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Greg Minton
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Gregory Brian Minton (born July 29, 1951), nicknamed "Moon Man", is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed pitcher who played for the California Angels and San Francisco Giants. Minton had a 16-year major league career, from 1975 to 1990, and was a member of the 1982 National League All-Star Team.
Key Information
Career
[edit]A crippling injury in 1979 caused Minton to alter his delivery. Instead of using his high leg kick, Minton shortened his stride to take pressure off his knee. The new delivery gave Minton a 92-mph sinker that batters were unable to drive.[1] Minton went three full seasons (2691⁄3 innings) without allowing a home run until John Stearns homered against him on May 2, 1982. As of 2025[update], this is the longest such streak in the period for which game-by-game data is available (since 1904).[2] Also in 1982, Minton appeared in his only All-Star Game and finished sixth in National League Cy Young Award voting. On August 14, 1986, Minton gave up the last of Pete Rose's MLB record 4,256 career hits.
In 1989, Minton made 62 appearances in relief. He earned eight saves and a 2.20 earned run average (ERA). Over portions of 1988 and 1989, he pitched another 105+2⁄3 consecutive innings without giving up a home run, which was the longest stretch of this type by any pitcher in Angels history. He signed a one-year extension for 1990 worth $850,000.[3] He spent much of the 1990 season on the disabled list with elbow problems, and he pitched only 15+1⁄3 innings before announcing his retirement that October.[4]
After his career as a player, Minton was a pitching coach in the California Angels organization and managed the independent Lubbock Crickets for two years.
Personal
[edit]Minton's nickname, "Moon Man," stemmed from various escapades such as the hijacking of the team bus and the flooding of a minor league ballpark so he could leave Amarillo one day early at the end of the season.
Minton is married to Kari Jill Granville, a Phoenix attorney and former USA Archery team member.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Fimrite, Ron (June 8, 1981). "Hitters don't gopher Greg". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- ^ "Pitching Streak Finder". Stathead.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ Elliott, Helene (February 22, 1990). "Angels' Minton accepts $850,000 deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- ^ Penner, Mike (October 7, 1990). "Moon Man blasts off to retirement". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from Baseball Reference · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
Greg Minton
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Early Life
Birth and Background
Gregory Brian Minton was born on July 29, 1951, in Lubbock, Texas.[3][4] He grew up and attended Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California, before continuing his education at San Diego Mesa College in San Diego.[3] Minton stands 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall and weighs 180 pounds (81 kg); he bats from both sides and throws right-handed.[3] He is known by the nicknames Moon-man and Moonie.[3][4]Baseball Career
Entry into Professional Baseball
Gregory Brian Minton entered professional baseball after being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the third round of the 1970 Major League Baseball January Draft-Regular Phase from San Diego Mesa College.[3][4] He began his minor league career in the Royals organization, pitching in the Pioneer League at Billings in 1970 before advancing to Class A ball with Waterloo in 1971 and San Jose in 1972.[5] On April 2, 1973, Minton was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for catcher Fran Healy.[3] In the Giants system, he progressed through the minors with assignments at the Class A and Double-A levels in 1973 and 1974, followed by a standout Triple-A season with Phoenix in the Pacific Coast League in 1975.[5] Minton made his Major League Baseball debut on September 7, 1975, with the San Francisco Giants against the Cincinnati Reds, appearing as a relief pitcher in his first big-league game.[3][4] He pitched in four games for the Giants that season, serving initially in both relief and starting roles.[3]San Francisco Giants Tenure
Greg Minton spent 13 seasons with the San Francisco Giants from 1975 to 1987, primarily serving as a relief pitcher and establishing himself as one of the most effective relievers in franchise history. [3] He appeared in 552 games (with only 7 starts), compiled a 45–52 win–loss record, recorded 125 saves, and posted a 3.23 ERA across 870.1 innings pitched. [3] His durability and high-leverage performance were evident in league-leading marks, including topping the National League in games finished with 66 in 1982 and 52 in 1983, as well as leading the league in games pitched with 78 in 1982. [3] Minton's peak performance came during the early 1980s, highlighted by his 1982 season in which he went 10–4 with a 1.83 ERA and 30 saves (a then-franchise record), earning selection to the All-Star team. [6] He also set a major league record by pitching 269⅓ consecutive innings without allowing a home run from September 6, 1978, to May 2, 1982. [6] At the time of his departure, Minton's 125 saves ranked second in Giants franchise history. [6] His tenure with the Giants concluded in 1987 when he was released after a partial season. [3]California Angels Tenure
Greg Minton joined the California Angels in 1987, signing as a free agent on June 1 shortly after his release from the San Francisco Giants. [7] [8] He integrated into the bullpen as a relief pitcher, initially sharing closing duties before settling into a setup and middle relief role, and finished the partial season with a 5-4 record, 3.08 ERA, 10 saves, and 76 innings across 41 appearances. [7] [8] Following free agency at the end of 1987, Minton re-signed with the Angels and remained a consistent bullpen contributor through the late 1980s. [8] In 1988, he appeared in 44 games with a 4-5 record, 2.85 ERA, and 7 saves over 79 innings. [8] His 1989 campaign marked his most active and effective period with the team, logging a career-high 90 innings in 62 games with a 4-3 record, 2.20 ERA, and 8 saves. [9] [8] Minton's playing time declined sharply in 1990 amid his age of 39, resulting in only 11 appearances, a 1-1 record, 2.35 ERA, and 15.1 innings pitched. [8] He made his final major league appearance on September 29, 1990, before retiring at the conclusion of the season after four years and 158 games with the Angels, where he compiled a 14-13 record, 2.66 ERA, and 25 saves primarily in relief roles. [3]Career Statistics and Records
Greg Minton had a 16-year Major League Baseball career as a relief pitcher from 1975 to 1990, appearing in 710 games (with only 7 starts) primarily for the San Francisco Giants and California Angels. His career totals include 59 wins, 65 losses, a 3.10 earned run average (ERA), and 150 saves over 1,130.2 innings pitched. Minton struck out 479 batters while walking 483, resulting in a WHIP of 1.384 and an ERA+ of 118 (indicating performance 18% better than league average when adjusted for ballpark and era). His career WAR stood at 17.4.[3] Greg Minton's MLB career pitching statistics are summarized below:[3]| Statistic | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Games Pitched | 710 |
| Games Started | 7 |
| Wins | 59 |
| Losses | 65 |
| Winning Percentage | .476 |
| ERA | 3.10 |
| Saves | 150 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,130.2 |
| Strikeouts | 479 |
| WHIP | 1.384 |
| ERA+ | 118 |