Al Neiger
Encyclopedia
Alvin Edward Neiger is a retired American
professional baseball
player. He was a left-handed
pitcher
who played for five seasons as a professional — including six games as a relief pitcher
for the Philadelphia Phillies
of Major League Baseball
— after a stellar career at the University of Delaware
. Neiger stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88.5 kg) as an active player.
Neiger's six MLB games played were divided evenly with two appearances in each of the months of July, August and September 1960
. In his debut, he was unscored upon in 1⅓ innings against the St. Louis Cardinals
, giving up only one hit
, a single
, to St. Louis pitcher Larry Jackson
. Three rough outings followed, two against the Cardinals and one against the eventual National League
and 1960 world champion
Pittsburgh Pirates
, in which Neiger gave up 13 hits and eight earned runs in 8⅓ innings. Neiger was then unscored upon in his last two outings, in September, against the Milwaukee Braves
and Cincinnati Reds
. All told, he allowed eight earned runs, 16 hits, and four bases on balls in 12⅔ MLB innings, with three strike out
s.
In minor league baseball
, Neiger was more successful, winning 43 of 75 decisions
in 126 games.
But at the University of Delaware, he was a standout. Neiger was selected a first-team All-America
in 1959, when he stuck out 166 batters in 103 innings pitched
, racked up 55 consecutive scoreless innings, and posted a 0.88 earned run average
and a 9–3 record. He still holds the school record for strikeouts, earned run average, and consecutive scoreless innings pitched. A mechanical engineering
major, he retired after the 1963 season and entered private business in the Wilmington area. Neiger is a member of both the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame and the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He was a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played for five seasons as a professional — including six games as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
— after a stellar career at the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
. Neiger stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88.5 kg) as an active player.
Neiger's six MLB games played were divided evenly with two appearances in each of the months of July, August and September 1960
1960 Philadelphia Phillies season
The 1960 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 78th in franchise history. The team finished in eighth place in the National League with a record of 59-95, 36 games behind the NL and World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.- Offseason :...
. In his debut, he was unscored upon in 1⅓ innings against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, giving up only one hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
, to St. Louis pitcher Larry Jackson
Larry Jackson
Lawrence Curtis Jackson was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies from 1955 to 1968...
. Three rough outings followed, two against the Cardinals and one against the eventual National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
and 1960 world champion
1960 World Series
The 1960 World Series was played between the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League and the New York Yankees of the American League from October 5 to October 13, 1960...
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, in which Neiger gave up 13 hits and eight earned runs in 8⅓ innings. Neiger was then unscored upon in his last two outings, in September, against the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. All told, he allowed eight earned runs, 16 hits, and four bases on balls in 12⅔ MLB innings, with three strike out
Strike Out
Strike Out, , North American Harness racing championStrike Out was born in 1969 at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and is by Bret Hanover out of the mare Golden Miss....
s.
In minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, Neiger was more successful, winning 43 of 75 decisions
Decision (baseball)
A decision is a statistical credit given to a baseball pitcher.There are two types of decisions: win and loss.In order to receive a win, the starting pitcher must complete at least five innings and leave with the lead. If the pitcher's lead is preserved by the bullpen, he is credited with a win...
in 126 games.
But at the University of Delaware, he was a standout. Neiger was selected a first-team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
in 1959, when he stuck out 166 batters in 103 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, racked up 55 consecutive scoreless innings, and posted a 0.88 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and a 9–3 record. He still holds the school record for strikeouts, earned run average, and consecutive scoreless innings pitched. A mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
major, he retired after the 1963 season and entered private business in the Wilmington area. Neiger is a member of both the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame and the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is a membership-based organization founded in 1976. The organization runs a museum with exhibits at Daniel S...
.