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Scott Williamson
Scott Williamson
from Wikipedia

Scott Ryan Williamson (born February 17, 1976) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed relief pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1999–2003), Boston Red Sox (2003–2004), Chicago Cubs (2005–2006), San Diego Padres (2006), and Baltimore Orioles (2007).

Key Information

Amateur career

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Williamson attended Friendswood High School in Friendswood, Texas. In his senior year he posted a 0.68 ERA and was named district MVP. In college, Williamson played for first Tulane University and then Oklahoma State University. In 1996, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1] With Oklahoma State, he earned Big 12 first-team honors during the 1996-1997 school year.[2] Williamson entered the draft after the season was over and was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 9th round, 276th pick overall.

Professional career

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Cincinnati Reds

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Cincinnati assigned Williamson their rookie affiliate, the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League. Starting for Billings, Williamson went 8–2 with a 1.78 ERA, the best in the league that year.[3] For 1998, Cincinnati promoted Williamson to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League, bypassing Single-A altogether. In his first start for the Lookouts, Williamson faced Atlanta Braves veteran John Smoltz, down with the Greenville Braves on a rehabilitation assignment. Williamson held his own, giving up two runs in six innings in a 6–5 loss. Mark Berry, Lookouts manager, praised Williamson's performance: "I was highly impressed...I expected him to be more erratic because of Smoltz, the big crowd and the whole situation. It's something he can build on."[4] Williamson would start just eighteen games for the Lookouts that year after battling injuries, but at the end of the season Cincinnati promoted him to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. Cincinnati planned to call Williamson up in September, but he "stretched a tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand" during a game for Indianapolis that ended his season.[5]

Cincinnati invited Williamson to spring training in 1999, where the combination of an impressive performance and injuries to key members of the pitching staff, including Denny Neagle and Stan Belinda, led to Williamson making the major league club despite having made just five appearances at the Triple-A level and never being on the 40-man roster.[6] Williamson made his major league debut in relief on April 5, 1999. In his rookie season with Cincinnati, Williamson went 12–7 with 107 strikeouts, a 2.41 earned run average and 19 saves; he made the All-Star team, and earned Rookie of the Year honors. Williamson was the first Reds player to be so honored since Chris Sabo in 1988.[7]

During the 1999-2000 off-season, Williamson's name came up several times in trade talks with the Seattle Mariners, who were looking to deal Ken Griffey Jr., but in the end Williamson remained with Cincinnati.[8][9] Williamson returned for the 2000 season but was bedeviled by injuries, including two broken toes in mid-September. He made fewer appearances than in 1999 but pitched more innings, due in part to joining the starting rotation after the All-Star break.[10]

After a lackluster spring training, Cincinnati returned Williamson to the bullpen, who would make just two appearances before going on the disabled list with a torn ligament in his shoulder. After consultation with orthopedic surgeon James Andrews, Williamson underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season. Cincinnati general manager Jim Bowden called it "Devastating, just devastating."[11] Williamson returned to the bullpen for the 2002 season and went 3–4 with a 2.92 ERA. For 2003, Williamson took over as closer and saved 21 games in 43 appearances.[12] On July 31, 2003, Cincinnati traded Williamson to the Boston Red Sox for Phil Dumatrait, Tyler Pelland and cash. The move was part of a fire sale instigated by Cincinnati management after Bowden and manager Bob Boone were fired.[13]

Boston Red Sox

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The New York Yankees had also been interested in Williamson; that Boston acquired him from Cincinnati was widely touted as a coup for Boston general manager Theo Epstein.[14][15][16] USA Today sportswriter Hal Bodley placed the Williamson trade in the context of Red Sox-Yankees rivalry:

The Sauerbeck-Williamson deals give the Red Sox and Epstein a measure of revenge. They were stung last winter when the Yankees outbid them in a bitter battle for Cuban pitcher Jose Contreras.[17]

