SPORTS
Orosco calls it quits at last
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Thursday, January 22, 2004
REUTERS — Pitcher Jesse Orosco, the oldest player in Major League Baseball, retired Wednesday with a record 1,252 career appearances.
The 46-year-old lefthander informed the Arizona Diamondbacks he would not be accepting their invitation to spring training, ending a 24-year career that included stints with the New York Mets, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Baltimore, St. Louis, San Diego, Minnesota and the New York Yankees.
“It’s a shame that our young pitchers will not have the opportunity to learn from a true baseball professional,” said Diamondbacks senior vice president and general manager Joe Garagiola Jr.
Orosco was picked by the Minnesota Twins in the second round of the 1978 amateur draft, and the southpaw began his career in 1979 with the New York Mets at age 22. He pitched for the Mets until 1987. In 1983 he recorded a 13-7 record to go along with a 1.47 ERA and 17 saves, finishing third in the National League Cy Young Award voting behind Philadelphia’s John Denny and Cincinnati’s Mario Soto. In both 1983 and 1984 Orosco earned trips to the All-Star game.
After a one-year stopover in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, Orosco moved to the American League for first time, pitching three seasons for the Cleveland Indians before the Milwaukee Brewers acquired him in a trade. In three years in Milwaukee he compiled a 9-7 record.
After five years in Baltimore, the lefty returned to the National League, appearing in six games with the St. Louis Cardinals. He returned to Los Angeles in 2001 and 2002, then split the 2003 season between three teams: San Diego, Minnesota and the New York Yankees.
Orosco appeared in 24 postseason games in his Major League career, going 3-1 with a 4.15 ERA.
A two-time all-star, Orosco leaves with 87-80 record, 144 saves and 3.16 lifetime ERA. His 1,248 relief appearances also set a major league record.
