:Laddie Renfroe

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Laddie Renfroe

|position=Pitcher

|image=

|bats=Switch

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1962|5|9}}

|birth_place=Natchez, Mississippi

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=July 3

|debutyear=1991

|debutteam=Chicago Cubs

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=July 17

|finalyear=1991

|finalteam=Chicago Cubs

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=0–1

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=13.50

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=4

|teams=

Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|1991}})

}}

Cohen Williams "Laddie" Renfroe (born May 9, 1962) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched in four games with the Chicago Cubs in {{mlby|1991}}. Renfroe pitched with a sidearm delivery and appeared primarily as a relief pitcher and closer throughout his nine-year professional career.

Career

Renfroe walked on to the baseball team at the University of Mississippi, where he set school records for the most career pitching appearances and wins. While in college, he experimented with a sidearm delivery, which he eventually adopted permanently.{{cite web|url=http://www.sidearmnation.com/interviews/index.php?id=12|title=Interview with Laddie Renfroe: former Chicago Cubs relief pitcher|publisher=SIDEARM NATION|access-date=September 20, 2015}} In 1982, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |access-date=January 9, 2020}} He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 25th round of the 1984 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft, and began the {{baseball year|1984}} season with the Geneva Cubs.

After three seasons in Class-A ball, Renfroe split both the {{baseball year|1987}} and {{baseball year|1988}} seasons between the Double-A Pittsfield Cubs and Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Pitching for the Double-A Charlotte Knights of the Southern League in {{baseball year|1989}}, he led all minor-league pitchers with 19 wins, and won the Southern League Pitcher of the Year award that season.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19931104&id=vIlKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=65MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4820,688947&hl=en|title=Renfroe: Promising career cut short|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=November 4, 1993|access-date=September 20, 2015}} He was promoted back to Iowa in {{baseball year|1990}}, and spent the following three seasons with the club.

He was called up to the Chicago Cubs on July 2, {{baseball year|1991}},{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/07/03/demotion-to-minors-doesnt-surprise-boskie/|title=Demotion To Minors Doesn't Surprise Boskie|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=July 3, 1991|access-date=September 20, 2015}} and made his Major League debut the following day at Wrigley Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He ultimately appeared in four games as a relief pitcher with Chicago, finishing with a 0–1 win–loss record and a 13.50 ERA. He returned to Iowa on July 25.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/26/sports/transactions-923991.html|title=TRANSACTIONS|newspaper=New York Times|date=July 25, 1991|access-date=September 20, 2015}}

In September {{baseball year|1992}} as a member of the Iowa Cubs, he was injured when struck in the head by an errant baseball.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/09/18/head-injury-sidelines-renfroe/|title=Head Injury Sidelines Renfroe|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=September 18, 1992|access-date=September 20, 2015}} The resultant head trauma caused him speech and vision problems, and he retired thereafter, in part because of sustained complications from the injury.

Personal life

Renfroe was born in Natchez, Mississippi but moved to Nashua, New Hampshire with his family at a young age.{{cite news |last1=John |first1=Butch |title=Renfroe went extra mile to be king of Rebel hill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-renfroe-went-extra-mile-t/124291890/ |access-date=9 May 2023 |work=Clarion-Ledger |date=March 23, 1984 |page=5D}} Renfroe played soccer, football, and baseball at Nashua High School in Nashua. He pitched two no-hitters in high school and led his team to the state championship in 1979. After retiring, he coached baseball and soccer and relocated to Olive Branch, Mississippi.{{cite news|url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sports/localsports/770238-222/renfroes-homecoming-highlights-spinners-visit-to-holman.html|title=Renfroe's homecoming highlights Spinners visit to Holman Stadium|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=June 17, 2010|access-date=September 20, 2015}}

His son David was an infielder in the Boston Red Sox's minor league system from {{baseball year|2010}} to {{baseball year|2013}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=renfro001dav|title=David Renfroe Minor League Statistics and History|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=September 20, 2015}}