Rick Honeycutt
Encyclopedia
Frederick Wayne "Rick" Honeycutt (born June 29, 1954, Chattanooga, Tennessee
) is the current pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
. Honeycutt was a left-handed pitcher
for 21 years from 1977 to 1997. He played with the Seattle Mariners
, Texas Rangers
, Los Angeles Dodgers
, Oakland Athletics
, New York Yankees
, and the St. Louis Cardinals
. He pitched in 30 post-season games, including 20 league championship series games and 7 World Series games, and never lost a game, going 3-0. Honeycutt gave up zero runs in the 1988 and 1990 post-seasons, and was a member of the Oakland Athletics 1989 World Series championship team.
team from 1973–1976, where he was an All-American first baseman-pitcher and won the Southeastern Conference
batting title with a .404 mark. He also played semi-pro for the Chattanooga Lookouts
during the 1970s.
Honeycutt was originally drafted in the 17th round of the 1976 draft
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
. After seasons in their minor league system, the Pirates traded him to the Seattle Mariners
in August 1977 to complete an earlier trade for Dave Pagan
.
He made his major league debut on August 24, 1977 against the Toronto Blue Jays
. He pitched two innings of relief, struck out 3, allowed 2 hits and no runs. His first start was against the New York Yankees
on August 31. He pitched 7.1 innings in that start, allowing 3 runs. He finished the season 0-1, but got his first victory in his first start the following year, beating the Minnesota Twins
on April 7, 1978.
He matured into a savvy control pitcher
, being selected to the 1980 All-Star Game
. Following the 1980 season, he was traded with Larry Cox, Willie Horton, Mario Mendoza
and Leon Roberts
to the Texas Rangers
for Brian Allard
, Rick Auerbach
, Ken Clay
, Jerry Gleaton and Richie Zisk
. In 1983, Honeycutt represented the Rangers in the All-Star Game. On August 19, 1983, Honeycutt was traded from the Rangers to the Los Angeles Dodgers
for Dave Stewart and Ricky Wright
. Honeycutt led the American League in ERA in 1983 with 2.42, although he was traded to the Dodgers late in the season.
In 1987, Honeycutt was traded to the Oakland Athletics
for a player to be named later
, who would be Tim Belcher
. Converted from a starting pitcher to relief in 1988 by Oakland, he became a valuable set-up man to Dennis Eckersley
, posting a series of sub-3.7 ERAs from 1988 through 1993.
He was the oldest major league player in both 1996 and 1997.
He made 268 starts and 529 relief appearances in his career, logging 2,160 innings pitched and compiling 109 wins and 38 saves.
Honeycutt joined the Dodgers coaching staff as Pitching Coach for the 2006 season. He has also launched a sporting goods and apparel business in Chattanooga, Tennessee
, which continues today.
Honeycutt and Mariano Duncan
were the only holdovers from Grady Little
's 2007 coaching staff to return on new Dodgers' manager Joe Torre
's 2008 coaching staff. Honeycutt also remained as pitching coach when Don Mattingly
replaced Torre after the 2010 season.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
) is the current pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
. Honeycutt was a 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...
for 21 years from 1977 to 1997. He played with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, 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...
, Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
, 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....
, 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...
, and 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...
. He pitched in 30 post-season games, including 20 league championship series games and 7 World Series games, and never lost a game, going 3-0. Honeycutt gave up zero runs in the 1988 and 1990 post-seasons, and was a member of the Oakland Athletics 1989 World Series championship team.
Playing career
Honeycutt played for the Tennessee Volunteers baseballTennessee Volunteers baseball
The Tennessee Volunteers baseball team represents the University of Tennessee in NCAA Division I college baseball.Along with most other Tennessee athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Eastern division of the Southeastern Conference. The Volunteers play all on-campus home games at...
team from 1973–1976, where he was an All-American first baseman-pitcher and won the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
batting title with a .404 mark. He also played semi-pro for the Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
during the 1970s.
