Rick Wise

Rick Wise
Pitcher
Born:(1945-09-13)September 13, 1945 Jackson, Michigan,U.S.
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
April 18, 1964, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
April 10, 1982, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	188–181
Earned run average	3.69
Strikeouts	1,647
Teams
Philadelphia Phillies(1964,1966–1971) St. Louis Cardinals(1972–1973) Boston Red Sox(1974–1977) Cleveland Indians(1978–1979) San Diego Padres(1980–1982)
Career highlights and awards
2×All-Star(1971,1973) Pitched ano-hitteron June 23, 1971

Richard Charles Wise(born September 13, 1945) is an American former professionalbaseballplayer andcoach.He played inMajor League Baseballas a right-handedpitcherbetween1964and1982for thePhiladelphia Phillies,St. Louis Cardinals,Boston Red Sox,Cleveland Indiansand theSan Diego Padres.The two-time National LeagueAll-Starpitched ano-hitteron June 23, 1971 - and slugged two home runs to support his own effort. Wise was the winning pitcher for theBoston Red Soxin Game 6 of the1975 World Series,considered by some to be the greatest Series game ever played.

Early life

Wise grew up inPortland, Oregon,and led his Rose CityLittle Leagueteam to theLittle League World Seriesin 1958, making him one of a handful of major league players to have played in both the Little League and Major League World Series.He attended Madison High School (nowLeodis V. McDaniel High School) in Portland.

Career

Phillies

Wise was 18 years of age when he debuted for thePhiladelphia Philliesin 1964, his second professional season. His first major league win was in the second game of a doubleheader on June 21, beating the New York Mets 8–2.The first game that day wasJim Bunning's perfect game.Wise was the last player from the1964 Philadelphia Philliesteam to be active in the major leagues, pitching two innings of relief (7th and 8th) for the Padres against theLos Angeles Dodgerson April 10, 1982.He spent all of 1965 and the early part of 1966 with the Phillies' top minor league affiliate (theArkansas Travelersin 1965 and theSan Diego Padresin 1966) before making the majors for good.

He developed into a solid starter, winning 17 games with a 2.88earned run averagefor a last-place Phillies team in 1971, as well as being named to his firstAll-Star Game.The highlight of Wise's Philadelphia career took place that year on June 23 when he overcame the flu tono-hittheCincinnati Redsin a 4–0 win atRiverfront Stadium.Only a sixth-inning walk toDave Concepciondenied Wise what would have been the secondperfect gamein Phillies history. He also contributed a pair ofhomers,a one-out two-run home run offRoss Grimsleyin the fifth and a leadoff solo shot offClay Carrollin the eighth.Wise,Wes Ferrell(1931),Jim Tobin(1944), andEarl Wilson(1962) are the only pitchers to throw a no-hitter and hit a home run in the same game. On August 28 against the San Francisco Giants, Wise also hit two home runs. On September 18 against the Chicago Cubs, he completed a string of retiring 32 batters in a row, four shy ofHarvey Haddix's Major League record, also driving in the winning run in the 12th inning.

1972–73: Cardinals and the Carlton trade

The following season, Wise became an unwitting participant in one of the most one-sided trades in baseball history. The owner of theSt. Louis Cardinals,Gussie Busch,ordered his team to trade its star left-handed pitcher,Steve Carlton,after a contract squabble. Since all of baseball knew of the trade mandate, teams drove very hard bargains, and the Phillies' offer of Wise was the best St. Louis could do. Wise won a total of 32 games during his two seasons (1972–73) in St. Louis, but Carlton won 27 for the last-place1972 Philliesalone and would go on to anchor their starting pitching staff for the next decade, ultimately winning 329 games and a place in theBaseball Hall of Fame.

At the time, however, the Carlton-Wise deal made some sense from the Cardinals' perspective. At the time, Wise had won 75 games, only two fewer than Carlton.Tim McCarver,who had caught for Carlton in St. Louis and Wise in Philadelphia, said at the time that the trade was "a real good one for a real good one." According to McCarver, Wise had better command on the mound while Carlton had more raw ability.This viewpoint can be confirmed statistically; while Carlton had averaged more career strikeouts per 9 innings at the time, Wise allowed fewer walks and actually had the better career strikeout-to-walk ratio through 1971.

On June 13, 1973, Wise, having already pitched one no-hitter against the Reds, nearly joinedAddie Jossas the only pitchers to no-hit the same team twice (theCleveland Napspitcher's two no-hitters were against theChicago White Sox,in 1908 and 1910; the former was aperfect game). This bid, however, was broken up in the ninth on a one-out single byJoe Morgan—the only hit Wise would allow.

Red Sox

Wise was traded along withBernie Carbofrom the Cardinals to the Red Sox forReggie SmithandKen Tatumon October 26, 1973.In 1975, he won 19 for the Red Sox, winners of theAL East.Wise had another no-hitter broken up against theMilwaukee Brewerson July 2. In the first game of adoubleheader,former Red SoxGeorge Scotthomered off Wise with two out in the ninth to break up the no-hitter. Wise would have joinedCy YoungandJim Bunningas pitchers who had hurled no-hitters in both leagues (Nolan Ryan,Hideo NomoandRandy Johnsonhave done it since). Wise went on to win his only start in the1975 ALCSagainstOakland,and was therelief pitcherof record in Game 6 whenCarlton Fiskended the 12-inning game with his oft-replayedwalk-off home run.

On June 30, 1976, Wise was perfect against the Orioles untilPaul Blairsingled against him to start the sixth. That was the only hit the Orioles would get off Wise as Boston won 2–0.

Remaining career

In 1978, Wise was involved in a trade for a future Hall of Famer for the second time in his career. On March 30, duringspring training,he was traded by the Boston Red Sox withTed Cox,Bo DíazandMike Paxtonto the Cleveland Indians forFred Kendalland future Hall of Fame starter and relieverDennis Eckersley.

Wise led the AL in losses in 1978 with 19, but again came back to win 15 games for a poor team in 1979. He became a free agent after the season, signing with theSan Diego Padres.He played two full seasons with the Padres, and was released after appearing in just one game for them in 1982, ending his playing career.

Overview

In an 18-year career, Wise posted a 188–181 record with 1,647strikeoutsand a 3.69 ERA in 3,127innings pitched.He pitched a total of 30shutouts.He was the first player to record a win over all 26 major league teams that existed before the 1993 expansion.

A good-hitting pitcher, Wise hit 15 home runs in his career, with a season-high of six in 1971. He batted.195 (130-668) with 60runsand 66RBI.Defensively, in 723 total chances, he committed only 13 errors for a.982fielding percentage.

Post-playing career

1988 Auburn Astros team photo

Wise was thepitching coachfor the 1985 and 1986 Madison Muskies, who were a Single A affiliate of the Oakland A's. Wise was the pitching coach of the Single-AAuburn Astrosof theNew York–Penn Leaguein 1988 and 1989. Wise was a coach for the 1991 New Britain Red Sox squad of the Eastern League. Wise was the pitching coach for theLancaster Barnstormersin 2005, helping them to anAtlantic Leaguechampionship in 2006. He was promoted to interim manager in July 2007 after the organization fired manager Frank Klebe. He returned to his duties as pitching coach afterVon Hayeswas named the new manager for 2008. After the 2008 season ended, Wise retired from coaching.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
• List of Major League Baseball all-time leaders in home runs by pitchers

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet
• Rick Wiseat SABR (Baseball BioProject)
• Rick Wiseat Baseball Almanac