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Scott Erickson

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For other people named Scott Erickson, seeScott Erickson (disambiguation).

Scott Erickson
Pitcher
Born:(1968-02-02)February 2, 1968(age 56)
Long Beach, California,U.S.
Batted:Right
Threw:Right
MLB debut
June 25, 1990, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
June 8, 2006, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
Win–loss record142–136
Earned run average4.59
Strikeouts1,252
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Scott Gavin Erickson(born February 2, 1968) is an American formerMajor League Baseballpitcher.He played for theMinnesota Twins,Baltimore Orioles,New York Mets,Texas Rangers,Los Angeles Dodgers,andNew York Yankeesover 15 seasons. He was a member of the1991World Serieschampion Twins.

Early life

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Erickson was born inLong Beach, California.He was highly involved in sports during high school while he attendedHomestead High SchoolinCupertino, California.He playedbaseball,soccer,football,andbasketball.He was CCS Junior of the Year in baseball.

After completing his secondary education, he graduated fromSan Jose City Collegein 1988 with anAAdegree in business. He was a Junior College 1st Team All American at San Jose. He then majored in accounting with a minor in psychology at theUniversity of Arizona.Erickson was inducted into theArizona WildcatHall of Fame after just one year of pitching at Arizona.[citation needed]Erickson set a school record for wins with an 18–3 record, as he led the country in wins (18), innings pitched (175), and complete games (14). Those impressive numbers earned him a unanimous First Team All-American honor. His teammates at Arizona includedTrevor Hoffman,Kevin Long,andJ. T. Snow.[1]In 1989, he playedcollegiate summer baseballwith theCotuit Kettleersof theCape Cod Baseball League.[2]

Career

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Minor leagues

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Erickson began his professional career after being selected in the major league draft four times. He was drafted by theNew York Metsin 1986 out of Homestead High School; theHouston Astrosin 1987 andToronto Blue Jaysin 1988 out of San Jose City College; and in1989he was drafted by theMinnesota Twinsin the 4th round of theamateur draftout of the University of Arizona. He finally signed his first pro contract with Minnesota. After 27 minor league starts,[3]Erickson rose to the major leagues in his second season of professional baseball with the Class AAOrlando Sun Rays.[4]He was on a five-game win streak with a record of 8–3 in the first half as an All Star in theSouthern League.

Major leagues

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Minnesota Twins

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Erickson finished 1990 with a combined record of 16–7 between Double-A and the majors; he went 5–0 in September and tiedDave StewartforAmerican LeaguePitcher of the Month. In1991,Erickson posted a record of 12–2 with a 1.39 ERA in the first half season and was awarded the American League Pitcher of the Month for May and June.[5]The Twins went on to win theWorld Series,and Erickson finished second toRoger Clemensfor the American LeagueCy Young Award[6]and received votes for the American LeagueMost Valuable Player Award.[7]

The following season, Erickson started 32 games, going 13–12 with 5 complete games. He regressed the following year, however, leading the majors with 19 losses. On April 27, 1994, Ericksonno-hittheMilwaukee Brewers6–0 at theHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome,the first no-hitter ever pitched in that stadium. He became the third Twins pitcher, afterJack Kralickin 1962 andDean Chancein 1967, to pitch a no-hitter; the former's had been the last no-hitter in a Twins home game, that game having taken place at the Metrodome's predecessor,Metropolitan Stadium.[8]

Baltimore Orioles

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In1995,he started with a 4-6 record and 5.95 ERA with the Twins, then was traded to theBaltimore Orioles.[9]More effective after the trade, Erickson turned in 9 wins in 16 starts for Baltimore. Between both teams, he finished 13–10 with 7 complete games. In 1996, Erickson won 13 games for the second straight year, with 6 complete games and 100 strikeouts for the 6th straight year. In 1997, Erickson turned in his best season since 1992, winning 16 games with a 3.69 ERA in 33 starts. He later signed a five-year, $32 million contract with Baltimore through2003.[10]In 1998, Erickson once again won 16 games for the Orioles, while leading the league in complete games (11) and innings pitched (251.1).

In 1999, Erickson went 15–12 with a 4.81 ERA while leading the league in shutouts (3). He also led the majors in ground balls induced with 454.

On March 3, 2000, Erickson had bone chips removed from his elbow, and was out of action eight weeks.[11][12]Erickson made 16 starts for the Orioles in 2000. He was hampered by the nagging elbow issue and visited thedisabled listtwice, the second one being a season ending elbow injury.[13]After over 2000 innings pitched, the elbow injury caused him to miss the entire 2001 season. Erickson returned in 2002, becoming the first pitcher to startOpening Dayafter missing an entire season. That season, he made 28 starts, pitching 160.2 innings. In 2003, Erickson suffered a tornlabrumand missed the entire 2003 season.[14][15]

Later career

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In 2004, Erickson signed a minor league deal with theNew York Mets.[16]Set back by injury, he made his Mets' debut in July, then was traded to theTexas Rangersat the July 31 deadline.[17]

He was in the starting rotation for theLos Angeles Dodgersin 2005.[18]

Erickson signed a deal with theNew York Yankeeson February 16, 2006. He was released by the Yankees on June 19, and officially retired from baseball at the beginning of the2007season.

