Dennis Musgraves
Encyclopedia
Dennis Eugene Musgraves is a retired American
professional baseball
player, a right-handed pitcher
who appeared in five Major League Baseball
games
as a member of the New York Mets
. As a 21-year-old rookie
, Musgraves was extremely successful in his Major League debut. In his first four appearances, all in relief
, he surrendered only one unearned run in nine complete innings. In his fifth appearance, a starting
assignment against the Chicago Cubs
, he gave up only one earned run
in seven innings. But, according to a Met fan site, Musgraves injured his arm during the game and, in the event, it was his final appearance in the Major Leagues.
Musgraves attended the University of Missouri
, stood 6 in 4 in (1.93 m) tall and weighed 188 pounds (85.3 kg). He signed with New York in 1964, and all of Musgraves' Major League appearances occurred during July 1965. As a reliever, he yielded only four total hits
in nine innings in stints against the Houston Astros
, St. Louis Cardinals
, Milwaukee Braves
and Philadelphia Phillies
. In his fifth game, a start against the Cubs on July 29, 1965, at Wrigley Field
, Musgraves went seven full innings and gave up his first (and only) earned run in Major League Baseball on a bunt single by Doug Clemens
in the fifth inning, but then blanked the Cubs the rest of the way. In the top of the eighth inning, he was replaced by pinch hitter
Joe Christopher
. Chicago won the game 2–1 in extra innings.
He injured his elbow during the game, however, and underwent two surgeries in an attempt to solve the problem. But the rest of his career would be spent in minor league baseball
, continuing in the Mets' system through 1970 and then retiring after a stint with the 1971 Omaha Royals
. Musgraves' Major League totals included only 11 hits allowed in 16 innings pitched
, with seven bases on balls and 11 strikeouts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player, a right-handed 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...
who appeared in five Major League 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...
games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
as a member of the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. As a 21-year-old rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
, Musgraves was extremely successful in his Major League debut. In his first four appearances, all in relief
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...
, he surrendered only one unearned run in nine complete innings. In his fifth appearance, a starting
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
assignment against 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...
, he gave up only one earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
in seven innings. But, according to a Met fan site, Musgraves injured his arm during the game and, in the event, it was his final appearance in the Major Leagues.
Musgraves attended the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, stood 6 in 4 in (1.93 m) tall and weighed 188 pounds (85.3 kg). He signed with New York in 1964, and all of Musgraves' Major League appearances occurred during July 1965. As a reliever, he yielded only four total hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in nine innings in stints against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, 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...
, Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. In his fifth game, a start against the Cubs on July 29, 1965, at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, Musgraves went seven full innings and gave up his first (and only) earned run in Major League Baseball on a bunt single by Doug Clemens
Doug Clemens
Douglas Horace Clemens , is a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from 1960-1968. He played for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
in the fifth inning, but then blanked the Cubs the rest of the way. In the top of the eighth inning, he was replaced by pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
Joe Christopher
Joe Christopher
Joseph O'Neal Christopher is a former outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from through . Listed at 5' 10", 175 lbs., he batted and threw right-handed....
. Chicago won the game 2–1 in extra innings.
He injured his elbow during the game, however, and underwent two surgeries in an attempt to solve the problem. But the rest of his career would be spent in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, continuing in the Mets' system through 1970 and then retiring after a stint with the 1971 Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
. Musgraves' Major League totals included only 11 hits allowed in 16 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, with seven bases on balls and 11 strikeouts.