Mike Norris (baseball)

Michael Kelvin Norris (born March 19, 1955 in San Francisco, California) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played with the Oakland Athletics (1975-1983, 1990).

Norris is best remembered for his spectacular 1980 season. He went 22-9 with 24 complete games and a 2.53 earned run average, while also earning the Gold Glove Award. However, he was not awarded the American League Cy Young Award; Steve Stone of the Baltimore Orioles, who had a record of 25-7, was given the honor. Norris also placed 15th in the MVP voting.

In 1981, Norris posted a modest 12-9 record, again earning the Gold Glove Award and also earning an All-Star berth he was denied in 1980. Norris spun a complete game shutout in the first round of the playoffs against the Kansas City Royals and pitched well in the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees despite getting hit with a loss there.

Many believe that Billy Martin inflicted a heavy workload on Norris, which threw out his arm. He was never able to return to his former stature, and after the 1983 season, he played for the independent San Jose Bees. He made a brief comeback as a relief pitcher in 1990, posting an ERA of 3.00 in 27 innings.

An addiction to cocaine shortened Norris's playing career. In 1999 he was diagnosed with cervical myelopathy, and he had surgery in January 2000 at the California Pacific Medical Center. After recovering, Norris took up golf as a hobby.

Norris was well-known for his distinctive green fielding glove.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference