Ricky Bottalico

Ricky Paul Bottalico

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 200 lb.
• School Central Connecticut State University
• High School South Catholic High School (Hartford)
• Debut July 29, 1994
• Final Game July 22, 2005
• Born August 26, 1969 in New Britain, CT USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Ricky Bottalico was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1991 after being discovered pitching in a semipro league. Ricky initially thought his path to the majors would be as a catcher, since that is what he did nearly exclusively in college as well as in semipro ball. Three years later, he reached the bigs as a reliever, becoming a valuable middle relief option in 1995 and moving to the closer's role the next year.

Bottalico racked up back-to-back 34 save seasons with the Phillies in 1996 and 1997, while striking out more than one batter per inning both seasons. That proficiency helped him to get out of tight spots, sometimes of his own making; on May 19, 1996 Ricky walked and plunked his first two batters while protecting a 9th-inning one-run lead, then struck out the next three batters for the save, and on May 20, 1997, he allowed singles to the first three batters while protecting a two-run 9th-inning lead, then struck out the side to preserve that victory.

Bottalico made his lone All-Star appearance in 1996, then posted a career high strikeout rate in 1997, though his walk rate ballooned to over 5 per 9 innings. That wildness caught up with him when Ricky's ERA shot up to 6.44 in an abbreviated 1998 campaign. He bounced around to six different teams in his final seven seasons, rounding out his career with 40 games out of the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen in 2005. On the bump, he went 319 major league appearances without committing an error.

Notable Achievements

• NL All-Star (1996)
• 30 Saves Seasons: 2 (1996 & 1997)