Buddy Groom
Encyclopedia
Wedsel Gary "Buddy" Groom Jr. (born July 10, 1965 in Dallas, Texas
) is a former Major League Baseball
left-handed
middle relief pitcher
. He attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox
in the amateur draft.
He played in the minor leagues, and he eventually signed with the Detroit Tigers
in . He moved up through the minors and broke into the majors as a spot starter for the Tigers in . He lost all of his 5 decisions, and he did not win
a decision until , his first year as a bonafide reliever.
In 1995, he was traded to the Florida Marlins
for Mike Myers
, where he finished the year. The next year, he signed with the Oakland Athletics
, where he played until . He signed with the Baltimore Orioles
and played there through the season. In , he signed with the New York Yankees
. On July 30, 2005, Groom was designated for assignment. During his exit from the Yankees, the New York Post
reported that Groom said that he wasn't one of "Joe's boys", and claimed he was used as a "mop up guy". Groom was referring to Yankees manager Joe Torre
. On July 31, Groom was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks
. After the 2005 season, Groom became a free agent
.
Groom had a career 31-32 record, a 4.64 ERA
, and 27 career saves. He started
15 games and recorded 494 strikeout
s. He led the league in appearances in 1999 with 76, and is 35th on the all-time list of appearances with 786. He holds the major league record for most games pitched without recording a plate appearance.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
) is a former 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...
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...
middle relief pitcher
Middle relief pitcher
In baseball, middle relief pitchers are relief pitchers who commonly pitch in the 6th or 7th innings or in situations where several innings worth of work is required . In the National League, a middle reliever often comes in after the starting pitcher has been pulled for a pinch hitter...
. He attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
The University of Mary Hardin–Baylor, generally referred to as UMHB, is a Christian co-educational liberal arts institution of higher learning located in Belton, Texas, United States. Founded by the Republic of Texas in 1845 as "Baylor Female College," it has grown to approximately 2,700 students...
and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the amateur draft.
He played in the minor leagues, and he eventually signed with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in . He moved up through the minors and broke into the majors as a spot starter for the Tigers in . He lost all of his 5 decisions, and he did not win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
a decision until , his first year as a bonafide reliever.
In 1995, he was traded to the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
for Mike Myers
Mike Myers (baseball player)
Michael Stanley Myers is a former left-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher.-High school and college:...
, where he finished the year. The next year, he signed with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, where he played until . He signed with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and played there through the season. In , he signed with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. On July 30, 2005, Groom was designated for assignment. During his exit from the Yankees, the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
reported that Groom said that he wasn't one of "Joe's boys", and claimed he was used as a "mop up guy". Groom was referring to Yankees manager Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
. On July 31, Groom was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. After the 2005 season, Groom became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
Groom had a career 31-32 record, a 4.64 ERA
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 27 career saves. He started
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
15 games and recorded 494 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s. He led the league in appearances in 1999 with 76, and is 35th on the all-time list of appearances with 786. He holds the major league record for most games pitched without recording a plate appearance.