The mid-season arrival of Williamson, along with Scott Sauerbeck, Jeff Suppan and Byung Hyun Kim was expected to boost an already strong Boston team to the 2003 World Series.[16]

Williamson's tenure with Boston was a troubled one: his ERA with the team was 6.20 and he pitched just 20 innings in 24 appearances. In mid-September he underwent an MRI but the result was negative.[18] As Boston entered the playoffs he shared closer duties with Mike Timlin. In the American League Championship series against New York, Williamson earned saves in Games 1, 4 and 6. Nevertheless, manager Grady Little left a tiring Pedro Martínez in the 8th inning of Game 7 with Boston up 5–2. Martinez gave up three runs and New York would eventually win in the 11th inning 6-5. Critics maintain that Little should have pulled Martinez in favor of Williamson or Timlin, but that their mixed record during the regular season led Little to stay with the veteran Martinez.[19][20][21]

Williamson returned to Boston in 2004 as a middle reliever and got off to a strong start (1.69 ERA in 14 appearances) before elbow tendinitis placed him on the disabled list again in late May.[22] Williamson returned in mid-June, but never felt completely healthy and went back on the DL at the beginning of July with a nerve impingement in his right forearm.[23] The return to the DL was not without controversy: Williamson, feeling pain in a game against the Yankees (which the Red Sox would go on to lose), took himself out of the game. What happened next is a matter of dispute. Contemporary media accounts claim that Boston veteran starting pitcher Curt Schilling confronted Williamson and "questioned [Williamson's] manhood." Schilling would later downplay the incident, acknowledging that he and Williamson "had words" but that Schilling never doubted that Williamson was injured. Williamson indicated that he and Schilling never patched things up and said that "Unfortunately, it happened. He's got his opinion, but it wasn't right."[24][25][26]

In August Boston placed Williamson on the 60-day disabled list as word spread that he might undergo a second Tommy John surgery, which would end the 2004 season and likely preclude any activity in 2005 as well.[27] Defying predictions, Williamson returned in September and finished the season with a 1.26 ERA in 28 appearances. However, he was left off the post-season roster and underwent surgery as Boston won the 2004 World Series.[28] Williamson filed for free agency at the end of the season, and departed the organization after Boston declined to offer arbitration.[29]

Chicago Cubs

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At the start of 2005 the Chicago Cubs signed Williamson to a minor league contract and added him to their 40-man roster, but he almost immediately went on the 60-day disabled list: in the end Williamson had undergone the second Tommy John surgery and was not yet recovered.[30] Williamson returned to the team in August but struggled with his velocity. Sportswriters wondered at the wisdom of coming back in less than 12 months without the benefit of spring training. Williamson himself said that he was "trying to find my rhythm and it's hard to do that at the big-league level."[31] Williamson eventually appeared in 17 games; his ERA, 8.68 in the beginning of September, dropped to 5.65 by the end of the season.[32] Showing its confidence in Williamson, Chicago exercised its option to bring him back for another season.[33]

Williamson made the 2006 team as a middle reliever, losing the closer's job to Ryan Dempster. Williamson had expressed a willingness to be traded if it meant taking over the closer's job for the new team.[34][35] In early June, after making 23 appearances with an ERA over 4, Williamson went back on the disabled list with tendinitis.[36] Williamson returned at the end of June and pitched in eight more games, but on July 22 Chicago traded him to the San Diego Padres for minor League pitchers Fabian Angulo and Joel Santo.[37]

San Diego Padres

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Williamson joined a San Diego team in first place in the National League West division, a prospect which cheered him: "Going from second-to-last to first place, that's always exciting."[38] In an interview with the Galveston County Daily News, Williamson also expressed disappointment at the way Chicago manager Dusty Baker had used him and revealed that he had considered retiring altogether. Now with San Diego, Williamson said that he was "having a lot of fun here, and I'm back to being myself, laughing and joking."[39] Just days after that interview was published, Williamson made his last appearance for San Diego: an MRI revealed a bone chip in his elbow. Williamson returned to the DL and sat out the rest of the season.[40] San Diego released Williamson on October 12.[41]

