Heathcliff Slocumb

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Heathcliff Slocumb (born June 7, 1966 in Jamaica, New York) is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed.

In a 10-year career, Slocumb played with the Chicago Cubs (1991-93), Cleveland Indians (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994-95), Boston Red Sox (1996-97), Seattle Mariners (1997-98), Baltimore Orioles (1999), St. Louis Cardinals (1999-2000) and San Diego Padres (2000).

An All-Star selection in 1995, Slocumb compiled a career 28-37 record with 513 strikeouts and a 4.08 ERA in 631 innings. He collected 98 saves, including 32 for the Phillies in 1995 and 31 with Boston in 1996. He is sometimes referred to by the nickname "Smoke 'em," which is usually used sarcastically.

Slocumb was involved in an infamously bad trade for the Mariners when he was sent from Boston to Seattle in 1997 for pitcher Derek Lowe and catcher Jason Varitek. Lowe went on to become an All-Star for Boston first as a closer in 2000 when he saved 42 games and then as a starter in 2002 when he went 21-8 with a 2.58 ERA and threw a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Varitek is a two-time All-Star, and in 2005, a season in which he was named team captain (just the third captain in Red Sox history), he was arguably the best catcher in the major leagues. Both former teammates (Lowe is now a member of the Dodgers) played key roles in bringing Boston its first World Series championship in 86 years in 2004. Slocumb's career dissipated significantly after the trade.