- Andy Pettitte
Infobox MLB player
name=Andy Pettitte
position=Starting Pitcher
team=New York Yankees
number=46
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=Birth date and age|1972|6|15
birthplace=city-state|Baton Rouge|Louisiana
debutdate=April 29
debutyear=1995
debutteam=New York Yankees
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=215-127
stat2label=Earned Run Average
stat2value=3.89
stat3label=Strikeout s
stat3value=2,002
teams=
*New York Yankees (by|1995–by|2003)
*Houston Astros (by|2004–by|2006)
*New York Yankees (by|2007–present)
awards=
* 2x All-Star selection (1996, 2001)
* 4xWorld Series champion (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000)
* 2001ALCS MVP Andrew Eugene Pettitte (born June 15, 1972 in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana ) is an Americanleft-handed starting pitcher who plays for theNew York Yankees .In his major league career, he played for the Yankees from by|1995–by|2003. He then signed with the
Houston Astros and played for them from by|2004 through by|2006. In by|2007, Pettitte rejoined the Yankees. He won four championships as a Yankee and made the playoffs every year except for 2006 and 2008.Through 2007, Pettitte is eighth among active major league players in win-loss percentage (.640); 12th in wins (201; all those ahead of him are older than he is); and 13th in
strikeout s (1,844). He is fifth in strikeouts (1,416), sixth in games started (310), and tied for fourth in wins (170) among Yankee players. He is also one of only six active players with at least 200 wins, 1,900 strikeouts, and a winning percentage at or above .600. The others areRandy Johnson ,Pedro Martínez ,Mike Mussina ,Greg Maddux andTom Glavine .Early life
Pettitte is of Italian and Cajun French descent.He attended Deer Park High School in
Deer Park, Texas . In 1990, he pitched the Deer to within one win of the state title.cite web
url=http://www.sjcd.edu/north/athletics/mensbaseball/history.shtml
title=Former Gators Pettitte And Clemens Come Home
work=Gators Baseball History
publisher=San Jacinto College
accessdate=2006-12-11] It was there he met his future wife Laura. Together, they have had four children: Joshua Blake (11/3/94), Jared (5/28/98), Lexy Grace (1/10/01) and Luke Jackson (6/19/05). Selected by the Yankees in the 22nd round of the 1990 draft, he opted instead to attend San Jacinto College North (Houston, Texas), where he won 8 of 10 decisions.On May 25, 1991, he signed with the Yankees as an amateur draft and follow selection.
Minor league career
In his minor league career he went 51–22, with a 2.49 ERA in 113 starts. He never had a losing season. In the rookie league, he had an 0.98 ERA.
Major league career
Pettitte has been a 20-game winner twice, posting 21–8 records in by|1996 and by|2003.
Pettitte has been a part of 6
American League pennant-winning teams and 4World Series championship teams. He is second only toJohn Smoltz of theAtlanta Braves inplayoff wins with 14 (Smoltz having won 15). He is the only MLB pitcher since by|1930 to win at least 12 games in each of his first 9 seasons.For his career, Pettitte has a 201–113 win-loss record, with a 3.81 ERA and 1,844 strikeouts in 2,492.1 innings. He also has never had a losing season in the Major Leagues.
New York Yankees
Pettitte made his major league debut on April 29, by|1995, with the
New York Yankees , with whom he spent 9 seasons in the starting rotation.In by|1996, he made the American League All-Star team and finished second to
Pat Hentgen for the ALCy Young Award . He led the league in wins (21), was 3rd in W-L pct. (.724), and was 8th in the AL in ERA (3.87).In by|1997, Pettitte led the league in starts (35), pickoffs (14), and double plays induced (36), and was 3rd in the league in innings (240.3; a career high), 4th in ERA (2.88), wins (18), and W-L pct. (.720), 6th in complete games (4), 8th in strikeouts (166), and 10th in walks/9 IP (2.43).
In by|1998, he was 7th in the league in complete games (5; a career high), and 8th in wins (16).
In by|2000, he was 3rd in the American League in wins (19), 6th in W-L pct. (.679), and 7th in complete games (3).
In by|2001, he made the All-Star team for the second time and was named the MVP of the ALCS, after winning Games 1 and 5 against the
Seattle Mariners . He was 3rd in the AL in walks/9 IP (1.84), and 8th in strikeouts (164) and strikeouts/9 IP (7.36).In by|2002, he was 9th in the AL in W-L pct. (.722) and complete games (3).
In by|2003, Pettitte was 2nd in the league in wins (21), 5th in W-L pct. (.724), 6th in strikeouts (180; a career high) and strikeouts/9 IP (7.78; a career-best), 8th in games started (33), and 9th in walks/9 IP (2.16).