Baltimore Orioles

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In late November 2006 the Baltimore Orioles signed Williamson to a one-year contract.[42] After six appearances and an ERA of 1.60, Williamson went on the disabled list with tightness in his right triceps tendon.[43] Williamson returned in June and appeared in ten more games, but lingering questions about his health and a desire on the part of Baltimore's management to promote younger players led to him being designated for assignment on July 4. In sixteen games Williamson was 1–0 with a 4.40 ERA.[44] Williamson cleared waivers and was released.

Around the minors

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The New York Yankees signed Williamson to a minor league contract on July 22. He was released on August 5 after going 0–1 with a 9.82 ERA in 4 games with the Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees.[45] In early February 2008, Williamson signed a one-year minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.[46] He would have made $700,000 if he had made the Giants major league roster.[46] After posting a 13.50 ERA with the Giants in spring training, Williamson was released on March 5, 2008. Williamson was signed to a minor league contract by the Atlanta Braves in April. They released him in early June.[47]

On June 15, 2008, the Seattle Mariners signed him to a minor league contract. After joining the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers and his third organization that year, Williamson remarked that "This year has been kind of a crazy year for me...It's kind of frustrating, but it feels good to go out and compete."[48] but he was released in late June after just three appearances.

On January 24, 2009, Williamson signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers, who were looking for middle relievers after a disappointing 2008 season. In the end Williamson lost out to newcomer Ryan Perry and was sent down to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. Detroit manager Jim Leyland praised Williamson's experience: "I think Scott Williamson has an excellent chance...You're talking about a pretty big-time Major League pitcher at one time."[49] Once in Toledo, however, Williamson had difficulties making a consistent outing and his ERA climbed steadily. On April 26, 2009, Toledo released Williamson to make room for Eddie Bonine, ending Williamson's comeback attempt within the Detroit Tigers organization.[50]

On August 2, 2010, Scott Williamson agreed to pitch for the Somerset Patriots.[51]

Coaching career

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Scott Williamson currently is a private pitching instructor.

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Scott Williamson (born February 17, 1976) is an American former who played in (MLB) for seven seasons from 1999 to 2007. He is best known for his standout rookie year with the in 1999, when he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award after posting a 12-7 record with a 2.41 ERA and 19 saves, earning him an selection as well. Williamson also contributed to the Boston Red Sox's championship team. Born in Fort Polk, , Williamson was adopted at age four by Ray and Ann Williamson, a and , respectively, and later moved to at age 14. At Friendswood High School, he excelled as a pitcher, finishing his senior year in 1994 with a 12-4 record and a 0.66 ERA, earning recognition as the Galveston Daily News' All-County Baseball Player of the Year. After attending , where he played college baseball, Williamson was selected by the in the ninth round of the 1997 MLB Draft (278th overall). Williamson's MLB career began promisingly with the Reds, where he transitioned from starter to closer, helping the team contend in the late . Over his rookie season, he struck out 107 batters in 93.1 while limiting opponents to a .229 . Injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2001, interrupted his momentum, leading to stints in the minors, but after struggling in regular season appearances with the Red Sox, he excelled in the ALCS with three saves; in 2004, he posted a 1.26 in 28 relief appearances before injury sidelined him for the postseason. He finished his MLB tenure with the Chicago Cubs (2005–2006), Padres (2006), and Orioles (2007), accumulating career totals of 28 wins, 28 losses, a 3.47 , 510 strikeouts, and 55 saves over 451.2 in 344 games. After leaving MLB, Williamson pitched in the and independent leagues until 2011, including a stint with the of the Atlantic League. In his personal life, he married Lisa in 2000, and they have a son, Scott Reese, born in 2003. To support youth , Williamson auctioned his ring in 2011 for $89,000, using the proceeds to fund a facility for the Cincinnati-based youth team he coached. As of 2023, he continues to participate in Reds alumni events and coaches 15-and-under teams in the area.

