Mel Stottlemyre
From BR Bullpen
Note: This page links to All Star pitcher and coach Mel Stottlemyre. For his son who played in 1990, click here.
Melvin Leon Stottlemyre Sr.
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
- School Yakima Valley Community College
- Debut August 12, 1964
- Final Game August 16, 1974
- Born November 13, 1941 in Hazleton, MO USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Mel Stottlemyre pitched eleven seasons in the majors, all for the New York Yankees, and won at least twenty games in three seasons. After his playing days, he was a highly regarded pitching coach for several big league clubs.
Signed by the Yankees in 1961, Stottlemyre posted a 1.42 ERA for the Richmond Virginians in 1964 to lead the International League. In August of that year, he joined the New York rotation, and he went 9-3 with a 2.06 ERA in 13 outings for the team. He even made an impact at the plate, recording 5 hits in a September 26th contest against the Washington Senators (while hurling a two-hitter). The Yankees reached the World Series, and he made three starts in the postseason, earning the win in Game Two but taking the loss in Game Seven. Ironically, it would be the only World Series appearances in his career.
The next summer, Stottlemyre won 20 games, led the American League with 18 complete games, and was an AL All-Star. He was an All-Star again in 1966 despite losing a league-leading 20 games as the Yankees fell to last place. He bounced back to win a career-best 21 games in 1968, recorded 20 victories again in 1969, and was an All-Star each year from 1968 to 1970. His career ended at age 32 after he suffered a torn rotator cuff in 1974.
After his playing days ended, Stottlemyre was pitching coach of the Seattle Mariners from 1977 to 1981, the New York Mets from 1984 to 1993, and the Houston Astros in 1994 and 1995. He joined the Yankees staff in 1996 and in a decade with the club was pitching coach for five World Series champions. After taking a two year break from the game, he returned for another stint as a Mariners coach in 2008 and 2009.
Stottlemyre is the father of big leaguers Mel Stottlemyre, Jr. and Todd Stottlemyre and the brother of minor leaguer Jeff Stottlemyre, who pitched in the Mariners chain from 1980 to 1983. The third son of he and his wife Jeannie, Jason Stottlemyre, died of leukemia as a child. For many years, the family lived in Mabton, Washington and Yakima, Washington, and they now split their time between Issaquah, Washington and New Jersey.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 1964 Minor League Player of the Year, Richmond Virginians, International League
- 1964 Pitcher of the Year, International League, Richmond Virginians
- 5-time AL All-Star (1965, 1966 & 1968-1970)
- AL Innings Pitched Leader (1965)
- 2-time AL Complete Games Leader (1965 & 1969)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 7 (1965, 1967-1971 & 1973)
- 20 Wins Seasons: 3 (1965, 1968 & 1969)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 9 (1965-1973)
- 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1969)
[edit] Further Reading
- Mel Stottlemyre (as told to George Vass): "The Game I'll Never Forget," Baseball Digest (January 1975), pp. 62-64