Houston Astros
After the by|2003 season, Pettitte left the Yankees, signing a 3-year, $31.5 million contract with the
Houston Astros . He switched his uniform number to #21, in honor ofRoger Clemens , who previously wore that number in Boston and Toronto. His by|2004 season, in which he held batters to a .226 batting average, was shortened by elbow surgery.Pettitte returned to form in by|2005 to help the Astros make their first trip to the World Series. His 2.39 ERA in 2005 was a career-best, and 2nd-best in the
National League behind teammateRoger Clemens . He was also 2nd in the league walks/9 IP (1.66) and LOB percentage (79.7%; a career best), [http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2005] 3rd in sacrifice hits (15), 5th in wins (17), and 8th in W-L pct. (.654). He held lefties, who over his career have outhit righties when batting against him, to a .200 batting average, had a career-best 4.17 BB/SO ratio. [ [http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=840&position=P Andy Pettitte Stats and Graphs - New York Yankees | FanGraphs ] ]In by|2006, Pettitte went 14–13 with a 4.20 ERA as the Astros missed the playoffs. He led the NL in starts (35), tied for 7th in pickoffs (4), and was 8th in double plays induced (26), and 10th in strikeouts (178) and batters faced (929). He held batters to a .229 batting average when there were 2 out with runners in scoring position.
econd stint with Yankees
After the 2006 season, Pettitte left the Astros, and signed a 1-year, $16 million contract with the
New York Yankees . There is also a player option clause in the contract which will allow Pettitte to return to New York in 2008 for $16 million. Pettitte switched his uniform number back to #46 after wearing #21 in Houston. On January 11, by|2007, Pettitte was re-introduced as a Yankee at aYankee Stadium press conference.Pettitte pitched his first game for the Yankees since 2003 on April 5, 2007 against the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays on a freezing night atYankee Stadium .Pettitte lost his first game of the season when he pitched against the
Boston Red Sox on April 27, 2007. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, letting up 5 runs on 6 hits and 5 walks.Pettitte was followed back to the Yankees by former
Houston Astros teammateRoger Clemens . Both players left the Yankees after the 2003 season to play for the Astros. In May 2007 Clemens signed with the Yankees as well and joined the Yankees rotation in June. Once again Clemens and Pettitte were pitching for the same team. Pettitte won his 200th career game on September 19, 2007.In 2007 he led the American League in starts (34), was 7th in batters faced (916), and was 9th in innings pitched (215.3), finishing the regular season with a 15–9 win-loss record. He also had the 5th-lowest HR/9 innings pitched ratio in the AL (0.67).
On November 5, he declined his 2008 option, becoming a free agent. [ [http://allthingspinstripes.googlepages.com/andypettittedeclineshisoptionfor2008 Andy Pettitte Declines his 2008 option] ] Then on December 1, 2007, Pettitte was offered arbitration by the Yankees. However, on December 3, 2007 Pettitte announced that he will pitch for the Yankees in 2008. [ [http://allthingspinstripes.googlepages.com/home26 Andy Pettitte Will Pitch in 2008] ] On December 7, 2007, Pettitte accepted the Yankees offer of arbitration. He officially signed a one year, $16 million contract with the Yankees on December 12th. [http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=nyy&year=2007&month=12]
On September 21, 2008, Pettite was the last starting pitcher for the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. He recorded his 2,000th career strikeout in the second inning, striking out
Baltimore Orioles catcherRamon Hernandez . Pettitte ended up getting the victory in the game (a 7-3 win), pitching five innings.Postseason career
Pettitte holds the all-time record for most starts and innings pitched in the post-season (35 and 218.2, through 2007).
When Pettitte started Game 2 of the
2005 World Series , he was tied for second for mostWorld Series starts. Along withChristy Mathewson andWaite Hoyt , Pettitte has started in 11 World Series games.Whitey Ford is in front with 22 starts. Pettitte has played in 7 different World Series (6 with the Yankees, and one with the Astros), and been on the winning end of 18 postseason series - both of which are tops among active players.Pettitte is 14–5 with a 3.96 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 35 postseason games (1995–2003, 2005, 2007). Pettitte has pitched 218.1 innings in the postseason.
