Rick Waits

Michael Richard Waits (born May 15, 1952 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former professional baseball pitcher. Waits, who threw left-handed, played all or part of twelve seasons in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers (1973), Cleveland Indians (1975–83), and Milwaukee Brewers (1983–85). Waits currently serves as minor league pitching coordinator for the Seattle Mariners organization.^[1]

Playing career

Waits, a starter in his prime, beat the New York Yankees in the final regular season game of 1978, forcing a one-game playoff between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox for the American League East division title. After the Indians-Yankees game ended, news of the Indians' victory was announced on Fenway Park's video screen (there, the Red Sox had defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5–0 only moments earlier) with the words “THANK YOU, RICK WAITS – GAME TOMORROW.”

Coaching career

In 1987, Rick Waits joined the Rimini Pirates of the Italian Baseball League, leading them to two championships (1987 and 1988) and a European Cup Championship (1989). He led the league in ERA, serving the last two seasons (1988 and 1989) as a player-manager.^[2] He also managed the IBL's Parma Angels.^[1]

Waits later joined the New York Mets organization, with whom he worked for fifteen years in various capacities, including a stint as the team's bullpen coach in 2003.^[1]

Notes

References

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

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