Brian Givens | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Lompoc, California, U.S. | November 6, 1965|
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
Professional debut | |
MLB: June 24, 1995, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
NPB: April 10, 1997, for the Seibu Lions | |
Last appearance | |
MLB: June 26, 1996, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
NPB: October 5, 1997, for the Seibu Lions | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 6–10 |
Earned run average | 5.86 |
Strikeouts | 83 |
NPB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 4–6 |
Earned run average | 5.10 |
Strikeouts | 45 |
Teams | |
Brian Allen Givens (born November 6,1965) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played for 15 years and played for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Givens was known most for being a replacement player who crossed picket lines during spring training in 1995 while the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike was still going on. He also was notable for having endured six arm surgeries—including Tommy John surgery before making his major-league debut.
Givens graduated from Overland High School in Aurora,Colorado. [1]
A left-handed pitcher,Givens was drafted by the New York Mets in 1984 in the 10th round of the now-defunct January amateur draft. [2] [3] He began his minor-league career immediately after high school,starting out at the Rookie league level with the Kingsport Mets in the Appalachian League in 1984. Givens went 4–1 for Kingsport,making 14 appearances,striking out 51,walking 52,and posting a 6.50 earned-run average. [4]
In 1985,Givens split the season between two teams:the Short season Single-A league Little Falls Mets in the New York–Penn League and the full season A league Columbia Mets in the South Atlantic League. Givens did well,going 3–4 with a 2.93 earned-run average in 11 appearances with Little Falls,and going 1–2 with a 2.95 earned-run average in three appearances with Columbia. [4]
The following year,Givens pitched for the Mets for the entire season,posting an 8–7 record with a 3.77 earned-run average in 27 games. [4]
In 1987,Givens actually briefly rose to the Triple-A International League level,pitching for one game with the Tidewater Tides (and posting a 0–1 mark with a 24.55 earned-run average from that one game;his outing lasted just three and two-thirds innings) but spending almost the entire season at the "High-A" level with the Lynchburg Hillcats. [4] In his time with Lynchburg,Givens went 6–8 with a 4.65 earned-run average in 21 games. [4]
In 1988,Givens spent the entire season with the Jackson Mets in the Class AA Texas League,going 6–14 with a 3.78 earned-run average in 26 games. [4] During the season,however,Givens' elbow popped,requiring a surgery to move his ulnar nerve and taking five miles an hour off his fastball. [5] The following year,Givens pitched largely for the Jackson Mets again,going 3–5 with a 3.39 earned-run average in 13 games. [4] He also pitched for one game in 1989 with the St. Lucie Mets in the High-A Florida State League,posting an 0–1 mark with no earned-run average in a five-inning stint. [4]
In 1990,Givens returned to Tidewater,posting a 4–6 mark with a 4.12 earned-run average in 15 games. Partway through the season,on June 19,1990,Givens was traded to the Seattle Mariners' Class AAA Calgary Cannons team in exchange for Mario Díaz,after Givens had arm trouble. [5] [6] Givens wound up going 0–1 with a 12.71 earned-run average in two games with Calgary,with his elbow blowing out in his second start at Calgary. [4] [5] The Mariners alleged that the Mets knowingly had peddled damaged goods,but the trade held out. [5] Givens underwent a second arm surgery that revealed a stress fracture of the ulna bone. [5]
The following year,Givens suffered more injury trouble. He threw in one game with San Bernardino in the California League,going 1–0 with a 1.80 earned-run average. [4] He then pitched in just three games with Calgary,going 1–0 with a 4.91 earned-run average,before blowing out a ligament. [4] [5] This required a third surgery—this time Tommy John surgery—in August 1991. [5]
In early 1992,Givens developed a tender spot on the outside of his elbow,opposite of the surgery,requiring arthroscopy. [5] While still rehabbing,Givens was released by the Mariners on June 2,1992. [2] On August 6,1992,he was signed by the Kansas City Royals organization. [2] He pitched in seven games for the Memphis Chicks,who at that time were the Royals' Class AA minor-league club in the Southern League. Givens posted no record and a 3.24 earned-run average,and wound up needing another arthroscopy to remove four large chips. [4] [5]
In 1993,Givens again pitched for Memphis,going 1–3 in 14 games with a 4.58 earned-run average. [4] He also threw in four games for the Royals' team in the Gulf Coast League,going 0–1 with a 3.38 earned-run average. [4] On October 15,1993,Givens filed for free agency. [2] On December 8,1993,Givens was signed as a free agent by the Chicago White Sox. [2]
Givens spent the entire 1994 season with the White Sox's Birmingham Barons team in the Southern League,playing alongside basketball great Michael Jordan.They were good friends on the team. While at Birmingham,Givens went 4–7 with a 3.68 earned-run average in 36 games. [4]
On October 31,1994,Givens was signed as a free agent by the Milwaukee Brewers. [2]
In early 1995,the Brewers asked Givens to be a replacement player. Although he did not originally say yes,he wound up doing so to help pay for a mortgage debt. [5] "I needed money and couldn't get it anywhere else",he told the Sporting News in 1995. "That was it,basically." [5]
After the 234-day players strike ended in before the 1995 baseball season ever officially began,Givens was sent to the Brewers' Class AAA New Orleans Zephyrs ballclub,where he worked with pitching coach and former major-league relief pitcher Bill Campbell,who taught Givens a slider and helped him to improve his changeup. [5]
After pitching well with New Orleans,where he posted a 7–4 record and a 2.55 earned-run average in 16 games,Givens was promoted to the Brewers.
