Les Straker

Last updated
Les Straker
Les Straker 1987.jpg
Straker in 1987
Pitcher
Born: (1959-10-10) October 10, 1959 (age 63)
Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar State, Venezuela
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 11, 1987, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1988, for the Minnesota Twins

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">César Tovar</span> Venezuelan baseball player (1940-1994)

César Leonardo Tovar, nicknamed "Pepito" and "Mr. Versatility", was a Venezuelan professional baseball player, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins (1965–1972), Philadelphia Phillies (1973), Texas Rangers (1974–1975), Oakland Athletics (1975–1976), and New York Yankees (1976). Tovar was an extremely versatile player capable of playing various defensive positions on the field. In 1968, he became only the second player in MLB history to play all nine field positions during a single game, a feat first accomplished by Bert Campaneris, in 1965. Tovar also had a prolific career in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (VPBL), where he played 26 seasons – second only to the 30 seasons played by Vic Davalillo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Blanco</span> Venezuelan baseball player & coach (born 1971)

Henry Ramón Blanco is a Venezuelan professional baseball coach and former player. He is currently the catching and strategy coach for the Washington Nationals. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2013, appearing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners. He later served as quality assurance coach for the Cubs. Although a light-hitting player, he was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Gaetti</span> American baseball player

Gary Joseph Gaetti, is an American former third baseman in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins (1981–1990), California Angels (1991–1993), Kansas City Royals (1993–1995), St. Louis Cardinals (1996–1998), Chicago Cubs (1998–1999) and Boston Red Sox (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Dempsey</span> American baseball player

John Rikard Dempsey is an American former professional baseball player. He played for 24 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1992, most prominently for the Baltimore Orioles where he played for 10 years and was a member of the 1983 World Series winning team. Dempsey was known for being one of the best defensive catchers of his era. In 1997, he was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Regan (baseball)</span> American baseball player and coach

Philip Ramond Regan is an American former professional baseball pitcher, scout, and manager, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox; he also managed the Baltimore Orioles. Regan served as the pitching coach for the New York Mets for part of the 2019 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Viola</span> American baseball player

Frank John Viola Jr. is an American former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Minnesota Twins (1982–1989), New York Mets (1989–1991), Boston Red Sox (1992–1994), Cincinnati Reds (1995), and Toronto Blue Jays (1996). A three-time All-Star, he was named World Series MVP with the Twins in 1987 and won the AL Cy Young Award in 1988. He is the pitching coach of the High Point Rockers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Campbell (baseball)</span> American baseball player (1948–2023)

William Richard Campbell was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1973 to 1987. He played for the American League (AL) Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and Detroit Tigers and the National League (NL) Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Montreal Expos.

<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.

The 1987 Minnesota Twins won the World Series for the first time since moving from Washington in 1961, the second time that the franchise won the World Series. Having won only 85 games during the 1987 regular season, they won the World Series with the then-fewest regular season wins since Major League Baseball expanded to a 162-game season in 1961, and the fewest of any team since the 1889 New York Giants. They also became the first team to win the World Series despite being outscored by their opponents in the regular season, having scored 786 runs and allowed 806.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Leach</span> American baseball player

Terry Hester Leach is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, and author of the book, Things Happen for a Reason: The True Story of an Itinerant Life in Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Atherton</span> American baseball player

Keith Rowe Atherton, is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily in relief, from 1983–1989. Atherton played for the Oakland Athletics (1983–1986), Minnesota Twins (1986–1988), and Cleveland Indians (1989).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Perranoski</span> American baseball player and coach (1936–2020)

Ronald Peter Perranoski was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed relief pitcher from 1961 to 1973, most prominently as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers for whom he appeared in three World Series and, with the Minnesota Twins teams that won two consecutive American League Western Division titles. He also played for the Detroit Tigers and the California Angels. After his playing career, Perranoski worked as a Major League pitching coach, winning two more World Series with the Dodgers in the 1980s.

Stewart Walker Cliburn is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher who played for the California Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB) in all or parts of three seasons spanning 1984–1988. He is currently the pitching coach for the Chicago Dogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Sauveur</span> American baseball player

Richard Daniel Sauveur is an American professional baseball pitcher and pitching coach. He is the pitching coach for the Arizona League Diamondbacks. He played in Major League Baseball across six seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and Oakland Athletics.

Rafael Antonio Roque is a former baseball player who pitched for three seasons, from 1998 to 2000, with the Milwaukee Brewers. Roque is currently the pitching coach for the DSL Mets2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Luebber</span> American baseball player

Stephen Lee Luebber is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Luebber pitched in all or part of five seasons in the majors between 1971 and 1981. He currently serves as pitching coach for the Quad Cities River Bandits, high-A farm team for the Kansas City Royals.

Jeffrey Scott Bittiger is a former relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball. He pitched four seasons in the major leagues, from 1986 until 1989. He was the player-personnel consultant for the independent league Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, as of 2016. He also was listed as a professional scout for the Oakland Athletics, based in Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwin Moreno</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 1980)

Edwin A. Moreno is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres. He is currently the pitching coach for the Peoria Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesús Tiamo</span> Baseball player

Jesús Tiamo is a Venezuelan coach in Minor League Baseball (MiLB), for the DSL Phillies. He served as the bullpen catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, a position he held from 2009–2017. Tiamo wore uniform number 81. In 2018, he became a coach for the DSL Phillies Red Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rafael Marchan</span> Venezuelan baseball catcher (born 1999)

Rafael Alejandro Marchan is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Marchan signed with the Phillies organization as an amateur free agent in 2015, at age 16. Originally an infielder, he converted to catcher and impressed scouts and coaches early in his minor league career with his prowess on defense.