Steve Avery
Encyclopedia
Steven Thomas Avery is a former left-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who was a young star with the Atlanta Braves
in the early 1990s.
, Avery was drafted by the Atlanta Braves
in June . He made his first career start on June 13, 1990 against the Cincinnati Reds
at Riverfront Stadium and was clobbered, giving up eight runs in 2.1 innings. He ended his rookie year with a record of 3-11 in 21 starts with a 5.64 ERA. Along with Tom Glavine
, John Smoltz
, and Pete Smith, Avery was christened one of Atlanta's "Young Guns," the name for the pitching staff with great potential but little offensive help.
, the 21 year-old Avery beat them twice, 9-1 at home, and 3-0 on the road, pitching a complete game both times. Avery's last win of the regular season was a stellar performance against the Houston Astros
. Avery threw a no-hitter for 6.2 innings until Luis Gonzalez broke it up with a single.
Avery's amazing season continued with one of the greatest postseason performances of all-time. He shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates
for 16.2 innings over two games and accumulated two 1-0 wins. His performance earned him MVP honors for the 1991 NLCS
. In the 1991 World Series
, Avery earned no decisions in two starts but pitched effectively in both Game 3 and Game 6.
. He extended his mastery over the Pittsburgh offense to 22.1 shutout innings before giving up five runs in the seventh inning of a Braves rout in Game 2. After lasting only 1/3 of an inning and giving up four runs in his second start in Game 5, Avery kept the Pirates at bay in the crucial middle innings of Game 7 in relief of John Smoltz
. Avery's clutch performance kept the game close enough for Francisco Cabrera to perform his heroics in the ninth inning.
Avery started Game 3 of the 1992 World Series
and was the losing pitcher in the first World Series game ever played outside the United States. He pitched effectively but lost, 3-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays
. In Game 6, he was pulled after giving up a home run to Candy Maldonado
in the fourth inning. Avery appeared on his way to another loss, but a Braves rally extended the game into the eleventh inning before the Blue Jays prevailed, winning their first World Series and saddling the hard-luck Braves with their second consecutive World Series defeat.
. Avery lost and suffered an injury to a muscle under his pitching armpit. Many blame Avery's injury on his heavy workload as a young pitcher; he had started 135 major league games before reaching the age of 24. Avery was never again the same pitcher, although he ended the year 18-6 with a 2.94 ERA, a phenomenal record for a team's fourth starter.
Avery was outpitched early in Game 1 of the 1993 NLCS by Curt Schilling
of the Philadelphia Phillies
. A late rally tied the game and got Avery off the hook, but the Braves still lost. In his second matchup with Schilling, the Braves again got Avery off the hook for the loss, but again ultimately lost the game in extra innings, 4-3.
Avery's career went rapidly downhill after his injury. His record after September 12, 1993, was 44-50 after compiling a 47-22 record from the beginning of 1991 until the injury. However, Avery showed occasional flashes of his previous brilliance. After struggling throughout , Avery started Game 4 of the 1995 NLCS with the Braves up three games to none over the Reds. He pitched an outstanding game and won, 6-0, sending Atlanta into the World Series. In Game 4 of the 1995 World Series
, he was the surprise starter over ace Greg Maddux
, and he was also the winner, 5-2, pitching six innings and giving up one run.
Avery missed two months with injury in and finished with a 7-10 record. His only appearance in the 1996 World Series
was in the top of the 10th inning of Game 4, a game that saw the Braves blow a 6-0 lead to the New York Yankees
en route to an 8-6 loss in the game that turned not only the series, but the decade of the 1990s in baseball dominance. Pitching 0.2 innings, Avery earned the loss, giving up a hit, a run, and three walks, the last of which (to Wade Boggs
) forced in the go-ahead run. Atlanta manager Bobby Cox
earned some criticism at the time owing to his decision to have Avery intentionally walk Bernie Williams
to load the bases for Boggs.
on January 22, 1997. He pitched two years for the Red Sox, going 16-14 over two seasons as the number two starter behind Pedro Martínez
. However, his ERA was 5.64, and he was clearly finished as the brilliant pitcher who dazzled fans and batters in 1991.
He signed a one year contract with the Reds for the season. He was 6-7 when he was lost for the rest of the year in July. He signed with the Braves during spring training in and again during spring training in , but failed to make the club each time.
