David Lee Wells (born May 20, 1963) is an American former
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 21 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 nine teams, most notably the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
and
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
. Nicknamed "Boomer", Wells was considered one of the league's top left-handed pitchers during his career and made three
All-Star
An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry.
Sports
"All-star" as a sport ...
appearances. In 1998, he
pitched the 15th perfect game in baseball history. Wells also appeared in the postseason as a member of six teams, tied for the most with
Kenny Lofton
Kenneth Lofton (born May 31, 1967) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. Lofton was a six-time All-Star (1994–1999), four-time Gold Glove Award winner (1993–1996), and at retirement, was ranked 15th among ...
, and won two
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
titles. Following his 2007 retirement, Wells served as a broadcaster for
MLB on TBS
''MLB on TBS'' is an American presentation of regular season and postseason Major League Baseball (MLB) game telecasts that air on the American pay television network TBS and the streaming service Max. The games are produced by TNT Sports (fo ...
and was the host of ''The Cheap Seats'' on
FOXSports.com.
Early life
Wells was born in
Torrance, California
Torrance is a coastal city in the Los Angeles metropolitan area located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city is part of what is known as the South Bay (Los Angeles County), South Bay region of the metropolitan ...
.
His parents were never married. He was raised by his mother, Eugenia, a member of Hell's Angels also known as "Attitude Annie". Wells grew up with the belief that his father, David Pritt, was dead. However, at the age of 22, he learned that Pritt was alive and tracked him down to start a new relationship with him.
Growing up in the
Ocean Beach neighborhood of
San Diego
San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
where he attended local public schools, Wells was dependent on his mother, who worked numerous jobs to support him and his four siblings. He graduated from
Point Loma High School
Point Loma High School is a public high school in San Diego, California, United States. It is part of San Diego Unified School District. The school is located in the Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma. The school serves the neighborhood ...
, where he played baseball and basketball, in 1982 and was a self-described "gym rat" who spent most of his time at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center and Robb Field. Wells was Point Loma High School’s star pitcher and threw a perfect game his senior year.
He had
Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...
in July 1985.
Professional career
Toronto Blue Jays (1987–1992)
Wells debuted for the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
in 1987 as a
reliever
In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who pitches in the game after the starting pitcher or another relief pitcher has been removed from the game due to fatigue (medical), fatigue, injury, ineffectiveness, ejection ...
and did not secure a primary role in the starting rotation until he was 27 years old, starting 25 games during the 1990 season. During his six seasons with the Blue Jays, Wells compiled a 47–46 record and a 3.88 ERA. Wells was a member of the
1992 World Series
The 1992 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1992 season. The 89th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven, or first to four playoff, played between the American League (AL) champion Toronto ...
winning team, the first time he got a championship ring. He was released by the Blue Jays during spring training on March 30, 1993.
Detroit Tigers (1993–1995)
A few days after he was released by the Blue Jays, Wells signed with the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...
on April 3.
In 1993, Wells made 32 appearances (30 starts) with an 11–9 record and a 4.19 ERA. In 1994, a season that was cut short due to a
strike
Strike may refer to:
People
*Strike (surname)
* Hobart Huson, author of several drug related books
Physical confrontation or removal
*Strike (attack), attack with an inanimate object or a part of the human body intended to cause harm
* Airstrike, ...
, Wells started 16 games, finishing 5–7 with a 3.96 ERA and 5 complete games. He emerged as a top-flight pitcher in 1995, when he was 32. After starting the year at 10–3 with a 3.04 ERA for the struggling last-place Tigers, Wells made his first
All-Star Game
An all-star game is an exhibition game that showcases the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or division, bu ...
appearance.
Cincinnati Reds (1995)
On July 31, Wells was traded to the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
for
C. J. Nitkowski
Christopher John "C. J." Nitkowski (born March 9, 1973) is an American left-handed former professional baseball pitcher and current baseball broadcaster. A first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Reds in 1994, he played in the major leagues f ...
,
Mark Lewis, and minor leaguer Dave Tuttle. With Cincinnati, Wells compiled a 6–5 record and a 3.59 ERA.
Baltimore Orioles (1996)
After the 1995 season, Wells was traded to the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
for
Curtis Goodwin and minor leaguer Trovin Valdez.
In 1996, he pitched a then-career high 224
inning
In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames, the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other tea ...
s but finished with an 11–14 record and a 5.14 ERA.
New York Yankees (1997–1998)
In 1997, Wells signed as a free agent with the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
, his favorite team because of a lifelong interest in baseball legend
Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional Baseball in the United States, baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nickna ...
. He asked for uniform number 3, Ruth's long-retired number, but was denied. He ended up taking 33 for the Yankees. On June 28, 1997, Wells took the mound wearing an authentic 1934 Babe Ruth hat, which he had bought for $35,000. Manager
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre Jr. (; born July 18, 1940) is an American professional baseball Senior management, executive and former player, Manager (baseball), manager, and television color commentator. He has served as a special assistant to the Commiss ...
made Wells take it off after the first inning because it did not conform to uniform standards. He also fined Wells $2,500, which Wells was happy to pay and later said it was a small price to pay for the thrill of wearing the hat on the field even for one inning—even though Wells then blew a 3–0 lead as the
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 ...
won 12–8. After posting a 16–10 mark in 1997, Wells pitched very well in the Yankees' record-setting 1998 season. He rang up an 18–4 record, finished fifth in the league in ERA (3.49), was third in voting for the
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (baseball), National League (NL). The award was introduced in 1956 by Commissioner of Baseball ( ...
, and won a second World Series ring.
Perfect game
On May 17, 1998, Wells pitched the 15th
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 ...
in baseball history, when he blanked the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
, 4–0. Wells attended the same
San Diego
San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
high school,
Point Loma High School
Point Loma High School is a public high school in San Diego, California, United States. It is part of San Diego Unified School District. The school is located in the Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma. The school serves the neighborhood ...
, as
Don Larsen
Don James Larsen (August 7, 1929 – January 1, 2020) was an American professional baseball pitcher. During a 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he pitched from 1953 to 1967 for seven different teams: the St. Louis Browns / Baltimore ...
, whose perfect game for the Yankees in the
1956 World Series
The 1956 World Series was the World Series, championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1956 Major League Baseball season, 1956 season. The 53rd edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff that matched the American Leagu ...
was the only perfect game or no-hitter ever thrown in
postseason play until 2010, and was until then the only perfect game thrown by a Yankee. (
David Cone
David Brian Cone (born January 2, 1963) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher, and current color commentator for the New York Yankees on the YES Network and Amazon Prime as well as for ESPN on Sunday Night Baseball. would add a third Yankee perfect game in 1999 and
Domingo Germán
Domingo Germán Polanco (; born August 4, 1992) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Germán was signed by the ...
an MLB-record fourth in 2023.) Wells claimed that he threw the perfect game while having a "raging, skull-rattling
hangover
A hangover is the experience of various unpleasant physiological and psychological effects usually following the consumption of alcohol (beverage), alcohol, such as wine, beer, and liquor. Hangovers can last for several hours or for more than ...
". Comedian
Jimmy Fallon
James Thomas Fallon (born September 19, 1974) is an Americans, American comedian, television host, actor, singer, writer, and producer. Best known for his work in television, Fallon's breakthrough came during his tenure as a cast member on the ...
, who partied with Wells the night before the game, backed up this claim.
On September 1, 1998, Wells came fairly close to recording a second perfect game. Pitching against the
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 ...
, he allowed no walks and only two hits, the first of which came with two outs in the seventh inning when
Jason Giambi
Jason Gilbert Giambi (; born January 8, 1971) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter. In his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, which began in 1995, Giambi played for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yank ...
fought off an 0–2 count and singled.
Second stint with the Toronto Blue Jays (1999–2000)
After the season, Wells returned to the Blue Jays as part of a trade for
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens (born August 4, 1962), nicknamed "Rocket", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), most notably with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees and also played ...
, along with
Homer Bush
Homer Giles Bush (born November 12, 1972) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played for the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2002 and in 2004. He was a pa ...
and
Graeme Lloyd
Graeme John Lloyd (born 9 April 1967) is an Australian former professional baseball pitcher, who appeared with the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, and Kansas City Royals o ...
. He continued to win north of the border, with records of 17–10 and 20–8 over the next two years.
During this stint with the Blue Jays, Wells appeared on the cover of
Sports Illustrated
''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with a circulation of over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellen ...
just prior to the
2000 All Star Game.
Though Wells said it was an honour to be on the cover, he criticized the article, "The David Wells Diet: Chips, Beer and American League batters" written by
Jeff Pearlman
Jeff Pearlman (born 1972) is an American sportswriter. He has written nine books that have appeared on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list: four about football, three on baseball and two about basketball. He authored the 1999 John Rocker in ...
, saying that Pearlman focused on Wells' diet and body shape instead of his accomplishments.
