All-Time Bluefield Team - Sammy Stewart

The next member of the All-Time Bluefield-to-the-Bigs Team is relief pitcher Sammy Stewart. This 6' 3" mustachioed right-hander pitched ten seasons in the big leagues (1978-87) and his total bWAR of 8.5 ranks fourth among relievers on this composite Bluefield team. He had a fine career, but sadly his life spun out of control due to drug abuse. He was arrested dozens of times and is currently in the sixth year of an eight-year prison sentence.

Sammy was born on August 28, 1954 in Asheville, North Carolina. He shares a birthday with Mets catcher Josh Thole, Pirates outfielder Nate McLouth, A's manager Bob Melvin, pinch-hitter extraordinaire Lenny Harris, Bob Veale and Braden Looper. Other MLB Asheville natives include Padres CF Cameron Maybin, Royals reliever Greg Holland and longtime reliever Darren Holmes.

He was drafted in the 28th round of the 1974 draft by the Royals. He didn't sign but ended up catching on with the Orioles a little more than a year later.

Stewart was chosen by KC four picks after the Cardinals selected high school shortstop Paul Molitor. Molitor didn't sign and went to the University of Minnesota, which paid off when he was the third overall pick three years later and started his Hall of Fame career with the Brewers.

Sammy began his professional career with Bluefield in the summer of 1975. He made four starts and 14 relief appearances. He was roughed up as a Baby Bird, posting a 6.09 ERA with a WHIP over two.

He improved the following year in A-ball and debuted in the major leagues with Baltimore on September 1, 1978. At Memorial Stadium against the visiting White Sox, he struck out the side in the second and third innings. The six consecutive strikeouts tied the major league record for a pitcher's debut, which he recalls in this 2006 Boston Globe profile:

"Rick Dempsey [Orioles catcher] said, 'Turn around. Look at the scoreboard,"' says Stewart, his eyes lighting up. "So I turned around and it said, 'Sammy Stewart has just tied a record by striking out six consecutive batters in his first major league appearance. The record was set by Karl Spooner of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954.'

"Well, I turned around and threw three of the hardest sliders I've ever thrown and I got the record..."

The only other player to do it is Stephen Strasburg, who struck out the last seven batters he faced (to finish with 14 K's) in his scintillating debut in 2010.

Stewart got regular work out of the pen in 1979. In his first full season, he posted a 115 ERA+ and his 117.2 innings ranked tenth among relievers. It was his second-best season by bWAR (1.6).

His postseason debut came in Game Four of that year's World Series in Pittsburgh. Dennis Martinez was knocked out in the second inning and Stewart came in with the O's trailing 3-0. He allowed an inherited runner to score, but he held it down for two and two-thirds innings as Baltimore crept back in the game. They won it 9-6 with a six-run eighth inning to take a 3-1 series lead. Pittsburgh won three straight to stun the O's and win the title.

Stewart put up nearly identical numbers in 1980 before a huge '81 campaign. He worked 112.1 innings over 29 games and registered a 2.32 ERA. His 2.8 bWAR was third amongst all relievers and the best of his career.

The strike-shortened season featured a dispute over the American League ERA title. As explained in this SABR article, Stewart's was 2.32356 while Oakland's Steve McCatty's was 2.32670. However, the rules at the time did not count partial innings, so Stewart’s 112.1 inning total was rounded down to 112 and McCatty’s 185.2 innings were rounded up to 186. That bumped McCatty down and Stewart up for no reason and McCatty took the title*.

* McCatty has been the pitching coach for the Washington Nationals since 2009, tutoring their bright young rotation.

The rule was changed the following year. It could have all been moot if Yankee rookie Dave Righetti recorded five more outs. "Rags" was way better than both Stewart and McCatty with a 2.05 mark, but he only pitched 105.1 innings. The Yankees played 107 games and the title qualifier dictates that a pitcher must have as many innings as total team games so the lefty came up just short. Righetti did receive the Rookie of the Year award for his trouble.


As great as Stewart's '81 season was, he had a meager 4-8 record. Here are the best ERA+ seasons by qualifying pitchers who had twice as many losses as wins:

Rk	Player	ERA+	W	L	Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	W-L%	SV	IP	SO	ERA
1	Ned Garvin	159	5	16	1904	30	TOT	ML	25	24	.238	0	193.2	94	1.72
2	Sammy Stewart	157	4	8	1981	26	BAL	AL	29	3	.333	4	112.1	57	2.32
3	Jim Abbott	144	7	15	1992	24	CAL	AL	29	29	.318	0	211.0	130	2.77
4	Nolan Ryan	142	8	16	1987	40	HOU	NL	34	34	.333	0	211.2	270	2.76
5	Dummy Taylor	133	8	18	1902	27	TOT	ML	30	29	.308	0	234.2	95	2.19
6	Brandon Webb	129	7	16	2004	25	ARI	NL	35	35	.304	0	208.0	164	3.59
7	Gene Schott	125	4	13	1937	23	CIN	NL	37	16	.235	1	154.1	56	2.97
8	George Mogridge	125	6	12	1916	27	NYY	AL	30	21	.333	0	194.2	66	2.31
9	Turk Farrell	124	10	20	1962	28	HOU	NL	43	29	.333	4	241.2	203	3.02
10	Buster Brown	124	9	23	1910	28	BSN	NL	46	29	.281	2	263.0	88	2.67
11	Matt Cain	123	7	16	2007	22	SFG	NL	32	32	.304	0	200.0	163	3.65

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/3/2012.

