Denny Neagle
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| Denny Neagle | ||
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| Pitcher | ||
| Born: September 13, 1968 Gambrills, Maryland |
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| Batted: Left | Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | ||
| July 27, 1991 for the Minnesota Twins |
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| Final game | ||
| July 20, 2003 for the Colorado Rockies |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Win-Loss record | 124-92 | |
| Earned run average | 4.24 | |
| Strikeouts | 1,415 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
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Dennis Edward Neagle Jr. (pronounced /ˈneɪɡəl/) (Born September 13, 1968 in Gambrills, Maryland) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was last under contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during the 2005 season, but he did not play due to injury. During the 1990s, he was one of the top pitchers in baseball, but his career, and personal life, deteriorated in the early 2000s.
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[edit] Career
[edit] Minnesota Twins
Neagle was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1989 amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins. He saw some action in the summer of 1991 for the Twins, but was not on their postseason roster when the club won the 1991 World Series.
[edit] Pittsburgh Pirates
Neagle dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training in 1992, and became a full-time starter for the Pirates in 1994. The following season, Neagle posted a 13-8 record with a 3.43 ERA and became the ace of a mediocre Pittsburgh staff. That year, Neagle represented the Pirates at the All-Star Game. He got off to an impressive 14-6 start in 1996. On August 27, 1996, he pitched eight innings giving up only two runs to the first place Atlanta Braves. The next day, the Braves traded a young Jason Schmidt to Pittsburgh for Neagle in the midst of their playoff run.
[edit] Atlanta Braves
Neagle was given the opportunity to start in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, earning a no-decision.
Remaining with the Braves in 1997, Neagle had his best season, going 20-5 with a 2.97 ERA. He earned another All-Star selection and finished third in Cy Young Award voting. In the 1997 National League Championship Series, Neagle pitched a complete-game shutout.
Neagle's 16-11 record and 3.55 ERA in 1998 were still solid numbers, but the emergence of Kevin Millwood made him expendable and he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds after the season.
[edit] Cincinnati Reds
Injuries limited Neagle to 19 starts in 1999, but he stormed out to an 8-2 record in 2000.
[edit] New York Yankees
The playoff-bound New York Yankees traded for Neagle on July 12, 2000. He only registered a 7-7 record over the rest of the season with the Yankees, and his playoff performance was shaky, but his team triumphed in the 2000 World Series and Neagle earned a championship ring.
[edit] Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and legal troubles
In December 2000, the Colorado Rockies signed Neagle and fellow left-hander Mike Hampton to expensive contracts. Neagle's contract was for five years and $51 million, and his 17-19 record and 5.31 ERA over the 2001 and 2002 seasons spelled disaster for the Rockies. Due to injuries, Neagle only started seven games in 2003. He went 2-4 with a 7.90 ERA, pitching what has proven to be his last Major League game on July 20, 2003.
At this point, Neagle's life derailed. He missed the 2004 season due to ligament and elbow surgeries. Then, he ran into legal problems at the end of the year, which allowed the Rockies to cancel the final year of his lucrative contract. [1] Neagle was found engaged with a prostitute and three days later caught speeding while drunk. The incident was a public humiliation for Neagle and ended his marriage.
He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before the 2005 season, but did not play due to injury.
On January 24, 2006, Neagle pleaded guilty in Jefferson County, Colorado, on one charge of patronizing a prostitute. Although the sentence can carry a maximum of a $500 fine and up to six months in prison, Neagle was only sentenced to 40 hours of community service.
On December 13, 2007, Neagle was mentioned in the Mitchell Report in connection with steroids.
On August 27, 2007, Neagle was arrested for and later pleaded guilty to driving under the influence. [2]
[edit] Trivia
- Neagle was known to teammates and the media for his playfulness, which included the ability (and compulsion) to imitate the "choo, choo" sound of a train.
- All members of Denny's family have the initials DN such as brothers Doug and Darius.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by John Smoltz |
National League Wins Champion 1997 |
Succeeded by Tom Glavine |
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