Paul Quantrill
Encyclopedia
Paul John Quantrill is a former Major League Baseball
right-handed relief pitcher
. He earned a reputation for being very durable and having impeccable control. He regularly appeared in 80 or more games a season and did not walk more than 25 batters in a season since . Commentators often joked that he had a "rubber arm".
in the 26th round, 660th overall, and again by the Boston Red Sox
in the sixth round of the 1989 amateur draft
, 161st overall, and made his Major League debut on July 20, 1992. Originally considered a starter
, Quantrill eventually found consistency as a reliever
after several years of splitting time between the bullpen and the starting rotation for several teams. Some of his best years came for the Toronto Blue Jays
, a team located in his home province of Ontario
.
Quantrill allowed a game-winning home run to Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz
in Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series. Boston avoided elimination in this game and went on to win its first World Series in 86 years. The play can be seen in the 2005 film Fever Pitch
.
Before the season, Quantrill signed a two-year $6.8-million deal with the New York Yankees
. Due to poor performance in late 2004 and early , Quantrill was designated for assignment on July 1, 2005. The next day he was traded to the San Diego Padres
for pitchers Tim Redding
and Darrell May
. Quantrill was then traded to the Florida Marlins
and spent the rest of the year in the bullpen. In the middle of March while playing in the Baseball World Classic, Quantrill said he would retire at the end of the World Baseball Classic
.
Quantrill was one of the coaches for Team Canada during the 2009 World Baseball Classic
.
On June 19, 2010, Quantrill was inducted, along with former Blue Jay Roberto Alomar
, into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
in St. Marys, Ontario
.
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...
right-handed relief pitcher
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...
. He earned a reputation for being very durable and having impeccable control. He regularly appeared in 80 or more games a season and did not walk more than 25 batters in a season since . Commentators often joked that he had a "rubber arm".
Career
Quantrill was drafted in 1986 by 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...
in the 26th round, 660th overall, and again by 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"...
in the sixth round of the 1989 amateur draft
1989 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1989 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental first round selections:-External links:*...
, 161st overall, and made his Major League debut on July 20, 1992. Originally considered a starter
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....
, Quantrill eventually found consistency as a reliever
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...
after several years of splitting time between the bullpen and the starting rotation for several teams. Some of his best years came for 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 ....
, a team located in his home province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Quantrill allowed a game-winning home run to Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz
David Ortiz
David Américo Ortiz Arias , known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Previously, Ortiz played with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox...
in Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series. Boston avoided elimination in this game and went on to win its first World Series in 86 years. The play can be seen in the 2005 film Fever Pitch
Fever Pitch (2005 film)
Fever Pitch, which was released as The Perfect Catch outside of the United States and Canada, is a 2005 Farrelly brothers romantic comedy film. It is a remake of a 1997 British film of the same name. Both films are loosely based on the Nick Hornby book of the same name, a best-selling memoir in...
.
Before the season, Quantrill signed a two-year $6.8-million deal 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...
. Due to poor performance in late 2004 and early , Quantrill was designated for assignment on July 1, 2005. The next day he was traded to the San Diego Padres
San 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...
for pitchers Tim Redding
Tim Redding
Timothy James Redding is an American professional baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. He has also pitched for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, and New York Mets.-Biography:...
and Darrell May
Darrell May
Darrell Kevin May is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who last played for the New York Yankees. May stands at 6'2" tall and weighs 190 pounds...
. Quantrill was then 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...
and spent the rest of the year in the bullpen. In the middle of March while playing in the Baseball World Classic, Quantrill said he would retire at the end of the World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
.
Quantrill was one of the coaches for Team Canada during the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.
On June 19, 2010, Quantrill was inducted, along with former Blue Jay Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar
Roberto "Robbie" Alomar Velázquez is a former Major League Baseball player , regarded by many as one of the best second basemen in MLB history. During his career he won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in history, and also won the second-most Silver Slugger Awards for a second...
, into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
in St. Marys, Ontario
St. Marys, Ontario
St. Marys is a town in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Thames River southwest of Stratford in Perth County, and surrounded by the Township of Perth South. The town is also known by its nickname, "The Stone Town", due to the abundance of limestone in the surrounding area, giving...
.
Accomplishments
- All-Star (2001)
- Led the league in appearances (2001, 2002, 2003)
- Career 3.83 ERA
- Holds New York Yankees record for most games pitched in a season (86 in 2004)