Mike Loynd
Encyclopedia
Michael Loynd was a Major League Baseball
pitcher with the Texas Rangers
.
and made the jump from college to the big leagues in less than two months. At Florida State he had tied an NCAA record by winning 20 games during the '86 season and was largely responsible for their trip to the College World Series
. He was the 1986 Golden Spikes Award
winner as the best college baseball player in the nation. After an initial flurry of success in the Majors his career flamed out and he was demoted to the minor leagues. He had a career total of 3 wins, 7 losses, an ERA
of 5.82 with 81 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings pitched.
in 1973, Loynd was expected to contribute immediately upon being called to the Majors. The Rangers were involved in a close pennant race and manager Bobby Valentine
was strapped for pitching. Loynd won his first start in front of 34,256 fans with a 6-3 win over future Hall of Famer Phil Niekro
and the Cleveland Indians
. Loynd hurled 6 innings, allowed 3 runs, walked 3, and struck out 6.
After his next three starts resulted in no decisions, Loynd was back in the win column again on Thursday, August 14, 1986 after defeating Teddy Higuera
and the Milwaukee Brewers
8 to 2. Loynd surrendered only one run over 7 strong innings while giving up only 5 hits and one walk. He struck out 4. The victory improved his record to 2-0 and moved the Rangers just 1.5 games behind the first place California Angels.
After moving his record to 2-0, Loynd would begin to struggle. Many experts felt it was due to his not having pitched as many innings before during a season. Rangers' manager Bobby Valentine
began to use him more selectively, but yet he struggled greatly and for the year ended with 2 wins, 2 losses, and an ERA of 5.36.
In 1987 he began the year in the bullpen and had some initial success in the first month. The Rangers however had been a team predicted by many pundits to contend for their first ever title. Instead, the club started the year 1-10 and never recovered. Perhaps the most iconic moment of that frustration involved Loynd in front of the home town crowd at Arlington Stadium
. On Saturday, May 9, 1987 Loynd was brought in relief of Edwin Correa against the Toronto Blue Jays
. After Tony Fernández
connected off him for a home run that pushed the score to 7-0, Loynd vented his anger by hitting the next batter, Lloyd Moseby
, with a pitch. Moseby proceeded to charge the mound while Loynd ran away. Both were ejected from the game and Toronto ended up winning 15 to 4.
For the year, Loynd wrapped up 1987 with 1 win, 5 losses, and a horrid ERA of 6.10. It was his last time in the Major Leagues.
Ultimately the Rangers traded Loynd to the Houston Astros
for catcher Robbie Wine
during Spring Training of 1988. Loynd spent the next seven seasons in the minor league organizations of the Astros, Toronto Blue Jays
, St. Louis Cardinals
and Atlanta Braves
before ending his career with the West Palm Beach Expos
of the Florida State League
in 1994. Loynd is currently living in St. Louis, Missouri with wife Lori.
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 with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
College career
He was drafted in June 1986 out of Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
and made the jump from college to the big leagues in less than two months. At Florida State he had tied an NCAA record by winning 20 games during the '86 season and was largely responsible for their trip to the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
. He was the 1986 Golden Spikes Award
Golden Spikes Award
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
winner as the best college baseball player in the nation. After an initial flurry of success in the Majors his career flamed out and he was demoted to the minor leagues. He had a career total of 3 wins, 7 losses, an 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...
of 5.82 with 81 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings pitched.
Professional career
Loynd, age 22, made his debut on Thursday, July 24, 1986. Like the much heralded David ClydeDavid Clyde
David Eugene Clyde is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played all or part of five seasons for the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians...
in 1973, Loynd was expected to contribute immediately upon being called to the Majors. The Rangers were involved in a close pennant race and manager Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine
Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
was strapped for pitching. Loynd won his first start in front of 34,256 fans with a 6-3 win over future Hall of Famer Phil Niekro
Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
and the 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...
. Loynd hurled 6 innings, allowed 3 runs, walked 3, and struck out 6.
After his next three starts resulted in no decisions, Loynd was back in the win column again on Thursday, August 14, 1986 after defeating Teddy Higuera
Teddy Higuera
Teodoro Higuera Valenzuela is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for nine years for the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League.-Early career:...
and the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
8 to 2. Loynd surrendered only one run over 7 strong innings while giving up only 5 hits and one walk. He struck out 4. The victory improved his record to 2-0 and moved the Rangers just 1.5 games behind the first place California Angels.
After moving his record to 2-0, Loynd would begin to struggle. Many experts felt it was due to his not having pitched as many innings before during a season. Rangers' manager Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine
Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
began to use him more selectively, but yet he struggled greatly and for the year ended with 2 wins, 2 losses, and an ERA of 5.36.
In 1987 he began the year in the bullpen and had some initial success in the first month. The Rangers however had been a team predicted by many pundits to contend for their first ever title. Instead, the club started the year 1-10 and never recovered. Perhaps the most iconic moment of that frustration involved Loynd in front of the home town crowd at Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium was a baseball stadium located in Arlington, Texas, United States, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It served as the home for the Texas Rangers from 1972 until 1993, when the team moved into The Ballpark in Arlington .-1960s:The stadium was built in 1965 as Turnpike...
. On Saturday, May 9, 1987 Loynd was brought in relief of Edwin Correa against the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. After Tony Fernández
Tony Fernández
Octavio Antonio Fernández Castro , better known as Tony Fernández, is a former Major League Baseball player most noted for his defensive skills setting a record for shortstops with a .992 fielding percentage in 1989.-Career:...
connected off him for a home run that pushed the score to 7-0, Loynd vented his anger by hitting the next batter, Lloyd Moseby
Lloyd Moseby
Lloyd Anthony Moseby was a Major League Baseball player. A center fielder, and good all-around athlete, Moseby's nickname Shaker was said to stem from his ability to get away from or "shake" players who attempted to defend him on the basketball court.Born in Portland, Arkansas, Moseby graduated...
, with a pitch. Moseby proceeded to charge the mound while Loynd ran away. Both were ejected from the game and Toronto ended up winning 15 to 4.
For the year, Loynd wrapped up 1987 with 1 win, 5 losses, and a horrid ERA of 6.10. It was his last time in the Major Leagues.
Ultimately the Rangers traded Loynd to the Houston Astros
Houston 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...
for catcher Robbie Wine
Robbie Wine
Robert Paul Wine, Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball player. A catcher, Wine played for the Houston Astros in and . He last played professional baseball in ....
during Spring Training of 1988. Loynd spent the next seven seasons in the minor league organizations of the Astros, Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, 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...
and 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....
before ending his career with the West Palm Beach Expos
West Palm Beach Expos
The West Palm Beach Expos were a Florida State League minor league baseball team that existed from 1969 to 1997. Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, they were affiliated with the Montreal Expos and they played their home games at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium. They were one of the longest...
of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
in 1994. Loynd is currently living in St. Louis, Missouri with wife Lori.
Sources
- Mike Loynd's career stats http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/L/Ploynm001.htm
- 1987 Texas Rangers media guide