Al Downing (baseball)
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| Al Downing | ||
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| Pitcher | ||
| Born: June 28, 1941 Trenton, New Jersey |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | ||
| July 19, 1961 for the New York Yankees |
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| Final game | ||
| July 13, 1977 for the Los Angeles Dodgers |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Win-Loss | 123-107 | |
| ERA | 3.22 | |
| Strikeouts | 1639 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
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Alphonso Erwin "Al" Downing (born June 28, 1941, in Trenton, New Jersey) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for 17 seasons from 1961-1977. He entered the majors with the New York Yankees, and then played for the Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers before retiring with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Downing is most remembered for surrendering the record-breaking 715th home run hit by Hank Aaron on April 8, 1974.
In 1964, he led the league with 217 strikeouts.
On August 11, 1967, Downing struck out three batters (Tony Horton, Don Demeter and Duke Sims) on nine pitches in the second inning of a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians. Downing became the sixth American League pitcher and the 13th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the nine-pitch/three-strikeout half-inning. He was traded to Oakland prior to the 1970 season in a deal that sent him and catcher Frank Fernandez to the A's for Danny Cater and Ossie Chavarria.
Pitching for the Dodgers in 1971 after being traded by Milwaukee for outfielder Andy Kosco, Downing reached the pinnacle, winning 20 games, including a league-leading five shutouts.
Downing was a radio broadcaster for the Dodgers through 2005. As of 2006, he remains on the Dodgers Speaker's Bureau.
[edit] See also
- List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
- Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
| Preceded by Camilo Pascual |
American League Strikeout Champion 1964 |
Succeeded by Sam McDowell |
| Preceded by Jim Hickman |
NL Comeback Player of the Year 1971 |
Succeeded by Bobby Tolan |
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