Monday, May 7, 2012

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

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