Early life and amateur career

Early life and high school

Scott Williamson was born on February 17, 1976, in Fort Polk, . He was adopted at the age of four by Ray Williamson, a , and Ann Williamson, a ; Williamson has expressed loyalty to his adoptive parents and declined to search for his biological ones. During his early childhood, Williamson's father coached him in various sports, fostering his athletic development. By age 10, he was throwing 70 miles per hour and competing in a league for 12-year-olds. At age 14, his family relocated from to , where he attended Friendswood High School in Friendswood. At Friendswood, Williamson emerged as a standout . As a junior, he earned first-team all-district honors. In his senior year of 1994, he compiled a 12-4 record with a 0.66 ERA, leading the Mustangs to the Class 4A regional finals and setting a school record with 138 strikeouts in 84 innings; for his performance, he was named the Galveston Daily News All-County Baseball Player of the Year. These achievements earned him a to play at .

College career and draft

Williamson began his collegiate baseball career at , where he pitched during the 1995 and 1996 seasons before transferring to prior to his junior year. In 1995 at Tulane, he recorded a 3-3 record with a 5.54 in 14 appearances (8 starts). In 1996, he improved to 5-2 with a 4.31 in 19 appearances (8 starts). At Oklahoma State in 1997, Williamson compiled a 7-3 record with a 5.74 and 91 strikeouts over 18 appearances, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors as a . During the summer of 1996, he gained exposure playing for the Chatham A's of the . Williamson declared for the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft following his junior season and was selected by the in the ninth round, 278th overall.

Major League Baseball career

Cincinnati Reds

Scott Williamson made his Major League Baseball debut with the on April 5, 1999, after earning a spot on the Opening Day roster as a non-roster invitee during spring training. In his season, Williamson emerged as a key member of the Reds' bullpen, posting a 12-7 record with a 2.41 () over 93.1 innings pitched in 62 appearances, along with 19 saves and 107 strikeouts. His performance earned him the National League Rookie of the Year award, as well as selection to the 1999 . From 1999 to 2003, Williamson served primarily as the Reds' closer and setup reliever, appearing in 217 games and accumulating 54 saves while limiting opponents to a 2.93 across 380 strikeouts in 354.1 . His consistent effectiveness in high-leverage situations solidified his role as a of the during this period. On July 30, 2003, the Reds traded Williamson to the Red Sox in exchange for minor league pitcher Phil Dumatrait, a , and cash considerations.

Boston Red Sox

On July 30, 2003, the Red Sox acquired Scott Williamson from the in exchange for minor league pitcher Phil Dumatrait, outfield prospect Tyler Pelland, and cash considerations, bolstering their ahead of a tight AL East race. Williamson, who had earned NL Rookie of the Year honors in 1999 with a 2.41 and 54 saves for the Reds, immediately slotted into a high-leverage relief role for . In 24 regular-season appearances with the Red Sox that year, Williamson posted a 0-1 record with a 6.20 ERA over 20.1 innings, allowing 20 hits and nine walks while striking out 21. Despite the modest output, he excelled in the postseason, securing saves in Games 1, 4, and 6 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees. In Game 1, he pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve a 4-3 victory; in Game 4, he struck out Alfonso Soriano for the final out in a 3-2 win; and in Game 6, he retired the Yankees in order for his third save, forcing a decisive Game 7. Williamson returned from injury in 2004 on a one-year, $1.4 million , delivering a strong 0-1 record with a 1.26 in 28 appearances across 28.2 innings, including 11 hits allowed, 18 walks, and 28 strikeouts. His performance helped stabilize the Red Sox bullpen during their historic comeback season, culminating in a World Series championship. Following the 2004 campaign, Williamson became a and departed .

