Tom Candiotti

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Thomas Caesar Candiotti (born August 31, 1957 in Walnut Creek, California) is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was known for his knuckleball. He played for Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Candiotti is currently a TV-Radio analyst for the Arizona Diamondbacks and is under contract through the 2011 season.

Candiotti was originally drafted by Kansas City in 1980 but claimed in the Rule 5 Draft by Milwaukee that year.

After two forgettable seasons with the Brewers, Candiotti signed with Cleveland in 1985, where he would enjoy his most successful seasons. With the woeful Indians of the 1980's, Candiotti would have a record of 72-65 with only one losing season. His best season was 1988 when he went 14-8 with a 3.28 ERA and 137 strikeouts.

In 1991, Cleveland shipped him to Toronto to help in their playoff run. He left the Blue Jays the following season to sign with Los Angeles where he would spend six mediocre years winning only 52 games while losing 64.

He finished his career with Oakland and Cleveland before retiring in 1999.

Candiotti appeared briefly in Billy Crystal's 2001 movie "61*" (the story of the New York Yankees' 1961 season and the race between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle to beat Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs in a single season) as the Hall of Fame relief ace, Hoyt Wilhelm, who was well known for his knuckleball.