Jeff Byrd
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Alan Byrd is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
in 1977 for the Toronto Blue Jays
.
in Lakeside, California
in the second round of the 1974 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers
. He turned pro in 1974, playing with the Rangers Gulf Coast League
team, earning a 4-1 record and an ERA of 2.87 in nine starts.
In 1975, Byrd moved up to the Anderson Rangers
of the Western Carolinas League
, in which he had a 7-11 record in 22 starts for the club. The following season in 1976, the Rangers moved Byrd up to AA baseball, where he joined the San Antonio Brewers of the Texas League
, where Byrd once again posted a 7-11 record, however his ERA went up to 5.22, as well as 106 walks in 143 innings pitched.
On November 5, 1976, Byrd was left unprotected in the 1976 MLB Expansion Draft
, where the Toronto Blue Jays
selected him with the 21st pick in the draft.
, an expansion team in 1977, did not have a AA team affiliated with their club that season, sent Byrd to the Cleveland Indians
AA team in the Eastern League, the Jersey City Indians
. Byrd had a poor record of 1-4, however, he had a very solid ERA of 3.13 in ten games with the club. The Blue Jays promoted Byrd to Major League Baseball
in June of that season.
Byrd made his major league debut on June 20, 1977, when he started a game against the Cleveland Indians
at Exhibition Stadium
. Byrd pitched five innings, allowing three runs, while striking out four hitters, as Toronto lost the Cleveland 6-5. Byrd earned a no-decision in the contest. On June 25, Byrd made his second career start, pitching 7.1 innings, allowing four runs, and took the loss as the Baltimore Orioles
defeated Toronto 5-2. In his fourth career start, Byrd pitched six innings, allowing three runs, as Toronto defeated Cleveland 5-3 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, as Byrd earned his first career victory. Byrd would struggle for the rest of the season, as it ended on a horrible note, as he pitched in only 0.2 innings in his final start, allowing five runs to the Boston Red Sox
, to finish the year with a 2-13 record, and an ERA of 6.18.
In 1978, the Blue Jays assigned Byrd to their AAA affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League
, where he made seven starts, posting a 0-3 record and a ERA of 8.13. Bryd had already complained when he was sent down to Triple-A that his minor league salary was less than what he could make doing construction work; when the Blue Jays decided to further demote Bryd to Double-A after his poor start in Syracuse, he left the organization and spent the rest of the year working at a construction site.
Byrd rejoined the team for spring training, 1979, declaring that the previous year was "water under the bridge". However, the Blue Jays released Byrd on March 29, 1979.
of the California League
, which was the Seattle Mariners
A level affiliate. Byrd posted a solid record of 12-6 with an ERA of 2.98 in 26 starts, however, walks continued to be a problem, as Byrd walked 117 batters in 151 innings. Byrd ended his career after that season.
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
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...
in 1977 for 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 ....
.
Texas Rangers
Byrd was drafted out of El Capitan High SchoolEl Capitan High School
El Capitan High School is a public, comprehensive secondary school located in Lakeside, California and serves students in grades nine through twelve...
in Lakeside, California
Lakeside, California
Lakeside is a Census Designated Place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,648 at the 2010 census, up from 19,560 as of the 2000 census.- History :...
in the second round of the 1974 MLB Draft by 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...
. He turned pro in 1974, playing with the Rangers Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
team, earning a 4-1 record and an ERA of 2.87 in nine starts.
In 1975, Byrd moved up to the Anderson Rangers
Anderson Rangers
The Anderson Rangers were a Texas Rangers affiliate in the Class A Western Carolinas League for just one year, 1975. Managed by Rich Donnelly, the club finished second out of the league's four teams in the season's first half and third in the second half, posting an overall record of 67-70...
of the Western Carolinas League
Western Carolinas League
The Western Carolinas League was a Class D and a low Class A full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful low Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard...
, in which he had a 7-11 record in 22 starts for the club. The following season in 1976, the Rangers moved Byrd up to AA baseball, where he joined the San Antonio Brewers of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, where Byrd once again posted a 7-11 record, however his ERA went up to 5.22, as well as 106 walks in 143 innings pitched.
On November 5, 1976, Byrd was left unprotected in the 1976 MLB Expansion Draft
1976 MLB expansion draft
The 1976 MLB Expansion Draft was held November 5, 1976. This expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball to stock the major league rosters of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, new major league expansion franchises that were set to start play in the ...
, where 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 ....
selected him with the 21st pick in the draft.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays1977 Toronto Blue Jays season
The 1977 Toronto Blue Jays season was the first year of Major League Baseball played by the Toronto-based expansion franchise. The Blue Jays finished 7th in the American League East with a record of 54 wins and 107 losses.- Offseason :...
, an expansion team in 1977, did not have a AA team affiliated with their club that season, sent Byrd to 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...
AA team in the Eastern League, the Jersey City Indians
Jersey City Indians
The Jersey City Indians were a minor league baseball team based in Jersey City, New Jersey, which played in the Eastern League for the 1977 and 1978 seasons. In 1977, the team was the AA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team became affiliated with the Oakland Athletics for the 1978 season...
. Byrd had a poor record of 1-4, however, he had a very solid ERA of 3.13 in ten games with the club. The Blue Jays promoted Byrd to 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...
in June of that season.
Byrd made his major league debut on June 20, 1977, when he started a game against 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...
at Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
. Byrd pitched five innings, allowing three runs, while striking out four hitters, as Toronto lost the Cleveland 6-5. Byrd earned a no-decision in the contest. On June 25, Byrd made his second career start, pitching 7.1 innings, allowing four runs, and took the loss as the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
defeated Toronto 5-2. In his fourth career start, Byrd pitched six innings, allowing three runs, as Toronto defeated Cleveland 5-3 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, as Byrd earned his first career victory. Byrd would struggle for the rest of the season, as it ended on a horrible note, as he pitched in only 0.2 innings in his final start, allowing five runs to the 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"...
, to finish the year with a 2-13 record, and an ERA of 6.18.
In 1978, the Blue Jays assigned Byrd to their AAA affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, where he made seven starts, posting a 0-3 record and a ERA of 8.13. Bryd had already complained when he was sent down to Triple-A that his minor league salary was less than what he could make doing construction work; when the Blue Jays decided to further demote Bryd to Double-A after his poor start in Syracuse, he left the organization and spent the rest of the year working at a construction site.
Byrd rejoined the team for spring training, 1979, declaring that the previous year was "water under the bridge". However, the Blue Jays released Byrd on March 29, 1979.
Seattle Mariners
In 1979, Byrd spent the season with the San Jose MissionsSan Jose Missions
The San Jose Missions were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League in 1977 and 1978. The team had been known as the Sacramento Solons prior to 1977, and played its home games in a football stadium there...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, which was the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
A level affiliate. Byrd posted a solid record of 12-6 with an ERA of 2.98 in 26 starts, however, walks continued to be a problem, as Byrd walked 117 batters in 151 innings. Byrd ended his career after that season.