Pete Falcone
Encyclopedia
Peter Frank "Pete" Falcone (born October 1, 1953, in Brooklyn
, New York), is a left-handed
former professional baseball
player who pitched in the Major Leagues
from 1975–84.
and Kingsborough Community College
, both in Brooklyn, New York.
in the 13th round of the 1972 draft, and then by the San Francisco Giants
in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the 1973 draft.
In 1973, in his first minor league season, he was 8–1 for Great Falls
with a 1.50 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 72 innings. In his minor league career he was 22–14, with a 2.89 ERA, and an average of 11 strikeouts per 9 innings.
in Rookie Pitcher of the Year voting.
In December 1975 he was traded by the Giants to the Cardinals for Ken Reitz
.
.
In December 1978 he was traded by the Cardinals to the Mets for Kim Seaman and Tom Grieve
.
. The Mets lost 2–1, as Falcone pitched 7 innings with 8 strikeouts.
Falcone was especially good at not allowing hits when runners were in scoring position, keeping batters in such such circumstances to a .210 batting average in 1979, a .220 batting average in 1981, and a .211 batting average in 1982.
He kept batters to a .235 Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position
in 1983, and a .228 batting average in 1984.
In September 1984 Falcone, then 30 years old, said he planned to retire after the season. “I’m just tired of baseball,” Falcone said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal. “I’m tired of the life style, and I can’t see any reason to go on doing it. The game is a game, and a certain part of it is enjoyable, but everything else, forget it.” John Mullen, the Braves’ general manager
, expressed surprise at Falcone’s statement. “I hate to see a guy that young with that kind of arm retire,” Mullen said.http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:OuT1JzIjMOIJ:query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html%3Fres%3D9F05E5DE173BF93BA2575AC0A962948260+%22pete+falcone%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=43&gl=us
.http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=falcope01
He was in the top 10 in the NL four times in wild pitches: 1975 9–10th; 1979 10–4th; 1980 9–6th; and 1982 10–8th.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York), is a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
former professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player who pitched in the Major Leagues
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...
from 1975–84.
High school and college
He attended Lafayette High SchoolLafayette High School (New York City)
Lafayette High School is a large secondary school located in the Bath Beach section of Brooklyn, New York City, New York . It is currently one of the low performing high schools of the city and is operated by the New York City Department of Education.-History:...
and Kingsborough Community College
Kingsborough Community College
Kingsborough Community College , part of the City University of New York system, is the only community college in Brooklyn, New York. The campus is located at Manhattan Beach, which is at the eastern end of Coney Island. The 71-acre campus overlooks Sheepshead Bay, Jamaica Bay, and the Atlantic...
, both in Brooklyn, New York.
Minor leagues
He was drafted by the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota 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...
in the 13th round of the 1972 draft, and then 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....
in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the 1973 draft.
In 1973, in his first minor league season, he was 8–1 for Great Falls
Great Falls
Great Falls may refer to:CommunitiesIn the United States:* Great Falls, Montana* Great Falls, South Carolina* Great Falls, Virginia** Great Falls Park* Great Falls, New Hampshire, previous name of Somersworth, New HampshireWaterfalls...
with a 1.50 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 72 innings. In his minor league career he was 22–14, with a 2.89 ERA, and an average of 11 strikeouts per 9 innings.
San Francisco Giants (1975)
He went 12–11 his rookie season with the Giants (1975), but lost to teammate John MontefuscoJohn Montefusco
John Joseph Montefusco Jr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1974 to 1986 for the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees. Named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1975, Montefusco's nickname was "The Count", a pun on his last name which...
in Rookie Pitcher of the Year voting.
In December 1975 he was traded by the Giants to the Cardinals for Ken Reitz
Ken Reitz
Kenneth John Reitz is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. A right-handed hitter, Reitz played for the St...
.
St. Louis Cardinals (1976–78)
Falcone repeated as a 12-game winner in 1976. He kept batters to a .196 Batting Average with Runners in Scoring PositionBatting Average with Runners in Scoring Position
Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position is a baseball statistic derived by dividing a players hits with runners in scoring positions by his at bats with runners in scoring position...
.
In December 1978 he was traded by the Cardinals to the Mets for Kim Seaman and Tom Grieve
Tom Grieve
Thomas Alan Grieve was a Major League Baseball player from 1970-1979 for the Washington Senators, Texas Rangers, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals...
.
New York Mets (1979–82)
On May 1, 1980, Falcone tied a Major League record by striking out the first six batters of the game, versus the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia 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...
. The Mets lost 2–1, as Falcone pitched 7 innings with 8 strikeouts.
Falcone was especially good at not allowing hits when runners were in scoring position, keeping batters in such such circumstances to a .210 batting average in 1979, a .220 batting average in 1981, and a .211 batting average in 1982.
Atlanta Braves (1983–84)
In December 1982 he signed a two-year, $650,000 contract as a free agent with the Braves.http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:dtRijqXNrPgJ:query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html%3Fres%3D9E00E2DB1738F932A15751C1A964948260+%22pete+falcone%22+braves+mets&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=usHe kept batters to a .235 Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position
Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position
Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position is a baseball statistic derived by dividing a players hits with runners in scoring positions by his at bats with runners in scoring position...
in 1983, and a .228 batting average in 1984.
In September 1984 Falcone, then 30 years old, said he planned to retire after the season. “I’m just tired of baseball,” Falcone said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal. “I’m tired of the life style, and I can’t see any reason to go on doing it. The game is a game, and a certain part of it is enjoyable, but everything else, forget it.” John Mullen, the Braves’ general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
, expressed surprise at Falcone’s statement. “I hate to see a guy that young with that kind of arm retire,” Mullen said.http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:OuT1JzIjMOIJ:query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html%3Fres%3D9F05E5DE173BF93BA2575AC0A962948260+%22pete+falcone%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=43&gl=us
Career stats
In his career in 325 games Falcone was 70–90 with 865 strikeouts and a 4.07 ERA. In his career, Falcone kept batters to a .234 Batting Average with Runners in Scoring PositionBatting Average with Runners in Scoring Position
Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position is a baseball statistic derived by dividing a players hits with runners in scoring positions by his at bats with runners in scoring position...
.http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=falcope01
He was in the top 10 in the NL four times in wild pitches: 1975 9–10th; 1979 10–4th; 1980 9–6th; and 1982 10–8th.