Scott Kamieniecki

Scott Andrew Kamieniecki
(Kamie)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
• School University of Michigan
• High School St. Mary's High School (Detroit)
• Debut June 18, 1991
• Final Game October 1, 2000
• Born April 19, 1964 in Mount Clemens, MI USA

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Biographical Information

Scott Kamieniecki the only player drafted in the 14th round of the 1986 amateur draft with a major league win. It was actually his third time being drafted, having been taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 2nd round of the 1982 amateur draft coming out of high school, but after failing to come to an agreement with his hometown team, again in the 23rd round of the 1985 amateur draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. He was attending the University of Michigan by that point, and was still there when the Yankees picked him in 1986 and were successful in getting him to agree to a professional contract.

He reached the majors with the Yankees during the 1991 season, at a point when the team was in a trough, finishing in fifth place in the AL East after having been last the year before. However, Scott was part of a wave of promising young players who reached the majors around that time and who would help turn the team's fortunes around. He went 4-4, 3.90 in 9 starts as a rookie, but fell to 6-14, 4.36 in 1992. However, he improved to 10-7, 4.08 in 1993 and was having his best season in 1994, going 8-6, 3.76 in 22 games when the strike ended the season with New York holding the best record in the American League.

The Yankees then became a dominant team for almost a full decade, but Scott's time with them was coming to an end. He was limited to 17 games in 1995, when they returned to the postseason for the first time since 1981, finishing at 7-6, 4.01. He did make one postseason start, in Game 4 of the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners on October 7th. A win would have moved the Yankees into the ALCS, but he allowed 5 runs in 5 innings and New York eventually lost the game, 11-8, although he was not involved in the decision. In 1996, he slumped to 1-2, 11.12 in 7 games, making his final appearance in late May, then was allowed to leave as a free agent following the season.

The second half of Scott's big league career was largely spent with the Baltimore Orioles. He was already 33 when he first played for them in 1997 but he matched his career best for wins that season, finishing at 10-6, 4.01 in 30 starts and 179 1/3 innings. he was never a strikeout pitcher, and that season was the only one in which he topped 100 Ks, finishing at 109. The Orioles made it to the postseason and he appeared twice in the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians, including starting Game 5 on October 13th with Baltimore facing elimination. He was excellent, giving the O's five scoreless innings before turning the ball over to the bullpen, which completed a 4-2 win. However, Cleveland then won Game 6 and moved on to the World Series. His next two seasons with the Orioles in 1998 and 1999 were not as good, as injuries got the best of him and he finished at 2-6, 6.75 and 2-4, 4.95 respectively. The second year, he was primarily a reliever, with 40 of his 43 games coming in the role. He also recorded 2 of his 3 career saves that season. He played one final season, splitting 2000 between the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves, going 3-4, 5.59 in 52 games and 58 innings solely as a reliever.