Former MLB pitcher Rudy Might handed away earlier this week on the age of 80, in keeping with an obituary revealed in native North Carolina newspaper The Every day Advance. Jeff Pearlman first reported Might’s passing yesterday. A veteran of 16 MLB seasons, Might pitched for the Angels, Yankees, Orioles, and Expos throughout his prolonged profession within the massive leagues.
A left-handed pitcher, Might grew up in Oakland alongside childhood buddy and future Corridor of Famer Joe Morgan. He impressed as among the finest pitchers within the space throughout his highschool days earlier than being signed by a Twins scout in 1962 and subsequently chosen within the first-year participant draft by the White Sox in 1963. By the top of 1964, Might was already on the fourth group of his skilled profession as he was traded to the Phillies by the White Sox forward of the Rule 5 draft earlier than being flipped to the Angels shortly thereafter.
It was with Anaheim that Might lastly made his massive league debut in 1965, and the then-20-year-old hurler posted first rate however unexceptional numbers in his rookie marketing campaign. In 30 appearances (together with 19 begins), Might logged 124 innings of labor however surrendered a pedestrian 3.92 ERA, which was 14% under common within the period simply earlier than the 12 months of the pitcher in 1968. That may be Might’s solely massive league motion for years on account of accidents he suffered within the minor leagues in 1965, however he finally resurfaced on the massive league stage as a 24-year-old in 1969. That 12 months, Might posted a league common 3.44 ERA in 180 1/3 innings of labor that solidified his spot on the Angels’ roster, and he’d spend the subsequent 5 seasons as a top quality back-of-the-rotation arms for the membership with a 3.51 ERA (96 ERA+) throughout 948 2/3 innings of labor.
He as soon as once more started the season with the Angels in 1974, however a brutal 7.00 ERA in his first 27 innings of labor that 12 months upon being pushed right into a bullpen position prompted the membership to deal him to the Yankees that summer time. Might skilled a revival in New York down the stretch, dominating the competitors to the tune of a 2.28 ERA (156 ERA+) with 90 strikeouts in 114 1/3 innings of labor over his 17 appearances (15 begins) within the Bronx following the commerce. He adopted up on that efficiency with a superb 1975 season the place he pitched to a 3.06 ERA (122 ERA+) in 212 innings of labor in a mid-rotation position behind membership ace (and future Corridor of Famer) Catfish Hunter. Sadly, a step again in efficiency in 1976 led Might to be traded as soon as once more, this time to the Orioles.
That 1976 season kicked off one thing of a lull in Might’s profession, as he reverted to the back-of-the-rotation kind he had proven all through his time with the Angels. In three seasons break up between the Yankees, Orioles, and Expos from 1976 to 1978, Might pitched to a pedestrian 3.71 ERA in 99 appearances, 92 of which have been begins, and racked up 616 innings of labor. That led the veteran southpaw to be moved to a reduction position throughout his second 12 months with the Expos in 1979, however the lefty dominated within the position with a sterling 2.31 ERA (160 ERA+) in 93 2/3 innings of labor throughout 33 appearances, solely seven of which have been begins.
He’d proceed to pitch in that type of hybrid position upon being re-acquired by the Yankees in 1980, which turned out to be maybe one of the best season of his profession. Though Might began solely 17 of his 41 video games performed that 12 months, he posted phenomenal numbers within the position as he led the American League with a 2.46 ERA (160 ERA+) whereas throwing 175 1/3 frames. The 1980 season additionally noticed Might, then 35, seem within the postseason for the primary time in his profession. The lefty was dealt a tough-luck loss in Sport 2 of the ALCS in opposition to the Royals that October, because the Yankees misplaced 3-2 regardless of Might pitching eight sturdy innings of three-run ball.
He’d return to the postseason in 1981 on the heels of a lackluster common season, however this time he and the Yankees loved some success. Might made a stable reduction look in opposition to the Brewers within the ALDS earlier than posting a lackluster begin in opposition to Oakland within the ALCS, however when the Yankees made it to the World Sequence reverse the Dodgers he managed to show in 6 1/3 sturdy reduction innings throughout three appearances whilst his membership finally misplaced in six video games. General, Might posted a good 3.66 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 19 2/3 postseason innings throughout these years with the Yankees, which wound up being the one postseason outings of his profession.
Might pitched two extra years with the Yankees following the membership’s loss within the 1981 World Sequence and loved a robust rebound marketing campaign in 1982, and although he re-signed with New York on a two-year contract he made simply 15 appearances in 1983 on account of harm and missed the whole 1984 season with again points earlier than retirement. In all, Might appeared in 535 video games on the massive league stage and drew the beginning in 360 of these contests. He pitched to an above-average 3.46 ERA throughout his profession and picked up 152 wins and 1760 strikeouts throughout his 2622 innings of labor within the majors. These of us at MLBTR lengthen our condolences to Might’s household, buddies and family members.
