Jeff Bittiger
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Scott Bittiger (born April 13, 1962) is a former relief pitcher
for the Philadelphia Phillies
, Minnesota Twins
, and Chicago White Sox
of Major League Baseball
. He pitched four seasons in the major leagues, from until . He is currently a player personnel consultant for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
.
and Seton Hall University in the off seasons, and was drafted by the New York Mets
out of high school in the 7th round of the 1980 draft
on June 3.
.
as a starter for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1986. He notably got a home run in his first at bat as a player for the Phillies. He started only three games for the Phillies, and had a 5.70 ERA
in 14 2/3 IP. He played for the Phillies until December 8, 1986, when he was released. He was signed by the Atlanta Braves
just 12 days later on December 20, 1986, but was released by that organization April 4, 1987. On April 15, he signed with the Minnesota Twins.
, first as a starter, then as a middle man. He pitched one inning in the Twins loss to the Kansas City Royals
, giving up two hits and one earned run. The Twins went on to beat the Royals and eventually win the World Series in October 1987. The Twins released him after the season on November 12, 1987, and on January 22, 1988 he was signed by the Chicago White Sox.
for Tracy Woodson
, but he never pitched in the majors again. He continued to pitch in the minor leagues until 1995 before retiring at age 33.
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...
, 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...
, and 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...
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...
. He pitched four seasons in the major leagues, from until . He is currently a player personnel consultant for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks are a professional baseball team based in Fargo, North Dakota, in the United States. The RedHawks are a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
.
Amateur career
Bittiger attended college at Jersey City State UniversityNew Jersey City University
New Jersey City University is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. It is a member of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities....
and Seton Hall University in the off seasons, and was drafted by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
out of high school in the 7th round of the 1980 draft
1980 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft.- Compensation Picks :*William Erickson, was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants, 31st pick overall. *Jeff Horne was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Pirates,...
on June 3.
New York Mets system
Bittiger briefly played third base in the minor leagues before being converted into a full-time pitcher in . Thereafter, he languished in the minor leagues until January 16, 1986 when the Mets traded him to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia 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...
.
Phillies
Bittiger broke into Major League BaseballMajor 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...
as a starter for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1986. He notably got a home run in his first at bat as a player for the Phillies. He started only three games for the Phillies, and had a 5.70 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...
in 14 2/3 IP. He played for the Phillies until December 8, 1986, when he was released. He was signed by the Atlanta 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....
just 12 days later on December 20, 1986, but was released by that organization April 4, 1987. On April 15, he signed with the Minnesota Twins.
Twins
In 1987, Bittiger pitched infrequently for the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota 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...
, first as a starter, then as a middle man. He pitched one inning in the Twins loss 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...
, giving up two hits and one earned run. The Twins went on to beat the Royals and eventually win the World Series in October 1987. The Twins released him after the season on November 12, 1987, and on January 22, 1988 he was signed by the Chicago White Sox.
White Sox
The next year, 1988, Bittiger played for the Chicago White Sox, pitching in a career high 25 games, and starting seven of those. In his seven starts Bittiger went 2-4, and had no decision the other game. His ERA for 1988 was 4.26 in 61 2/3 IP. The next year Bittiger pitched in only two major league games, starting one, which he lost. His ERA for the year was 6.85 in 9 2/3 IP. After the season, Bittiger was traded to the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for Tracy Woodson
Tracy Woodson
Tracy Michael Woodson was a Major League Baseball player from 1987 to 1989 and 1992 to 1993.Over his five-year career he played with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Woodson was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers team that won the 1988 World Series...
, but he never pitched in the majors again. He continued to pitch in the minor leagues until 1995 before retiring at age 33.
External links
- Jeff Bittiger Baseball Stats at Baseball Almanac