Jack Savage
Encyclopedia
John Joseph "Jack" Savage is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
in 1987 and the Minnesota Twins
in 1990. He was born on April 22, 1964 in Louisville, Kentucky
. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville, and he went on to attend the University of Kentucky
. He threw and batted right-handed.
At 6'3" tall and 190 pounds, Savage was drafted by the Dodgers in the 8th round (194th overall) of the 1985 amateur entry draft. He was signed by Dodgers scout Carl Loewenstine. He first season in the minors was superb-in 24 games and 44 2/3 innings pitched with Great Falls (rookie league), he had a 5-1 record with 51 strikeouts and a 1.01 ERA. He also had a lot of success with AA San Antonio in 1987-he appeared in 49 games, striking out 67 in 69 1/3 innings while posting an ERA of 2.60.
He made his Major League debut on September 14, 1987 at the age of 23 and wearing the number 50, pitching one inning and giving up one hit. He pitched a total of 3 1/3 innings that season, with an ERA of 2.70. Seeing no Major League ball in 1988 and 1989, the success he witnessed in the Majors in 1987 did not carry over to his next stint in the Majors. In 26 innings pitched in 1990-wearing number 20-with Minnesota, he had a subpar ERA of 8.31, all the while losing two games and giving up three home runs. He was able to save one game that season, though. His control came into question that season-he threw four wild pitches, or one every 6.5 innings.
Even though his control on the mound was less-than-stellar, he kept it in check when playing defense-he didn't commit a single error in his career.
He played his final game on September 14, 1990 at the age of 25-exactly three years after his debut. He currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky. He now has three children (boys 16 and 14 years old and a 6 year old girl).
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 who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in 1987 and 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...
in 1990. He was born on April 22, 1964 in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. He attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville, and he went on to attend the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. He threw and batted right-handed.
At 6'3" tall and 190 pounds, Savage was drafted by the Dodgers in the 8th round (194th overall) of the 1985 amateur entry draft. He was signed by Dodgers scout Carl Loewenstine. He first season in the minors was superb-in 24 games and 44 2/3 innings pitched with Great Falls (rookie league), he had a 5-1 record with 51 strikeouts and a 1.01 ERA. He also had a lot of success with AA San Antonio in 1987-he appeared in 49 games, striking out 67 in 69 1/3 innings while posting an ERA of 2.60.
He made his Major League debut on September 14, 1987 at the age of 23 and wearing the number 50, pitching one inning and giving up one hit. He pitched a total of 3 1/3 innings that season, with an ERA of 2.70. Seeing no Major League ball in 1988 and 1989, the success he witnessed in the Majors in 1987 did not carry over to his next stint in the Majors. In 26 innings pitched in 1990-wearing number 20-with Minnesota, he had a subpar ERA of 8.31, all the while losing two games and giving up three home runs. He was able to save one game that season, though. His control came into question that season-he threw four wild pitches, or one every 6.5 innings.
Even though his control on the mound was less-than-stellar, he kept it in check when playing defense-he didn't commit a single error in his career.
He played his final game on September 14, 1990 at the age of 25-exactly three years after his debut. He currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky. He now has three children (boys 16 and 14 years old and a 6 year old girl).
Major Transactions
Savage was involved in two major transactions in his career:- On December 11, 1987, he was part of a three team trade that involved the Dodgers, the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe 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....
and the New York MetsNew York MetsThe 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...
. The Dodgers sent Bob Welch and Matt YoungMatt YoungMatthew John Young is a former American Major League baseball player. Young played for a variety of teams over his career, and is best known for his unofficial no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians while a member of the Boston Red Sox....
to the Athletics, while the Athletics sent Alfredo GriffinAlfredo GriffinAlfredo Claudino Griffin is a former Major League Baseball player, who played shortstop for four teams from 1976 to 1993. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Playing career:...
and Jay HowellJay HowellJay Canfield Howell is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs , New York Yankees , Oakland Athletics , Los Angeles Dodgers , Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers .Howell was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers when they won the 1988 World Series...
to the Dodgers. Then the Athletics sent Kevin TapaniKevin TapaniKevin Ray Tapani is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Cubs from 1989 to 2001.-Early life:...
and Wally WhitehurstWally WhitehurstWalter Richard Whitehurst is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from to with the New York Mets, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees...
to the Mets, while the Mets sent Jesse OroscoJesse OroscoJesse Russell Orosco is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who holds the major league record for career pitching appearances. He pitched most notably for the New York Mets in the 1980s. He won a World Series in 1986 with the Mets and in 1988 with the Dodgers. He threw left-handed,...
to the Dodgers.
- On October 16, 1989, he was sent from the Mets to the Twins to complete a deal that was made on July 31, 1989. He was the player to be named later in this transaction. The deal involved the Mets sending the player to be named, plus Rick AguileraRick AguileraRichard Warren Aguilera is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 16-year baseball career, he pitched from 1985-2000 for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs....
, David WestDavid West (baseball)David Lee West , is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1988-1998...
, Kevin TapaniKevin TapaniKevin Ray Tapani is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Cubs from 1989 to 2001.-Early life:...
and Tim DrummondTim Drummond (baseball)Timothy Darnell Drummond is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during three seasons at the major league level for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins. He was signed by the Pirates in the 12th round of the amateur draft...
to the Twins for Frank ViolaFrank ViolaFrank John Viola, Jr. is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Minnesota Twins , New York Mets , Boston Red Sox , Cincinnati Reds and Toronto Blue Jays . A three-time All-Star, he was named World Series MVP with the Twins in 1987 and won the AL Cy Young Award in 1988...
. In the end, it seems as if the Twins ended up getting the better of that deal.