Greg Swindell
Encyclopedia
Forest Gregory "Greg" Swindell (born January 2, 1965) is an American
former Major League Baseball
player, who had a 17-year career as a left-handed pitcher
from to . He played for the Cleveland Indians
, Minnesota Twins
and Boston Red Sox
of the American League
and the Cincinnati Reds
, Houston Astros
and Arizona Diamondbacks
of the National League
.
. He was the youngest of four children, two sisters and a brother, Daniel, nicknamed Corky.
He graduated from Sharpstown High School
in 1983.
He has three daughters, Hayley, Brenna and Sophia, a son, Dawson, who was diagnosed with autism
.
. According to the Texas Longhorns media guide, he was one of the most decorated pitchers in school history, with a 43-8 record in 77 games and a 1.92 ERA. He made 50 starts, pitching 32 complete games and notching school records for shutouts (14) and strikeouts (501). He remains among the top 10 all-time in Longhorns history for ERA (10th), victories (3rd), innings (2nd), strikeouts (1st), appearances (4th), starts (3rd), complete games (3rd) and shutouts (1st). Swindell also had 13 career saves, which ranks sixth at UT and the top two single-season strikeout totals in UT history (204 in 1985 and 180 in 1986). During his tenure, he helped UT capture three straight Southwest Conference titles, post at least 51 wins during each of his three seasons and finish second at the College World Series in 1984 and 1985.
In 1985, he had a 19-2 record and 1.67 ERA to go along with 15 complete games, six shutouts and 204 strikeouts over 172 innings. He was named as the 1985 Baseball America National Player of the Year. He was selected a first-team All-American and All-Southwest Conference performer all three seasons and received Freshman All-America honors as well as Baseball America's Freshman of the Year Award in 1984. He also was a three time finalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
He returned in 1988 and over the next four years displayed good form on a poor-performing Indians ballclub. His record from 1988-1991 was 52-43, posting an earned run average
below 4.00 in three of the four seasons. His best season was 1988 when he went 18-14 with a 3.20 ERA. He struck out
180 and walked
only 45. The next year, he was named to the American League All-Star
team.
Swindell was traded to Cincinnati after the 1991 season and spent one year with the Reds. He returned to his native Texas as a free agent in 1992 with the Astros. At that point, his effectiveness began to wane. In three and a half years, he was 30-35 with an ERA over 4.00. After another stint with Cleveland in 1996, he signed with Minnesota where he reinvented himself as a reliever
.
As a relief pitcher, Swindell pitched well for the Twins and Red Sox before he signed with Arizona. He was effective for the Diamondbacks and was a part of the 2001 championship squad
. In 2002, he retired from baseball after 17 seasons.
. In 2005, he returned to coach his alma mater, Texas Longhorns baseball
, helping the team win its sixth NCAA College World Series crown.
In 2007 and 2008, Swindell served a second stint on the Texas Longhorns coaching staff, as the first base coach and helping with the pitchers.
Swindell was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame
in the class of 2008.
During the 2009 Major League Baseball season
, Swindell worked as a post-game analyst on Fox Sports Arizona following Arizona Diamondbacks telecast. In 2010, he has been on Thursday morning "Talk Baseball" segments on 1300 the zone (KVET-AM).
In 2011, Swindell served as the Color commentator
for the Little League Southwest Region
tournament along with Justin Kutcher.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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...
player, who had a 17-year career as a left-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...
from to . He played for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, 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...
and 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"...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
and 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....
, 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...
and Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
.
Early and personal life
Swindell was born on January 2, 1965, to Tonii and Harold Swindell in Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. He was the youngest of four children, two sisters and a brother, Daniel, nicknamed Corky.
He graduated from Sharpstown High School
Sharpstown High School
Sharpstown High School is a secondary school located at 7504 Bissonnet Street in Greater Sharpstown, Houston, Texas, United States with a zip code of 77074. It serves grades 9 through 12 and is a part of the Houston Independent School District...
in 1983.
He has three daughters, Hayley, Brenna and Sophia, a son, Dawson, who was diagnosed with autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
.
