Olson set a club record of 37 saves during the season and collected 31 and 36 in the next two years. On July 13, 1991, Olson combined with 3 other Baltimore pitchers in a no-hitter against the Oakland Athletics.[7] In August 1993, Olson suffered a torn elbow ligament injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year. He finished with 29 saves and a career low 1.60 ERA, but Baltimore opted not to take a risk with him and signedLee Smith as their newcloser. Olson struggled with a succession of injuries over the next years, playing for seven different teams from 1994 to 1997.
In 1998, Olson enjoyed a fruitful comeback with the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks. He set a franchise record of 30 saves (broken byByung-hyun Kim in 2002) and was also part of a rare feat. On May 28, with Arizona leading theSan Francisco Giants 8–5, Olson began the bottom of the ninth inning by striking outDarryl Hamilton, but the Giants then loaded the bases with twowalks and ahit beforeStan Javier had anRBIgrounder that made it 8–6. Afterpinch-hitterJ. T. Snow walked to load the bases,managerBuck Showalter ordered Olson to intentionally walkBarry Bonds, forcing home arun, and bringing upBrent Mayne, who worked the count full before he lined toright field for the third out. Olson put together one of the strangest saves imaginable, working around six walks in1+1⁄3 innings. He threw 49 pitches (not counting the bases-loaded intentional walk) and only 22 of them were for strikes. Olson's only major-league hit was ahome run during his last major-leagueat-bat,[8] on April 20, 1998.[9]
Olson was replaced by new closerMatt Mantei in 1999. He finished his career as asetup man for the Dodgers.
In a 14-year career, Olson compiled 217 saves with a 40–39 record, 588 strikeouts, and a 3.46 ERA in 672 innings pitched.
On March 19, 2008, Olson was elected to theBaltimore Orioles Hall of Fame, and was inducted during apre-game ceremony atOriole Park at Camden Yards on August 9, 2008.[10] He is currently a scout for theSan Diego Padres.
In 2016, Olson served as pitching coach to actressKylie Bunbury, who played "Ginny Baker" on the scriptedFOX television seriesPitch.[11]
From 2017 to 2020 Olson was acolor analyst for Orioles broadcasts onMASN.[12] He additionally covered a series for MASN in 2023 when the O's took on the Blue Jays May 19–21.
On March 29, 2021, Olson announced he had been diagnosed withprostate cancer.[13][14]
| Preceded by | No-hit game July 13,1991 withMilacki,Flanagan &Williamson | Succeeded by |