As had been the case with his teammate Ron Rightnowar,there was some bitterness toward Givens by the major-leaguers because of his role as a replacement player. "I've spent 11½years in the minor leagues,I have a mortgage and two kids to feed",he told the Sporting News in 1995. "I had to pay my bills,and I couldn't see quitting not after what I've been through." [5] However,Givens also said given the chance to do it again,he would not have been a replacement player. "Now that I'm here and I see how everything works,I regret what I did",Givens said in July 1995. "I was really undecided and didn't want to do it,then I said I would. One thing about this team,there's a bunch of really good guys here. Maybe they're not all going to be our best friends off the field,but when we're on the field they're going to support us like we support them." [7] In a different interview,Givens went one step further,dismissing the talent level of some of his fellow replacement players. "At the time,it's what I had to do",he told the Seattle Times in July 1995. "I told everyone on the team that. Of course,I regretted the decision. But I had to take care of my family. Those games were a joke. The talent level was horrible. To put myself in the same shoes with guys off the street made me sick. It wasn't really baseball." [8]
At age 29,Givens made his big-league debut on June 24,1995,pitching well in a loss. [5] In his second game,Givens was shelled. "I would have sent him back to the minor leagues if I had somebody else to replace him with",the Brewers' manager,Phil Garner,told the Sporting News. "His problem was he wasn't throwing his breaking ball for strikes. We got him to be more aggressive. He responded. I changed my opinion on him." [5] Givens earned his first major league win on July 16,1995. "There are a lot of guys who make it to the big leagues despite injuries or a lot of time served in the minors",Givens said shortly after his first big-league win. "It just so happens persistence paid off for me. I'm just very fortunate,with all my operations,I can still throw the ball the way I can." [8] Givens finished his rookie big-league season with a 7–5 record and a 3.95 earned-run average in 19 games. [4]
Givens pitched for five more seasons in the majors—in 1996,when he went 3-1 with a 2.86 earned-run average in four games. [2] He had begun the season on a 30-day rehabilitation assignment with New Orleans after injuring his back in his final throwing session at home in Aurora,Colorado the day before he left for 1996 spring training. [9] After his 30-day rehab assignment,Givens unexpectedly ended up staying longer in AAA instead of being promoted to the major leagues. "I was chapped at the time",Givens said of his frustration with not being called up sooner in 1996. "I didn't pitch well the first few games,then I finally got my head on straight." [10] Givens was called up in June and was hit hard in four starts. [11] While at New Orleans in 1996,however,Givens pitched well,going 10–9 with a 3.02 earned-run average. [11] He filed for free agency on October 15,1996,after he and the Brewers decided to part ways by mutual agreement. [2] [11]
In 1997,Givens signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan. "If you think you're going to be stuck in AAA,you can go make some money in Japan",Givens said in 2005. "It can be pretty lucrative if you do well." [12] Givens ended the 1997 season with a 6-4 record and a 3.10 earned-run average. [13]
In 1998,Givens returned to North America,pitching for the Shreveport Captains in the Double-A Texas League. [13]
While playing in the minors,Givens operated an off-season carpet cleaning business. [3]
Givens has three children:a son,Bryce;and a daughter,Bailee. [3] Bryce Givens plays football for the University of Colorado at Boulder. [14] Givens third child:a son,Ryan,a junior college prospect plays baseball for Illinois Central College (JUCO) in Peoria,Il. [15]
Givens' love in life is his family and the sport of baseball. He still coaches baseball and is the coach of a team who won the state championship.
