Rick Krivda
Encyclopedia
Rick Michael Krivda (born January 19, 1970 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania
) pitched 12 years in professional baseball and won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics.
Krivda graduated from McKeesport High School in 1988. He then went on to California University of Pennsylvania. After college, he was picked in the 23rd round of the 1991 amateur draft
by the Baltimore Orioles
.
of Bluefield, West Virginia
and went 7-1 with a 1.88 ERA. He was fifth in the Appalachian League
in ERA and two wins shy of the lead. He saved one game, allowed only 48 hits in 67 innings and fanned 79. In 1992, Krivda emerged as a strong prospect. He went 12-5 with a 3.03 ERA for the Kane County Cougars
, striking out a batter per inning, then was 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 9 starts after being promoted to the Frederick Keys
. He contineud to whiff over a batter per inning. His 188 strikeouts and 17 wins led the Orioles minor leaguers.
Krivda continued his fast rise through the minors in 1993. He was 7-5 with a 3.08 ERA for the Bowie BaySox
and 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in 5 starts for the Rochester Red Wings
. He walked 16 in 33 innings with Rochester but allowed only 20 hits. He had made it to AAA and done well there in just his second full season in the minor leagues. He was second in the Eastern League in ERA, trailing only Denny Harriger
and beating out top prospects Brien Taylor
and Frank Rodriguez
. Krivda got the start for the American League affiliate team for the Double-A All-Star Game and allowed two runs in two innings in a 12-7 loss. Baseball America
rated Krivda as having the best breaking ball in the EL.
in ERA. In the 1994 AAA All-Star Game, he threw a scoreless inning and struck out two. Krivda was 6-5 with a 3.19 ERA for the 1995 Red Wings. He made his major league debut July 7, 1995. He was 2-2 with a 3.24 ERA after his first eight starts, but lost five in a row to finish 2-7 with a 4.54 ERA. His secondary stats were not bad and his ERA+ was 108.
Back in Rochester to begin , Krivda had a 3-1, 4.30 record when Baltimore came calling again. He went 3-5 with a 4.96 ERA in 22 games for the Orioles; the 81 innings he pitched marked a career high in the majors. His ERA+ remained respectable at 99.
In 1997, Krivda dazzled with Rochester, going 14-2 with a 3.39 ERA, walking only 34 in 146 innings. He finished fifth in the International League in ERA and led the league in both complete games (6) and shutouts (3). He had a chance to lead the league in wins as well but spent the last couple months of the year with Baltimore. He had a 4-2, 6.30 record in 10 starts for the Orioles, a significant decline from his first two cracks at the majors.
claimed Krivda off waivers before the season. He was 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in 11 outings for the Indians, but walked 16 in 25 innings. He was then traded in mid-June to the Cincinnati Reds
for Eddie Priest and Christian Rojas. Krivda was only 0-2 with an 11.28 ERA for the Reds. His big-league career was over with a total record of 11-16, 5.57. His last major league game was September 8, 1998.
signed the left-hander in , and the 29-year-old went 6-8 with a 5.70 ERA for the Omaha Royals
, getting rapped for 154 hits in 115 IP, clearly past his peak.
Krivda returned to his old home of Rochester in and had a 11-9, 3.12 record to head the staff and show a return to form. He was second in the IL in ERA, trailing only Tomo Ohka
. He missed time to represent the USA in the 2000 Olympics. He took the team's lone loss, a 6-1 defeat by Cuba — Krivda allowed five hits, a walk and two runs in two innings. It was his only appearance in the Olympics. The USA still won gold handily.
Krivda was 4-6 with a 4.35 ERA for the Memphis Redbirds
in . Not pitching in 2002, Krivda played in independent league ball in with the Somerset Patriots
(3-6, 6.28) and San Angelo Colts
(1-1, 2.37) to finish his pro career with a 102-66 record, 91-50 in the minors.
, the two Olympic athletes from McKeesport.
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...
) pitched 12 years in professional baseball and won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics.
Krivda graduated from McKeesport High School in 1988. He then went on to California University of Pennsylvania. After college, he was picked in the 23rd round of the 1991 amateur draft
1991 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Other notable players:...
by 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...
.
1991–1993: Rushing through the minors
Krivda began his professional career with the Bluefield OriolesBluefield Orioles
The Bluefield Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. Beginning in 2011, Bluefield will be affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The team plays their home games at Bowen Field, a...
of Bluefield, West Virginia
Bluefield, West Virginia
Bluefield is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 10,447 at the 2010 census. It is also the core city of the Bluefield WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,342.-Geography & Climate:...
and went 7-1 with a 1.88 ERA. He was fifth in the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
in ERA and two wins shy of the lead. He saved one game, allowed only 48 hits in 67 innings and fanned 79. In 1992, Krivda emerged as a strong prospect. He went 12-5 with a 3.03 ERA for the Kane County Cougars
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Geneva, Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago....
