Bret Saberhagen

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Bret Saberhagen

George Brett and Bret Saberhagen (right) embrace as the Kansas City Royals win their first ever World Championship in 1985.
Retired — No. –
Starting Pitcher
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
April 4, 1984 for the Kansas City Royals
Selected MLB statistics (through Career)
Record	167-117
ERA	3.34
K	1715
Former teams
Kansas City Royals (1984-1991) New York Mets (1992-1995) Colorado Rockies (1995) Boston Red Sox (1997-1999, 2001)

Bret William Saberhagen (born April 11, 1964 in Chicago Heights, Illinois) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. His nickname was 'Sabes.'

Contents 1 Career 2 Accomplishments 3 Teams 4 External links

[edit] Career

Saberhagen was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 19th round of the 1982 amateur draft and made his Major League debut on April 4, 1984. He made an immediate impact with the team, compiling a 10-11 record and 3.48 ERA. The Royals made the postseason but lost to the Detroit Tigers. Saberhagen pitched well in his first postseason start, giving up two runs in 8 innings.

In 1985, the 21-year-old Saberhagen established himself as the ace of the staff, going 20-6 with a 2.87 ERA, leading the Royals to a World Series championship (and being named MVP of the Series along the way, pitching two complete games in the Series, including a shutout in Game 7), and winning the American League Cy Young Award. He was also the subject of much media attention during the Series as his wife gave birth to his first son, Drew William, on the same night of the infamous Don Denkinger call. Saberhagen developed an odd pattern of successful years in odd-numbered years (1985, 1989, 1991) and poor performances in even-numbered years. In 1986, he was 7-12 with a 4.12 ERA. In 1987, another odd-numbered year, Saberhagen had an excellent year, going 18-10 with a 3.36 ERA. That record, however, was disappointing because Saberhagen had entered the All-Star break with a 15-3 record and another Cy Young Award seemingly in the bag. He pitched in the 1987 All-Star game, but he suffered a shoulder injury that hampered his second-half performance.

In 1988, the pattern continued as Saberhagen went 14-16 with a 3.80 ERA, the second most losses in the American League. The following year, 1989, he showed flashes of his old brilliance by compiling a record of 23-6 with a 2.16 ERA, leading both leagues with 12 complete games, and finishing third in strikeouts. Before his July 26, 1989 start against the Boston Red Sox, Saberhagen had a record of 9-5. Over the next two months, he compiled a record of 14-1 with four shutouts. Only once in a game over that period did a team score more than two runs. He also led the league in innings pitched, complete games, and strikeout to walk ration. For his efforts, Saberhagen won his second Cy Young Award as the American League's best pitcher.

Despite a 5-7 record, Saberhagen was selected to the 1990 American League All-Star team, primarily due to his 1989 performance. Saberhagen rewarded the selection as the winning pitcher in the 2-0 American League triumph. Saberhagen only started one post All-Star game before being shelved for most of the rest of 1990 with an injury.

In 1991, he went 13-8 with a 3.07 ERA and pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on August 26, 1991. On December 11, 1991, he was traded along with Bill Pecota to the New York Mets in exchange for Kevin McReynolds, Gregg Jefferies, and Keith Miller.

He posted several solid seasons, winning 14 games for the New York Mets in the strike shortened 1994 season and winning 15 games for the Boston Red Sox in 1998. Also in 1994, he had more wins than walks. No other pitcher (as of 2005) pitching more than 150 innings had accomplished this feat since 1919. [1]

In 1995 he joined the Colorado Rockies as a much-heralded ace. He struggled throughout the year, plagued by injuries and unable to adjust to the high altitude. While the Rockies made the playoffs as the National League Wild Card team, Saberhagen lost his only start, Game 4 of the NLDS when the Rockies were eliminated by the Atlanta Braves on their way to a World Series win.

After missing the entire 2000 season, Saberhagen attempted a comeback in 2001 but pitched in only three games. He retired at the end of the season.

In 2005, he was inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.

In 2006, Saberhagen was named to the 2007 ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame. He stated if he were voted in, he would not attend the ceremony because he believes Pete Rose should be inducted. Saberhagen finished with 7 votes, well short of the amount needed to stay on the ballot next year.

He currently coaches the baseball team at Calabasas High School in California

[edit] Accomplishments

• All-Star (1987, 1990, 1994)
• AL Cy Young Award winner (1985, 1989)
• Finished 3rd in National League Cy Young Award voting (1994)
• Finished 8th in AL MVP voting (1989)
• Finished 10th in AL MVP voting (1985)
• World Series MVP (1985)
• AL Gold Glove Award winner (1989)
• Led AL in ERA (2.16) and wins (23) (1989)
• Pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on August 26, 1991
• Honored with the Tony Conigliaro Award (1998)
• Honored with the Babe Ruth Award (1985)
• The Sporting News American League Pitcher of the Year (1985, 1989)

[edit] Teams

• Kansas City Royals (1984-1991)
• New York Mets (1992-1995)
• Colorado Rockies (1995)
• Boston Red Sox (1997-1999, 2001)

[edit] External links

• Bret Saberhagen at:
  • Baseball Library
  • The Baseball Page
  • Baseball Reference
  • Bret Saberhagen's Make A Difference Foundation (Charity)

Preceded by Willie Hernandez	American League Cy Young Award 1985	Succeeded by Roger Clemens
Preceded by Alan Trammell	World Series MVP 1985	Succeeded by Ray Knight
Preceded by Jack Morris	Babe Ruth Award 1985	Succeeded by Ray Knight
Preceded by John Candelaria	AL Comeback Player of the Year 1987	Succeeded by Storm Davis
Preceded by Frank Viola	American League Cy Young Award 1989	Succeeded by Bob Welch
Preceded by David Justice	AL Comeback Player of the Year 1998	Succeeded by John Jaha
Preceded by Mark Langston	American League Gold Glove Award (P) 1989	Succeeded by Mike Boddicker