Bobby Witt
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Robert Andrew Witt Sr. (born May 11, 1964) is an American former professional
baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
who played 16 seasons in
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) for the Texas Rangers,
Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
,
Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park. The ...
,
St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...
,
Tampa Bay Devil Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. They are one of two major league clubs based i ...
,
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
, and
Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
.


Professional career

Witt attended the
University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two territories became the ...
, and in 1983 he played
collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...
with the
Chatham A's The Chatham Anglers, more commonly referred to as the Chatham A's and formerly the Chatham Athletics, are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Chatham, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in ...
of the
Cape Cod Baseball League The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over 1,000 forme ...
. He was selected with the third pick of the first round by the Texas Rangers in 1985. His first MLB win came in 1986 with the Texas Rangers as he had failed to win a game in the minor leagues. He was known as a hard-throwing right-hander with control problems throughout his career and many in Arlington began to call him "Witt 'n Wild" as a play on the waterpark Wet 'n Wild, which was located next to
Arlington Stadium Arlington Stadium was a baseball stadium located in Arlington, Texas, United States, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It served as the home of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1972 until 1993, after which the ...
. Witt led the league in walks three times and wild pitches twice.


Texas Rangers

Witt made his major league debut in 1986 and made 31 starts for the Rangers, finishing the season with an 11–9 record. Known for his control problems, he led the league with 143 walks in innings pitched. The following season he led the league again in walks, this time with 140 in 143 innings. On August 2, 1987, Witt struck out four batters in one inning. In 1990, he set the Texas Rangers club record with his seventh consecutive road win of the season, a feat that was not matched by a Rangers pitcher until
Scott Feldman Scott Wynne Feldman (born February 7, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Toronto ...
did it in 2009. In 1990, he had the best season of his career, going 17–10 with a 3.36 ERA, the lowest of his career. He also established dominance, striking out 221 batters in 222 innings. He pitched for the Rangers until the 1992 season, when he was traded along with Jeff Russell and
Rubén Sierra Rubén Angel Sierra García (born October 6, 1965) is a Puerto Rican former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder. Over 20 seasons, Sierra played for the Texas Rangers (1986–92, 2000–01, 2003), Oakland Athletics (1992–95), New York Yanke ...
to division rival Oakland for
Jose Canseco José Canseco Capas Jr. (born July 2, 1964) is a Cuban-American former professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). During his time with the Oakland Athletics, he established hims ...
.


Oakland Athletics

From 1992 to 1994, Witt compiled a 23–24 record with the Oakland Athletics. On June 23, 1994, Witt lost his bid for a
perfect game Perfect game may refer to: Sports * Perfect game (baseball), a complete-game win by a pitcher allowing no baserunners * Perfect game (bowling), a 300 game, 12 consecutive strikes in the same game * Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, New Yo ...
when first base umpire
Gary Cederstrom Gary L. Cederstrom (born October 4, 1955) is an American former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1989 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 to 2019. He wore number 38 throughout his career and was ...
called the
Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
' Greg Gagne safe in the 6th inning on a close bunt play at first base. Replays showed that Gagne was out. Witt completed the game with only that one hit allowed and no walks.


Florida Marlins

After the 1994 season, Witt signed a one-year deal with the
Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park. The ...
. During the 1995 season, Witt pitched half a season with the Marlins before being traded to Texas. He finished his tenure with Florida with a 2–7 record despite having an ERA of 3.90 and a WHIP of under 1.40.


Texas Rangers (second stint)

From 1995 to 1998, Witt had a 36–32 record with Texas. His best season during this timeframe was in 1996, when he finished with a 16–12 record despite having an ERA of 5.41. On June 30, 1997, he became the first American League pitcher to hit a home run since Roric Harrison on October 3, 1972, and the first American League pitcher to hit a home run in a regular season interleague game. His home run was hit off of Ismael Valdez of the
Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
in the top of the sixth inning. The bat with which he hit this home run is now in the
Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...
.


St. Louis Cardinals

During the 1998 season, Witt was traded to St. Louis. He pitched with the Cardinals in 17 games, only five as a starter.


Tampa Bay Devil Rays

In 1999, Witt had one of his worst seasons of his career, going 7–15 with a 5.82 ERA in 32 starts for the Devil Rays.


Cleveland Indians

Due to injury, Witt was limited to seven appearances with the Indians in 2000, having pitched only 15 innings for the Tribe.


Arizona Diamondbacks

In 2001, his last season in MLB, Witt pitched in 14 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks, seven as a starter, and finished with a 4–1 record. Witt appeared in Game 2 of the
2001 National League Championship Series The 2001 National League Championship Series (NLCS) was a semifinal series in Major League Baseball’s 2001 postseason which saw the second-seeded Arizona Diamondbacks defeat the third-seeded Atlanta Braves in five games to win the National Lea ...
against Atlanta, pitching in the eighth inning. He went a third of an inning while allowing three hits and a run. His next pitching appearance was his first ever World Series game, and also his final major league game. It came in Game 6 of the
2001 World Series The 2001 World Series was the World Series, championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2001 Major League Baseball season, 2001 season. The 97th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (ba ...
. He pitched the eighth inning in relief of
Randy Johnson Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed, "the Big Unit," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and Arizo ...
, with the Diamondbacks leading 15–2 over the New York Yankees. He walked one batter and finished by striking out
Shane Spencer Michael Shane Spencer (born February 20, 1972) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played a total of 538 games in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, a ...
, before Troy Brohawn took over for the ninth inning. The Diamondbacks won the following game to win the World Series. After the World Series, Witt retired from baseball.


Personal life

Witt grew up in
Canton, Massachusetts Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,370 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston, about southwest of Downtown Boston. History The area that is present ...
, where his parents still reside, and attended Canton High School. , Witt lived in
Colleyville, Texas Colleyville is a city in northeastern Tarrant County, Texas, United States, centrally located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. A wealthy suburb of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Colleyville was originally a small farm town in the 19th century. ...
, with his wife and four children and was a player agent. His son, Bobby Witt Jr., was drafted with the second pick of the
2019 Major League Baseball draft The 2019 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 3 to 5, 2019. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order was set based on the reverse order of the 2018 MLB season standings. In addition, compensation picks ...
and signed with the
Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
. His daughter Nikki is married to ex-major leaguer James Russell, his daughter Kianna is married to ex-major leaguer Zach Neal, and his daughter Shaley is married to ex-major leaguer
Cody Thomas Cody Ryan Thomas (born October 8, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He was a multi-sport athlete in college, playing both college baseball and colleg ...
.


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witt, Bobby Major League Baseball pitchers Texas Rangers players Oakland Athletics players Florida Marlins players St. Louis Cardinals players Tampa Bay Devil Rays players Cleveland Indians players Arizona Diamondbacks players Baseball players at the 1984 Summer Olympics Tulsa Drillers players Oklahoma City 89ers players Tucson Sidewinders players Baseball players from Arlington County, Virginia Chatham Anglers players Oklahoma Sooners baseball players 1964 births Living people Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medalists for the United States in baseball 20th-century American sportsmen