Honeycutt was originally drafted in the 17th round of the 1976 draft
1976 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by many to be the best collegiate team ever, played a major role in the draft. Floyd Bannister was picked number one...
by the 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...
. After seasons in their minor league system, the Pirates traded him to the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in August 1977 to complete an earlier trade for Dave Pagan
Dave Pagan
David Percy Pagan is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball from 1973 until 1977, and was a member of the Seattle Mariners' 1977 inaugural season roster....
.
He made his major league debut on August 24, 1977 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 ....
. He pitched two innings of relief, struck out 3, allowed 2 hits and no runs. His first start was against 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...
on August 31. He pitched 7.1 innings in that start, allowing 3 runs. He finished the season 0-1, but got his first victory in his first start the following year, beating the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
on April 7, 1978.
He matured into a savvy control pitcher
Control pitcher
A control pitcher is a pitcher who succeeds mostly by using accurate pitches, as opposed to a power pitcher who relies on velocity. By issuing a below average number of bases on balls he exhibits good control of his pitches...
, being selected to the 1980 All-Star Game
1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 51st midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 8, 1980 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, home of the Los...
. Following the 1980 season, he was traded with Larry Cox, Willie Horton, Mario Mendoza
Mario Mendoza
Mario Mendoza Aizpuru is a former Major League Baseball infielder. Mendoza, a lifetime 0.215 hitter, is best known as the threshold for batting aptitude, with the "Mendoza Line", meaning a batting average of .200....
and Leon Roberts
Leon Roberts
Leon Kauffman Roberts is a former major league outfielder who played for the Detroit Tigers , Houston Astros , Seattle Mariners , Texas Rangers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Kansas City Royals...
to 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...
for Brian Allard
Brian Allard
Brian Marshall Allard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners . His fastball was 90-95 mph. He also threw a curveball, slider, and changeup...
, Rick Auerbach
Rick Auerbach
Frederick "Rick" Steven Auerbach was a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played from - with the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Seattle Mariners...
, Ken Clay
Ken Clay
Kenneth Earl Clay is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played in the major leagues from to for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners. Clay appeared at the Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium...
, Jerry Gleaton and Richie Zisk
Richie Zisk
Richard Walter Zisk is a retired Major League Baseball player currently in charge of pro scouting in Florida for the Chicago Cubs.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
. In 1983, Honeycutt represented the Rangers in the All-Star Game. On August 19, 1983, Honeycutt was traded from the Rangers to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
for Dave Stewart and Ricky Wright
Ricky Wright
James Richard Wright was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers from 1982-1986.-External links:...
. Honeycutt led the American League in ERA in 1983 with 2.42, although he was traded to the Dodgers late in the season.
In 1987, Honeycutt was traded to 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....
for a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
, who would be Tim Belcher
Tim Belcher
Timothy Wayne Belcher is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He won the Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award in for the National League...
. Converted from a starting pitcher to relief in 1988 by Oakland, he became a valuable set-up man to Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck", is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
, posting a series of sub-3.7 ERAs from 1988 through 1993.
He was the oldest major league player in both 1996 and 1997.
He made 268 starts and 529 relief appearances in his career, logging 2,160 innings pitched and compiling 109 wins and 38 saves.
Coaching career
Following his playing career, he spent a year coaching his kids' teams before joining the Dodgers as their minor league pitching coordinator.Honeycutt joined the Dodgers coaching staff as Pitching Coach for the 2006 season. He has also launched a sporting goods and apparel business in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, which continues today.
Honeycutt and Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan Nalasco is a retired second baseman and shortstop who played for several Major League Baseball teams during his 12 year career. He was the infield coach and 1st base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers under Managers Grady Little and Joe Torre...
were the only holdovers from Grady Little
Grady Little
William Grady Little is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007...
's 2007 coaching staff to return on new Dodgers' manager Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
's 2008 coaching staff. Honeycutt also remained as pitching coach when Don Mattingly
Don Mattingly
Donald Arthur "Don" Mattingly is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
replaced Torre after the 2010 season.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions