Mike Corkins
Encyclopedia
Michael Patrick Corkins (born May 25, 1946, in Riverside, California
) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher. The right-hander was signed by the San Francisco Giants
as an amateur free agent before the 1965 season, and later drafted by the San Diego Padres
from the Giants
as the 31st pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft. He played for the Padres
from 1969 to 1974.
Corkins is perhaps best-known for giving up Willie Mays
's 600th home run
. (September 22, 1969)
The majority of his 157 appearances was as a relief pitcher
, but he did start 44 games. During his career, Corkins gave up 248 walks in just 459.1 innings pitched
, for a BB/9IP of 4.86, much higher than the National League
average at that time. However, with 335 strikeouts, his K/9IP was 6.56, which was higher than the National League
average. Corkins wielded a strong bat (for a pitcher), hitting 5 home runs with a batting average
of .202 in 119 lifetime at bats.
He finished his career with a total of 19 wins, 28 losses, 9 saves, 48 games finished
, and an ERA
of 4.39.
Corkins' major league debut with San Diego was mentioned in pitcher Jim Bouton's 1969 book, Ball Four
. The book cites infielder Marty Martínez
as yelling "Welcome to the National League, kid." from the Houston Astros
dugout during Corkins' poor performance.
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
) 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...
pitcher. The right-hander was signed by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
as an amateur free agent before the 1965 season, and later drafted by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
from the Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
as the 31st pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft. He played for the Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
from 1969 to 1974.
Corkins is perhaps best-known for giving up Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
's 600th home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
. (September 22, 1969)
The majority of his 157 appearances was as a 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...
, but he did start 44 games. During his career, Corkins gave up 248 walks in just 459.1 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, for a BB/9IP of 4.86, much higher than the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
average at that time. However, with 335 strikeouts, his K/9IP was 6.56, which was higher than the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
average. Corkins wielded a strong bat (for a pitcher), hitting 5 home runs with a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .202 in 119 lifetime at bats.
He finished his career with a total of 19 wins, 28 losses, 9 saves, 48 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
, and an 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...
of 4.39.
Corkins' major league debut with San Diego was mentioned in pitcher Jim Bouton's 1969 book, Ball Four
Ball Four
Ball Four is a book written by former Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Bouton in . The book is a diary of Bouton's 1969 season, spent with the Seattle Pilots and then the Houston Astros following a late-season trade. In it Bouton also recounts much of his baseball career, spent mainly with the...
. The book cites infielder Marty Martínez
Marty Martínez
Orlando "Marty" Martínez Oliva was a utility player, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball. Martínez batted switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He was born in Havana, Cuba....
as yelling "Welcome to the National League, kid." from 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...
dugout during Corkins' poor performance.