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Ed Vosberg
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Edward John Vosberg (born September 28, 1961) is a former left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 10-year career (1986, 1990, 1994–1997, 1999–2002). He played with the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos in the National League, and the Oakland A's and Texas Rangers in the American League.
Key Information
He is one of only three players (Jason Varitek and Michael Conforto are the others) to play in the Little League World Series, the College World Series, and the Major League World Series, and is the only pitcher to have done so.[1] He played first base for Tucson, Arizona in the 1973 Little League World Series final. He pitched a one-hitter in the semifinals against Birmingham, Michigan. He played for the 1980 NCAA champion University of Arizona. He then played for the Florida Marlins in the 1997 Major League World Series.[2]
Career
[edit]Ed Vosberg was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 3rd round of the 1983 MLB draft. He began his professional career with the Single-A Reno Padres in the California League. Whilst with Reno he showed promise going 6–6 and sporting a 3.87 earned run average (ERA). After only 15 games with Reno Padres he was called up to the Double-A Beaumount Golden Gators. His brief stint there in 1983 yielded one game where he went 7 shutout innings only giving up 2 hits with 2 walks and 1 strikeout. Vosberg stayed in Double-A with the Golden Gators for the 1984 season improving to a 13–11 record with an ERA of 3.43 and 100 strikeouts.
He was promoted to the Triple-A roster in 1986 to the Las Vegas Stars where he went 7–8 with an ERA of 4.72. He also made his major league debut in 1986 on September 18 at the age of 24. He pitched in 5 games in 13 innings going 0–1 with an earned run average of 6.59. He returned to the Las Vegas Stars for the 1987 season. In December 1988, he was traded to the Houston Astros for Dan Walters. Vosberg remained in the Astros' system until 1989 when he was traded to the Dodgers and assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque. He became a free agent in 1990 and signed with the San Francisco Giants. During the 1990 season, Edward returned to the major league level. He pitched in 18 games with 24 innings pitched and an inflated 5.55 ERA. He was granted free agency after the 1990 season and spent the next 4 years in the minors with the Angels, Mariners, Cubs, and Athletics organizations and even played in the Italian League in 1992.
In 1994, he returned to the majors once again with the Oakland Athletics. He pitched in 16 games with a record of 0–2 and an ERA of 3.95. After the 1994 season, Vosberg was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Supplemental Rule 5 draft. He was outrighted to the minors shortly after, refused the Minor League assignment and became a free agent. He then signed a minor league contract with the Rangers organization. The Rangers purchased his contract and Vosberg once again returned to the big leagues. He pitched in 44 games out of the bullpen and put up his best numbers 5–5 and an earned ERA of 3.00. He returned to the Texas Rangers in 1996 and had another respectable season out of the Ranger's bullpen going 1–1 with an ERA of 3.27 and finishing 21 games. 1997 was his final season as a Texas Ranger he was traded to the Florida Marlins for Rick Helling. His overall record with both clubs in 1997 was 2 wins, 3 losses, 1 save and an ERA of 4.42 As a member of the 1997 Florida Marlins, Vosberg won a World Series ring. He pitched in the postseason and had 5 strikeouts, giving up 5 hits and 3 walks. His ERA in the 1997 World Series was 6.00.
After his stint with the Marlins, he was traded to the San Diego Padres for minor leaguer Chris Clark on November 20, 1997. He missed the 1998 season due to injury and did not pitch at all. At the age of 37, Vosberg returned to the majors and played with the San Diego Padres. His time with the Padres was limited and his numbers were terrible. His record with the Padres was 0–0 with an ERA of 9.72. He sustained a shoulder injury and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. A few months after rehab, he was released by the Padres on June 7, 1999. He was picked up by the Arizona Diamondbacks a few days later on June 18, 1999. His numbers improved with the move to Arizona, going 0–1 with an ERA of 3.38 in four games. His entire Arizona Diamondback career was those 4 games. He was designated for assignment once more. He returned to the minor league with yet another organization: the Colorado Rockies.
At the age of 38, the Rockies traded Vosberg to the Philadelphia Phillies on June 28, 2000, in part of a conditional deal. He once again found his way onto a major league roster with the Phillies in 2000. He went 1–1 in 31 games with an earned run average of 4.13. He played in 2001 with the Phillies and put up his best ERA in his career at a 2.84 clip out of the Phillies’ bullpen. However, once again after the 2001 season he was granted free agency and picked up by the Montreal Expos. His Canadian career was short-lived, only pitching in four games and stacking up an ERA of 18.00. On April 18, 2002, Vosberg refused a minor league assignment and became a free agent once more.
He made a comeback attempt in the Mexican leagues in 2006–07 at the age of 45. Vosberg was quoted as saying, "The last couple of years I have gotten the itch. When I retired five years ago I think I still could have done it physically, but mentally it is such a grind. It is such a great life, but it is a grind. It is difficult being away from your family. I needed these years to get the love of the game back and get on the field again." In his final seasons in the Mexican leagues he had a combined record of 7–8 with an ERA of 4.14.