In , Avery made a brief comeback with the Detroit Tigers
team that threatened to break the 120-loss record of the 1962 Mets. He made 19 relief appearances, including the final appearance of his career on July 20, 2003, at U.S. Cellular Field
against the Chicago White Sox
. His final pitch was a double play caused when Paul Konerko
lined to Avery and he threw Magglio Ordóñez
out before he was able to get back to first base.
In an eleven-season career, Avery posted a 96-83 record with 980 strikeout
s and a 4.19 ERA
in 1554 innings pitched
.
with their three children. On Sept. 30, 2011 Avery apparently won a car at a homecoming football game for Allen Park Cabrini High School, where his children attend. The dealership that was sponsoring the contest later claimed that he did not win.
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...
in 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...
who was a young star with 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 early 1990s.
Young Gun
After graduating from John F. Kennedy High School in Taylor, MichiganTaylor, Michigan
Taylor is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 63,131 at the 2010 census. Taylor was originally known as Taylor Township and residents of the township voted to incorporate as the City of Taylor in May 1968...
, Avery was drafted 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 June . He made his first career start on June 13, 1990 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....
at Riverfront Stadium and was clobbered, giving up eight runs in 2.1 innings. He ended his rookie year with a record of 3-11 in 21 starts with a 5.64 ERA. Along with Tom Glavine
Tom Glavine
Thomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176...
, John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
, and Pete Smith, Avery was christened one of Atlanta's "Young Guns," the name for the pitching staff with great potential but little offensive help.
1991
The season was a magical year for both Avery and the Braves. The team went from worst to first while Avery compiled a record of 18-8 with a 3.38 ERA. He gave the Braves their first win of the season, a 7-5 victory over the defending world champion Reds. In the heat of the September pennant race with the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, the 21 year-old Avery beat them twice, 9-1 at home, and 3-0 on the road, pitching a complete game both times. Avery's last win of the regular season was a stellar performance against 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...
. Avery threw a no-hitter for 6.2 innings until Luis Gonzalez broke it up with a single.
Avery's amazing season continued with one of the greatest postseason performances of all-time. He shut out 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...
for 16.2 innings over two games and accumulated two 1-0 wins. His performance earned him MVP honors for the 1991 NLCS
1991 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 9, 1991 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThe Pirates proved they would be tough to eliminate early when they stifled the Braves offense behind 1990 Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek and won the first game 5–1...
. In the 1991 World Series
1991 World Series
The 1991 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins of the American League against the Atlanta Braves of the National League. The series was played from Saturday, October 19 to Sunday, October 27....
, Avery earned no decisions in two starts but pitched effectively in both Game 3 and Game 6.
Continued success
In , Avery lowered his ERA to 3.20, but his record fell off to 11-11, mostly due to the Braves' inability to score runs when he pitched. However, his playoff success continued when he took the mound against the Pirates in the 1992 NLCS1992 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 6, 1992 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaA rather uneventful opening to what would prove to be a memorable series, Game 1 was an easy win for the Braves. Atlanta scored four early runs, highlighted by Jeff Blauser's fifth-inning homer, and coasted to...
. He extended his mastery over the Pittsburgh offense to 22.1 shutout innings before giving up five runs in the seventh inning of a Braves rout in Game 2. After lasting only 1/3 of an inning and giving up four runs in his second start in Game 5, Avery kept the Pirates at bay in the crucial middle innings of Game 7 in relief of John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
. Avery's clutch performance kept the game close enough for Francisco Cabrera to perform his heroics in the ninth inning.
Avery started Game 3 of the 1992 World Series
1992 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 17, 1992 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaBraves fans had plenty to worry about in regard to both starting pitchers. Tom Glavine's post-season career had been less than stellar, including giving up eight runs in the second inning of Game 6 of the NLCS...
and was the losing pitcher in the first World Series game ever played outside the United States. He pitched effectively but lost, 3-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. In Game 6, he was pulled after giving up a home run to Candy Maldonado
Candy Maldonado
Candido Maldonado Guadarrama is a former Major League Baseball outfielder from to for the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, and Texas Rangers. Chris Berman, a fellow ESPN analyst, called him the "Candyman"...
in the fourth inning. Avery appeared on his way to another loss, but a Braves rally extended the game into the eleventh inning before the Blue Jays prevailed, winning their first World Series and saddling the hard-luck Braves with their second consecutive World Series defeat.
Unexpected decline
In , Avery had the best season of his career. He was selected to the All-Star team and had a record of 16-4 entering the September 12, 1993 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...
