Former relief pitcher Sammy Stewart R.I.P.

[jaytftwofive]

I just heard this week that former Oriole, Red Sox and Indians pitcher Sammy Stewart passed away on March 2nd. Sad story. He had some drug trouble and trouble with the law. And the saddest thing was that he lost 2 children to Cystic Fibrosis. So sad. He was a prankster on the O's like his buddy Rick Dempsey. Good setup guy. Appeared in 27 games for the Red Sox in 86. R.I.P.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

The Throwin' Swannanoan....his Wikipedia page paints a sad and troubled life. At least he got to live his dream of being a big-league baseball player for a piece of it.

 

[The_Powa_of_Seiji_Ozawa]

I remember his commercial promos on WSBK.

 

[moondog80]

He walked 6.8 guys per 9 innings in 1986 and only struck out 6.6, yet his ERA was a sort of reasonable 4.38 and everyone thought he was decent enough, if not a star. Such a different time.

 

[MtPleasant Paul]

He pitched a crucial inning or two after Don Baylor tied it up with his 9th inning home run in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS.

 

[lexrageorge]

He pitched a crucial inning or two after Don Baylor tied it up with his 9th inning home run in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS.

I believe you're thinking of Steve Crawford, who was actually quite good that post-season:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL198610120.shtml

Stewart started the 1986 season quite strongly, got hurt in June, and then struggled during the stretch run in August/September, and did not appear in a single post-season game for the Red Sox, despite being on the roster.

An article that discusses the demons that took over his life:

http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/10/25/rock_bottom/?page=1%7CBoston

He claims the problem with McNamara developed because the team bus once left him behind at Fenway Park. Stewart says he was visiting his son in the hospital, got to the ballpark, and threw his bag on the bus. He was parking his car when the bus left without him.

Another reason why I hate it when mediots pine for the days of "old school managers" in baseball. Stewart's son had cystic fibrosis, which eventually killed him when he was 11.

 

[joe dokes]

I believe you're thinking of Steve Crawford, who was actually quite good that post-season:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL198610120.shtml

And who later admitted that "if there had been a bathroom on the mound in those extra innings, I would have used it."


(Back to SS. He pitched more than one inning in 26 of his 27 relief appearances in 86.

 

[lexrageorge]

And who later admitted that "if there had been a bathroom on the mound in those extra innings, I would have used it."


(Back to SS. He pitched more than one inning in 26 of his 27 relief appearances in 86.

That was still a fairly common usage pattern among bullpen pitchers back then, especially middle relievers. Even closers: AL save leader that season was Dave Righetti, who pitched 106 innings in 74 appearances, all of them in relief.

 

[Dewey'sCannon]

I believe you're thinking of Steve Crawford, who was actually quite good that post-season:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL198610120.shtml

Stewart started the 1986 season quite strongly, got hurt in June, and then struggled during the stretch run in August/September, and did not appear in a single post-season game for the Red Sox, despite being on the roster.

An article that discusses the demons that took over his life:

http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/10/25/rock_bottom/?page=1%7CBoston

Another reason why I hate it when mediots pine for the days of "old school managers" in baseball. Stewart's son had cystic fibrosis, which eventually killed him when he was 11.

God, I thought I hated McNamara before, but this level of lack of empathy and compassion is horrifying. And I never really realized that he passed over Sammy completely in that Series, because he held a grudge. Had to wait another 18 years (and listen to all those 1918 chants from MFY fans) thanks to that a-hole.