Pete Schourek
Encyclopedia
Peter Alan Schourek is a former Major League Baseball
left-handed pitcher
who played for the New York Mets
, Cincinnati Reds
, Houston Astros
, Boston Red Sox
, and Pittsburgh Pirates
from 1991 to 2001. He was the runnerup for the National League
's Cy Young Award
in .
Schourek grew up in Falls Church, Virginia in the Washington Metropolitan Area and attended George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church (Fairfax County). While at Marshall the Statesmen finished as runners up in the Virginia High School League State Championship.
His best season came in 1995, as he posted an 18-7 record with a 3.22 ERA. He gave up 2 runs in 14 1/3 IP in the postseason (1.26 ERA), but took an 0-1 record in 2 starts behind an untimely offensive slump. He was the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award, losing to Greg Maddux
.
As Opening Day starter on April 1, 1996, he witnessed the death of umpire John McSherry
, only seven pitches into the top of the 1st inning. He won the makeup game the next day, but struggled the rest of the way before his season ended due to injury in July with a 4-5 record and 6.01 ERA. He was consistently plagued by various injuries in subsequent seasons. This limited his effectiveness and moved around to various teams until his retirement after the 2001 season.
His father, Joe, is a respected teacher and successful baseball coach at Gonzaga College High School
.
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...
left-handed pitcher
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...
who played for 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...
, 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....
, 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...
, 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"...
, and Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
from 1991 to 2001. He was the runnerup for 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...
's 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 .
Schourek grew up in Falls Church, Virginia in the Washington Metropolitan Area and attended George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church (Fairfax County). While at Marshall the Statesmen finished as runners up in the Virginia High School League State Championship.
His best season came in 1995, as he posted an 18-7 record with a 3.22 ERA. He gave up 2 runs in 14 1/3 IP in the postseason (1.26 ERA), but took an 0-1 record in 2 starts behind an untimely offensive slump. He was the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award, losing to Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
.
As Opening Day starter on April 1, 1996, he witnessed the death of umpire John McSherry
John McSherry
John Patrick McSherry was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1971 to 1996. Although McSherry originally wore uniform #9 when he entered the National League, he switched to #10 in 1979 when the league reorganized the umpires' numbers and he wore that...
, only seven pitches into the top of the 1st inning. He won the makeup game the next day, but struggled the rest of the way before his season ended due to injury in July with a 4-5 record and 6.01 ERA. He was consistently plagued by various injuries in subsequent seasons. This limited his effectiveness and moved around to various teams until his retirement after the 2001 season.
His father, Joe, is a respected teacher and successful baseball coach at Gonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School is a Jesuit high school for boys located in Washington, D.C. The school is named in honor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian saint from the 16th century...
.