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Turk Wendell
Steven John "Turk" Wendell (born May 19, 1967) is an American former professional baseball right-handed relief pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for four National League (NL) teams, in all or parts of 11 seasons, between 1993 and 2004. As a batter, Wendell was a switch hitter, with all three of his lifetime hits coming from the left side of the plate.
Wendell was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 5th round (112th overall) of the 1988 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the Pulaski Braves of the Appalachian League in June 1988. Wendell made his first big league appearance on June 17, 1993.
Wendell was a relief pitcher who threw a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a slider, and a change-up. He was regarded as having above-average control, average pitch movement, below-average power, and a good pick-off move.
Wendell was named the most superstitious athlete of all time by Men's Journal.
Wendell attended Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton, Massachusetts and then Quinnipiac University, where he is among the school's all-time leaders in strikeouts (single season) and earned run average. Wendell played his summer baseball during college with the independent Dalton Collegians and in 1987 with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League.
Wendell was traded by the Braves to the Chicago Cubs in 1991, and pitched in their minor league system for two years before making his major league debut in 1993 in a start against the Cardinals. Wendell started three more games in 1993 and appeared as a reliever in three others, finishing the season 1–2 with a 4.37 ERA. The following season, which was cut short by a strike, he had two starts and four relief appearances and finished the year 0–1 with an 11.93 ERA.
After the 1994 season, Wendell moved permanently to the bullpen and began making regular relief appearances for the Cubs. His best year for the Cubs came in 1996, when he appeared in 70 games, recording 18 saves and a 2.84 ERA. Toward the end of the 1997 season, Wendell was traded to the New York Mets, where he spent four and a half seasons. As a Met, Wendell posted a 3.34 ERA and a 22–14 record in 285 appearances. He led the team in games pitched in the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Wendell appeared in the playoffs twice, in 1999 and 2000, and pitched in the 2000 World Series against the Yankees.
In both Chicago and New York, Wendell became well known for his many quirky habits and superstitions, including jumping over the foul lines on his way to and from the mound, brushing his teeth between innings, slamming the rosin bag into the mound before facing batters and chewing black licorice. His unique on-field personality made him popular among both Cubs and Mets fans.
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Turk Wendell
Steven John "Turk" Wendell (born May 19, 1967) is an American former professional baseball right-handed relief pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for four National League (NL) teams, in all or parts of 11 seasons, between 1993 and 2004. As a batter, Wendell was a switch hitter, with all three of his lifetime hits coming from the left side of the plate.
Wendell was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 5th round (112th overall) of the 1988 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the Pulaski Braves of the Appalachian League in June 1988. Wendell made his first big league appearance on June 17, 1993.
Wendell was a relief pitcher who threw a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a slider, and a change-up. He was regarded as having above-average control, average pitch movement, below-average power, and a good pick-off move.
Wendell was named the most superstitious athlete of all time by Men's Journal.
Wendell attended Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton, Massachusetts and then Quinnipiac University, where he is among the school's all-time leaders in strikeouts (single season) and earned run average. Wendell played his summer baseball during college with the independent Dalton Collegians and in 1987 with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League.
Wendell was traded by the Braves to the Chicago Cubs in 1991, and pitched in their minor league system for two years before making his major league debut in 1993 in a start against the Cardinals. Wendell started three more games in 1993 and appeared as a reliever in three others, finishing the season 1–2 with a 4.37 ERA. The following season, which was cut short by a strike, he had two starts and four relief appearances and finished the year 0–1 with an 11.93 ERA.
After the 1994 season, Wendell moved permanently to the bullpen and began making regular relief appearances for the Cubs. His best year for the Cubs came in 1996, when he appeared in 70 games, recording 18 saves and a 2.84 ERA. Toward the end of the 1997 season, Wendell was traded to the New York Mets, where he spent four and a half seasons. As a Met, Wendell posted a 3.34 ERA and a 22–14 record in 285 appearances. He led the team in games pitched in the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Wendell appeared in the playoffs twice, in 1999 and 2000, and pitched in the 2000 World Series against the Yankees.
In both Chicago and New York, Wendell became well known for his many quirky habits and superstitions, including jumping over the foul lines on his way to and from the mound, brushing his teeth between innings, slamming the rosin bag into the mound before facing batters and chewing black licorice. His unique on-field personality made him popular among both Cubs and Mets fans.
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