Chicago White Sox (2001)
Wells and pitcher
Matt DeWitt
Matthew Brian DeWitt (born September 4, 1977) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who briefly played in 29 games with the Toronto Blue Jays (2000–2001) and the San Diego Padres (2002). He also pitched in the minor leagues f ...
were traded to the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
, in a deal that was quickly mired in controversy. The primary player being traded by the White Sox, starting pitcher
Mike Sirotka
Michael Robert Sirotka (born May 13, 1971) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball from 1995 to 2000. He is an alumnus of Louisiana State University.
Career
Drafted by the ...
, was injured at the time of the deal and never pitched in the major leagues again. Toronto's general manager,
Gord Ash
Gordon Ian Ash (born December 20, 1951) is a Canadian vice president of baseball projects of the Milwaukee Brewers. He left his role as assistant general manager with Milwaukee in 2015. He was the general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 19 ...
, had not made the deal contingent on the results of a medical examination, however, and MLB ruled in favor of the White Sox. The Blue Jays thus received only
Kevin Beirne
Kevin Patrick Beirne (born January 1, 1974) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.
He is the son of Jim Beirne, who played with the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers of the NFL from 1968 to 1976.
Career
Beirne was a star outfi ...
,
Brian Simmons
Brian Eugene Simmons (born June 21, 1975) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a linebacker for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of North ...
, and minor leaguer Mike Williams, and the mistake ultimately cost Ash his job.
The deal did not turn out particularly well for the White Sox, either, as Wells struggled with back problems in 2001 and pitched only innings, finishing the
2001 season with a 5–7 record and a 4.47 ERA.
Second stint with the New York Yankees (2002–2003)
After a short season with the White Sox, Wells returned to the Yankees, a deal that was again immersed in controversy as he had already reached an oral agreement to join the
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 ...
. Despite having lost some velocity from his
fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch (baseball), pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. Its distinctive feature is its high speed. "Power pitchers," such as former major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, relied on the ...
, he retained his excellent
curveball
In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curve ...
and his control, and posted an outstanding 19–7 record in 2002.
Wells was the subject of some controversy prior to the 2003 season, when his
autobiography
An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life, providing a personal narrative that reflects on the author's experiences, memories, and insights. This genre allows individuals to share thei ...
''Perfect I'm Not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball'', was published. The book upset the Yankees' management, and Wells was fined $100,000 by the team for disparaging comments which appeared in it.
One of them included himself having a hangover when he pitched his
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 ...
.
Among the other controversial statements were claims that he strengthened his pitching arm as a youth by throwing rocks at homeless people
and that his minor league team, the
Kinston Blue Jays
The Kinston Indians were a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League (CL) located in Kinston, North Carolina, from 1978 to 2011. They played their home games at Grainger Stadium, which opened in 1949.
The team began play in 1978 as the Kin ...
, had segregated stands in 1983 despite ample evidence to the contrary. Wells claimed to have been misquoted in the book, which was presumably penned by a
ghost writer
A ghostwriter is a person hired to write literature, literary or journalism, journalistic works, speeches, or other texts that are credited to another person as the author. Celebrities, executives, participants in timely news stories, and pol ...
. The problems didn't carry over to the field, however. Wells posted a 15–7 record and the Yankees won another pennant.
On September 28, 2003, the final day of the regular season, Wells earned the 200th win of his career in a game managed by Clemens, who had won his 300th game earlier in the season and was thought to be retiring from baseball (Clemens ended up delaying his retirement). Regular Yankees manager
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre Jr. (; born July 18, 1940) is an American professional baseball Senior management, executive and former player, Manager (baseball), manager, and television color commentator. He has served as a special assistant to the Commiss ...
let Clemens manage the final game of the regular season, and Clemens pulled Wells from the game in the eighth inning.
Wells was criticized by some Yankees fans for not being able to pitch during Game 5 of the
2003 World Series
The 2003 World Series (also known as the Centennial World Series) was the World Series, championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2003 Major League Baseball season, 2003 season. The 99th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-s ...
. He started the game, but left during the first inning because of a bad backache, which forced Torre to use his bullpen to finish the game. The Yankees lost the game and the series to 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 ...
in six games.
San Diego Padres (2004)
On January 1, 2004, Wells was signed as a
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...
by the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
to a one-year contract. Wells posted a 12–8 record with a 3.73 ERA to start off his second stint in the
National League
National League often refers to:
*National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada
*National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...
.
Boston Red Sox (2005–2006)
On December 11, 2004, Wells signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox and took the uniform number 3, in honor of
Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional Baseball in the United States, baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nickna ...