Chicago Cubs

Following his release from the Boston Red Sox after the 2004 season, Scott Williamson signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs on January 22, 2005, which included an invitation to and a major league minimum salary of approximately $317,000 if promoted. The deal positioned him as a potential asset, leveraging his experience as a and closer from earlier in his career. Williamson's 2005 season with the Cubs was severely limited by ongoing recovery from his second Tommy John surgery, performed in late 2004. He made just 17 appearances, posting a 5.65 over 14.1 with 23 strikeouts and no decisions. The surgery's immediate aftermath hampered his velocity and command, restricting him to short outings and contributing to the Cubs' strained relief corps during a disappointing 79-83 season. The Cubs exercised Williamson's $2 million club option for 2006, hoping for a rebound in the where he served primarily as a middle reliever. However, he struggled with control issues, recording a 5.08 in 31 appearances across 28.1 innings, going 2-3 with 32 strikeouts before being . On July 22, 2006, the Cubs traded him to the Padres in exchange for pitchers Fabian Jimenez Angulo and Joel Santo. Over his two seasons with , Williamson appeared in 48 games exclusively in relief, compiling a 2-3 record, 5.39 , and 55 strikeouts in 43 innings, underscoring a period of diminished effectiveness compared to his peak years.

San Diego Padres

On July 22, 2006, the Padres acquired right-handed reliever Scott Williamson from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor league pitchers Fabian Jimenez and Joel Santo. Williamson made 11 relief appearances for the Padres in the latter half of the 2006 season, attempting to bolster the team's amid their contention. However, ongoing arm issues limited his effectiveness; on August 26, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right , which sidelined him for the remainder of the year. In those outings, Williamson posted a 0-1 record with a 7.36 over 11 , allowing 14 hits, nine earned runs, two home runs, and six walks while striking out 10. The Padres released him on October 12, 2006, as part of roster moves following the end of the regular season.

Baltimore Orioles

Following his release by the San Diego at the end of the 2006 season, Williamson signed a one-year, $900,000 major league contract with the on November 30, 2006. The deal included an invitation to , where he competed for a spot in the . Williamson began the 2007 season as a reliever for , posting a 1.60 over his first six appearances before injury. However, his role became limited due to ongoing recovery from injuries, including tightness in his right triceps and a bruised foot, which hampered his availability and effectiveness. In total, he appeared in 16 games that year, recording a 1-0 mark with a 4.40 and 16 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched. The Orioles designated Williamson for assignment on July 4, 2007, and released him on July 12 after he cleared waivers, marking the end of his major league tenure. Over his eight-year MLB career, Williamson finished with a 28-28 record, 3.36 ERA, 55 saves, and 510 strikeouts in 439.1 innings across 344 games.

Injuries and minor league career

Major injuries

Scott Williamson's first major injury occurred early in the 2001 season with the , when he tore a in his throwing after just two appearances, necessitating surgery and causing him to miss the entire year. Following a partial return in 2002, Williamson experienced ongoing issues, including tendinitis that sidelined him for three weeks during the 2003 season with the Boston Red Sox. In 2004, while with the Red Sox, he initially posted a strong 1.69 ERA in 14 appearances before tendinitis forced him onto the disabled list in mid-May, followed by a diagnosis of radial impingement in his right after a June 30 game, leading to multiple stints on the disabled list and exclusion from the postseason roster. These complications culminated in a second surgery on his right in late October 2004, performed by Dr. James Andrews. After the second surgery, Williamson signed with the Chicago Cubs for the 2005 season but struggled upon his return in August, recording a 5.65 ERA in 17 appearances with noticeably diminished effectiveness. His performance continued to decline in 2006 with the Cubs and a brief stint with the San Diego Padres, where he posted a 5.08 ERA overall, reflecting reduced velocity and command that limited his strikeout rate. In 2007, while with the Baltimore Orioles, additional setbacks including triceps tightness and a foot bruise hampered his availability, resulting in his release on July 12 after just 11 appearances and effectively ending his Major League Baseball career. The cumulative toll of these elbow injuries and surgeries profoundly impacted Williamson's career, forcing him to miss full seasons like 2001 and significant portions of 2004, while shifting his role from a dominant closer—where he had earned National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1999—to a middle reliever with inconsistent results. The persistent issues from 2003 to 2007 eroded his velocity from the mid-90s mph range to the low 90s, contributing to higher ERAs and fewer high-leverage opportunities. Ultimately, these injuries shortened his MLB tenure, leading to his retirement from after the 2011 season following unsuccessful minor league comebacks.