References
[edit]- ^ "Looking Back at the Three Little League Graduates with a World Series Trifecta". Little League. June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ In addition, Vosberg won a gold medal for the United States at the first-ever World Games in 1981. He pitched and won the final game of the tournament, a 4-2 decision over South Korea; as of 2024, this is the only time baseball has been a sport at the World Games.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
Ed Vosberg
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Birth and early years
Edward John Vosberg was born on September 28, 1961, in Tucson, Arizona.[1][2][3] He represented Tucson in the 1976 Little League World Series.[4] Tucson served as Vosberg's hometown from birth.[4]Education
Ed Vosberg attended Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona.[1][5] He subsequently attended the University of Arizona, also located in Tucson.[5][1]Amateur career
Ed Vosberg represented Tucson, Arizona, in the 1976 Little League World Series as a youth pitcher.[1]College career
Ed Vosberg attended the University of Arizona, where he played college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats in the early 1980s. He appeared in the 1980 College World Series with the team.[1] While at the university, he was eligible for the MLB draft and was selected three times. In 1980, the St. Louis Cardinals chose him in the 19th round of the MLB June Amateur Draft, but he did not sign. In 1982, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 11th round, but he again did not sign. The following year, the San Diego Padres selected him in the 3rd round of the 1983 MLB June Amateur Draft, and he signed with the team on June 10, 1983.[1]Professional career
Draft and minor leagues
Ed Vosberg was selected by the San Diego Padres in the third round of the 1983 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft from the University of Arizona. [1] He signed with the Padres and began his professional career that same year, pitching for the Spokane Indians in the Class A Short Season Northwest League. [1] In 1984, Vosberg advanced to the Reno Padres of the Class A California League, continuing his development in the Padres' minor league system. [1] In 1985, he was promoted to the Beaumont Golden Gators in the Class AA Texas League, where he gained experience at the double-A level. [1] Vosberg reached Triple-A in 1986 with the Las Vegas Stars of the Pacific Coast League, performing well enough to position himself for a major league opportunity. [1] His progression through the minors culminated in his call-up to the San Diego Padres later that season. [1]Major League career
Ed Vosberg made his Major League debut with the San Diego Padres in 1986 as a left-handed relief pitcher. [1] Later in 1986, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs. [1] After time in the minors, Vosberg returned to the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1990 and 1991, serving as a situational left-handed reliever. [1] In 1993, he appeared briefly with the Oakland Athletics. [1] Vosberg then signed with the Texas Rangers, where he pitched from 1995 to 1997 as a reliable bullpen arm. [1] In August 1997, he was traded to the Florida Marlins. [1] He later pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 1999 to 2000, contributing to their bullpen during the franchise's early years. [1] His 2002 season included short stints with the Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins. [1] Overall, Vosberg's Major League tenure spanned from 1986 to 2002 across eight teams, characterized by his consistent role as a left-handed relief specialist frequently acquired and moved via trades, signings, and releases. [1]Notable performances
Ed Vosberg's most prominent MLB highlight occurred during the 1997 postseason as a member of the Florida Marlins, who acquired him from the Texas Rangers in an August trade deadline move. [6] He provided relief pitching in four playoff games overall, contributing to the team's run to a World Series championship. [1] In the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, Vosberg appeared in two games and delivered 2.2 scoreless innings of relief while striking out three batters. [1] He then pitched in two games of the World Series against the Cleveland Indians, totaling 3.0 innings with two strikeouts against three walks and two earned runs allowed. [7] The Marlins defeated the Indians in seven games, earning Vosberg a World Series ring. [2] Vosberg's World Series participation marked him as a player who appeared in a Little League World Series (1976 with Tucson, Arizona), a College World Series (1986 with Arizona), and a Major League World Series, achieving a rare combination across youth, collegiate, and professional levels. [8] This distinction underscored his longevity as a left-handed reliever and journeyman who played for eight different MLB franchises over his career. [1]Career statistics
MLB career statistics
Ed Vosberg appeared in 266 regular season games over ten non-consecutive Major League seasons as a left-handed relief pitcher, compiling a win–loss record of 10–15 and an earned run average of 4.32. [9] [10] He recorded 13 saves and pitched 233.1 innings, allowing 250 hits, 112 earned runs, and 22 home runs while issuing 109 walks and striking out 179 batters. [9] [10] Vosberg made only three starts during his career, meaning nearly all of his appearances (263 games) came in relief. [9] His career WHIP stood at 1.54 with a 108 ERA+, a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.64, and a strikeout rate of 6.9 per nine innings. [9] The following table summarizes his regular season MLB career pitching totals:| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Wins–Losses | 10–15 |
| ERA | 4.32 |
| Games (G) | 266 |
| Games Started (GS) | 3 |
| Saves (SV) | 13 |
| Innings Pitched (IP) | 233.1 |
| Hits (H) | 250 |
| Earned Runs (ER) | 112 |
| Home Runs (HR) | 22 |
| Walks (BB) | 109 |
| Strikeouts (SO) | 179 |
| WHIP | 1.54 |
| ERA+ | 108 |