John Denny
Encyclopedia
John Allen Denny is a former right-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher from 1974 to 1986 for the St. Louis Cardinals
, Cleveland Indians
, Philadelphia Phillies
, and Cincinnati Reds
. He won the Cy Young Award
in 1983.
. He excelled at sports there, playing football and basketball as well as baseball. In the 1970 amateur draft
, he was selected by the Cardinals in the 29th round. He made his professional debut that year at the age of 17. Denny pitched for the Class AAA Tulsa Oilers
in 1974 and went 9-8 with a 3.75 earned run average
. He made his major league debut in September.
The next season, Denny started back in Tulsa but he pitched well and soon entered the St. Louis starting rotation. In 1976, Denny had a breakout season. He led the National League
in ERA at 2.52 and was the best pitcher on the club. Due to poor run support, his record was just 11-9.
Denny also pitched well in 1978, going 14-11 with a 2.96 ERA, but he fell off badly in 1979 and was traded to Cleveland. He continued his inconsistent pitching with the Indians, going 24-23 for them in three seasons. He pitched three straight shutouts
late in 1981 and was rewarded with a three-year, $2 million contract after the season. Nine months later, he was traded to the Phillies.
In 1983, Denny enjoyed the best season of his career, going 19-6 with a 2.37 ERA. He topped the NL in wins and winning percentage and was second in ERA. He also led the Phillies to the NL championship. In that year's Cy Young Award voting, he received 20 of 24 first-place votes to win going away.
Denny suffered arm problems late in his career. After 1983, he spent two more years in Philadelphia before being traded once again, to Cincinnati. He went 11-10 in 1986 and then retired from baseball.
Denny was later a pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
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...
pitcher from 1974 to 1986 for 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...
, Cleveland Indians
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...
, 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...
, 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....
. He won the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
in 1983.
Career
Denny was born in Prescott, Arizona and attended Prescott High SchoolPrescott High School (Arizona)
Prescott High School is a public high school located in Yavapai County, Arizona, serving the Prescott Unified School District. Historically, Prescott High School drew students from various adjacent School Districts, mostly in Prescott Valley , and Chino Valley, Arizona , via bussing...
. He excelled at sports there, playing football and basketball as well as baseball. In the 1970 amateur draft
1970 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The regular and secondary phases of the January draft proved more fruitful to major league clubs than the June draft...
, he was selected by the Cardinals in the 29th round. He made his professional debut that year at the age of 17. Denny pitched for the Class AAA Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa 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 1974 and went 9-8 with a 3.75 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...
. He made his major league debut in September.
The next season, Denny started back in Tulsa but he pitched well and soon entered the St. Louis starting rotation. In 1976, Denny had a breakout season. He led the 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...
in ERA at 2.52 and was the best pitcher on the club. Due to poor run support, his record was just 11-9.
Denny also pitched well in 1978, going 14-11 with a 2.96 ERA, but he fell off badly in 1979 and was traded to Cleveland. He continued his inconsistent pitching with the Indians, going 24-23 for them in three seasons. He pitched three straight shutouts
Shutout (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the act by which a single pitcher pitches a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a run...
late in 1981 and was rewarded with a three-year, $2 million contract after the season. Nine months later, he was traded to the Phillies.
In 1983, Denny enjoyed the best season of his career, going 19-6 with a 2.37 ERA. He topped the NL in wins and winning percentage and was second in ERA. He also led the Phillies to the NL championship. In that year's Cy Young Award voting, he received 20 of 24 first-place votes to win going away.
Denny suffered arm problems late in his career. After 1983, he spent two more years in Philadelphia before being traded once again, to Cincinnati. He went 11-10 in 1986 and then retired from baseball.
Denny was later a pitching coach for 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...
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
External links
- John Denny at Retrosheet
- John Denny at Baseball Library