Alan Levine
Encyclopedia
Alan Brian "Al" Levine is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
who currently pitches for the Newark Bears
of the independent Atlantic League
.
and Southern Illinois University
. In , Levine walked onto the SIU team
as a pitcher
. Levine is close friends with Toronto Blue Jays
catcher
Sal Fasano
, and Palatine High School
coach Paul Belo.
drafted him in the 11th round of the 1991 draft
.
to the Texas Rangers
for Benji Gil
.
In April , he was selected off waivers by the Anaheim Angels
from the Texas Rangers. In , he held batters to a .186 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In , he had perhaps his best season. He had a 2.38 ERA
for the Angels in 64 games. In , he held batters to a .206 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position.
In January , Levine signed as a free agent
with the St. Louis Cardinals
, but was released in March. In April, he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who then sold him to the Kansas City Royals
on July 31. In 2003, he had another excellent season, splitting it between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Kansas City Royals. He had a 2.79 ERA in 54 games. He held batters to a .189 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In December 2003, he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers
. In , he held batters to a .154 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position.
For seven seasons in a row, from 1999–2004, he pitched in at least 50 games each year.
In February , he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants
, who released him in June. On July 7, 2005, he was signed as a free agent by the Florida Marlins
, but was released a week later without pitching a game for them.
Levine played for seven major league teams. For his career, he held batters to a .220 batting average
when there were runners in scoring position
with 2 out.
Through 2010, he was 5th all-time in career ERA (directly behind 3.96; Harry Eisenstat
), and 6th in career games played (behind Larry Sherry
), among Jewish major league baseball pitchers.
of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
who currently pitches for the Newark Bears
Newark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
of the independent Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
.
Early and personal life
Levine, who is Jewish, graduated from Hoffman Estates High SchoolHoffman Estates High School
Hoffman Estates High School, or HEHS, is a public four-year high school located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 211, which also includes James B...
and Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
. In , Levine walked onto the SIU team
Southern Illinois Salukis
The Southern Illinois Salukis are the varsity athletic teams representing Southern Illinois University. The nickname comes from the saluki, the royal dog of Egypt and the Persian greyhound, which ties into the fact that southern Illinois has had the nickname "Little Egypt" for just under 200...
as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. Levine is close friends with Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Sal Fasano
Sal Fasano
Salvatore Frank Fasano is a former Major League Baseball catcher who is currently the manager of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Double A Eastern League, a Minor League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system. He is known to many for his famous Horseshoe moustache.Jeff Pearlman...
, and Palatine High School
Palatine High School
Palatine High School, or PHS, is a public four-year high school in Township High School District 211. Located at 1111 N. Rohlwing Rd in Palatine, Illinois, United States, a northwest suburb of Chicago...
coach Paul Belo.
Baseball career
The Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
drafted him in the 11th round of the 1991 draft
1991 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Other notable players:...
.
Minor leagues
Levine played AA for the Birmingham Barons in 1994, with Michael Jordan (until Al was called up to AAA mid-season; without Jordan). He pitched 234 games in the minor leagues, over 11 seasons.Major leagues
Levine made his major league debut in with the White Sox. In , he held batters to a .125 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In December 1997, he was traded by the White Sox with Larry ThomasLarry Thomas (baseball)
Larry Wayne Thomas Jr. is an American retired professional baseball pitcher. He played college baseball at the University of Maine and, during his three seasons at the major league level, for the Chicago White Sox from 1995 to 1997. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 2nd round of the 1991...
to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for Benji Gil
Benji Gil
Romar Benjamin Gil Aguilar is a former Major League Baseball utility player.Gil made his Major League Baseball debut with the Texas Rangers on April 5, 1993...
.
In April , he was selected off waivers by the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
from the Texas Rangers. In , he held batters to a .186 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In , he had perhaps his best season. He had a 2.38 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
for the Angels in 64 games. In , he held batters to a .206 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position.
In January , Levine signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, but was released in March. In April, he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who then sold him to the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
on July 31. In 2003, he had another excellent season, splitting it between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Kansas City Royals. He had a 2.79 ERA in 54 games. He held batters to a .189 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position. In December 2003, he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. In , he held batters to a .154 batting average when there were 2 out, with runners in scoring position.
For seven seasons in a row, from 1999–2004, he pitched in at least 50 games each year.
In February , he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, who released him in June. On July 7, 2005, he was signed as a free agent by the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, but was released a week later without pitching a game for them.
Levine played for seven major league teams. For his career, he held batters to a .220 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
when there were runners in scoring position
Scoring position
In the sport of baseball, a baserunner is said to be in scoring position when he is on second or third base. The distinction between being on first base and second or third base is that a runner on first can usually only score if the batter hits an extra base hit, while a runner on second or third...
with 2 out.
Through 2010, he was 5th all-time in career ERA (directly behind 3.96; Harry Eisenstat
Harry Eisenstat
Harry Eisenstat was a Major League Baseball player who played from 1935 to 1942.-Early life:He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and attended James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York.-Career:...
), and 6th in career games played (behind Larry Sherry
Larry Sherry
Lawrence Sherry was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers...
), among Jewish major league baseball pitchers.
Atlantic League
In 2008, Levine pitched for the Newark BearsNewark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
.