Mac Scarce
Encyclopedia
Mac Scarce is a former baseball player who played in parts of 5 seasons from 1972–1978. During his short career, the 6' 3" lefty pitched primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies
, as well as appearing briefly with the New York Mets
and the Minnesota Twins
. He attended Florida State University
before being drafted.
in the twenty-sixth round of the 1969 amateur draft
, but he did not sign. In 1971
he was drafted in the eighth round the Philadelphia Phillies
(179 overall) and subsequently signed with the Phillies on June 11, 1971.
Scarce advanced very rapidly and successfully through the minor leagues. He spent part of the 1971 season with the Peninsula team in the A+ Carolina league, where he appeared in 20 games and compiled a 3–0 record with a 1.29 ERA. In 1972 he pitched for the Reading team in the AA Eastern League, going 4–0 with a 0.46 ERA in 23 games. That same year, after a brief stint on the AAA Eugene team, he was called up to the Philadelphia Phillies
.
and pitched 3-plus innings. He gave up a run in the ninth inning, allowing the Dodgers to tie the score 3–3. Then in the eleventh inning, he allowed hits to the first two batters (Tommy Davis
and Manny Mota
) and was lifted. Both Davis and Mota went on to score leading to the Dodgers 5–3 win. Scarce was given the loss.
Overall, Scarce appeared in 159 Major League baseball games and recorded 21 saves (all with the Phillies) and a 6–19 record. Scarce never started a game and in his 17 major league at bats, he never got a hit.
He played his last game on June 25, 1978.
Scarce was the Phillies save leader in 1972 and 1973. His total number of saves in 1972 was 4. This remarkably low number for a team leader in saves says considerably more about the 1972 Phillies than it does about Mac Scarce. That year the Phillies won only 59 games, 27 of which were won by Hall of Famer Steve Carlton
. Carlton's ratio of recording 46% of the teams wins is one of the highest in league history. Additionally, Carlton invariably finished the games he started. Thus save opportunities for the Philadelphia club were very scarce for Scarce in 1972.
Although more of an anomaly than a highlight, Scarce's entire stint with the New York Mets
consisted of pitching to one batter in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
on April 11, 1975. The Mets were up 3–0 going into the bottom of the 9th inning. The Pirates rallied, putting 5 of their first 6 batters on base and tying the game. The Mets then put Scarce in the game with runners on first and second and Richie Hebner
at the plate. Scare promptly gave up a single to Hebner that scored the winning run and ended the game. Four days later, Scarce was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
.
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...
, as well as appearing briefly with 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 the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He attended Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
before being drafted.
Draft
Scarce, who batted and threw left-handed, was initially drafted by the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati 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....
in the twenty-sixth round of the 1969 amateur draft
1969 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Washington Senators tabbed slugging outfielder Jeff Burroughs of Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA as the nation's number one pick...
, but he did not sign. In 1971
1971 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1971 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The June 1971 draft was a productive one, even though none of its top ten choices yielded players who would have memorable major league careers...
he was drafted in the eighth round 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...
(179 overall) and subsequently signed with the Phillies on June 11, 1971.
College and Minor Leagues
Scarce played baseball in 1970 and 1971 for the Florida State University Seminoles. He was used as a relief pitcher and had considerable success at the collegiate level, racking up 30 saves over the two seasons. In 1970 he allowed only 13 hits in 33 innings, a school record, and contributed significantly to the FSU team that advanced to the national title game of the College World Series. In 1971 he was co-captain of the Seminoles and recorded 18 saves, which was a NCAA record at the time.Scarce advanced very rapidly and successfully through the minor leagues. He spent part of the 1971 season with the Peninsula team in the A+ Carolina league, where he appeared in 20 games and compiled a 3–0 record with a 1.29 ERA. In 1972 he pitched for the Reading team in the AA Eastern League, going 4–0 with a 0.46 ERA in 23 games. That same year, after a brief stint on the AAA Eugene team, he was called up to 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...
.
Major Leagues
On July 10, 1972, at the age of 23, Scarce made his major league debut. He entered the game in Philadelphia in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The 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...
and pitched 3-plus innings. He gave up a run in the ninth inning, allowing the Dodgers to tie the score 3–3. Then in the eleventh inning, he allowed hits to the first two batters (Tommy Davis
Tommy Davis
Herman Thomas Davis, Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder and third baseman. He played from 1959-1976 for ten different teams, but he is best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During an 18-year baseball career, Davis batted .294 with 153 home runs, 2,121...
and Manny Mota
Manny Mota
Manuel Rafael Mota Geronimo, more commonly known as Manny Mota was a Major League Baseball Outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos and most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers, best known for his pinch hitting abilities...
) and was lifted. Both Davis and Mota went on to score leading to the Dodgers 5–3 win. Scarce was given the loss.
Overall, Scarce appeared in 159 Major League baseball games and recorded 21 saves (all with the Phillies) and a 6–19 record. Scarce never started a game and in his 17 major league at bats, he never got a hit.
He played his last game on June 25, 1978.
Career highlights
Scarce had a 2.42 ERA and appeared in 52 games in 1973.Scarce was the Phillies save leader in 1972 and 1973. His total number of saves in 1972 was 4. This remarkably low number for a team leader in saves says considerably more about the 1972 Phillies than it does about Mac Scarce. That year the Phillies won only 59 games, 27 of which were won by Hall of Famer Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
. Carlton's ratio of recording 46% of the teams wins is one of the highest in league history. Additionally, Carlton invariably finished the games he started. Thus save opportunities for the Philadelphia club were very scarce for Scarce in 1972.
Although more of an anomaly than a highlight, Scarce's entire stint with 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...
consisted of pitching to one batter in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on April 11, 1975. The Mets were up 3–0 going into the bottom of the 9th inning. The Pirates rallied, putting 5 of their first 6 batters on base and tying the game. The Mets then put Scarce in the game with runners on first and second and Richie Hebner
Richie Hebner
Richard Joseph Hebner is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played from 1968 to 1985 in Major League Baseball. He played with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs, all of the National League, and the Detroit Tigers of the American...
at the plate. Scare promptly gave up a single to Hebner that scored the winning run and ended the game. Four days later, Scarce was traded to 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....
.
External links
- http://web.archive.org/web/20041103091744/http://www.geocities.com/nolefan_fsu/baseball/scarce_mac.html