The quirky strike-shortened season allowed Stewart to qualify despite being a reliever. But that's still an impressive inning total for a 105-game season. Look at that 1987 from Nolan Ryan. He led the NL in ERA and the majors in strikeouts, but had pathetic run support (0-2 runs in 16 of 34 starts).


1982 saw Stewart move to the rotation for 12 games, nearly half of his career total of 25 starts. He was still solid in 26 relief outings, but he struggled in his dozen starts:

I	Split	W	L	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	SO/9	SO/BB
	as Starter	3	5	5.40	12	12	0	1	1	0	63.1	78	40	38	6	27	26	1.658	3.7	0.96
	as Reliever	7	4	3.09	26	0	16	0	0	5	75.2	62	28	26	3	35	43	1.282	5.1	1.23

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/3/2012.

He was back in the pen full time in '83 and he tossed a career-high 144.1 innings, only Bob Stanley of the Red Sox threw more in relief that year. He went 9-4 with a 3.62 ERA and with only seven home runs allowed, it was the lowest rate of his career.

Baltimore returned to the postseason that year and he pitched twice in the ALCS against the White Sox. He retired two of the three batters he faced in a scoreless Game One outing and he pitched four shutout innings to close out a Game Three win and pick up a save. The O's clinched the pennant the next night and it was on to the World Series against the Phillies.

He played a huge part in two critical games. In the third game, with the series tied at one, Stewart protected a one-run lead by striking out three without allowing a hit in the seventh and eighth innings. That included a strikeout of the great Mike Schmidt with the tying run at second base to end the seventh. Baltimore won 3-2 to take the series lead.

The next night, it was up to Stewart once again to protect a one-run lead. Entering to begin the sixth inning, he recorded seven big outs and kept Philly off the board. He handed the lead to Tippy Martinez, who slammed the door and put the Orioles up three games to one.

The Orioles won Game Five to clinch the championship and Stewart earned his ring.

In six postseason games, Stewart pitched 12 shutout innings, striking out eight while allowing eight hits and walking four.

As defending champs in 1984, the O's split the closer duties between Martinez and Stewart. Sammy totaled career highs in games (60) and saves (13), missing the AL's top ten in both categories by one.

1985 would be his last season in Baltimore. He led all relievers in innings again (129.2) and posted a 112 ERA+. After the season, he was traded to the Red Sox for second baseman Jackie Gutierrez, who hit .185 in 64 games as an Oriole.

1986 was an injury-riddled year in Boston for Stewart, who put up average numbers in only 63.2 innings. He did not pitch in the postseason, which he blames on his relationship with manager John McNamara. He told the Boston Globe that he blames the skipper for losing the series:

"[McNamara] did not want me at all," he says. "He laid down on me and it cost us the World Series. I hated to see Al Nipper come out of the bullpen when I've never been scored on in the postseason and my arm was feeling good."

Stewart signed with the Indians in 1987, but was roughed up (5.67 ERA) and only pitched 27 innings before being released.

His career was over after that '87 season, but sadly, his troubles were just beginning.

The Boston Globe article I've linked to already details how his life spiraled out of control once his playing days were over.

He started using crack. His 11-year-old son died of cystic fibrosis in 1991. He pawned his championship ring for drugs. He was homeless and sleeping under bridges. He was arrested 26 times between 1988 and 2006 and had been to prison six times.

Stewart is currently imprisoned at the Buncombe Correctional Center in his hometown of Asheville. Here is a prison letter he wrote to the fans and his former teammates that was published in the Baltimore Sun last October. He hopes to get out of jail next January, 30 years after that 1983 World Series title.