Awards
*1996–
All-Star
*1996–"Good Guy Award", from the "New York Sports Photographers"
*1996–"Greater Houston Area Major League Player of the Year", from the "Houston Chapter" of the "Baseball Writers’ Association of America"
*2001–All-Star
*2001–ALCS Most Valuable Player
*2003–"Greater Houston Area Major League Player of the Year", from the Houston Chapter of the "Baseball Writers’ Association of America"
*2003–"Warren Spahn Award", awarded annually to the top left-handed pitcher in baseball, from the "Oklahoma Sports Museum"Use of performance-enhancing drugs
On September 30, 2006 the "
Los Angeles Times " reported that formerrelief pitcher Jason Grimsley , during a June 6, 2006 federal raid byfederal agent s investigatingsteroid s in baseball, named Pettitte as a user ofperformance enhancing drugs .cite news
url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-clemens1oct01,0,6499528.story?coll=la-home-headlines
title=Clemens Is Named in Drug Affidavit
last=Pugmire
first=Lance
accessdate=2006-10-01
date=2006-10-01
publisher=Los Angeles Times ] The "Times" reported that Pettitte was one of five names blacked out in an affidavit filed in federal court. Grimsley had told investigators that he gotamphetamines ,anabolic steroid s, and human growth hormone (HGH) from someone (later named asKirk Radomski ) recommended to him by former Yankees trainerBrian McNamee , who is a personal strength coach for Clemens and Pettitte. However, on October 3, 2006, the "Washington Post " reported thatSan Francisco United States attorney Kevin Ryan said that the "Los Angeles Times" report contained "significant inaccuracies." On December 13, 2007 Pettitte was named as one of the HGH users in the Mitchell Report. cite news
url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/02/AR2006100201054.html
title = U.S. Attorney Says Report Alleging Drug Use Contains 'Inaccuracies'
publisher =Washington Post
page = E02
date =2006-10-03
accessdate = 2006-10-04] Contrary to the initial LA Times report, neither the name of Clemens nor Pettitte appeared in the affidavit submitted by Grimsley. [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3163889] .On December 13, 2007, Pettitte was named in the Mitchell Report. Pettitte was one of several members of the
Yankees , who Mitchell, a Director of the rivalBoston Red Sox , listed on his report. Mitchell and his staff received the information on Pettitte from McNamee who told them he injected Pettitte with HGH on 2-4 occasions in 2002 so that he would heal from an elbow injury quicker. [http://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf] At the time of the now-admitted injections, Major League Baseball (MLB) had no specific rules barring professional baseball players from using steroids and HGH; however these drugs were, always have been, and remain illegal for individuals to possess or use without a prescription, regardless of what MLB has to say on the matter.On December 15, 2007, Pettitte verified McNamee's claim admitting to using the HGH on two occasions in 2002, as it was meant to help heal an injury, and not to enhance his performance. Pettitte said he felt an obligation to return to the team as quickly as possible. He denied any further usage of HGH during his career; he also denied use of steroids or any other performance-enhancing drug. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22274719/ Yankees’ Pettitte admits to using HGH - Baseball - MSNBC.com ] ] .
On February 13, 2008, in an affidavit made public as part of a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform, Pettitte admitted to additional injections of HGH twice in one day in 2004, using HGH obtained via prescription for his seriously-ill father. Also in this affidavit Pettitte unequivocally recalled being told by former Yankees teammate Roger Clemens in 1999 or 2000 that Clemens had recently received injections of HGH. Clemens claimed during the noted hearing that Pettitte "misremembered" Clemens' 1999/2000 HGH remark, alleging that what Pettitte really heard was Clemens' reporting of his wife's use of HGH at that time, though earlier during this same hearing Clemens denied knowing of any use of HGH by his wife. McNamee corroborated Pettitte's recollection of events.
On February 18, 2008, Pettitte reported to
Yankees spring training and apologized to fans for his past drug use. In the press conference, he said the performance enhancing-drug scandal has put a "strain" on his relationship with close friend and former teammate,Roger Clemens .cite web
title = Pettitte apologizes for 'embarrassment' of HGH use, says he mulled not playing
publisher =ESPN
date =2008-02-18
url = http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/news/story?id=3251828
accessdate = 2008-03-21]Quote
*"Whatever I do, I love to win. I don't care if it's
tennis orping pong , I'll kill myself to win it." — Andy Pettitte cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/andy_pettitte_quotes.shtml
title=Andy Pettitte Quotes |publisher=Baseball Almanac |accessdate=2008-07-20]
*"Hitters get paid a lot of money to hit. Let's face it, man. Sometimes they just do." — Andy PettittePitches
Andy Pettitte throws a four-seam
fastball , acutter , a sweepingcurveball , achangeup , and aslider .ee also
*
List of Major League Baseball wins champions
*Top 100 strikeout pitchers of all time
*List of Major League Baseball players named in the Mitchell Report References
External links
*
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