Jack Armstrong (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Jack William Armstrong is a former Major League Baseball
right-handed pitcher
. He is a graduate of Neptune High School
in Neptune Township, New Jersey
and an alumnus of Rider College
and the University of Oklahoma
. His son, Jack Armstrong, Jr., turned down a one-million dollar signing bonus from the Texas Rangers
out of high school in order to play college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores
, and currently is pitching in the Cape Cod Baseball League
for the Wareham Gatemen
.
in the 1st round of the 1987 MLB amateur draft
, Armstrong made his big-league debut on June 21, 1988, and appeared in his final game on April 17, 1994. A torn rotator cuff helped end his career at the age of 27. Armstrong was also a member of the inaugural Florida Marlins
team in 1993
.
in 1990. He won eight of his first nine starts and was the National League
's starting pitcher in the All-Star Game
. He tailed off, however, ending the year with a record of 12-9 and a 3.42 ERA. He relieved Scott Scudder
in Game 2 of the 1990 World Series
with the Reds trailing, 4-3. Armstrong pitched three scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics
, and the Reds won the game in the 10th inning.
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...
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...
. He is a graduate of Neptune High School
Neptune High School
Neptune High School is a comprehensive, four-year community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Neptune Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Neptune Township Schools. Neptune Township Schools is one of New Jersey's...
in Neptune Township, New Jersey
Neptune Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 27,690 people, 10,907 households, and 6,805 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,366.8 people per square mile . There were 12,217 housing units at an average density of 1,485.4 per square mile...
and an alumnus of Rider College
Rider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
and the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. His son, Jack Armstrong, Jr., turned down a one-million dollar signing bonus from 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...
out of high school in order to play college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt Commodores baseball
The Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team represents Vanderbilt University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Eastern division of the Southeastern Conference...
, and currently is pitching in the Cape Cod Baseball League
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
for the Wareham Gatemen
Wareham Gatemen
The Wareham Gatemen are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Wareham, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division...
.
Career
Drafted by the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati 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....
in the 1st round of the 1987 MLB amateur draft
1987 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
, Armstrong made his big-league debut on June 21, 1988, and appeared in his final game on April 17, 1994. A torn rotator cuff helped end his career at the age of 27. Armstrong was also a member of the inaugural 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...
team in 1993
1993 Florida Marlins season
The 1993 Florida Marlins season was the inaugural year for the team, part of the 1993 Major League Baseball expansion. Their manager was Rene Lachemann. They played home games at Joe Robbie Stadium...
.
1990
Armstrong had the best year of his career with the Cincinnati Reds1990 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1990 season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Reds winning the National League West, as well as the National League Championship Series in six games over the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the World Series in a four-game sweep over the overwhelming favorite...
in 1990. He won eight of his first nine starts and was 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...
's starting pitcher in the All-Star Game
1990 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1990 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 61st playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 10, 1990 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, the home of the...
. He tailed off, however, ending the year with a record of 12-9 and a 3.42 ERA. He relieved Scott Scudder
Scott Scudder
William Scott Scudder was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher.Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1st round of the 1986 MLB amateur draft, Scudder made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cincinnati Reds on June 6, 1989, and appeared in his final game on May 22, 1993.Scudder was a...
in Game 2 of the 1990 World Series
1990 World Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 16, 1990 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioUntil , this was the last World Series to be scheduled to begin play on a Tuesday, and the first since . The schedule called for the seven-game series to be held Tue–Wed, Fri–Sat–Sun, Tue–Wed. Games 5, 6, and 7, however...
with the Reds trailing, 4-3. Armstrong pitched three scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics
1990 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 1990 season saw the A's win their third consecutive American League West title, with a record of 103 wins and 59 losses, nine games ahead of the Chicago White Sox. It was the third consecutive year in which Oakland finished with the best record in all of MLB...
, and the Reds won the game in the 10th inning.