. He started the season poorly, and by the end of May, Wells and shortstop
Édgar RenterÃa
Édgar Enrique RenterÃa Herazo (; born August 7, 1975), nicknamed "the Barranquilla Baby", is a Colombian former professional baseball shortstop. He threw and batted right-handed. He played for the Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston ...
— another new Red Sox player who had gotten off to a slow start — switched uniform numbers, with Wells taking RenterÃa's 16 and RenterÃa taking Wells' 3, after RenterÃa paid Wells for the privilege. After a stint on the DL, Wells became the same dominating pitcher he was in the past. He went on to post a 15–7 record, with a 4.45 ERA.
After the 2005 season, Wells requested a trade back to the West Coast, but he eventually withdrew that request and resigned himself to one last year pitching for the Red Sox.
Wells began the 2006 season on the
disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 Major League Baseball season, 2019 season, it was known as the disabl ...
, as he was still recovering from
surgery
Surgery is a medical specialty that uses manual and instrumental techniques to diagnose or treat pathological conditions (e.g., trauma, disease, injury, malignancy), to alter bodily functions (e.g., malabsorption created by bariatric surgery s ...
performed on his right knee. After pitching one game on April 12, he was again placed on the 15-day disabled list. He announced that if his knee did not improve he would retire. Wells came off the disabled list on May 26, to make his second start of the year against the
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 ...
.
Second stint with the San Diego Padres (2006–2007)
On August 31, 2006, with the Red Sox postseason chances fading, Wells' wish of finishing his career playing for a West Coast team and a playoff contender was granted when he was traded back to the
Padres
{{About, the Roman Catholic priests' organization, other uses, Padres (disambiguation)
''Padres Asociados para Derechos Religiosos, Educativos, y Sociales'' ( Spanish for "Priests Associated for Religious, Education, and Social Rights") is a Chica ...
for top catching prospect
George Kottaras
George Kottaras ( ; born May 10, 1983) is a Canadian former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Car ...
.
Following the 2006 season, Wells filed for free agency. For players who are already planning on retiring, this is a customary move in case one changes his mind. Wells' agent had stated the pitcher will keep his options open but his physical condition will play a large part in making the final decision whether or not to return for another season. Eventually, Wells decided to stay with the Padres, agreeing in principle on a one-year deal worth $3 million in base salary with a possible $4 million more in incentives.
On March 18, 2007, the media revealed that Wells has been diagnosed with Type 2
diabetes
Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...
. This form of diabetes is more closely associated with lifestyle factors, such as diet, but the condition of people with a genetic disposition for diabetes can be exacerbated with chronic high
blood sugar
The blood sugar level, blood sugar concentration, blood glucose level, or glycemia is the measure of glucose concentrated in the blood. The body tightly regulates blood glucose levels as a part of metabolic homeostasis.
For a 70 kg (1 ...
, as insulin resistance can be an adaptation of insulin in the wake of too-high blood sugar over time.
On August 8, the Padres announced they would cut ties with Wells when
Chris Young was ready to come off the disabled list.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2007)
On August 23, 2007, Wells was signed by 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 ...
. His first start with the Dodgers was on August 26 against the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
. He pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs. Wells also reached first base on a bunt single, scored a run, and earned the victory. He was the oldest pitcher to start a game for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On September 13, 2007, against his former team, the San Diego Padres, Wells had his first multi-hit game of his 21-year career at the age of 44. He hit a
single
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
and a
double
Double, The Double or Dubble may refer to:
Mathematics and computing
* Multiplication by 2
* Double precision, a floating-point representation of numbers that is typically 64 bits in length
* A double number of the form x+yj, where j^2=+1
* A ...
off former teammate
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966), also known as "Mad Dog" and "the Professor," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs. ...
. Wells finished the season with the Dodgers going 4–1 with a 5.12 ERA. Wells filed for free agency after the 2007 season.
Old Timers Day and retirement
On August 2, 2008, Wells took part in the 62nd Annual
Old Timers Day at
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx in New York City. It is the home field of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and New York City FC of Major League Soccer.
The stadium opened in April 2009, replacing the Yankee S ...
, where he said that he was not going to officially retire, but admitted that his pitching career was probably over.
Post-retirement activities
Personal life
As of 2011, Wells has lived in San Diego with his wife and two sons.
He has tattoos of
Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional Baseball in the United States, baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nickna ...
and his two sons.