Steven William Sparks is a former knuckleball-throwing right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher,who graduated from Holland Hall School,then attended Sam Houston State University in 1987. In addition to the knuckler,Sparks threw an occasional slider and low-80s fastball.
Douglas N. Davis is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Toronto Blue Jays,Milwaukee Brewers,Arizona Diamondbacks,and Chicago Cubs.
Robert Kevin Appier is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher for the Kansas City Royals,Oakland Athletics,New York Mets,and Anaheim Angels. Appier's solid pitching during his first full season in the majors earned him several rookie accolades in 1990. His fastball,tight slider and nasty forkball contributed to impressive pitching statistics,distinguishing himself as one of the American League's top right-handed starting pitchers throughout much of the 1990s. Appier enjoyed the most success with the Royals in the early to mid-1990s as one of the league's earned run average leaders,a Cy Young Award contender in 1993 and culminating in 1995 with a selection to the American League All-Star team. He was a starting pitcher on the World Series Champion Anaheim Angels in 2002 before retiring four seasons later.
Jason Derik Isringhausen is an American former professional baseball pitcher and coach. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1995 through 2012 for the New York Mets,Oakland Athletics,St. Louis Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays,and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
John Michael Adams is an American former right-handed relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers (2004–06),San Diego Padres (2008–11),Texas Rangers (2011–12) and Philadelphia Phillies (2013–14).
Evan Tracy Stallard was an American professional baseball player,a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1960 to 1966. He played with the Boston Red Sox,New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals.
Gary Wayne Franklin is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros (2000-2001),Milwaukee Brewers (2002-2003),San Francisco Giants (2004),New York Yankees (2005),and Atlanta Braves (2006). Franklin bats and throws left-handed.
Ronald Thomas Villone,Jr. is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) left-handed relief pitcher and current minor league coach. Villone played for 12 teams in his career,tied for 3rd all time with pitcher Mike Morgan and outfielder Matt Stairs,and trailing only Octavio Dotel and Edwin Jackson.
James Lester Kern is an American former professional baseball pitcher. A three time American League All-Star (1977–1979),Kern went 13–5 with a 1.57 ERA and 29 saves out of the Texas Rangers' bullpen in 1979 to finish fourth in American League Cy Young Award balloting.
Jamey Alan Wright is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for 10 different teams in Major League Baseball (MLB):the Colorado Rockies,Milwaukee Brewers,St. Louis Cardinals,Kansas City Royals,San Francisco Giants,Texas Rangers,Cleveland Indians,Seattle Mariners,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Tampa Bay Rays. Wright batted and threw right-handed.
Jeffrey Charles D'Amico is an American former professional baseball pitcher from 1996 to 2004. D'Amico,sometimes nicknamed "Big Daddy" due to his six-foot nine stature,was a starting pitcher who played for the Milwaukee Brewers,New York Mets,Pittsburgh Pirates,and Cleveland Indians of the Major League Baseball (MLB). His career record was 42 wins,52 losses,498 strikeouts and a 4.61 earned run average (ERA).
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.
William Thomas Pulsipher is an American former professional baseball player. Pulsipher,a left-handed pitcher,played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets,Milwaukee Brewers,Boston Red Sox,Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals over six seasons from 1995 to 2005. Once considered a top prospect and a member of the Mets' heralded "Generation K",his career was derailed by injuries,including a torn ulnar collateral ligament requiring Tommy John surgery,major depression and anxiety.
Derek Jansen Lilliquist is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher and pitching coach. He played for the Atlanta Braves (1989–1990),San Diego Padres (1990–1991),Cleveland Indians (1992–1994),Boston Red Sox (1995) and Cincinnati Reds (1996),and has coached for the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals.
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.
Clayton Colby Richard is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox,San Diego Padres,Chicago Cubs,and Toronto Blue Jays.
Ronn Dwayne Reynolds,is an American former professional baseball catcher,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets,Philadelphia Phillies,Houston Astros,and San Diego Padres. He batted and threw right-handed.
Ronald Gene Rightnowar is a former major league baseball player who played for one year—1995—for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Trevor Vaughan Gott is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Washington Nationals,San Francisco Giants,Milwaukee Brewers,and Seattle Mariners. He played college baseball at the University of Kentucky,and was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.
JoséMiguel Ureña Rodriguez is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins,Detroit Tigers,Milwaukee Brewers,and Colorado Rockies.