. Avery lost and suffered an injury to a muscle under his pitching armpit. Many blame Avery's injury on his heavy workload as a young pitcher; he had started 135 major league games before reaching the age of 24. Avery was never again the same pitcher, although he ended the year 18-6 with a 2.94 ERA, a phenomenal record for a team's fourth starter.
Avery was outpitched early in Game 1 of the 1993 NLCS by Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
of 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...
. A late rally tied the game and got Avery off the hook, but the Braves still lost. In his second matchup with Schilling, the Braves again got Avery off the hook for the loss, but again ultimately lost the game in extra innings, 4-3.
Avery's career went rapidly downhill after his injury. His record after September 12, 1993, was 44-50 after compiling a 47-22 record from the beginning of 1991 until the injury. However, Avery showed occasional flashes of his previous brilliance. After struggling throughout , Avery started Game 4 of the 1995 NLCS with the Braves up three games to none over the Reds. He pitched an outstanding game and won, 6-0, sending Atlanta into the World Series. In Game 4 of the 1995 World Series
1995 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 1995 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta ace Greg Maddux pitched a two-hit complete game victory in his first World Series appearance ....
, he was the surprise starter over ace Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
, and he was also the winner, 5-2, pitching six innings and giving up one run.
Avery missed two months with injury in and finished with a 7-10 record. His only appearance in the 1996 World Series
1996 World Series
-Game 1:Sunday, October 20, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkGame 1 and Game 2 were originally scheduled for Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20, respectively. Rain on October 19, however, washed out Game 1. The schedule was moved up one day, with Game 1 and Game 2 rescheduled for...
was in the top of the 10th inning of Game 4, a game that saw the Braves blow a 6-0 lead to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
en route to an 8-6 loss in the game that turned not only the series, but the decade of the 1990s in baseball dominance. Pitching 0.2 innings, Avery earned the loss, giving up a hit, a run, and three walks, the last of which (to Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs
Wade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
) forced in the go-ahead run. Atlanta manager Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager...
earned some criticism at the time owing to his decision to have Avery intentionally walk Bernie Williams
Bernie Williams
Bernabé Williams Figueroa Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and Puerto Rican musician.-Early life:...
to load the bases for Boggs.
Boston and Detroit
With his career in a sudden and premature decline, Avery was granted free agency and signed with the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
on January 22, 1997. He pitched two years for the Red Sox, going 16-14 over two seasons as the number two starter behind Pedro Martínez
Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion...
. However, his ERA was 5.64, and he was clearly finished as the brilliant pitcher who dazzled fans and batters in 1991.
He signed a one year contract with the Reds for the season. He was 6-7 when he was lost for the rest of the year in July. He signed with the Braves during spring training in and again during spring training in , but failed to make the club each time.
In , Avery made a brief comeback with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
team that threatened to break the 120-loss record of the 1962 Mets. He made 19 relief appearances, including the final appearance of his career on July 20, 2003, at U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field is a baseball ballpark in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, it is the home of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball's American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at old Comiskey Park...
against 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...
. His final pitch was a double play caused when Paul Konerko
Paul Konerko
Paul Henry Konerko is an American professional baseball first baseman who has played for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball since 1999. He previously played with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds . Konerko helped the Chicago White Sox win the 2005 World Series, the...
lined to Avery and he threw Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:...
out before he was able to get back to first base.
In an eleven-season career, Avery posted a 96-83 record with 980 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 4.19 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...
in 1554 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...
.
Facts
- Avery was the youngest player in the Major Leagues (20) during his rookie season in .
- At age 21, he became the youngest pitcher to win a playoff game with an eight-inning six-hitter in Game 2 of the 1991 NLCS.
- Set a record with 22 scoreless innings in the NLCSNational League Championship SeriesIn Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
(1991–92). - The baseball field at John F. Kennedy High School, the school he attended, is named Steve Avery Field.
- Was undefeated and batted 1.000 for the Detroit Tigers in 2003. (2-0 pitching, 1 for 1 batting.)
Personal life
Avery married Heather McMillian on November 12, 1991. They currently live in Dearborn, MichiganDearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
with their three children. On Sept. 30, 2011 Avery apparently won a car at a homecoming football game for Allen Park Cabrini High School, where his children attend. The dealership that was sponsoring the contest later claimed that he did not win.
Sources
- The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia – Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English. ISBN 1-4027-4771-3
External links
- Baseball Library (profile)
- MLB historical statistics