Jim Siwy

Last updated
11+13
Jim Siwy
Pitcher
Born: (1958-09-20) September 20, 1958 (age 65)
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 20, 1982, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
May 12, 1984, for the Chicago White Sox
Earned run average 7.15
Strikeouts 4
Teams
Jim Siwy
Police career
CountryUnited States
Department Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Service years1989 - 2012
RankSworn in as Officer, 1989
Sergeant

James Gerard Siwy (born September 20, 1958) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox in 1982 and 1984.

Contents

Early life

Siwy was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on September 20, 1958. [1] He attended Central Falls High School in Central Falls, Rhode Island, graduating from the school in 1976. After graduating, and after a stint in American Legion Baseball, he entered Rhode Island College (RIC) and became a part of their baseball program. In 1979, Siwy was a member of the RIC team that reached the 1979 NCAA Division III baseball tournament finals, earning the victory in the last game of the regional tournament that clinched their appearance in the finals. That summer, he would pitch for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League. [2]

In January 1980, Siwy was selected in the third round of the MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. [3] [lower-alpha 1] He turned down a contract from the team and instead elected to become a police officer in Central Falls. [2] Siwy served in this role for a year, before deciding to give baseball a try in 1981. [2]

Early career in the White Sox organization

Siwy started his 1981 campaign with the Single-A Midwest League's Appleton Foxes. [6] He was named to the league's All-Star roster that year with a 5–0 record and a 1.96 earned run average (ERA). [2] This earned Siwy a call up to the Double-A Glens Falls White Sox of the Eastern League where he went 11–4 with a 3.85 ERA. [6]

Invited to spring training in 1982, [2] Siwy was assigned to the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) for much of the season. Over the course of the season he would earn a 12–8 record with a 4.04 ERA. [6] He earned his first call-up to the Major League roster in late August. Debuting in relief on August 20 against the Kansas City Royals, Siwy struck out the first batter he faced, John Wathan, but would later allow a three-run home run to Hal McRae and two other runs before being removed. All told, in two innings of work, Siwy allowed four hits, five earned runs, and walked three batters. [7] Three days later, against the Cleveland Indians, Siwy was given a start by the White Sox. Over five innings, Siwy would allow six hits and three earned runs. He received a no-decision in the game. [8] [lower-alpha 2]

Siwy spent 1983 with the Denver Bears of the American Association (AA), which replaced Edmonton as Chicago's Triple-A affiliate. Pitching mostly in relief, he recorded a 6.14 ERA and five saves. His season ended prematurely when he broke two knuckles attempting to punch a chair in anger following a bad appearance in a game. [2]

Staying with Denver for the following year, which changed its nickname from the Bears to Zephyrs in the interim, [6] Siwy returned to a starting role at the minor league level in 1984. [2] His time in Denver was interrupted by a major league call-up in May. Siwy made one appearance with the White Sox during his call-up, pitching 4+13 innings in relief of LaMarr Hoyt on May 12. He allowed three hits in his outing and two walks, only allowing one run on a Billy Sample sacrifice fly. [9] He was sent back to Denver shortly afterwards. Overall with the Zephyrs, he had a 4–5 record and a 5.25 ERA. [2] On June 26, Siwy was traded to the Cleveland Indians to complete a trade for pitcher Dan Spillner. [1] [lower-alpha 3]

Later professional career

Assigned to the Triple-A Maine Guides of the International League by the Indians, Siwy pitched in only seven games with the club in 1984 due to a shoulder injury; when healthy, he recorded a 2.04 ERA and a pair of saves in seven games pitched. He was added to their 40-man roster after the season ended. During the offseason, Siwy played in the Caribbean Series with the Venezuelan Tiburones de La Guaira as a means of working on his pitches. [2]

Siwy started the 1985 season as a candidate to make the major league roster. Despite a good spring, he was sent back to Maine, where he would struggle during the first weeks of the season. Siwy was then released by the Indians on April 22. He was quickly re-signed by the White Sox and assigned to the Buffalo Bisons of the AA; the team had replaced Denver as the White Sox' Triple-A affiliate for the 1985 season. Siwy's time in Buffalo did not last the season, as he would be released after 16 games, 13 in relief, with the Bisons. He finished the year with the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League, an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. [2]

Siwy spent 1986 with the San Diego Padre-affiliated Las Vegas Stars of the PCL. He received his highest number of starts in four years, and ultimately went 6–4 with a 3.56 ERA during the season. Siwy remained with Las Vegas for the 1987 season and served predominantly a reliever that year. He finished the season with a 6–8 record with a 5.78 ERA in what would ultimately become his last year in professional baseball. [2]

Later life

Siwy returned to law enforcement in 1989 when he became part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). [10] He remained with the LVMPD until retiring at the end of 2012. [10] At the time of his retirement, he was a sergeant for the LVMPD. [2]

