Todd Worrell
Encyclopedia
Todd Roland Worrell is a retired Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
who played for the St. Louis Cardinals
and Los Angeles Dodgers
from to .
A hard-throwing reliever, Worrell emerged in late August 1985 as the Cardinals' closer, after the loss of Bruce Sutter
to free agency
. Worrell saved five games down the stretch and compiled an earned run average
of 2.91, then pitched effectively in the postseason against the Dodgers in the NLCS
and the Kansas City Royals
in the 1985 World Series
. He was still eligible as a rookie the following season, and his 9-10 record with 36 saves netted him the National League Rookie of the Year Award
, as well as the National League Rolaids Relief Man Award
. He was on the mound when winning run in Game 7 of the 1987 World Series
scored, though he was not tagged with the loss as the runner who scored it had been inherited from another pitcher. Worrell became the first relief pitcher to save 30 or more games in each of his first three full seasons.
On September 4, 1989, Worrell was pitching for his 125th career save, which would have tied him with Sutter for the Cardinals' career record. While making a pitch, he felt a ligament
snap. He underwent elbow surgery in December to repair the damage, then experienced shoulder pain when attempting to come back for the 1991 season and was diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear
. As a result, he missed both the and seasons due to injuries and rehabilitation.
Worrell came back in as a set-up man for veteran Lee Smith
. At the end of the season he signed as a free agent with the Dodgers, where he struggled for two seasons before regaining his old form and saving 32, 44, and 35 games in the final three seasons of his career and making two of his three career All-Star appearances.
Todd is also the older brother of Tim Worrell
, himself a major-league pitcher between 1993-2006, and also a distant relative of American swimmer Michael Worrell. Both attended Biola University
. He currently owns and operates Firesteel Creek Hunting Lodge in Plankinton, South Dakota
. Josh and Jeremy Worrell have followed in their father's footsteps as baseball players. Both of them played collegiately at Indiana Wesleyan University
in Marion, Indiana. Jacob Worrell, the youngest of the three, is at Indiana Wesleyan. He is also trying to follow in his father's footsteps. Josh Worrell was drafted in the 30th round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals. Todd is currently the pitching coach at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis.
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...
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...
who played for 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...
and Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
from to .
A hard-throwing reliever, Worrell emerged in late August 1985 as the Cardinals' closer, after the loss of Bruce Sutter
Bruce Sutter
Howard Bruce Sutter is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the splitter....
to free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Worrell saved five games down the stretch and compiled 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 2.91, then pitched effectively in the postseason against the Dodgers in the NLCS
1985 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 9, 1985 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe opening contest in Los Angeles pitted Dodgers screwballer Fernando Valenzuela against the Cardinals' twenty-game winner, John Tudor. The pitchers matched zeroes through the first three innings, but in the bottom of...
and the Kansas City Royals
Kansas 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...
in the 1985 World Series
1985 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 19, 1985 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri-Game 2:Sunday, October 20, 1985 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri...
. He was still eligible as a rookie the following season, and his 9-10 record with 36 saves netted him the National League Rookie of the Year Award
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
, as well as the National League Rolaids Relief Man Award
Rolaids Relief Man Award
The Rolaids Relief Man Award is an annual Major League Baseball award given since the 1976 MLB season to the top relief pitchers of the regular season, one in the American League and one in the National League . Relief pitchers are the pitchers who enter the game after the starting pitcher is...
. He was on the mound when winning run in Game 7 of the 1987 World Series
1987 World Series
The 1987 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins versus the St. Louis Cardinals.Minnesota was victorious in a World Series that was the first in which the home team won every game...
scored, though he was not tagged with the loss as the runner who scored it had been inherited from another pitcher. Worrell became the first relief pitcher to save 30 or more games in each of his first three full seasons.
On September 4, 1989, Worrell was pitching for his 125th career save, which would have tied him with Sutter for the Cardinals' career record. While making a pitch, he felt a ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
snap. He underwent elbow surgery in December to repair the damage, then experienced shoulder pain when attempting to come back for the 1991 season and was diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear
Rotator cuff tear
Rotator cuff tears are tears of one or more of the four tendons of the rotator cuff muscles. A rotator cuff injury can include any type of irritation or damage to the rotator cuff muscles or tendons....
. As a result, he missed both the and seasons due to injuries and rehabilitation.
Worrell came back in as a set-up man for veteran Lee Smith
Lee Smith (baseball)
Lee Arthur Smith is an American right-handed former baseball pitcher who played 18 years in Major League Baseball for eight teams. Pitching primarily for the Chicago Cubs, with whom he spent his first eight seasons, Lee served mostly as a relief pitcher during his career...
. At the end of the season he signed as a free agent with the Dodgers, where he struggled for two seasons before regaining his old form and saving 32, 44, and 35 games in the final three seasons of his career and making two of his three career All-Star appearances.
Todd is also the older brother of Tim Worrell
Tim Worrell
Timothy Howard Worrell is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. During his fourteen-year Major League career, Worrell has pitched for nine teams, including the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, San...
, himself a major-league pitcher between 1993-2006, and also a distant relative of American swimmer Michael Worrell. Both attended Biola University
Biola University
Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
. He currently owns and operates Firesteel Creek Hunting Lodge in Plankinton, South Dakota
Plankinton, South Dakota
Plankinton is a city in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 707 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Aurora County. Plankinton was named for Milwaukee meatpacker and hotel owner John Plankinton, a friend of Alexander Mitchell, the President of the Milwaukee Road...
. Josh and Jeremy Worrell have followed in their father's footsteps as baseball players. Both of them played collegiately at Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located in Marion, Indiana that is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church denomination...
in Marion, Indiana. Jacob Worrell, the youngest of the three, is at Indiana Wesleyan. He is also trying to follow in his father's footsteps. Josh Worrell was drafted in the 30th round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals. Todd is currently the pitching coach at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis.