| Calvin Schiraldi | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: June 16, 1962 Houston, Texas |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| September 1, 1984 for the New York Mets | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 3, 1991 for the Texas Rangers | |
| Career statistics | |
| Win-loss record | 32-39 |
| Earned run average | 4.28 |
| Strikeouts | 471 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
Calvin Drew Schiraldi (born June 16, 1962 in Houston, Texas) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best remembered as the losing pitcher of Game 6 and Game 7 of the 1986 World Series.
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Schiraldi was originally drafted out of Westlake High School in Austin, Texas by the Chicago White Sox in the 17th round of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose, instead to attend the University of Texas. Schiraldi, along with future Boston Red Sox teammate Roger Clemens, pitched the 1983 Texas Longhorns baseball team to a 1983 College World Series championship. Schiraldi was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player and to the All-Tournament Team.
Following his performance in the College World Series, Schiraldi was selected by the New York Mets in the first round (27th pick) of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft. After going 17-4 with a 2.59 earned run average for the Jackson Mets and Tidewater Tides in 1984, Schiraldi received a September call-up to the Mets. He made his major league debut on September 1, starting the second game of a double header against the San Diego Padres, and gave up five runs (four earned) in 3.1 innings.[1] Schiraldi did not figure in the decision in that game. He made two more starts for the Mets that year, losing both.
Schiraldi split 1985 between the Mets and Tidewater, earning his first major league win on April 22 against the St. Louis Cardinals.[2] Following the season, Schiraldi was traded to the Red Sox along with John Christensen, Wes Gardner and La Schelle Tarver for Bob Ojeda, Tom McCarthy, John Mitchell and Chris Bayer.
With the International League's Pawtucket Red Sox, Schiraldi was converted to a reliever. He made his debut with the big league club on July 20, 1986. With no outs, runners on first and third, and the Red Sox already down 6-3 to the Seattle Mariners in the Kingdome, Schiraldi replaced Jeff Sellers in the sixth inning. He allowed both inherited base runners to score, and gave up an earned run of his own in the sixth, however, pitched a perfect seventh.[3]
He pitched again the next day, striking out four in 2.2 innings without giving up a run.[4] He earned manager John McNamara's trust with similarly impressive performances on July 26 and August 1, and on August 3, with the Red Sox leading the Kansas City Royals 5-3, Schiraldi entered in the ninth inning with runners on first and second and no outs. He struck out the first two batters he faced and retired the third for his first career save.[5]
Whereas closing duties had been split between Bob Stanley and Joe Sambito up to that point, Schiraldi emerged as the Bosox's closer for the remainder of the season. He ended the season with a 4-2 record, nine saves, a 1.41 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 51 innings.
Schiraldi appeared in four of the seven games of the 1986 American League Championship Series against the California Angels.[6] Although he took the loss in game four, he pitched respectably in the series, striking out five in the final two innings of game seven.
After saving game one of the World Series, Schiraldi entered game six in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied at three. The Sox gave Schiraldi a two run lead when he took the mound in the tenth. After retiring the first two batters, he allowed three straight singles to Gary Carter, Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight and was replaced by Bob Stanley. Stanley threw a wild pitch, which allowed Kevin Mitchell to score the tying run, and Mookie Wilson followed by hitting a ground ball that rolled between the legs of Bill Buckner, scoring Ray Knight and giving the Mets an improbable victory.[7] With the score tied 3-3 in the seventh inning of game seven, Schiraldi gave up a leadoff home run to Knight, the series MVP. He gave up two more earned runs in just one-third of an inning to take the loss in the series clincher. His ERA for the World Series was 13.50.
In 1987, Wes Gardner, who also came over from the Mets in the Ojeda trade, emerged as the primary closer for the Red Sox, though Schiraldi did have six saves. Following the season, he and Al Nipper were traded to the Chicago Cubs for Lee Smith. With the Cubs, Schiraldi was converted back into a starter, and went 9-13 with a 4.38 ERA in 1988. The Cubs shifted him back to the bullpen in 1989 before sending him to the San Diego Padres just before the August 30 traded deadline, with Darrin Jackson and a player to be named later for Luis Salazar and Marvell Wynne.
Schiraldi made four starts with the Padres in 1989, going 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA. Though he did make eight starts with the Padres in 1990, he found himself in the bullpen for most of the season. He went 3-8 with one save and a 4.41 ERA in 1990. The Padres released him during Spring training the following season.
Schiraldi caught on with the Houston Astros following his release from the Padres. He was assigned to their triple A Pacific Coast League affiliate, the Tucson Toros, with whom he went 3-2 with a 4.47 ERA before being dealt to the Texas Rangers. He made three appearances with the Rangers in 1991, spending most of the season with their American Association affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers.
| Seasons | W | L | PCT | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | K | WP | HBP |
| 8 | 32 | 39 | .451 | 4.28 | 235 | 47 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 553.1 | 522 | 263 | 285 | 62 | 267 | 471 | 21 | 9 |
He also hit two home runs during his stint with the Padres.
He is married to Debbie Murphy Schiraldi, whom he met in Jackson, Mississippi while pitching for the Jackson Mets. They have two children, Samantha and Lukas. Schiraldi is the head coach of St. Michael's Catholic Academy baseball team in Austin, Texas.
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