Steve Ridzik
Encyclopedia
Stephen George Ridzik was an American
right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for five teams from to , primarily the Philadelphia Phillies
and Washington Senators
.
Born in Yonkers, New York
, Ridzik was signed by the Phillies at the age of 16 and made his major league debut on September 4, 1950, pitching in relief. In , Ridzik started 12 games and relieved in 30 more going 9-6 with an earned run average
of 3.77. The Phillies traded him on April 30, , along with Smoky Burgess
and Stan Palys
, to the Cincinnati Redlegs
for Andy Seminick
, Glen Gorbous
, and Jim Greengrass
. After having his contract sold to Seattle of the Pacific Coast League
that same year, the New York Giants
claimed him the next month in the Rule 5 draft
.
Ridzik pitched for the Giants from to appearing in 56 games including 5 starts. On April 8, 1958, the Giants sold his contract to the Cleveland Indians
where he would pitch in six more games before his contract was sold again to the Chicago Cubs
. He would not pitch a major league game with the Cubs before his contract was sold to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
.
Ridzik signed with the Washington Senators
three years later in after developing a knuckleball
. He would appear in 132 games, mostly in relief, over the next three years for the Senators. On April 13, , his contract was sold back to his original team, the Phillies. He would appear in two games with the Phillies that year before calling it a career.
After life as a baseball player, Ridzik worked in the Washington D.C. area for a military food distributor until moving to Florida
in the late 1980s. In Florida, he helped with the organizing of charity events featuring former Major League players. He also helped establish the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association
with former Senators teammate, Chuck Hinton
. He died on January 8, 2008, after fighting heart disease for several years.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed 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...
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 played for five teams from to , primarily 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...
and Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
Born in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
, Ridzik was signed by the Phillies at the age of 16 and made his major league debut on September 4, 1950, pitching in relief. In , Ridzik started 12 games and relieved in 30 more going 9-6 with an 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...
of 3.77. The Phillies traded him on April 30, , along with Smoky Burgess
Smoky Burgess
Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1949 to 1967. Later in his career, he became known for his ability as a pinch hitter, setting the major league career record for career pinch-hits...
and Stan Palys
Stan Palys
Stanley Francis Palys is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played four seasons in the majors, from 1953 until 1956, for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Redlegs....
, to the Cincinnati Redlegs
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 Andy Seminick
Andy Seminick
Andrew Wasal Seminick was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies between 1943 and 1951, and the Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs from 1952 through part of 1955, when he rejoined the Phillies for the rest of his career until...
, Glen Gorbous
Glen Gorbous
Glen Edward Gorbous was a Canadian baseball player who holds the current world record for longest throw of a baseball, 135.89m . The feat took place on August 1, 1957, while he was playing for the Omaha Cardinals of the American Association...
, and Jim Greengrass
Jim Greengrass
James Raymond Greengrass is a former professional baseball player. He played five seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1952 until 1956, for the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, primarily as an outfielder.-External links:...
. After having his contract sold to Seattle of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
that same year, the New York 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....
claimed him the next month in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
Ridzik pitched for the Giants from to appearing in 56 games including 5 starts. On April 8, 1958, the Giants sold his contract to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland 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...
where he would pitch in six more games before his contract was sold again to 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...
. He would not pitch a major league game with the Cubs before his contract was sold to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
International 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...
.
Ridzik signed with the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
three years later in after developing a knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
. He would appear in 132 games, mostly in relief, over the next three years for the Senators. On April 13, , his contract was sold back to his original team, the Phillies. He would appear in two games with the Phillies that year before calling it a career.
After life as a baseball player, Ridzik worked in the Washington D.C. area for a military food distributor until moving to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the late 1980s. In Florida, he helped with the organizing of charity events featuring former Major League players. He also helped establish the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association
Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association
The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association is a 5013 non-profit organization created in 1982 to promote the game of baseball, raise money for charity, inspire and educate youth through positive sport images, and protect the dignity of the game through former players.-Mission Statement:...
with former Senators teammate, Chuck Hinton
Chuck Hinton
Charles Edward Hinton, Jr. is a former utility in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators , Cleveland Indians and California Angels...
. He died on January 8, 2008, after fighting heart disease for several years.