Joey Richard McLaughlin was a right-handed relief pitcher

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...

 who played for the Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....

, 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 ....

, and 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...

 between 1977 and 1984. McLaughlin was drafted by the Braves in the second round of the 1974 amateur draft. He played his first game with the Braves on June 11, 1977, against the Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

. McLaughlin did not play for the Braves in 1978, but he returned to the team for the 1979 season. After the 1979 season, McLaughlin was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays along with Barry Bonnell

Barry Bonnell

Robert Barry Bonnell , is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball.He was a star athlete at Milford High School near Cincinnati, Ohio, where he played both varsity baseball and basketball on championship teams...

 and Pat Rockett

Pat Rockett

Patrick Edward Rockett was a shortstop who played for the Atlanta Braves between 1976 and 1978. Rockett was drafted by the Braves with the 10th pick of the 1973 amateur draft. He played his first game with the Braves on September 17, 1976 against the Los Angeles Dodgers; it was one of only four...

 in exchange for Chris Chambliss

Chris Chambliss

Carroll Christopher Chambliss is a former Major League Baseball player who played from to for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves...

 and Luis Gómez. He remained with the Blue Jays until May 13, 1984, when he was released by the team. McLaughlin was signed by the Texas Rangers ten days later on May 23, but he was released by the Rangers after the season, ending his career. McLaughlin's son, also named Joey, played in the minor leagues from 2004 to 2006 but never made the majors.