Eric Rasmussen
Encyclopedia
Eric Ralph Rasmussen is a retired professional baseball pitcher
. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors, between and . Eric was born Harold Ralph Rasmussen, but legally changed his name to Eric during the -77 offseason.
in the fourth round of the January 1971 free agent draft
, but opted instead to attend the University of New Orleans
, where he was named first team All-America. The St. Louis Cardinals
then selected him in the 32nd round of the June 1973 free agent draft
.
in just his second full season in 1975. That July, he made his major league debut, and wound up starting 13 games for the Cardinals over the rest of the season. He won five games that season while losing five.
After splitting between the bullpen and starting rotation, Rasmussen had perhaps his best season statistically in . He set career bests in earned run average
(3.48), strikeout
s (120), innings pitched
(233) and complete games (11). Despite his good numbers, Rasmussen lost 17 games against 11 wins for the third-place Cards.
in May for outfielder George Hendrick
. Although most of his other numbers fell off, he set his career high with 14 wins between the two clubs. That wasn't enough to keep Rasmussen in the Padres' rotation, though, as he spend the next two seasons bouncing back and forth between starting and relieving. Following the 1980 season
, Rasmussen was released by the Padres.
. The Cardinals brought him back to the major leagues in September, when he pitched in eight games. Rasmussen opened the season with the Cardinals, but he was used sparingly. After a pair of disastrous outings in May, Rasmussen was sent to the minors. He started four games for the Triple-A Louisville Redbirds, going 2-2 with an ERA of 4.13, before being sold to the Kansas City Royals
.
debut, pitching his first major league shutout since 1979 against the Boston Red Sox
on August 6. He appeared in 11 games in all for the Royals in 1983, including 9 starts, winning 3 games and losing 6. At the end of the season, he was released.
organization, pitching for the Tucson Toros
. In , Rasmussen signed with the independent Miami Marlins and spent most of the season, and part of as well, although he did appear in one game for the Redbirds in 1985. He was picked up by the Baltimore Orioles
partway through 1986, and he spent the next season and a half with their top farm club, the Rochester Red Wings
.
Although he became a coach in 1988, Rasmussen did not stop playing professional baseball, as he went on to pitch for the Fort Myers Sun Sox
for the duration of the two-year run of the Senior Professional Baseball Association
in - before finally retiring.
Rasmussen accepted a pitching coach position in the Cleveland Indians
' minor league system in . In , he jumped over to the Minnesota Twins
' organization, where he has remained ever since. From 1991 through he was the pitching coach for the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Twins
, in and , he coached the Twins' advanced A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle
, in he jumped to the Double A New Britain Rock Cats
, and in , he returned to the Miracle. Following the season, Rasmussen was promoted to Twins Minor League Pitching Coordinator.
The entire 2008 starting rotation for the Twins all pitched for Rasmussen in Fort Myers. Some of the other notable names to have been coached by Rasmussen include Johan Santana
, Matt Garza
, LaTroy Hawkins
and Mark Redman
.
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...
. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors, between and . Eric was born Harold Ralph Rasmussen, but legally changed his name to Eric during the -77 offseason.
Amateur career
Rasmussen was originally selected by the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in the fourth round of the January 1971 free agent draft
1971 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1971 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The June 1971 draft was a productive one, even though none of its top ten choices yielded players who would have memorable major league careers...
, but opted instead to attend the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
, where he was named first team All-America. 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...
then selected him in the 32nd round of the June 1973 free agent draft
1973 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1973 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :Four dominating players of the late 70s and 80s were selected in the June regular phase...
.
St. Louis Cardinals
Rasmussen moved through the Cardinals' organization rapidly, reaching Triple-A with the Tulsa OilersTulsa Oilers (baseball)
The Tulsa Oilers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park, which opened on July 11, 1934, and was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and...
in just his second full season in 1975. That July, he made his major league debut, and wound up starting 13 games for the Cardinals over the rest of the season. He won five games that season while losing five.
After splitting between the bullpen and starting rotation, Rasmussen had perhaps his best season statistically in . He set career bests in 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...
(3.48), 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 (120), 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...