Pitching profile

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Erickson was a groundball pitcher. He led the league five times in most double plays in a season and is in the Top 5 in Major League history for groundball to flyout ratio.[citation needed]

Post-playing career

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Erickson was the pitching coach for theCleveland IndiansClass A Advanced affiliateCarolina Mudcatsof theCarolina Leaguein 2012 andMahoning Valley Scrappersof theNew York–Penn LeagueHe was also the President of MLM, majorleaguemechanics, a pitching mechanics tutorial with professional instruction. Beginning in 2015, he has been a game analyst for thePac-12 Network.

Personal life

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In late 2000, Erickson was featured inPeoplemagazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" edition. In 2004, Erickson marriedLisa Guerrero,atelevision personality,actress, andinvestigative reporterwith whom he founded HomeTeam Productions. The marriage ended in divorce in 2019.[19][20]They were executive producers for the 2008 movieA Plumm Summer.[21]

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In 2002, Erickson was arrested and charged with second-degree assault after an argument with then-girlfriend Lisa Ortiz spilled out into the hallway outside their condominium. Investigators later dropped the charges.[22]

On January 27, 2021, theLos Angeles County District Attorney's office charged Erickson withreckless drivingin connection with a 2020 hit-and-run that killed two young children.[23]Prosecutors alleged that Erickson and his then-lover Rebecca Grossman, a wealthy socialite and wife of a prominent LA doctor, had been drinking cocktails at a restaurant. They then raced two vehicles at over 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) through suburban streets, and struck and killed the two brothers at aWestlake Villagecrosswalk.[24]During the murder trial against Grossman, her defense team argued that it was actually Erickson who struck the boys, placing the blame on him;[25][26]however the jury was not convinced, and Grossman was found guilty of doublesecond degree murder.[24]Erickson's earlier misdemeanor in connection with the crash[23]was later dismissed after he made a public service message about safe driving.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Shpigel, Ben (October 7, 2010)."As Yankees' Most Valuable Repairman, Long Revives Struggling Hitters".The New York Times.p. B17. Archived fromthe originalon June 11, 2022.
  2. ^"Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League"(PDF).capecodbaseball.org.RetrievedSeptember 25,2019.
  3. ^Minor league record
  4. ^Twins find help from OrlandoThe News-Journal June 26, 1990
  5. ^Winfield earns honor
  6. ^Baseball; Triple for Clemens in Cy Young Awards
  7. ^Baseball Reference: 1991 Awards Voting
  8. ^Baseball; An Improbable No-Hitter By Erickson (7.48 E.R.A.)
  9. ^http://articles.philly /1995-07-08/sports/25677618_1_atlanta-s-greg-maddux-twins-pitcher-scott-erickson[bare URL]
  10. ^http://articles.philly /1998-05-14/sports/25739255_1_erickson-signs-scott-erickson-scott-klingenbeck-and-outfielder[bare URL]
  11. ^"Top South Florida News, Sports, Weather and Entertainment - South Florida Sun-Sentinel".
  12. ^"BASEBALL: ROUNDUP -- BALTIMORE; Erickson to Miss at Least 6 Weeks".The New York Times.March 2, 2000.
  13. ^"Baltimore Sun: Baltimore breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic".July 29, 2000.
  14. ^"Top South Florida News, Sports, Weather and Entertainment - South Florida Sun-Sentinel".Archived fromthe originalon April 20, 2016.RetrievedMarch 20,2014.
  15. ^"Baltimore Sun: Baltimore breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic".March 2003.
  16. ^"Nice ring: Erickson closes Guerrero, Mets deals".February 5, 2004.
  17. ^"Rangers acquire RHP Scott Erickson from New York Mets | texasrangers: Official Info".Archived fromthe originalon March 20, 2014.
  18. ^"Scott Erickson Designated for Assignment by Dodgers".
  19. ^Sorry guys, she's spoken for
  20. ^Erickson weds Lisa Guerrero, joins Mets
  21. ^Former Twins pitcher finds a new career in the movies
  22. ^Parker, Gretchen (August 25, 2002)."Erickson Assault Charges Dropped".The Associated Press.RetrievedAugust 30,2023.
  23. ^ab"Former Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson charged in connection with fatal crash".Los Angeles Times.January 30, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 24,2024.
  24. ^abYen, Amanda (February 24, 2024)."Victims' Mother Speaks Out as Rebecca Grossman Is Convicted of Murder".The Daily Beast.RetrievedFebruary 24,2024.
  25. ^Winton, Richard (February 3, 2024)."'Where is Scott Erickson?' Defense in Grossman murder trial seeks to pin blame on ex-Dodger ".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedFebruary 25,2024.
  26. ^Winton, Richard (February 16, 2024)."Defense in Grossman murder trial keeps ex-Dodger Scott Erickson the center of attention".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedFebruary 24,2024.
  27. ^Winton, Richard (February 16, 2024)."Grossman's daughter testifies Scott Erickson threatened her after she saw him hiding near fatal crash scene".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedFebruary 24,2023.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by No-hitter
April 27,1994 		Succeeded by
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