Roger McDowell article in the Blade

[UK Peregrine]

It's a very nicely written article by Maureen. I enjoyed it immensely.

Also, TG, there is a good picture of Roger in this article that you might be able to use on your website.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /602050418

Roger McDowell: World Series, and 'Seinfeld' too
Former BGSU right-hander now Braves' pitching coach

In Their Words is a weekly feature appearing Sundays in The Blade's sports section. Blade sports writer Maureen Fulton talked with Roger McDowell, who pitched for Bowling Green State University before going on to a 12-year major league career that included a 1986 World Series win with the New York Mets. Last week McDowell started his job as the Atlanta Braves' pitching coach.


It's a joke Roger McDowell will gladly join in on. Which is he more famous for, being a successful relief pitcher or his cameo on Seinfeld as the "second spitter"? McDowell, always looking for a laugh, concedes it's a toss-up. "One of the greatest TV shows of all time, I'm lucky to have that on my resume," he said. Throughout his 12 years with five major league teams, McDowell relished the role of prankster. He also joined an exclusive club: pitchers who have a World Series Game 7 win.

A former Bowling Green State University pitcher, McDowell is back in the majors again this season, joining the Atlanta Braves as their pitching coach after coaching in the minor leagues for four years. He came to the Falcons in 1979 from Colerain High School in Cincinnati. Before he was offered a scholarship the summer before college by BGSU coach Don Purvis, he was headed to Virginia Military Institute, his only other offer. By his senior year in 1982, McDowell was All-Mid-American Conference first team and earned the Falcons' most valuable pitcher award. He was drafted in the third round that summer by the New York Mets, with the 59th overall selection, the third-highest Falcon draft pick.

McDowell's major league debut was on April 12, 1985. His career year came in his second season. He won 14 games, had 22 saves and was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the Mets' World Series victory over the Boston Red Sox. A right-hander, McDowell's signature pitch was his sinker. He also pitched for the Dodgers, Rangers, Orioles and White Sox. He finished his career with a 70-70 record, 159 saves and a 3.30 ERA. His mischief was widespread: sticking books of matches to teammates' shoes with gum and setting them on fire, wearing his uniform upside down, setting off firecrackers in the bat racks.

He had to stop pitching in 1996 because of shoulder injuries, but stayed with the White Sox for a year trying to rehabilitate. When that failed, the team asked him to help coach their fall-league players. After taking a few years off, McDowell took a job with a Dodgers Single-A club. He spent the past two seasons in Las Vegas as the pitching coach of the Dodgers' Triple-A team before accepting the Braves' pitching coach job on Oct. 29, 2005. McDowell was the first person the Braves interviewed for the position vacated by renowned coach Leo Mazzone.

McDowell, 45, was inducted into the BGSU Hall of Fame in 1988. He has a wife, Gloria, and three children.

"BG was my only scholarship offer, other than Virginia Military Institute. My father and I sat down and I was committed to go to college and put the four-year commitment into the military. I had three siblings, all older, and none got a college education. But I wanted to play professional baseball, and I didn't know if that would ever be a reality if I was in the military."

"I wasn't the jokester and prankster in college, not to the extent that I was when I got to play major league baseball. I didn't have the money back then to do that. I've always enjoyed the baseball field, that's been my life. When I go there, I have fun. For me it's the greatest office in the world."

"Coach Purvis gave me the opportunity to pitch in non-conference games as a freshman. I was very blessed to have some really good teammates: Chris Dill, Tom Stacy, Dave Litzenberg, Mike Lanseer. They were older than me and took me under their wing. Chris Dill was two years older and he was like an older brother to me. He made sure that I conducted myself well, and really was a very big part of my development."

"I was blessed early on in my career. I think it kind of spoiled me. My first year we won 98 games and finished second. Next year we wound up lapping the field and went on to win the World Series. It was kind of mind-boggling, playing in the largest market in the world, and playing on a World Series championship team. It rapidly progressed my maturity. I feel very fortunate to be a part of that, especially early on."

"I actually never wanted to coach. I really never entertained the idea, up until the day I retired. For a lack of better words, baseball is pretty much what I know. My education was in baseball. I felt it would be my best opportunity."

[TG1996]

This "In their words" series has been terrific!!!

Use what picture? I don't know what you're talking about...