(233) and complete games (11). Despite his good numbers, Rasmussen lost 17 games against 11 wins for the third-place Cards.
San Diego Padres
Rasmussen started with St. Louis, but was traded to the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in May for outfielder George Hendrick
George Hendrick
George Andrew Hendrick Jr. is a former major league outfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels. However Hendrick is best remembered as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom he played for from 1979–84. He was a...
. Although most of his other numbers fell off, he set his career high with 14 wins between the two clubs. That wasn't enough to keep Rasmussen in the Padres' rotation, though, as he spend the next two seasons bouncing back and forth between starting and relieving. Following the 1980 season
1980 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:World Series: Philadelphia Phillies over Kansas City Royals ; Mike Schmidt, MVP*American League Championship Series: Frank White, MVP*National League Championship Series Manny Trillo, MVP...
, Rasmussen was released by the Padres.
Mexican League, and back to St. Louis
That winter, Rasmussen pitched in the Mexican League, and spent all of and part of with the Leones de YucatánLeones de Yucatán
The Leones de Yucatán are a AAA-level baseball team playing in the Mexican League. Their homefield is the Estadio De Béisbol Kukulkán in Mérida, Yucatán.Former Major League Baseball player Oscar Azócar played for Yucatán in 2001....
. The Cardinals brought him back to the major leagues in September, when he pitched in eight games. Rasmussen opened the season with the Cardinals, but he was used sparingly. After a pair of disastrous outings in May, Rasmussen was sent to the minors. He started four games for the Triple-A Louisville Redbirds, going 2-2 with an ERA of 4.13, before being sold to the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
.
Kansas City Royals
Rasmussen made a big splash in his American LeagueAmerican League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
debut, pitching his first major league shutout since 1979 against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
on August 6. He appeared in 11 games in all for the Royals in 1983, including 9 starts, winning 3 games and losing 6. At the end of the season, he was released.
Back in the minors
Rasmussen spent the next several seasons attempting to return to the major leagues. He spent with the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
organization, pitching for the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
. In , Rasmussen signed with the independent Miami Marlins and spent most of the season, and part of as well, although he did appear in one game for the Redbirds in 1985. He was picked up by 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...
partway through 1986, and he spent the next season and a half with their top farm club, the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
.
Although he became a coach in 1988, Rasmussen did not stop playing professional baseball, as he went on to pitch for the Fort Myers Sun Sox
Fort Myers Sun Sox
The Fort Myers Sun Sox were one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. The Sun Sox finished their inaugural season in second place in the Southern Division with a 37-35 record. Their offense was led by the league's top hitter, Tim...
for the duration of the two-year run of the Senior Professional Baseball Association
Senior Professional Baseball Association
The Senior Professional Baseball Association was a winter baseball league based in Florida for players age 35 and over . The league began play in 1989 and had eight teams in two divisions and a 72 game schedule...
in - before finally retiring.
Coaching
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
' minor league system in . In , he jumped over to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
' organization, where he has remained ever since. From 1991 through he was the pitching coach for the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Twins
Gulf Coast League Twins
The Gulf Coast League Twins are the Rookie "A" Level Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Lee County Sports Complex....
, in and , he coached the Twins' advanced A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
, in he jumped to the Double A New Britain Rock Cats
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
, and in , he returned to the Miracle. Following the season, Rasmussen was promoted to Twins Minor League Pitching Coordinator.
The entire 2008 starting rotation for the Twins all pitched for Rasmussen in Fort Myers. Some of the other notable names to have been coached by Rasmussen include Johan Santana
Johan Santana
Johan Alexander Santana Araque is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who is currently playing for the New York Mets. He is a native of Venezuela....
, Matt Garza
Matt Garza
Matthew Scott Garza is a United States professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.-Amateur career:He attended Washington Union High School and Fresno State.-Minnesota Twins:...
, LaTroy Hawkins
LaTroy Hawkins
LaTroy Hawkins is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Through 2011, he was third of all active pitchers in career games pitched.-Minnesota Twins:...
and Mark Redman
Mark Redman
Mark Allen Redman is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher.-Early career:...
.