Bob Tewksbury
Encyclopedia
Robert Alan Tewksbury is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
.
Tewksbury's talent was initially discovered by Andy Michael
in Concord. Michael contacted the New York Yankees
and Tewksbury was drafted by them out of Saint Leo University
in the 19th round of the 1981 draft. He played for the Yankees for two years, before being sent to the Chicago Cubs
. As a free agent
in 1988, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals
, where he would stay until 1994. Again a free agent, he went to the Texas Rangers
for a year. In 1996, he signed with the San Diego Padres
for one more year. He then played for two years with the Minnesota Twins
, but the shoulder problems effectively ended his baseball career after that.
Due to the shoulder and arm problems he would face over the course of his playing career, Tewksbury became known as an excellent control pitcher
. His best year was 1992, in which he went 16-5 on the season and had a 2.16 ERA
in 233 innings pitched. He appeared in the All-Star game and was third in the Cy Young Award
voting that year. His injury problems would continue to mar his success from that point forward, with his best post-Cardinals year being in San Diego, where he would help the Padres capture the NL West division title.
In 1997, the ever-crafty Tewksbury threw an Eephus pitch
, joining an elite few who have thrown the "junkiest pitch in baseball." He threw it to power-hitter Mark McGwire
in an interleague play game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
and McGwire grounded out on the pitch - twice. Tewksbury has been quoted as calling this pitch "The Dominator."
During and after his baseball career, he became well known for his philanthropy
. He has done a lot of work for the Boys and Girls Club of America, as well as hospital visits for sick children. He was very popular among his fans and peers, his Texas manager saying "He’s a true professional on and off the field — and a pleasure to have in the clubhouse."
Tewksbury still lives in New Hampshire
, continuing his charitable work, and appeared as a commentator for Boston Red Sox
coverage on the New England Sports Network
.
He was inducted into the Saint Leo Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Tewksbury is now a sports psychologist for the Boston Red Sox
.
He played himself in the movie The Scout.
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...
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...
.
Tewksbury's talent was initially discovered by Andy Michael
Andy Michael
Andrew "Andy" Joseph Michael Sr. was a baseball memorabilia collector. He was known as "Mr. Baseball", "Duke", and "Flash". Born in Concord, New Hampshire, Michael served in the United States Army during World War II...
in Concord. Michael contacted the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Tewksbury was drafted by them out of Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University is a private, non-profit, Roman Catholic liberal arts university established in 1889 and located in Saint Leo, Florida, 35 miles north of Tampa. The University is associated with the Holy Name Monastery, a Benedictine convent, and Saint Leo Abbey, a Benedictine monastery...
in the 19th round of the 1981 draft. He played for the Yankees for two years, before being sent to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. 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....
in 1988, he signed 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...
, where he would stay until 1994. Again a free agent, he went 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 a year. In 1996, he signed with the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for one more year. He then played for two years with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, but the shoulder problems effectively ended his baseball career after that.
Due to the shoulder and arm problems he would face over the course of his playing career, Tewksbury became known as an excellent control pitcher
Control pitcher
A control pitcher is a pitcher who succeeds mostly by using accurate pitches, as opposed to a power pitcher who relies on velocity. By issuing a below average number of bases on balls he exhibits good control of his pitches...
. His best year was 1992, in which he went 16-5 on the season and had a 2.16 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...
in 233 innings pitched. He appeared in the All-Star game and was third in the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting that year. His injury problems would continue to mar his success from that point forward, with his best post-Cardinals year being in San Diego, where he would help the Padres capture the NL West division title.
In 1997, the ever-crafty Tewksbury threw an Eephus pitch
Eephus pitch
An Eephus pitch in baseball is considered a junk pitch with very low speed. The delivery from the pitcher has very low velocity and usually catches the hitter off-guard. Its invention is attributed to Rip Sewell of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1940s. According to manager Frankie Frisch, the...
, joining an elite few who have thrown the "junkiest pitch in baseball." He threw it to power-hitter Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
in an interleague play game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...
and McGwire grounded out on the pitch - twice. Tewksbury has been quoted as calling this pitch "The Dominator."
During and after his baseball career, he became well known for his philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
. He has done a lot of work for the Boys and Girls Club of America, as well as hospital visits for sick children. He was very popular among his fans and peers, his Texas manager saying "He’s a true professional on and off the field — and a pleasure to have in the clubhouse."
Tewksbury still lives in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, continuing his charitable work, and appeared as a commentator for Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
coverage on the New England Sports Network
New England Sports Network
The New England Sports Network, or NESN [NESS-en], is a regional cable television network that covers the six New England states except Fairfield County, Connecticut and Southbury, Connecticut, a town in New Haven County, Connecticut which is covered by New York City sports networks...
.
He was inducted into the Saint Leo Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Tewksbury is now a sports psychologist for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
He played himself in the movie The Scout.