Al Levine

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Al Levine
Relief pitcher
Born: May 22, 1968 (1968-05-22) (age 40)
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 22, 1996
for the Chicago White Sox
Final game
June 10, 2005
for the San Francisco Giants
Career statistics
Win-Loss     .267
Earned run average     3
Strikeouts     56
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Alan Brian Levine (born May 22, 1968 in Park Ridge, Illinois) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who currently pitches for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League.

Contents

[edit] Early and personal life

Levine graduated from Hoffman Estates High School and Southern Illinois University. In 1989, Levine walked onto the SIU team as a pitcher. Levine is close friends with Toronto Blue Jays catcher Sal Fasano, and Palatine High School coach Paul Belo[1]

[edit] Baseball career

The Chicago White Sox drafted him in the 11th round of the 1991 draft.

Levine played for seven major league teams. For his career, he held batters to a .220 batting average when there were runners in scoring position with 2 out.[2]

[edit] Minor leagues

Levine pitched 234 games in the minor leagues, over 11 seasons.

[edit] Major leagues

Levine made his major league debut in 1996 with the White Sox. In 1997, he held batters to a .125 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In December 1997, he was traded by the White Sox with Larry Thomas to the Texas Rangers for Benji Gil.

In April 1999, he was selected off waivers by the Anaheim Angels from the Texas Rangers. In 2000, he held batters to a .186 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In 2001, he had perhaps his best season. He had a 2.38 ERA for the Angels in 64 games. In 2002, he held batters to a .206 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position.

In January 2003, Levine signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals, but was released in March. In April, he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who then sold him to the Kansas City Royals on July 31. In 2003, he had another excellent season, splitting it between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Kansas City Royals. He had a 2.79 ERA in 54 games. He held batters to a .189 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In December 2003, he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers. In 2004, he held batters to a .154 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position.

For seven seasons in a row, from 1999-2004, he pitched in at least 50 games each year.

In February 2005, he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants, who released him in June. On July 7, 2005, he was signed as a free agent by the Florida Marlins, but was released a week later without pitching a game for them.

[edit] Atlantic league

On April 15, 2008, it was announced that Levine had signed a contract with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League.

[edit] Pitching

Levine used a lot of motion in his windup to fool hitters. He got good results with a sinking fastball, but his slider was his best pitch. His pitches appeared deceptively fast due to his three-quarters delivery.[3]

[edit] External links

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