Lary Sorensen

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#ffba00
bgcolor2=#0e3292
textcolor1=#0e3292
textcolor2=white
name=Lary Sorensen
position=Pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1955|10|4
debutdate=June 7
debutyear=1977
debutteam=Milwaukee Brewers
finaldate=September 24
finalyear=1988
finalteam=San Francisco Giants
stat1label=Record
stat1value=93-103
stat2label=ERA
stat2value=4.15
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=569
teams=
*Milwaukee Brewers (1977-1980)
*St. Louis Cardinals (1981)
*Cleveland Indians (1982-1983)
*Oakland Athletics (1984)
*Chicago Cubs (1985)
*Montreal Expos (1987)
*San Francisco Giants (1988)
highlights=
*All-Star (AL): 1978

Lary Alan Sorensen (born October 4, 1955 in Detroit, Michigan) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1977-1980), St. Louis Cardinals (1981), Cleveland Indians (1982-1983), Oakland Athletics (1984), Chicago Cubs (1985), Montreal Expos (1987) and San Francisco Giants (1988).

Baseball career

In an 11-season career, Sorensen posted a 93-103 record with 569 strikeouts, 10 shutouts, and a 4.15 ERA in 346 games pitched (235 as a starter).

Law troubles

On February 28, 1986, Sorensen and ten others were suspended for admitting during the Pittsburgh drug trials that they were involved in cocaine abuse. While seven were initially suspended for the entire season, Sorenson was given a shorter 60-day suspension. All eleven were allowed to forego their suspension after agreeing to large anti-drug donations and community service.

Sorensen's record of substance abuse continued after his playing days including numerous DUI convictions. His blood alcohol content was measured as high as 0.26. Sorensen's sixth offense resulted in a multi-year prison sentence. In early 2008, he was found by police unconscious in his car in a ditch off 23 Mile Road in Chesterfield, Michigan. He had a .48 BAC and alcohol poisoning. One expert said that half of the population would die with a BAC that high. [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080207/SPORTS0104/802070359/1129]

Broadcasting

He became a broadcaster after his career ended, first with Detroit's WDFN radio, where he co-hosted a morning show called The Morning Battery with Butch Stearns from July 1994 until February 1995, and later with Detroit's WJR radio, partnering with Frank Beckmann to become the Detroit Tigers' radio broadcast team in 1995. Sorensen left the Tigers' job in June 1998 for undisclosed personal reasons. He was replaced by Jim Price and Tom Paciorek.

Post-Broadcasting

After serving a prison sentence, Sorensen worked at a McDonald's restaurant in Roseville, Michigan for three months. He also worked at a storage facility in St. Clair Shores, Michigan and had hopes to get back to broadcasting. He stated this information at East Detroit High School while speaking to health classes there about alcoholism.

Family

Sorensen was married for twenty-four years before his alcoholism and drug addiction led to a divorce.

His son currently is a pitcher for the Michigan State University baseball team.

His daughter, Laura (b. 1982), runs a youth program in Ferndale, MI.

Highlights

*In 1978 won a career-high 18 games for the Brewers and made the American League All-Star team.

ee also

*List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sorenla01.shtml Baseball Reference]