Collegiate career
Swindell attended the The University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. According to the Texas Longhorns media guide, he was one of the most decorated pitchers in school history, with a 43-8 record in 77 games and a 1.92 ERA. He made 50 starts, pitching 32 complete games and notching school records for shutouts (14) and strikeouts (501). He remains among the top 10 all-time in Longhorns history for ERA (10th), victories (3rd), innings (2nd), strikeouts (1st), appearances (4th), starts (3rd), complete games (3rd) and shutouts (1st). Swindell also had 13 career saves, which ranks sixth at UT and the top two single-season strikeout totals in UT history (204 in 1985 and 180 in 1986). During his tenure, he helped UT capture three straight Southwest Conference titles, post at least 51 wins during each of his three seasons and finish second at the College World Series in 1984 and 1985.
In 1985, he had a 19-2 record and 1.67 ERA to go along with 15 complete games, six shutouts and 204 strikeouts over 172 innings. He was named as the 1985 Baseball America National Player of the Year. He was selected a first-team All-American and All-Southwest Conference performer all three seasons and received Freshman All-America honors as well as Baseball America's Freshman of the Year Award in 1984. He also was a three time finalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
Professional career
Cleveland selected him in the first round of the 1986 draft. The highly touted player was brought up almost immediately in 1986 and had moderate success. In 1987 he started the season 3-8 and then injured his elbow.He returned in 1988 and over the next four years displayed good form on a poor-performing Indians ballclub. His record from 1988-1991 was 52-43, posting an 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...
below 4.00 in three of the four seasons. His best season was 1988 when he went 18-14 with a 3.20 ERA. He struck out
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....
180 and walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
only 45. The next year, he was named to the American League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team.
Swindell was traded to Cincinnati after the 1991 season and spent one year with the Reds. He returned to his native Texas as a free agent in 1992 with the Astros. At that point, his effectiveness began to wane. In three and a half years, he was 30-35 with an ERA over 4.00. After another stint with Cleveland in 1996, he signed with Minnesota where he reinvented himself as a reliever
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...
.
As a relief pitcher, Swindell pitched well for the Twins and Red Sox before he signed with Arizona. He was effective for the Diamondbacks and was a part of the 2001 championship squad
2001 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaArizona showed no fear and chased Yankees starter Mike Mussina after just three innings. The Yankees gave up five unearned runs and the Diamondbacks rode Curt Schilling's seven strong innings to a 9–1 rout...
. In 2002, he retired from baseball after 17 seasons.
Post-playing career
In 2004, Swindell was a volunteer assistant coach at Texas State University–San MarcosTexas State University–San Marcos
Texas State University–San Marcos is a doctoral-granting university located in San Marcos, Texas...
. In 2005, he returned to coach his alma mater, Texas Longhorns baseball
Texas Longhorns baseball
The Texas Longhorns baseball team represents The University of Texas at Austin and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.The Texas Longhorns are the winningest program in college baseball history in terms of win percentage with .740 and ranks second all-time in total wins to the...
, helping the team win its sixth NCAA College World Series crown.
In 2007 and 2008, Swindell served a second stint on the Texas Longhorns coaching staff, as the first base coach and helping with the pitchers.
Swindell was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame
College Baseball Hall of Fame
The National College Baseball Hall of Fame, located in Lubbock, Texas, is a museum operated by the College Baseball Foundation serving as the central point for the study of the history of college baseball in the United States...
in the class of 2008.
During the 2009 Major League Baseball season
2009 Major League Baseball season
The 2009 Major League Baseball season began on Sunday, April 5, 2009 with the Atlanta Braves defeating the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies 4–1. The regular season ended on October 6, extended two days for a one-game playoff between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins to...
, Swindell worked as a post-game analyst on Fox Sports Arizona following Arizona Diamondbacks telecast. In 2010, he has been on Thursday morning "Talk Baseball" segments on 1300 the zone (KVET-AM).
In 2011, Swindell served as the Color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the Little League Southwest Region
Southwest Region (Little League World Series)
The Southwest Region is one of eight United States regions that currently send teams to the Little League World Series, the largest youth baseball competition in the world. The region's participation in the LLWS dates back to 1957, when it was known as the South Region. However, when the LLWS was...
tournament along with Justin Kutcher.