| Todd Stottlemyre | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1965-05-20)May 20, 1965 (age 60) Yakima, Washington, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 6, 1988, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 26, 2002, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 138–121 |
| Earned run average | 4.28 |
| Strikeouts | 1,587 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Todd Vernon Stottlemyre (born May 20, 1965) is an American former professionalbaseball player. He played for 15 seasons inMajor League Baseball as astarting pitcher from1988 to2002, most notably as a member of theToronto Blue Jays with whom he won two World Series championships in1992 and1993. He also played for theOakland Athletics,St. Louis Cardinals,Texas Rangers, and theArizona Diamondbacks.
Stottlemyre was drafted by theNew York Yankees in the 5th round of the 1983 amateur draft, but did not sign.[1] He attendedYakima Valley Community College. In 1985 Stottlemyre playedcollegiate summer baseball with theHarwich Mariners of theCape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.[2][3] He was drafted by theSt. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round (1st pick) of the 1985 amateur draft (January Secondary), but he did not sign again.[4]
TheToronto Blue Jays selected him out ofUNLV as the third overall pick in the1985MLB draft and he signed with them on August 12, 1985.[1] He spent seven seasons with the Blue Jays, helping them win the1992 &1993 World Series. His best season came in 1991, when he recorded 15 wins, pitched 219 innings with an E.R.A. of 3.78.[5]
Stottlemyre signed with theOakland Athletics for the 1995 season.[6] He was traded to the Cardinals prior to the 1996 season where he put up respectable numbers for nearly three seasons.[5][6] On July 31, 1998 (trade deadline day) the Cardinals traded him along withRoyce Clayton to theTexas Rangers in exchange forDarren Oliver,Fernando Tatis and a player to be named later (Mark Little).[6] Stottlemyre could not replicate the success he previously had and retired as a member of theArizona Diamondbacks in 2002.
In 2000 he was awarded theBranch Rickey Award, which honored his outstanding community service.
His fastball, average (high) velocity, clocked around 92-93 mph. Stottlemyre possessed above-average control of his pitches. His style of pitching was direct - using an inside fastball to challenge opposing hitters. Furthermore, he possessed an above-average slider, curveball,[7] and later on, a splitter (adopted from teammateDave Stewart).[8] His weaknesses as a pitcher, although subject to debate, were his predictability of confronting opposing hitters, pitches over the 'heart' of home plate, hittable fastballs, and flat curveballs. Changing speeds was not a part of his repertoire; Stottlemyre did not possess an effective changeup.[8]
While pitching for theBlue Jays in Game 4 of the1993 World Series against thePhiladelphia Phillies, Stottlemyre tried to go from first to third on a single byRoberto Alomar. His baserunning skills indicated inexperience; he hesitated between second and third base.[9] The attempt resulted in him being thrown/tagged out while sliding head-first into third base, and scraping his chin in the process.[10] That promptedEd Rendell, then theMayor of Philadelphia, to ridicule Stottlemyre, while also adding that he could hit his pitches.[11] After Stottlemyre and his teammates won the Series, Stottlemyre responded to the comment at the ensuing victory rally, expressing his displeasure with the mayor by declaring, "You can kiss my ass!".[7]
On February 20, 1994, Stottlemyre and Blue Jays teammate Dave Stewart were both arrested inDunedin, Florida, for battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest after an argument arose between Stewart, who was accompanied by Stottlemyre, at a night club, reportedly over Stewart's refusal to pay a $3 cover fee.[12][13] Stottlemyre and Stewart were found not guilty after a seven-day jury trial.[14]
After retiring from baseball in 2002, Stottlemyre became a stock market analyst forMerrill Lynch.[15][16]
As of 2010, Stottlemyre is a member ofACN Inc., operating a network within themultilevel marketing company selling telecommunications, energy, banking, and other services.[16] He is now a Platinum Regional Vice President of the company.
Stottlemyre serves on the board of directors for several companies.
Married with five children,[17] Stottlemyre is the second son ofMel Stottlemyre (1941–2019), a formerNew York Yankees pitcher and longtime MLB pitching coach.[18][19] Older brotherMel Jr. (b.1963) also pitched in the major leagues for theKansas City Royals in 1990, and was most recently thepitching coach for theMiami Marlins.
