Calvin Schiraldi

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2+23 innings without giving up a run. [5] He earned manager John McNamara's trust with similarly impressive performances on July 26 and August 1, and on August 3, with the Red Sox leading the Kansas 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 career save. [6]

Whereas closing duties had been split between Bob Stanley and Joe Sambito up to that point, Schiraldi emerged as the Bosox's closer for the remainder of the season. He ended the season with a 4–2 record, nine saves, a 1.41 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 51 innings.

Schiraldi appeared in four of the seven games of the 1986 American League Championship Series against the California 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.

1986 World Series

After saving game one of the World Series, Schiraldi entered game six in the bottom of the eighth after Roger Clemens was lifted for a pinch hitter. The Red Sox were ahead, 3–2, but he gave up a game-tying sacrifice fly to Mets catcher Gary 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 and Ray Knight. Knight's hit knocked in Carter to cut the Red Sox lead to 1 run. Schiraldi was replaced by Bob Stanley, who threw a wild pitch, which allowed Mitchell to score the tying run. Mookie Wilson followed by hitting a ground ball that rolled between the legs of Bill Buckner, scoring Knight and giving the Mets an improbable victory. [8]

With the score tied, 3–3, in the seventh inning of game seven, Schiraldi gave up a leadoff home run to Knight, the series MVP. He gave up two more earned runs in just 13 of an inning to take the loss in the series clincher. His ERA for the World Series was 13.50.

Chicago Cubs (1988–1989)

In 1987, 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 and Al Nipper were traded to the Chicago Cubs for Lee Smith. With the Cubs, Schiraldi was converted back into a starter, and went 9-13 with a 4.38 ERA in 1988. The Cubs shifted him back to the bullpen in 1989 before sending him to the San Diego Padres just before the August 30 trade deadline, with Darrin Jackson and a player to be named later for Luis Salazar and Marvell Wynne.

San Diego Padres (1989–1990)

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 in 1990 (including the game where Roseanne Barr infamously performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Jack 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. The Padres released him during Spring training the following season. He hit two home runs during his stint with the Padres.

Texas Rangers (1991)

Schiraldi caught on with the Houston Astros following his release from the Padres. He was assigned to their triple A Pacific Coast League affiliate, the Tucson Toros, with whom he went 3–2 with a 4.47 ERA before being dealt to the Texas Rangers. He made three appearances with the Rangers in 1991, spending most of the season with their American Association affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers.

MLB statistics

Calvin Schiraldi
Boston Red Sox Calvin Schiraldi.jpg
Pitcher
Born: (1962-06-16) June 16, 1962 (age 61)
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
Seasons W LPCTERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER R HR BB K WP HBP
83239.4514.28235472121553.152226328562267471219

Personal life

Schiraldi was previously the head coach of the baseball team at St. Michael's Catholic Academy in Austin, Texas, and the 17U Texas Fire travel team.[ citation needed ] He is currently the head coach for the Action Baseball Club 17U White team. [10]

Schiraldi is married to Debbie Murphy Schiraldi, whom he met in 1984 in Jackson, Mississippi, while pitching for the Jackson 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 was signed in June 2014 by the Seattle Mariners and played in their minor league system until July 2017, when he was part of a trade to the Miami Marlins for David Phelps. Lukas was released by the Marlins' Jupiter Hammerheads in April 2019. [11] Lukas played four years of baseball at St. Michael's Catholic Academy under head coach and father Calvin, and was named to the All-State team as a pitcher his senior season. [12] As his father had before him, Lukas pitched baseball for the University of Texas Longhorns, going 9-4 in the 2014 season. [13]

Schiraldi wrote the book The 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. [14]

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References

  1. "New York Mets 10, San Diego Padres 6". 1984-09-01.
  2. "New York Mets 7, St. Louis Cardinals 6". 1985-04-22.
  3. "Mets Obtain Ojeda in 8-player Trade" . The New York Times . November 14, 1985. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  4. "Seattle Mariners 9, Boston Red Sox 5". 1986-07-20.
  5. "Oakland A's 5, Boston Red Sox 2". 1986-07-21.
  6. "Boston Red Sox 5, Kansas City Royals 3". 1986-08-03.
  7. "1986 League Championship Series (4-3): Boston Red Sox (95-66) over California Angels (92-70)". 1986-10-15.
  8. "1986 World Series Game Six". 1986-10-25.
  9. "Roseanne Barr's national anthem: An oral history of the Barr-Bungled Banner". 2018-05-29.
  10. "Meet Calvin Schiraldi". actionbaseballclub.org. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  11. "Lukas Schiraldi Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  12. "2014 UT Baseball Roster - Lukas Schiraldi". texassports.com. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  13. "2014 Baseball Schedule". texassports.com. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  14. Shiraldi, Calvin (June 4, 2023). "Statesman Q&A: Calvin Schiraldi discusses his book, baseball, alcoholism and Coach Gus" . Austin American-Statesman (Interview). Interviewed by Danny Davis. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.