Ron Schueler
Encyclopedia
Ronald Richard Schueler is a former Major League
pitcher
, pitching coach, general manager
and scout. Schueler graduated from Hays High School where he played baseball
and basketball
, then went on to attend Fort Hays State University
before being drafted in 1966.
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
, but never signed a contract to play with the team. The following season, he was selected by the Atlanta Braves
in the third round of the 1967 draft
(secondary phase) and signed a contract shortly thereafter. On September 7, , only twenty-two years old, Schueler tossed a no-hitter
for Double-A Shreveport.
at San Diego Stadium. He pitched two innings and only gave up one hit in that game, but despite his efforts, the Braves lost. Schueler went on to start thirty-eight games over two years with the Braves.
After the season ended, Schueler was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies
for infielder
Craig Robinson and pitcher Barry Lersch
. After a mediocre season as a starter
, the Phillies converted Schueler to a relief pitcher
. He pitched two more seasons in Philadelphia as a reliever and spot starter.
Just days before the season began, the Minnesota Twins
purchased Schueler from the Phillies. With the Twins, he pitched as a reliever and spot starter, as he did in Philadelphia. Schueler's stay with the Twins lasted only one season, as he became a free agent after the season.
A month after becoming a free agent, Schueler was signed by the Chicago White Sox
to be a reliever and spot starter. He played the season and the first half of the season with the White Sox, but retired mid-season to be the team's pitching coach after the previous pitching coach, Fred Martin
, died.
of the White Sox in the middle of the 1979 season, after the illness and death of Fred Martin
. He remained with the ChiSox through the season. In , Schueler was hired by the Oakland Athletics
to be their pitching coach. Schueler worked for three seasons in Oakland. Schueler joined the Pittsburgh Pirates
in after a year out of the majors.
. Schueler worked in the Athletics' front office for four seasons, including the season in which the Athletics won the World Series
.
In , Schueler returned to the White Sox as their general manager. As the general manager, Schueler was responsible for acquiring veterans such as Ellis Burks
, Tim Raines
, Bo Jackson
, Julio Franco
, and Jose Valentin
. He was their general manager for ten years, stepping down on October 24, 2000 to become senior vice president of the franchise, a scout, a special consultant to chairman Jerry Reinsdorf
, and an adviser to general manager Ken Williams. He worked in this new position through the season.
Before the season, he was hired by the Chicago Cubs
as a special assistant to the president and general manager. Two years later, the St. Louis Cardinals
hired Schueler to be the special assistant to the general manager. He was part of the 2006 Cardinals organization that won the World Series. In , the San Francisco Giants
hired Schueler to be a scout and evaluate major and minor league players and acquisitions. In November 2009, The Washington Nationals
hired Schueler as special adviser to GM Mike Rizzo
.
.
Schueler has two children Kacey and Carey from a previous marriage.
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...
, pitching coach, 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:...
and scout. Schueler graduated from Hays High School where he played 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...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, then went on to attend Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University is a public, co-educational university located in Hays, Kansas, United States. It is the fourth-largest of the six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents, with an enrollment of approximately 11,200 students .- History :FHSU was founded in 1902 as the...
before being drafted in 1966.
Minor leagues
Schueler was selected in the twelfth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft1966 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1966 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :A January free agent amateur draft was added for the first time in 1966. Ninety-five prospects were selected in the regular phase and 102 in the secondary phase of the...
by 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...
, but never signed a contract to play with the team. The following season, he was selected by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the third round of the 1967 draft
1967 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1967 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The June draft was filled with talented prospects who would go on to pro careers...
(secondary phase) and signed a contract shortly thereafter. On September 7, , only twenty-two years old, Schueler tossed a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
for Double-A Shreveport.
Major leagues
Schueler was called up at the start of the season, twenty-three years old. On April 16, 1972, two days before his twenty-fourth birthday, Schueler made his major league debut as a reliever in a game against the San Diego PadresSan 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...
at San Diego Stadium. He pitched two innings and only gave up one hit in that game, but despite his efforts, the Braves lost. Schueler went on to start thirty-eight games over two years with the Braves.
After the season ended, Schueler was dealt 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...
for infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Craig Robinson and pitcher Barry Lersch
Barry Lersch
Barry Lee Lersch was an American Major League Baseball player who played pitcher from -. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1969–1973 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974....
. After a mediocre season as a starter
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....
