Jerry Dybzinski
Encyclopedia
Jerome Matthew Dybzinski (born July 7, 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio
, USA) is a former Major League Baseball
shortstop
who played for three teams from 1980 to 1985. He attended Cleveland State University
from 1974 to 1977, becoming the first of four Cleveland State alumni to play in the major leagues. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians
in the 15th round of the 1977 amateur draft on June 7, 1977. He spent a few years in the minor leagues, playing for the Batavia Muckdogs
in 1977, the Waterloo Indians in 1978, and the Tacoma Tugs
in 1979. Dybzinski had 25 stolen base
s each in 1978 and 1979, leading all Waterloo players and finishing second to Dell Alston
in Tacoma.
The Indians brought him up to the majors at the start of the 1980 season. He spent the season mostly at shortstop, serving as Tom Veryzer
's backup, but also spent time at second
and third base
in the 114 games he played during the 1980 Cleveland Indians season
. In 1981, Dybzinski split time between the majors and minors, playing only 48 games for the Indians that season. He played one more season for the Indians, then on April 1, 1983, Dybzinski was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Pat Tabler
.
The 1983 Chicago White Sox season
wound up being the best season statistically for Dybzinski. He played 127 games as the starting shortstop, stealing 11 bases over the course of the season. In the 1983 American League Championship Series
against the Baltimore Orioles
, Dybzinski committed a critical baserunning error in game four (overrunning second base while third base was already occupied by Vance Law
). He served as the backup to Scott Fletcher in 1984, and was released from the Chicago White Sox on April 1, 1985. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 11, and was released at the end of the season. He signed as a free agent with the Seattle Mariners
on January 18, 1986, but was released before the season began, ending his major league career.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, USA) is a 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...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who played for three teams from 1980 to 1985. He attended Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
from 1974 to 1977, becoming the first of four Cleveland State alumni to play in the major leagues. He was drafted by 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...
in the 15th round of the 1977 amateur draft on June 7, 1977. He spent a few years in the minor leagues, playing for the Batavia Muckdogs
Batavia Muckdogs
The Batavia Muckdogs are a minor league baseball team based in Batavia, a city in Genesee County, New York, United States. The Muckdogs are the current Short-Season A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals...
in 1977, the Waterloo Indians in 1978, and the Tacoma Tugs
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
in 1979. Dybzinski had 25 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s each in 1978 and 1979, leading all Waterloo players and finishing second to Dell Alston
Dell Alston
Wendell "Dell" Alston is an American former right-handed outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Cleveland Indians...
in Tacoma.
The Indians brought him up to the majors at the start of the 1980 season. He spent the season mostly at shortstop, serving as Tom Veryzer
Tom Veryzer
Thomas Martin Veryzer , is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played from 1973-1984 with the Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , New York Mets , and Chicago Cubs . Veryzer was drafted by the Tigers in the 1st round of the 1971 amateur draft...
's backup, but also spent time at second
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
in the 114 games he played during the 1980 Cleveland Indians season
1980 Cleveland Indians season
- Offseason :* October 24, 1979: Paul Reuschel was released by the Indians.* January 4, 1980: David Clyde and Jim Norris were traded by the Indians to the Texas Rangers for Gary Gray and Mike Bucci ....
. In 1981, Dybzinski split time between the majors and minors, playing only 48 games for the Indians that season. He played one more season for the Indians, then on April 1, 1983, Dybzinski was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Pat Tabler
Pat Tabler
Patrick Sean "Pat" Tabler is a former Major League Baseball player and currently a color analyst for the Toronto Blue Jays on the Canadian sports television network Rogers Sportsnet and formerly with Rod Black on TSN....
.
The 1983 Chicago White Sox season
1983 Chicago White Sox season
The Chicago White Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the White Sox winning the American League West championship. It marked their first postseason appearance since the 1959 World Series.-Offseason:...
wound up being the best season statistically for Dybzinski. He played 127 games as the starting shortstop, stealing 11 bases over the course of the season. In the 1983 American League Championship Series
1983 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 5, 1983 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, MarylandPlaying in their first postseason game since the 1959 World Series, the White Sox jumped out to a 1–0 series lead behind a complete-game victory by Hoyt, the American League Cy Young Award winner...
against 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...
, Dybzinski committed a critical baserunning error in game four (overrunning second base while third base was already occupied by Vance Law
Vance Law
Vance Aaron Law is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. From through , he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago White Sox , Montreal Expos , Chicago Cubs , and Oakland Athletics . He also played one season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons in 1990. Law batted and threw...
). He served as the backup to Scott Fletcher in 1984, and was released from the Chicago White Sox on April 1, 1985. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 11, and was released at the end of the season. He signed as a free agent with 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...
on January 18, 1986, but was released before the season began, ending his major league career.