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Ricky Bottalico

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Ricky Bottalico
Bottalico in 2009
Pitcher
Born: (1969-08-26) August 26, 1969 (age 55)
New Britain, Connecticut, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 29, 1994, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
July 22, 2005, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record33–42
Earned run average3.99
Strikeouts575
Saves116
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Ricky Paul Bottalico (/bəˈtælɪkoʊ/; born August 26, 1969) is an American former professional baseball right-handed relief pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets, and Milwaukee Brewers. He compiled a career 3.99 earned run average (ERA), with 116 saves.[1]

Early life

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Bottalico played for South Catholic High School in Hartford, Connecticut under coach Tom DiFiore. Bottalico went on to attend Florida Southern College before transferring to Central Connecticut State as a catcher. He was made a pitcher and eventually became the team's top reliever. Bottalico received little attention from scouts, went undrafted in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft, and played that summer for an insurance company in an amateur men's league in Connecticut. A Phillies scout saw him throwing 93 miles per hour (150 km/h) and signed him for $2,000.[2]

Professional career

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He made his Major League debut with the Phillies on July 29, 1994, against the Atlanta Braves at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium. He pitched a scoreless inning in the 1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[2] On August 2, 1998, while pitching for the Phillies in a game against the San Francisco Giants, Bottalico hit Barry Bonds with a pitch, after which Bonds charged the mound in pursuit of Bottalico, igniting a bench-clearing brawl. The incident resulted in the ejection from the game of both players by home plate umpire Jeff Nelson.[3] After suffering an elbow injury and clashing with manager Terry Francona, Bottalico was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals along with Garrett Stephenson in 1998.[4]

After having spent the majority of his early career as a closer, Bottalico's saves dwindled to a total of five in his last five seasons.[1]

As his playing career wound down, the Brewers released him in July 2005. Following a brief August trial with the Boston Red Sox’ AAA team, he was released again, later that month. In 2006, Bottalico was signed by the Baltimore Orioles to a minor-league contract and invited to spring training; however, he failed to make the team, and was released.[1]

Throughout his career, Bottalico had many more games finished (301) than save opportunities (160).[1]

Broadcasting

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Bottalico is a commentator for Phillies Pregame Live and Phillies Postgame Live, appearing before and after Phillies broadcasts on NBC Sports Philadelphia.[4] He also occasionally substitutes as the play-by-play commentator.[5] Since August 1, 2022, he appears on "The Best Show Ever?" on 97.5 The Fanatic and NBC Sports Philadelphia.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Ricky Bottalico Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b Jacobs, Jeff (10 July 1996). "Bottalico Throws Everything into It". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Bonds, Bottalico Ejected in Brawl". apnews.com. Philadelphia PA: Associated Press. 2 August 1998. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Ricky Bottalico Builds Legacy As An Analyst". Hartford Courant. 16 July 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  5. ^ @rajr_20 (17 March 2021). "Register" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 August 2023 – via Twitter.
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