Ralph Botting
Encyclopedia
Ralph Wayne Botting is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. The left-hander was drafted by the California Angels
in the 7th round of the 1974 amateur draft, and played for the Angels in 1979 and 1980.
Botting made his major league debut in relief on June 28, 1979 against the Texas Rangers
at Arlington Stadium
. Angels starter Jim Barr
came out of the game with one out in the top of the 1st inning, runners on second and third
, and already behind 3-0. Botting "threw gasoline on the fire" and when the inning ended it was 8-0. He then pitched to four batters in the top of the 2nd and retired no one, though there was an error
committed by Angels shortstop
Jim Anderson
. In 2/3 of an inning Botting allowed not only the two inherited runners to score, but gave up seven runs
(six earned) of his own.
Almost four weeks later, on July 26, Botting pitched 5.1 innings of relief at Yankee Stadium
to earn his first major league win
. Nolan Ryan
had come out of the game after pitching one scoreless inning because he heard popping in his elbow. He allowed 3 hits
, 3 walks, and just 1 run, striking out
6. The Angels won, 9-5.
His second and last win came on August 6, 1979 in a road game against the Oakland Athletics
. He was the starting pitcher, allowed 1 run in 7.2 innings, and the Angels beat the A's by a score of 5-2.
In 1980, again splitting time between the Salt Lake City Gulls
(PCL
) and the Angels, he made 6 starts for California, going 0-3 with a 5.81 ERA
.
Career totals for 18 games pitched
include a 2-3 record, 7 games started
, and 5 games finished
. He struck out 34, walked 28, and allowed 86 hits and 46 earned runs in 56 innings pitched
. His ERA was 7.39, and his WHIP
was 2.036.
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
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...
. The left-hander was drafted by the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the 7th round of the 1974 amateur draft, and played for the Angels in 1979 and 1980.
Botting made his major league debut in relief on June 28, 1979 against 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...
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...
. Angels starter Jim Barr
Jim Barr
James Leland Barr is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants and California Angels...
came out of the game with one out in the top of the 1st inning, runners on second and third
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, and already behind 3-0. Botting "threw gasoline on the fire" and when the inning ended it was 8-0. He then pitched to four batters in the top of the 2nd and retired no one, though there was an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
committed by Angels shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Jim Anderson
Jim Anderson (baseball)
James Lea Anderson is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. On June 3, he was drafted by the California Angels in the 2nd round of the 1975 Major League Baseball Draft. He played for the Angels , Seattle Mariners , and Texas Rangers .He made his major league debut on July 2, 1978, at Anaheim...
. In 2/3 of an inning Botting allowed not only the two inherited runners to score, but gave up seven runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(six earned) of his own.
Almost four weeks later, on July 26, Botting pitched 5.1 innings of relief at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
to earn his first major league win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
. Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
had come out of the game after pitching one scoreless inning because he heard popping in his elbow. He allowed 3 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 3 walks, and just 1 run, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
6. The Angels won, 9-5.
His second and last win came on August 6, 1979 in a road game against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He was the starting pitcher, allowed 1 run in 7.2 innings, and the Angels beat the A's by a score of 5-2.
In 1980, again splitting time between the Salt Lake City Gulls
Salt Lake City Gulls
leftThe Salt Lake City Gulls, a former member of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, were based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were a minor league affiliate of the California Angels from 1975 to 1981, and of the Seattle Mariners from 1982 to 1984...
(PCL
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
) and the Angels, he made 6 starts for California, going 0-3 with a 5.81 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...
.
Career totals for 18 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
include a 2-3 record, 7 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, and 5 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
. He struck out 34, walked 28, and allowed 86 hits and 46 earned runs in 56 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. His ERA was 7.39, and his WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
was 2.036.