The Rockies announced yesterday that 49-year-old Jamie Moyer made the 25-man roster as a member of their starting rotation. And while Moyer was never a part of the Indians organization, I thought it would be fun to look back at his connections to the Tribe over the past quarter century…

  • Moyer was drafted by the Cubs in the 6th round in 1984, the same year the Indians drafted Cory Snyder (out of baseball for 18 years) and current Blue Jays manager John Farrell (out of baseball for 17 years).
  • Some former Indians born the same year as Moyer (1962): Chuck Finley, Dennis Cook, Alvaro Espinoza, Kevin Mitchell, Dave Clark, Kevin Seitzer, Dion James, Rich Yett and Oddibe McDowell. All have been retired for a minimum of 10  years.
  • Moyer made his MLB debut the same year as Mickey Brantley, Michael’s father.
  • The Indians were off the day Moyer made his MLB debut in 1986, but the following day Phil Niekro started for the Tribe. Niekro is now 72 years old.
  • Unless Arthur Rhodes signs with someone soon, Moyer will be the last remaining pitcher to have started a game in Cleveland Stadium. Moyer’s last start in Cleveland Stadium came in 1993. The Tribe’ starter that day was Paul Abbott, who would go on to win 17 games as Moyer’s teammate on the 2001 Mariners.
  • Moyer has appeared in 31 games against the Indians, facing seven different Tribe skippers: Doc Edwards, John McNamara, Mike Hargrove, Charlie Manuel, Joel Skinner, Eric Wedge and Manny Acta.
  • Acta and Wedge, who have managed over 2,000 combined games, are both younger than Moyer.
  • Moyer sits in 37th place on the all-time strikeouts list. Among the pitchers he will likely pass this year are former Indians Luis Tiant (36th), Sam McDowell (35th), Mark Langston (33rd) and Jack Morris (32nd).
  • Moyer’s first two career postseason wins came against the Tribe in 2001. He out-dueled Chuck Finley in Game 2 and the series-deciding Game 5.

1 Comment

  • Steve Turkish says:

    This article really made me laugh. Great bit of writing, especially the Phil Niekro line being 72 years old!!

1 Trackback or Pingback