De Wayne Buice

From BR Bullpen

De Wayne Allison Buice

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
School California State University, Dominguez Hills
Debut April 25, 1987
Final Game June 27, 1989
Born August 20, 1957 in Lynwood, CA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

DeWayne Buice signed with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent in 1977. The Giants sent him to the Great Falls Giants, where he had 5 saves in 15 games, striking out 30 in 37 IP. He was 1-4 3.65 ERA, but walked 24, almost 6 per 9 IP. Moving up to the Cedar Rapids Giants in 1978, Buice was 3-5 1.70 ERA in 37 games with 4 saves. He struck out 68 in 74 IP, but walked 41. Jumping from low-A ball to AAA in 1979, Buice was 7-5 with 3 Sv in 46 games for the Phoenix Giants. His walk rate and BB/SO ratio were improving as he walked 44 in 97 IP with 86 SO. Back with Phoenix in 1980, he was 7-4 with 4 Sv in 36 games. His walk rate continued to improve. With 88 SO and 38 BB in 100 IP he had finally walked less than 4 per 9 IP.

In December of 1980, the Oakland A's drafted Buice in the minor league draft. The A's sent Buice down to AA in 1981 and made him the closer for the West Haven A's. In 58 games he was 8-3 with 15 Sv. He struck out 88 (9.66 / 9 IP), but walked 41 in 82 IP. In 3 IP for the Tacoma Tigers, he walked 3 but gave up no runs. Buice pitched 8 more games for West Haven in 1982, posting an excellent 8/40 BB/SO ratio in 23 2/3 IP. Moving back up to Tacoma, he was 4-2 with 1 Sv in 19 games, with 19 BB and 36 SO in 41 IP. Back with Tacoma in 1983, Buice was 5-3 with 3 Sv in 32 games, striking out 41 in 52 1/3 IP (his lowest rate yet) and walking 22. Suitably impressed, the A's granted his free agency after the season.

Buice signed with the Cleveland Indians, but was released during spring training. With five seasons at AAA and none in the majors, Buice signed with the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican League for 1984. In 14 games, he was 4-1, 2.25 ERA with 3 Sv. He had 35 SO and 17 BB in 40 IP. With Nuevo Laredo in 1985, he was 0-1 with Sv in 24 games. He had 37 SO in 33 2/3 IP with 15 BB.

Buice returned to the States, signing with the California Angels for 1986. The Angels sent him back down to AA with the Midland Angels for most of '86. There he was 8-6, 3.45 ERA with 14 Sv in 45 games. He struck out 73 in 78 1/3 IP and walked only 22. He was impressive in 8 games for the Edmonton Trappers, going 2-1, 0.73 ERA, 1 Sv, with 11 SO and 3 BB in 12 1/3 IP. Buice began 1987 back with Edmonton, earning 2 saves in 5 games with a 1.08 ERA, before being summoned to Anaheim.

Twenty nine year old Buice made his major league debut on April 25, 1987. He went on to pitch in 57 games for the Angels, leading the team with 17 saves. He was 6-7 3.39 ERA with 109 SO in 114 IP against 40 BB; the 109 strikeouts stood as the Angel franchise relief record until Francisco Rodriguez struck out 123 from the pen in 2004. 1987 would turn out to be his most successful big league season by far. In 1988, Buice was 2-4, while his ERA ballooned to 5.88 with only 3 saves. His strikeout rate stayed high (38 SO in 41 1/3 IP), but so did his walks (19). He also spent time in Edmonton in 1988 (0-0, 2.31 ERA, 12 IP excellent 2/17 BB/SO).

In March of 1989, the Angels traded Buice to the Toronto Blue Jays for Cliff Young. He pitched only 7 games for Toronto, posting a 1-0 5.82 ERA and a horrible 13/10 BB/SO ratio in 17 IP. Pitching for Syracuse, Buice was 4-2, 2.47 ERA, 5 Sv in 31 games, with 59 SO and 28 BB in 51 IP. The Blue Jays granted him free agency in October.

Buice was in Southern California one evening in November 1987 looking for a Chinese restaurant in the area, after wandering around the neighborhood without much luck, he went into a baseball card store called "The Upper Deck" to ask the owner about the restaurant.

The owner recognized Buice and offered a 12% ownership stake in his baseball card company he was trying to start, if Buice would get him in touch with MLBPA. The company he started was called Upper Deck. Buice entered into a four year contract with the company. After the strike in 1994, Upper Deck gave Buice six more years of ownership. Between 1988 and 1998, Buice earned $15 million because he couldn't find a Chinese restaurant.

Buice came to Germany to coach in 2008 at the request of friend Mike Hartley, head coach of the Heidenheim Heideköpfe; Buice took over first base duties.