, striking out a batter per inning, then was 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 9 starts after being promoted to the Frederick Keys
Frederick Keys
The Frederick Keys minor league baseball team is the "High-A" class A baseball affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Keys are based in Frederick, Maryland. The franchise is named for Star Spangled Banner poet Francis Scott Key, a native of Frederick County. The team mascot is a coyote known as...
. He contineud to whiff over a batter per inning. His 188 strikeouts and 17 wins led the Orioles minor leaguers.
Krivda continued his fast rise through the minors in 1993. He was 7-5 with a 3.08 ERA for the Bowie BaySox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
and 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in 5 starts for the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
. He walked 16 in 33 innings with Rochester but allowed only 20 hits. He had made it to AAA and done well there in just his second full season in the minor leagues. He was second in the Eastern League in ERA, trailing only Denny Harriger
Denny Harriger
Dennis Scott "Denny" Harriger is former Major League Baseball pitcher. Harriger played for the Detroit Tigers in .-External links:*...
and beating out top prospects Brien Taylor
Brien Taylor
Brien M. Taylor is a former pitcher in minor league baseball best known for being just the second amateur player to be picked first overall in the Major League Baseball Draft and never reach the major leagues...
and Frank Rodriguez
Frank Rodriguez (baseball)
Francisco Rodriguez is a former major league pitcher.-Amateur career:Rodriguez won the Dick Howser Trophy in 1991. At the time of the award, Rodriguez was playing for Howard Junior College in Big Spring, Texas...
. Krivda got the start for the American League affiliate team for the Double-A All-Star Game and allowed two runs in two innings in a 12-7 loss. Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
rated Krivda as having the best breaking ball in the EL.
1994–1997: Rochester and Baltimore rotation
At age 24, Krivda spent a full year at AAA, one of six in which he would perform in Rochester. He had a 9-10, 3.53 record and was ninth in the International LeagueInternational League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
in ERA. In the 1994 AAA All-Star Game, he threw a scoreless inning and struck out two. Krivda was 6-5 with a 3.19 ERA for the 1995 Red Wings. He made his major league debut July 7, 1995. He was 2-2 with a 3.24 ERA after his first eight starts, but lost five in a row to finish 2-7 with a 4.54 ERA. His secondary stats were not bad and his ERA+ was 108.
Back in Rochester to begin , Krivda had a 3-1, 4.30 record when Baltimore came calling again. He went 3-5 with a 4.96 ERA in 22 games for the Orioles; the 81 innings he pitched marked a career high in the majors. His ERA+ remained respectable at 99.
In 1997, Krivda dazzled with Rochester, going 14-2 with a 3.39 ERA, walking only 34 in 146 innings. He finished fifth in the International League in ERA and led the league in both complete games (6) and shutouts (3). He had a chance to lead the league in wins as well but spent the last couple months of the year with Baltimore. He had a 4-2, 6.30 record in 10 starts for the Orioles, a significant decline from his first two cracks at the majors.
1998: Major leagues in Ohio
The Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
claimed Krivda off waivers before the season. He was 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in 11 outings for the Indians, but walked 16 in 25 innings. He was then traded in mid-June 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....
for Eddie Priest and Christian Rojas. Krivda was only 0-2 with an 11.28 ERA for the Reds. His big-league career was over with a total record of 11-16, 5.57. His last major league game was September 8, 1998.
1999–2003: Back on the farm and Olympic Gold
The Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
signed the left-hander in , and the 29-year-old went 6-8 with a 5.70 ERA for the Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
, getting rapped for 154 hits in 115 IP, clearly past his peak.
Krivda returned to his old home of Rochester in and had a 11-9, 3.12 record to head the staff and show a return to form. He was second in the IL in ERA, trailing only Tomo Ohka
Tomo Ohka
is a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher who is currently playing for the Yokohama BayStars. Previously, Ohka played with the Boston Red Sox , Montreal Expos , Washington Nationals , Milwaukee Brewers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Cleveland Indians...
. He missed time to represent the USA in the 2000 Olympics. He took the team's lone loss, a 6-1 defeat by Cuba — Krivda allowed five hits, a walk and two runs in two innings. It was his only appearance in the Olympics. The USA still won gold handily.
Krivda was 4-6 with a 4.35 ERA for the Memphis Redbirds
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
in . Not pitching in 2002, Krivda played in independent league ball in with the Somerset Patriots
Somerset Patriots
The Somerset Patriots are an American professional baseball team based in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
(3-6, 6.28) and San Angelo Colts
San Angelo Colts
The San Angelo Colts are a professional baseball team based in San Angelo, Texas, in the United States. The Colts are a member of North American League, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
(1-1, 2.37) to finish his pro career with a 102-66 record, 91-50 in the minors.
Post-career notes
On December 29, 2006, the city of McKeesport unveiled a monument to Krivda and to women's basketball star Swin CashSwin Cash
Swintayla Marie Cash , better known as Swin Cash, is an American WNBA player who plays for the Seattle Storm. A prolific scorer and rebounder, as well as a capable ball handler and defender, she helped lead the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to national titles in 2000 and 2002...
, the two Olympic athletes from McKeesport.