Rick Ownbey
Encyclopedia
Richard Wayne Ownbey is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He played in parts of four seasons in the majors, between and , for the New York Mets
and St. Louis Cardinals
.
in Santa Ana, California
, Ownbey drew the attention of the Pittsburgh Pirates
, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft
. However, he did not sign. A year later
, the Mets drafted him in the thirteenth round. In his first season of professional ball, Ownbey was 9-1 with a 1.80 earned run average
for the Lynchburg Mets and Jackson Mets
.
Ownbey made his major league debut on August 17, 1982 at Cinergy Field
as the starting pitcher
against the Cincinnati Reds
. He gave up five runs in five innings pitched
and took the loss. Ownbey was a combined 2-5 over his two seasons with the Mets before being traded with Neil Allen
to the St. Louis Cardinals for Keith Hernandez
on June 15, .
his first season in the Cardinals' organization. , his first season in a Cardinals uniform, Ownbey went 0-3 with a 4.74 ERA in four starts. After spending all of in the minors, Ownbey reemerged with the Cards in pitching mostly out of the bullpen
, and going 1-3 with a 3.80 ERA.
for . Plagued by injuries, he pitched only four innings for their double-A Southern League
affiliate, the Memphis Chicks
before calling it a career.
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
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 played in parts of four seasons in the majors, between and , 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 St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
Mets
While pitching at Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana College
Santa Ana College is a community college located in Santa Ana, California, USA.-History:In 1915, Santa Ana Junior College opened its doors to 25 students as a department of Santa Ana High School. It was the second community college founded in Orange County, behind Fullerton College, and the fourth...
in Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
, Ownbey drew the attention of 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...
, who drafted him in the fourth round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft
1979 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1979 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 5-7, 1979, via conference call.-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :...
. However, he did not sign. A year later
1980 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft.- Compensation Picks :*William Erickson, was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants, 31st pick overall. *Jeff Horne was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Pirates,...
, the Mets drafted him in the thirteenth round. In his first season of professional ball, Ownbey was 9-1 with a 1.80 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...
for the Lynchburg Mets and Jackson Mets
Jackson Mets
The Jackson Mets were a professional baseball team based in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1975 through 1990. As of 2010, they are the longest-tenured club to be based in the Jackson metropolitan area...
.
Ownbey made his major league debut on August 17, 1982 at Cinergy Field
Cinergy Field
Riverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
as the starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
against 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....
. He gave up five runs in five 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...
and took the loss. Ownbey was a combined 2-5 over his two seasons with the Mets before being traded with Neil Allen
Neil Allen
Neil Patrick Allen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher currently serving as pitching coach for the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, the Durham Bulls.-New York Mets:...
to the St. Louis Cardinals for Keith Hernandez
Keith Hernandez
Keith Barlow Hernandez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He is currently a baseball analyst working for the New York Mets, for whom he played from –, on SportsNet New York and WPIX television broadcasts...
on June 15, .
Cardinals
Ownbey went 7-5 with a 3.63 ERA for the Louisville Redbirds of the American AssociationAmerican Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
his first season in the Cardinals' organization. , his first season in a Cardinals uniform, Ownbey went 0-3 with a 4.74 ERA in four starts. After spending all of in the minors, Ownbey reemerged with the Cards in pitching mostly out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
, and going 1-3 with a 3.80 ERA.
Royals
After becoming a free agent at the end of the 1986 season, Ownbey signed with 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...
for . Plagued by injuries, he pitched only four innings for their double-A Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
affiliate, the Memphis Chicks
Memphis Chicks
The Memphis Chicks were an American minor league baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Chicks were charter members of the Southern Association from 1901 until November 18, 1960, when the club folded and was transferred to Macon, Georgia for 1961.The Chicks suffered a...
before calling it a career.