Stewart has pitched in the 15th-most games in Baltimore Orioles history (St. Louis Browns Elam Vanglider, Jack Powell and George Blaeholder are 13th, 18th and 22nd, respectively on the franchise list):

Rk		S	C	F	Yrs	From	To	ASG	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G ▾	GS	GF	SV	IP	ERA+
1	Jim Palmer HOF	S	C	F	19	1965	1984	6	268	152	.638	2.86	558	521	15	4	3948.0	125
2	Tippy Martinez	-	-	-	11	1976	1986	1	52	40	.565	3.46	499	0	298	105	752.1	112
3	Mike Flanagan	S	-	F	15	1975	1992	1	141	116	.549	3.89	450	328	49	4	2317.2	100
4	Dave McNally	S	-	-	13	1962	1974	3	181	113	.616	3.18	412	384	7	2	2652.2	107
5	B.J. Ryan	-	-	-	7	1999	2005	1	16	19	.457	3.54	404	0	131	42	379.1	127
6	Mark Williamson	S	C	F	8	1987	1994	0	46	35	.568	3.86	365	15	142	21	689.2	108
7	Eddie Watt	S	-	-	8	1966	1973	0	37	34	.521	2.74	363	13	224	74	615.1	123
8	Scott McGregor	S	C	F	13	1976	1988	1	138	108	.561	3.99	356	309	24	5	2140.2	98
9	Alan Mills	-	-	F	9	1992	2001	0	32	21	.604	4.16	346	3	105	14	480.0	109
10	Dick Hall	-	-	F	9	1961	1971	0	65	40	.619	2.89	342	22	175	58	770.0	124
11	Jesse Orosco	-	-	-	5	1995	1999	0	15	11	.577	3.35	336	0	83	11	244.1	140
12	Buddy Groom	-	-	-	5	2000	2004	0	15	13	.536	3.91	330	0	108	18	285.1	115
14	Gregg Olson	S	-	-	6	1988	1993	1	17	21	.447	2.26	320	0	277	160	350.1	176
15	Dennis Martinez	S	-	-	11	1976	1986	0	108	93	.537	4.16	319	243	37	5	1775.0	93
16	Sammy Stewart	S	-	-	8	1978	1985	0	51	45	.531	3.47	307	25	160	42	866.0	114
17	Stu Miller	-	-	-	5	1963	1967	0	38	36	.514	2.37	297	0	224	100	502.0	145
19	Mike Cuellar	-	-	-	8	1969	1976	3	143	88	.619	3.18	290	283	4	1	2028.1	109
20	Mike Mussina	S	-	-	10	1991	2000	5	147	81	.645	3.53	288	288	0	0	2009.2	130
21	Jorge Julio	S	-	-	5	2001	2005	0	11	24	.314	4.20	281	0	189	83	291.2	105
23	Milt Pappas	S	-	-	9	1957	1965	3	110	74	.598	3.24	264	232	21	4	1632.0	113

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/3/2012.

This is where Stewart ranks among relievers during his full seasons with the Orioles (1979-85), who pitched at least 400 innings and didn't finish 60% of their games (to eliminate closers).

Rk	Player	WAR	GF	G	IP	From	To	Age	SV	H	BB	SO	ERA	ERA+	Tm
1	Al Holland	12.6	206	354	596.2	1979	1985	26-32	78	491	214	470	2.70	134	SFG-PHI-TOT
2	Rick Camp	11.9	125	313	778.0	1980	1985	27-32	47	769	255	327	3.23	118	ATL
3	Steve Bedrosian	10.6	115	226	572.1	1981	1985	23-27	41	480	267	461	3.26	117	ATL
4	Tom Burgmeier	10.5	131	244	468.2	1979	1984	35-40	42	439	115	240	2.50	167	BOS-OAK
5	Gary Lavelle	10.0	227	436	627.2	1979	1985	30-36	81	566	227	456	2.94	124	SFG-TOR
6	Willie Hernandez	9.9	228	419	638.1	1979	1985	24-30	83	575	198	476	3.27	120	CHC-TOT-DET
7	Sammy Stewart	9.0	160	305	854.2	1979	1985	24-30	42	764	430	503	3.48	114	BAL
8	Dan Spillner	8.5	158	328	866.1	1979	1985	27-33	40	902	329	484	4.23	98	CLE-TOT-CHW

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/3/2012.

Sammy Stewart is a great fit in a very strong Bluefield-to-the-Bigs Team bullpen. The fact that he will soon rank fifth behind Sparky Lyle, Arthur Rhodes and two other hurlers (one active) who have yet to be profiled here speaks to the strength of this relief corps.

Stewart had a solid career and was part of a championship club. It was sad to learn about his post-baseball life.

Here's hoping he can turn his life around once his sentence is complete.

All-Time	Bluefield Roster
Pitchers
SP 1	Dean Chance
SP 2	TBA
SP 3	Bill Monbouquette
SP 4	TBA
SP 5	TBA
RP	TBA
RP	TBA
RP	TBA
RP	Sammy Stewart
Setup	TBA
Setup	Arthur Rhodes
Closer	Sparky Lyle
Catchers
C	Gregg Zaun
C	TBA
Infield
1B	Eddie Murray
2B	TBA
SS	Cal Ripken
3B	Doug DeCinces
IF	TBA
IF	TBA
Outfield
LF	Don Baylor
CF	TBA
RF	TBA
OF	David Dellucci
OF	TBA