Notes

  1. The January draft was typically used to select players who graduated from high school in winter, players from junior colleges, and players who had dropped out of four-year colleges. [4] This draft was abolished after the 1986 season. [5]
  2. Siwy only gave up one of these runs while pitching; reliever Kevin Hickey allowed a two-run single that scored two runners that Siwy had initially allowed to reach base. [8]
  3. Spillner was originally traded for a player to be named later on June 21st. June 26th was when Siwy was announced as the player acquired by Cleveland. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike MacDougal</span> American baseball player

Robert Meiklejohn MacDougal is a former relief pitcher in professional baseball. He is a switch hitter and throws right-handed. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Lieber</span> American baseball player

Jonathan Ray Lieber is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He stands 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighs 240 pounds (110 kg). He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1994–1998), Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees (2004), and Philadelphia Phillies (2005–2007). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed, and utilized a fastball, a slider, and a changeup for his pitches. In a 14-season career, Lieber compiled a 131–124 record with 1,553 strikeouts and a 4.27 ERA in 2,198 innings pitched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Aardsma</span> American baseball player (born 1981)

David Allan Aardsma is an American former professional baseball pitcher, currently serving in the Toronto Blue Jays front office as a coordinator of player development. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2004 to 2015 for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Tidrow</span> American baseball player and executive (1947–2021)

Richard William Tidrow was an American professional baseball pitcher and the senior vice president of player personnel and senior advisor to the general manager for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Jackson (right-handed pitcher)</span> American baseball player

Michael Ray Jackson is a former professional baseball player whose career spanned 19 seasons, 17 of which were spent in Major League Baseball (MLB). Jackson, a relief pitcher for the majority of his career, compiled a career earned run average (ERA) of 3.42, allowing 451 earned runs off of 983 hits, 127 home runs, and 464 walks while recording 1,006 strikeouts over 1,005 games pitched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaime Navarro</span> Puerto Rican baseball player (born 1967)

Jaime Navarro Cintrón is a former Puerto Rican baseball player and current pitching coach for the Uni-President Lions for the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan. Navarro was a 6-foot, 4-inch tall right-handed pitcher in the major leagues from 1989 to 2000, playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians. He is the son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Julio Navarro.

The 1984 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 84th season in the major leagues, and their 85th season overall. They finished with a record of 74-88, good enough for fifth place in the American League West, 10 games behind the first place Kansas City Royals.

The 1994 Cleveland Indians season was the 94th season for the franchise. For the first time since 1986, the Indians finished the season with a winning record. However, the 1994 season ended prematurely due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike that ended the season on August 12. It was the first season for the Indians playing at Jacobs Field after playing at Cleveland Stadium since 1946.

Steven Allen Rosenberg is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres from 1988 to 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Such</span> American baseball player (born 1944)

Richard Stanley Such is an American former pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed hurler who batted left-handed, Such stood 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Pomeranz</span> American baseball player (born 1988)

Thomas Andrew Pomeranz, nicknamed Big Smooth, is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres. Pomeranz was an MLB All-Star with the Padres in 2016, and a World Series champion with the Red Sox in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Monroe (baseball)</span> Major League Baseball pitcher

Lawrence James Monroe is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox in 1976.

Steven Zachary McGuire Putnam is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucas Giolito</span> American baseball pitcher (born 1994)

Lucas Frost Giolito is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Rodón</span> American baseball player (born 1992)

Carlos Antonio Rodón is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played MLB for the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants. Rodón is a two-time MLB All-Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erick Fedde</span> American baseball player (born 1993)

Erick James Fedde is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Washington Nationals and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos. He played college baseball at UNLV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zach Plesac</span> American baseball player (born 1995)

Zach Robert Plesac is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Angels organization. He played college baseball at Ball State University. The Cleveland Indians selected him in the 12th round of the 2016 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut for them in 2019.

Bradley Andrew Goldberg is an American former professional baseball pitcher, and current bullpen coach for the Cleveland Guardians. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Hamilton (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1995)

Ian Francis Hamilton is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Jim Siwy Stats / Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com . Sports Reference, LLC . Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Birch, Ray. "Jim Siwy / Society for American Baseball Research". Society for American Baseball Research . Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  3. "3rd Round of the 1980 MLB January Draft-Regular Phase / Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com . Sports Reference, LLC . Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  4. Desmond, Dave (January 15, 1986). "Baseball's Draft Has Everyone Guessing". Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles . Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  5. "50 years of the MLB Draft: Part 2 / Perfect Game USA". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Jim Siwy Minor Leagues Statistics & History / Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com . Sports Reference, LLC . Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  7. "Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals Box Score, August 20, 1982 / Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com . Sports Reference, LLC . Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  8. 1 2 "Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians Box Score, August 23, 1982 / Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com . Sports Reference, LLC . Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  9. "Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox Box Score, May 12, 1984 / Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com . Sports Reference, LLC . Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Annual Report 2012" (PDF). Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. p. 19. Retrieved December 9, 2018.