Joe Sambito
Encyclopedia
Joseph Charles Sambito (born June 28, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Houston Astros
(1976–1982, 1984), New York Mets
(1985) and Boston Red Sox
(1986–1987). He batted and threw left-handed. He graduated from Bethpage High School
in Bethpage, New York
A fastball
and slider
specialist, Sambito was a starter
in the minors
, as he led the Southern League
in strikeout
s at Triple-A Columbus
in 1975. A year later he was promoted to the Astros, where he immediately moved into a relief
role.
From 1978 through 1981, Sambito led Houston in saves
, with a career-high 22 saves and a 1.78 ERA
in 1979 – a season in which he posted a string of 40-2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run and was name to the National League All-Star team. He started 1982 with four saves and a 0.71 ERA in nine appearances, before it was discovered that bone chips had damaged the ligaments of his pitching elbow. He missed the rest of the season and all of 1983 recuperating from Tommy John surgery
. The next two years, he failed in comeback attempts with Houston and the New York Mets.
Sambito made the Red Sox roster out of spring training
in , as he helped them reach the World Series
, going 2-0 with 12 saves. He retired in 1987 after posting a 2-6 record with 6.93 ERA. In an eleven-season career, Sambito posted a 37-38 record with a 3.03 ERA and 84 saves in 461 games.
Following his retirement, Sambito became a players counselor and representative. Some of his clients have included Andy Pettitte
, Ryan Klesko
, Jeff D'Amico
and Morgan Ensberg
.
Sambito currently resides in Irvine, CA.
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 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 Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1976–1982, 1984), New York Mets
New York Mets
The 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...
(1985) and 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"...
(1986–1987). He batted and threw left-handed. He graduated from Bethpage High School
Bethpage High School
Bethpage High School is the only high school in Bethpage, New York. Located in Nassau County on Long Island, the school is situated at the corner of Stewart Avenue and Cherry Avenue, across from the Bethpage Community Park. On average, each class size is between 25 and 30 students...
in Bethpage, New York
Bethpage, New York
Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States, as well as a census-designated place with borders slightly different from those of the hamlet...
A fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
and slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
specialist, Sambito was a starter
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 the minors
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, as he led the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
in 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 at Triple-A Columbus
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
in 1975. A year later he was promoted to the Astros, where he immediately moved into a relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
role.
From 1978 through 1981, Sambito led Houston in saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, with a career-high 22 saves and a 1.78 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 1979 – a season in which he posted a string of 40-2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run and was name to the National League All-Star team. He started 1982 with four saves and a 0.71 ERA in nine appearances, before it was discovered that bone chips had damaged the ligaments of his pitching elbow. He missed the rest of the season and all of 1983 recuperating from Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
. The next two years, he failed in comeback attempts with Houston and the New York Mets.
Sambito made the Red Sox roster out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in , as he helped them reach the World Series
1986 World Series
The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It was cited in the legend of the "Curse of the Bambino" to explain the error by Bill Buckner in Game 6 that allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game...
, going 2-0 with 12 saves. He retired in 1987 after posting a 2-6 record with 6.93 ERA. In an eleven-season career, Sambito posted a 37-38 record with a 3.03 ERA and 84 saves in 461 games.
Following his retirement, Sambito became a players counselor and representative. Some of his clients have included Andy Pettitte
Andy Pettitte
Andrew Eugene Pettitte is a retired American left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher.In his major league career, he played for the New York Yankees from 1995–2003. He then signed with the Houston Astros, and played for them from 2004 through 2006. In 2007, Pettitte rejoined the Yankees...
, Ryan Klesko
Ryan Klesko
Ryan Anthony Klesko , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and corner outfielder, who played for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and the San Francisco Giants...
, Jeff D'Amico
Jeff D'Amico
Jeffrey Charles D'Amico is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from to .D'Amico, sometimes nicknamed "Big Daddy", was a starting pitcher who played for the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians.His career record was 45 wins, 52 losses, 498 strikeouts and a...
and Morgan Ensberg
Morgan Ensberg
Morgan Paul Ensberg is a former infielder in Major League Baseball. Ensberg bats and throws right-handed...
.
Sambito currently resides in Irvine, CA.