Jeff Sellers
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Doyle Sellers (born May 11, 1964 in Compton, California
) is a former starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Boston Red Sox
from 1985
through 1988
. He batted and threw right-handed.
In a four-season career, Sellers posted a 13-22 record with 226 strikeout
s and a 4.97 ERA
in 329⅔ innings pitched
, including seven complete games and two shutout
s.
In his later years he played in the minor league systems of the Cincinnati Reds
, New York Yankees
, Texas Rangers
and Colorado Rockies
before retiring for good after the 1994 season.
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
) is a former starting pitcher
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....
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...
who played for 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"...
from 1985
1985 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Kansas City Royals over St. Louis Cardinals ; Bret Saberhagen, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: George Brett*National League Championship Series MVP: Ozzie Smith...
through 1988
1998 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Greg Vaughn all hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break and engage in a historic chase for Roger Maris's single-season record of 61 home runs...
. He batted and threw right-handed.
In a four-season career, Sellers posted a 13-22 record with 226 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 and a 4.97 ERA
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...
in 329⅔ 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...
, including seven complete games and two shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s.
In his later years he played in the minor league systems of 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....
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, 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...
and Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
before retiring for good after the 1994 season.
Facts
- On October 1, 1988, Sellers flirted with a no-hitterNo-hitterA no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
through 7⅓ innings until Luis Medina of the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe 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...
hit a home runHome runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
accounting for the only run in a 1–0 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out 10 Indians in the losing effort, which turned out to be his last major league appearance. - Before the 1989 season, Sellers was sent by Boston with Todd BenzingerTodd BenzingerTodd Eric Benzinger is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played from 1987 to 1995. Benzinger is a graduate of New Richmond High School in New Richmond, Ohio....
and a minor leaguer to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe 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 same transaction that brought Nick EsaskyNick EsaskyNicholas Andrew Esasky , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and third baseman. During his career, which spanned just over seven-and-a-half years and was spent mostly with the Cincinnati Reds , the former first-round draft pick in 1978 hit .250 with 122 home runs and 427 runs batted...
and Rob MurphyRob MurphyRobert A. "Rob" Murphy, Jr. is a former American professional baseball player who was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for eleven seasons in the 1980s and 1990s. Murphy played college baseball for the University of Florida, and was picked by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the...
to the Red Sox. But Sellers suffered an injury the following spring and never played for Cincinnati.
- Sellers played high school baseball for Paramount, CAParamount High SchoolParamount High School is a comprehensive public high school in Paramount, California. The school serves students in grades 9-12 on two campuses, West Campus for 9th grade students and Senior Campus for grades 10-12...
, where he was drafted by the Red Sox after graduating in 1982.
- Jeff is the father of Justin SellersJustin SellersJustin Ryan Sellers is a professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is the son of former Boston Red Sox pitcher Jeff Sellers.-Professional career:...
, an infielder for the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe 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...
.