, the Phillies converted Schueler to 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...
. He pitched two more seasons in Philadelphia as a reliever and spot starter.
Just days before the season began, 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...
purchased Schueler from the Phillies. With the Twins, he pitched as a reliever and spot starter, as he did in Philadelphia. Schueler's stay with the Twins lasted only one season, as he became a free agent after the season.
A month after becoming a free agent, Schueler was signed by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
to be a reliever and spot starter. He played the season and the first half of the season with the White Sox, but retired mid-season to be the team's pitching coach after the previous pitching coach, Fred Martin
Fred Martin (baseball)
Fred Turner Martin was an American pitcher, coach and scout in Major League Baseball. Born in Williams, Oklahoma, Martin threw and batted right-handed, stood 6'1" tall and weighed 185 pounds during his active playing career.Martin was one of a handful American Major League players who "jumped"...
, died.
Pitching coach
Schueler ended his active career to become pitching coachCoach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
of the White Sox in the middle of the 1979 season, after the illness and death of Fred Martin
Fred Martin (baseball)
Fred Turner Martin was an American pitcher, coach and scout in Major League Baseball. Born in Williams, Oklahoma, Martin threw and batted right-handed, stood 6'1" tall and weighed 185 pounds during his active playing career.Martin was one of a handful American Major League players who "jumped"...
. He remained with the ChiSox through the season. In , Schueler was hired by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
to be their pitching coach. Schueler worked for three seasons in Oakland. Schueler joined 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...
in after a year out of the majors.
Front office
He only stayed with the Pirates for a year before returning to Oakland, this time in the front office as a special assistant to general manager Sandy AldersonSandy Alderson
Richard Lynn "Sandy" Alderson is the general manager of the New York Mets. He previously served as an executive with the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and the commissioner's office of Major League Baseball....
. Schueler worked in the Athletics' front office for four seasons, including the season in which the Athletics won the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
.
In , Schueler returned to the White Sox as their general manager. As the general manager, Schueler was responsible for acquiring veterans such as Ellis Burks
Ellis Burks
Ellis Rena Burks is a former outfielder and designated hitter who played in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
, Tim Raines
Tim Raines
Timothy Raines , nicknamed "Rock", is a former American professional baseball player. He played as a left fielder in Major League Baseball for six teams from 1979 to 2002 and was best known for his 13 seasons with the Montreal Expos...
, Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson
Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former American baseball and football player. He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports, and also won the Heisman Trophy in 1985....
, Julio Franco
Julio Franco
Julio César Robles Franco is a former Major League Baseball infielder and designated hitter. In , Franco was the oldest active player in the major leagues at the age of 49....
, and Jose Valentin
José Valentín
José Antonio Valentín is a former Major League Baseball infielder, who played with the Milwaukee Brewers , Chicago White Sox , Los Angeles Dodgers , and New York Mets .-Early years:...
. He was their general manager for ten years, stepping down on October 24, 2000 to become senior vice president of the franchise, a scout, a special consultant to chairman Jerry Reinsdorf
Jerry Reinsdorf
Jerry M. Reinsdorf is a CPA, lawyer and an owner of the MLB's Chicago White Sox and the NBA's Chicago Bulls. He started his professional life as a tax attorney with the Internal Revenue Service. He has been the head of the White Sox and Bulls for over 20 years.He made his initial fortune in real...
, and an adviser to general manager Ken Williams. He worked in this new position through the season.
Before the season, he was hired by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
as a special assistant to the president and general manager. Two years later, the 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...
hired Schueler to be the special assistant to the general manager. He was part of the 2006 Cardinals organization that won the World Series. In , 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....
hired Schueler to be a scout and evaluate major and minor league players and acquisitions. In November 2009, The Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
hired Schueler as special adviser to GM Mike Rizzo
Mike Rizzo
Michael "Mike" Rizzo, is an American DJ/remixer from New York City since the early 1990s. He is well known for working with various artists such as Jennifer Green and Sun, all of whom scored hits on both Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay charts.He also achieved success on both...
.
Personal life
Schueler has a wife, Linda, and two children, Jennifer and Christina. They live in Paradise Valley, ArizonaParadise Valley, Arizona
Paradise Valley is a small, affluent town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2005 Census Bureau, the population of the town was 14,558. Despite the town's relatively small area and population compared to other municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Paradise...
.
Schueler has two children Kacey and Carey from a previous marriage.