Broadcasting
Beginning in 2009, Wells began working for
MLB on TBS
''MLB on TBS'' is an American presentation of regular season and postseason Major League Baseball (MLB) game telecasts that air on the American pay television network TBS and the streaming service Max. The games are produced by TNT Sports (fo ...
doing regular and postseason coverage. In 2011, Wells became host of ''The Cheap Seats'' on
FOXSports.com. In 2019, Wells began providing color commentary for the YES Network.
Interviews, biographies and autobiographies
In 2010, David Wells was interviewed by Jane Mitchell for the television show ''One on One''. In addition to David's story in his own words, the interview featured Kevin Towers, Trevor Hoffman, Josh Barfield, Chris Young, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Clay Hensley, family and friends, all sharing their personal experiences and thoughts about David.
Coaching
Wells served as a baseball assistant coach at his alma mater
Point Loma High School
Point Loma High School is a public high school in San Diego, California, United States. It is part of San Diego Unified School District. The school is located in the Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma. The school serves the neighborhood ...
for several years. The high school announced on June 17, 2014, that Wells would be its head baseball coach, starting with the 2014–2015 school year. The team's home field was named David Wells Field in 2010.
In 2014, David Wells Field went through a $2-million renovation which was underwritten by the San Diego Unified School District and David Wells. In 2018, Wells stepped down as head baseball coach at PLHS, saying he needed more time to spend on his other pursuits and projects.
[SDNews.com (2018)."David Wells resigns as baseball head coach at Point Loma High". Retrieved from https://sdnews.com/david-wells-resigns-as-baseball-head-coach-at-point-loma-high/ ]
Career bests
*Wins in a Season: 20, with Toronto Blue Jays in 2000
*Strikeouts in a Season: 169, with Toronto Blue Jays in 2000
*Best Cy Young Result: 3rd, with New York Yankees in 1998
*Strikeouts in One Game: 16 with New York Yankees, against Oakland Athletics, July 30, 1997
*Innings Pitched in One Season: , with Toronto Blue Jays in 1999
*Best Single Season ERA as a Starting Pitcher: 3.14, with Toronto Blue Jays in 1990
*Fewest Walks Per 9 Innings in a Season: .85, with New York Yankees in 2003
See also
*
List of Major League Baseball career innings pitched leaders
In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are taken out while the pitcher is on the pitching mound during a game. Three outs made are equal to one i ...
*
List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
:''This list is for pitchers. For career strikeouts by batters, see List of Major League Baseball career strikeouts by batters leaders''
The following list is of the top 100 pitchers in career strikeouts in Major League Baseball. In baseball, a s ...
*
List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
This is a list of Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers with 200 or more career wins. In the sport of baseball, a win is a statistic credited to the pitcher for the winning team who was in the game when his team last took the lead. A starting pitc ...
*
List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
Below is a list of Major League Baseball no-hitters, enumerating every no-hitter pitched in Major League Baseball history. The list also includes no-hit games that were broken up in extra innings or were in shortened games, although they have no ...
*
List of New York Yankees no-hitters
The New York Yankees are a Major League Baseball franchise based in the New York City borough of The Bronx. Also known in their early years as the "Baltimore Orioles" (1901–02) and the "New York Highlanders" (1903–1912), the Yankees have ...
*
List of people from San Diego
This is a list of notable people who were born, spent a majority of their life, or currently live in San Diego, California.
A
* Faris Abdi, soccer player
* Beth Accomando, film critic, arts reporter, and podcast host
* Ian Adamos, soccer playe ...
*
List of World Series starting pitchers
The following is a chronological list of the starting pitchers for each World Series game contested in Major League Baseball.
Each pitcher's Win–loss record (pitching), win–loss record for World Series starts, cumulative through the game in q ...
*
Toronto Blue Jays award winners and league leaders
References
External links
, o
Baseball Almanac o
:
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wells, David
1963 births
Living people
American expatriate baseball players in Canada
American League All-Stars
American League Championship Series MVPs
American League wins champions
Baltimore Orioles players
Baseball players from Torrance, California
Boston Red Sox players
Cardenales de Lara players
American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
Chicago White Sox players
Cincinnati Reds players
Detroit Tigers players
Florence Blue Jays players
Kinston Blue Jays players
Knoxville Blue Jays players
Lakeland Tigers players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball pitchers who have pitched a perfect game
Medicine Hat Blue Jays players
New York Yankees players
Pawtucket Red Sox players
Point Loma High School alumni
San Diego Padres players
Baseball players from San Diego
Syracuse Chiefs players
Toronto Blue Jays players
Ventura County Gulls players