Steve McCatty
Encyclopedia
Steven Earl McCatty is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the Oakland Athletics
from 1977 to 1985. He graduated from Troy High School
in Troy, Michigan
in 1972. On June 2nd, 2009 McCatty was named interim pitching coach of the Washington Nationals
following Randy St. Claire
's dismissal the previous day.
, only to lose 2–1.
During the 1981
strike-shortened season, McCatty was third in the American League
with a 2.32 ERA and was tied with three others with most wins with 14, including 4 shutouts, the last two of which were consecutive starts for McCatty. He finished second for the Cy Young Award
, behind Rollie Fingers
.
During a 1982
exhibition game against the San Diego Padres
, McCatty stepped to the plate wielding a toy 15-inch bat but was refused by umpire Jim Quick
to hit. McCatty was instructed by A's manager Billy Martin
, who was furious that the designated hitter
rule was not allowed in National League
ballparks, to use the toy bat as a protest.
Major League Baseball
. McCatty later moved on to coach several minor league baseball clubs, and was hired as pitching coach by the Detroit Tigers
for the 2002 season
. He subsequently coached for the Ottawa Lynx
when it was the AAA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles
. During the offseason, Steve works with youngsters of all ages to teach pitching mechanics at Jason Thompson Baseball in Auburn Hills
, Michigan
.
In 2009, Steve became the second pitching coach in Washington Nationals
franchise history, replacing Randy St. Claire
, who was fired, and McCatty was called upon to replace him after working at the Nationals' AAA affiliate.
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...
who played for 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....
from 1977 to 1985. He graduated from Troy High School
Troy High School (Michigan)
This article is about the Troy High School in Troy, Michigan. For other uses, see Troy High School.Troy High School is a public high school in Troy, Michigan. It is attended by approximately 2,000 students serving grades 9-12...
in Troy, Michigan
Troy, Michigan
Troy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...
in 1972. On June 2nd, 2009 McCatty was named interim pitching coach of 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...
following Randy St. Claire
Randy St. Claire
Randall Anthony St. Claire is a former professional baseball pitcher and current coach. He played all or part of nine seasons in Major League Baseball for the Montreal Expos , Cincinnati Reds , Minnesota Twins , Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays as a relief pitcher...
's dismissal the previous day.
Playing career
On August 10, 1980, McCatty pitched a 14 inning game against the Seattle Mariners1980 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners 1980 season was their 4th since the franchise creation, and ended the season finishing 7th in the American League West, finishing with a record of 59-103.- Offseason :...
, only to lose 2–1.
During the 1981
1981 Major League Baseball season
-First half:-Second half:-Overall record:-Statistical leaders:-Postseason:NOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half...
strike-shortened season, McCatty was third in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with a 2.32 ERA and was tied with three others with most wins with 14, including 4 shutouts, the last two of which were consecutive starts for McCatty. He finished second for the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
, behind Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
.
During a 1982
1982 Major League Baseball season
The 1982 Major League Baseball season was held between the American and National Leagues. Making up for their playoff miss of the year before, the St...
exhibition game against the San Diego Padres
1982 San Diego Padres season
The San Diego Padres season was the fourteenth in franchise history.-Offseason:* December 10, 1981: Ozzie Smith, Steve Mura and a player to be named later were traded by the Padres to the St...
, McCatty stepped to the plate wielding a toy 15-inch bat but was refused by umpire Jim Quick
Jim Quick
James Edward Quick is a former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the National League in and again from -. Quick wore uniform number 15 for most of his career.-Minor Leagues:...
to hit. McCatty was instructed by A's manager Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
, who was furious that the designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
rule was not allowed in National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
ballparks, to use the toy bat as a protest.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player in 1986, he remained in professional baseball working in radio and TV for the Oakland A's and with ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
Major League Baseball
ESPN Major League Baseball
ESPN Major League Baseball is a promotion of Major League Baseball on ESPN and ESPN2, with simulcasts on ESPNHD or ESPN2HD. ESPN's MLB coverage debuted on April 9, 1990 with three Opening Day telecasts. ESPN Major League Baseball is guaranteed to remain on air until 2013.The title is derived from...
. McCatty later moved on to coach several minor league baseball clubs, and was hired as pitching coach by 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...
for the 2002 season
2002 Major League Baseball season
The Major League Baseball season finished with the Anaheim Angels defeating the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series.-Major league baseball final standings:...
. He subsequently coached for the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
when it was the AAA affiliate of 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...
. During the offseason, Steve works with youngsters of all ages to teach pitching mechanics at Jason Thompson Baseball in Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills, Michigan
Auburn Hills is a city in Metro Detroit, Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 21,412 at the 2010 census. The city was formed in 1983 when Pontiac Township became the City of Auburn Hills.-Economy:...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
In 2009, Steve became the second pitching coach in 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...
franchise history, replacing Randy St. Claire
Randy St. Claire
Randall Anthony St. Claire is a former professional baseball pitcher and current coach. He played all or part of nine seasons in Major League Baseball for the Montreal Expos , Cincinnati Reds , Minnesota Twins , Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays as a relief pitcher...
, who was fired, and McCatty was called upon to replace him after working at the Nationals' AAA affiliate.