Ed Sprague (pitcher)
Encyclopedia
Edward Nelson Sprague, Sr. (born September 16, 1945) is a former professional baseball
pitcher
. He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball
for four different teams between 1968 and 1976. Listed at 6' 4", 195 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.
A hard-thrower, Sprague did not play at school level. He was scouted
while pitching in the Army in Germany
and was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals
in 1966. A year later he was sold to the Oakland Athletics
. He entered the majors in 1968 with the Athletics, playing for them until 1969 before joining the Cincinnati Reds
(1971-73), St. Louis Cardinals (1973) and Milwaukee Brewers
(1973-76). He filled various pitching roles, coming out from the bullpen
as a closer
or a middle reliever
, and as an occasional starter
as well. His most productive season came in 1974 with Milwaukee, when he set career-highs in wins
(7), strikeout
s (57) and earned run average
(2.39) in 20 games
, including 10 as a starter
, before damaging knee ligaments during the midseason which ruled him out for the year.
In an eight-season career, Sprague posted a 17-23 record with 188 strikeouts and a 3.84 ERA in 198 games, including 23 starts, three complete game
s, nine saves
and 408.0 innings pitched
.
Following his playing career, Sprague became the owner of the Stockton Ports
and his wife the owner of the Lodi Crushers
. His son, Ed Jr., was the Toronto Blue Jays
' first pick in the 1988 draft and played in the majors from 1991-2001.
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....
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...
. He played all or part of eight seasons in 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...
for four different teams between 1968 and 1976. Listed at 6' 4", 195 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.
A hard-thrower, Sprague did not play at school level. He was scouted
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
while pitching in the Army in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and was signed by 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...
in 1966. A year later he was sold to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He entered the majors in 1968 with the Athletics, playing for them until 1969 before joining the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1971-73), St. Louis Cardinals (1973) and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1973-76). He filled various pitching roles, coming out from the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
as a closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
or a middle reliever
Middle relief pitcher
In baseball, middle relief pitchers are relief pitchers who commonly pitch in the 6th or 7th innings or in situations where several innings worth of work is required . In the National League, a middle reliever often comes in after the starting pitcher has been pulled for a pinch hitter...
, and as an occasional starter
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....
as well. His most productive season came in 1974 with Milwaukee, when he set career-highs in wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
(7), strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s (57) and earned run average
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...
(2.39) in 20 games
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
, including 10 as a starter
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....
, before damaging knee ligaments during the midseason which ruled him out for the year.
In an eight-season career, Sprague posted a 17-23 record with 188 strikeouts and a 3.84 ERA in 198 games, including 23 starts, three complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, nine saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
and 408.0 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...
.
Following his playing career, Sprague became the owner of the Stockton Ports
Stockton Ports
The Stockton Ports are a baseball team in Stockton, California. The Ports play in the Northern Division of the Class A – Advanced California League and are a Minor League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Their home field is Banner Island Ballpark which seats over 5,000 people and opened in...
and his wife the owner of the Lodi Crushers
Lodi Crushers
The Lodi Crushers were a minor league baseball team located in Lodi, California. The team played in the California League, and were affiliated with several major league franchises, the longest being the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their home stadium was Tony Zupo Field. Today, the franchise is the...
. His son, Ed Jr., was the 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 ....
' first pick in the 1988 draft and played in the majors from 1991-2001.