John Mitchell (baseball)
Encyclopedia
John Kyle Mitchell is a former professional baseball pitcher
. He pitched in parts of five Major League Baseball
seasons, from through , for the New York Mets
and Baltimore Orioles
.
in the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft
. On October 30, , after completing his first professional season with the New York-Penn League's Elmira Pioneers
, Mitchell and two fellow Red Sox farmhands, Anthony Latham and Scott Skripko, were deep-sea fishing off the coast of Florida
when their boat capsized. Boat owner Mark Zastrowmy and Latham drowned. Skripko and Mitchell survived over twenty hours in the water by clinging to debris; Skripko held onto a cooler for 20 hours and Mitchell a bucket for 22 hours.
, Tom McCarthy
and Chris Bayer for Calvin Schiraldi
, John Christensen
, Wes Gardner
and La Schelle Tarver
on November 15, . Mitchell went 12-9 with a 3.39 earned run average
in his first season with the Tidewater Tides, and received a call-up to the majors that September. His major league debut came on September 8, against the Montreal Expos
at Shea Stadium
.
Mitchell would enjoy his most prominent season in the majors in . Despite winning just three games, he pitched decently in 19 starts. He spent most of the next two seasons at Tidewater, pitching just three games and four innings at the major league level.
, Mitchell and Joaquin Contreras were traded to the Baltimore Orioles
for Cesar Mejia and Keith Hughes
. In Baltimore, Mitchell set his career high in wins with six, but his ERA was a sub-par 4.64. He would never again pitch in the majors.
organization in , but appeared in just two games for the Calgary Cannons
before suffering a season-ending injury. He sat out the entire 1992 season
, then started with the independent Sioux Falls Canaries
. He pitched well enough to earn another chance from the Red Sox. He moved on to the Texas Rangers
organization in , then spent with the Ottawa Lynx
in the Montreal Expos
farm system. After being let go by the Expos, he pitched three seasons in the independent leagues before retiring in . Overall, Mitchell went 97-82 with a 3.34 ERA as a minor leaguer.
where he works for a company that makes municipal castings. He is married with three children, one of whom is named Johnny Latham Mitchell in memory of his fallen teammate. His brother is former Red Sox pitcher Charlie Mitchell
.
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...
. He pitched in parts of five 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...
seasons, from through , for the 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...
and 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...
.
Boating accident
Mitchell was originally drafted by the Boston Red SoxBoston 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"...
in the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft
1983 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Other notable players :*Kevin Ward, 6th round...
. On October 30, , after completing his first professional season with the New York-Penn League's Elmira Pioneers
Elmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
, Mitchell and two fellow Red Sox farmhands, Anthony Latham and Scott Skripko, were deep-sea fishing off the coast of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
when their boat capsized. Boat owner Mark Zastrowmy and Latham drowned. Skripko and Mitchell survived over twenty hours in the water by clinging to debris; Skripko held onto a cooler for 20 hours and Mitchell a bucket for 22 hours.
Ojeda trade
After two more seasons with the Red sox organization, Mitchell was traded to the Mets along with Bob OjedaBob Ojeda
Robert Michael Ojeda is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. Ojeda is best remembered as an anchor in the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets starting rotation , and for being the lone survivor of a March 22, boating accident that killed fellow Cleveland Indians pitchers...
, Tom McCarthy
Tom McCarthy (1980s pitcher)
Thomas Michael McCarthy is a former middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox...
and Chris Bayer for Calvin Schiraldi
Calvin Schiraldi
Calvin Drew Schiraldi is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best remembered as the losing pitcher of Game 6 and Game 7 of the 1986 World Series.-Amateur career:...
, John Christensen
John Christensen (baseball)
John Lawrence Christensen is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball between 1984 and 1988.- New York Mets :...
, Wes Gardner
Wes Gardner
Wesley Brian Gardner is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher drafted by the New York Mets in the 22nd round of the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Central Arkansas.-New York Mets:...
and La Schelle Tarver
La Schelle Tarver
La Schelle Tarver is a former backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox during the season. Listed at 5' 11", 165 lb., he batted and threw left-handed....
on November 15, . Mitchell went 12-9 with a 3.39 earned run average
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 his first season with the Tidewater Tides, and received a call-up to the majors that September. His major league debut came on September 8, against the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
.
Mitchell would enjoy his most prominent season in the majors in . Despite winning just three games, he pitched decently in 19 starts. He spent most of the next two seasons at Tidewater, pitching just three games and four innings at the major league level.
Baltimore Orioles
Following the 1989 season1989 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Oakland Athletics over San Francisco Giants ; Dave Stewart, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Rickey Henderson*National League Championship Series MVP: Will Clark...
, Mitchell and Joaquin Contreras were traded to 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...
for Cesar Mejia and Keith Hughes
Keith Hughes
Keith Wills Hughes is a former Major League Baseball player who played for five teams in his major league career which lasted for parts of four seasons. He made his debut on May 19, 1987 with the New York Yankees. Then the Yankees traded him and Shane Rawley to the Philadelphia Phillies for Mike...
. In Baltimore, Mitchell set his career high in wins with six, but his ERA was a sub-par 4.64. He would never again pitch in the majors.
Later minor league career
Mitchell signed with the Seattle MarinersSeattle 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...
organization in , but appeared in just two games for the Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
before suffering a season-ending injury. He sat out the entire 1992 season
1992 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Atlanta Braves ; Pat Borders, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Roberto Alomar*National League Championship Series MVP: John Smoltz...
, then started with the independent Sioux Falls Canaries
Sioux Falls Canaries
The Sioux Falls Pheasants are a professional baseball team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA. The Pheasants are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1993 season, the...
. He pitched well enough to earn another chance from the Red Sox. He moved on to 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...
organization in , then spent with the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
in the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
farm system. After being let go by the Expos, he pitched three seasons in the independent leagues before retiring in . Overall, Mitchell went 97-82 with a 3.34 ERA as a minor leaguer.
Personal life
Mitchell lives in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
where he works for a company that makes municipal castings. He is married with three children, one of whom is named Johnny Latham Mitchell in memory of his fallen teammate. His brother is former Red Sox pitcher Charlie Mitchell
Charlie Mitchell
Charles Ross Mitchell is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Boston Red Sox. He was drafted by the Red Sox in the 4th round of the amateur draft...
.