Post-MLB minor league play

Following his release by the Baltimore Orioles on July 12, 2007, Williamson signed a contract with the New York Yankees organization on July 22, 2007. He made four appearances for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, posting a 9.82 over 3.2 with seven strikeouts, before being released on August 6, 2007. In early February 2008, Williamson agreed to a one-year contract with the Giants, which included an invitation to major league and a potential $700,000 salary if added to the active roster. The Giants released him on March 5, 2008, without any appearances. Later that month, on April 22, he signed a deal with the and was assigned to Triple-A Richmond, where he appeared in 15 games, recording a 6.61 in 16.1 innings with 19 strikeouts. The Braves released him in early June 2008. On June 15, Williamson joined the Seattle Mariners on another contract, pitching in three games for Triple-A Tacoma with a 3.00 over 3.0 innings before his release on June 26. On January 24, 2009, Williamson signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers as they sought bullpen depth. He spent part of the season with Triple-A Toledo, making five relief appearances for an 11.81 ERA over 4.2 innings. After his release by the Tigers, he appeared in one game for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins, posting an 81.00 ERA. Later in 2009, he pitched for the independent of the Atlantic League, appearing in 16 games with a 2.30 ERA. Seeking to continue playing, Williamson joined the independent Atlantic League's on August 2, 2010. In 15 relief appearances, he achieved moderate success as a closer, earning 11 saves with a 3.94 over 16 innings and 21 strikeouts, though his overall velocity and command remained diminished from his MLB prime. In 2011, he returned to the for 11 appearances, recording a 14.46 and 2 saves before retiring at the end of the season.

Post-playing life

Coaching career

After retiring from professional baseball, Scott Williamson transitioned into coaching and instructional roles, drawing on his experience as a Major League to mentor young athletes. In the early , Williamson established an indoor/outdoor academy in , near the border, using proceeds from the sale of his ring to fund year-round training facilities equipped with an inflatable dome. He also coached youth travel teams during this period, including serving as pitching coach for the 14U and 15U Tribe squads around 2012–2014, where he emphasized mechanics and development for amateur pitchers. As of 2025, Williamson operates as a private pitching instructor based in Cleves, , focusing on and pitchers through individualized sessions that incorporate lessons from his own career overcoming injuries and refining velocity. He holds no formal coaching positions with professional or collegiate teams but leads the Hornets 17U travel team as , guiding high school-age players in tournaments and skill-building. Williamson continues to contribute to community baseball through occasional clinics and mentorships, such as instructional sessions at the Hall of Fame and Museum, where he provides hands-on guidance to aspiring players. He participated in Reds alumni events, including ceremonies, as recently as 2023.

Personal life

He is married to his wife, Lisa, a former gymnast. The couple has two children: a son, Scott Reese (born July 25, 2003), and a daughter, Cambrie (born March 1, 2005). During his MLB career, Williamson and his family resided in Guilford, , during the off-season. In the years following his retirement, they moved to the Cleves, area near the border, where he established a year-round indoor-outdoor academy to support youth training. The Williamson family encountered significant health challenges around the birth of their son in 2003, when Lisa suffered severe postpartum hemorrhaging that required four hospitalizations and elevated her risk of due to high . Shortly after, Scott Reese developed a high fever and , leading to a diagnosis of suspected that necessitated a spinal tap and intravenous treatment. As of 2023, Williamson maintains a low public profile, prioritizing time with his family while offering private instruction at his academy, with no major endeavors outside of baseball-related activities.

References

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