Chris Welsh

{{short description|American baseball player and broadcaster (born 1955)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Chris Welsh

|image=Chris Welsh before game.JPG

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1955|4|14}}

|birth_place=Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 12

|debutyear=1981

|debutteam=San Diego Padres

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=October 5

|finalyear=1986

|finalteam=Cincinnati Reds

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=22–31

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=4.45

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=192

|teams=

San Diego Padres ({{mlby|1981}}–{{mlby|1983}})
Montreal Expos ({{mlby|1983}})
Texas Rangers ({{mlby|1985}}–{{mlby|1986}})
Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|1986}})

|highlights=

}}

Christopher Charles Welsh (born April 14, 1955) is an American sportscaster and former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos, Texas Rangers, and Cincinnati Reds. Welsh spent his final season as an active player with the Reds and later became a sportscaster for the team.

Early life

Welsh was born in Wilmington, Delaware.{{cite news|title=Welsh making most of second chance in majors|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/157944205/|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The Morning News|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 6, 1986}} His family later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he grew up with three sisters.{{cite news|last1=Welsh|first1=Carrie Ann|title=My dad has made a vocation of telling baseball stories|url=http://www.espn.com/espnw/voices/article/19627186/cincinnati-reds-announcer-chris-welsh-daughter-carrie-ann-writes-tribute-him?addata=espn:mlb:index|access-date=June 18, 2017|work=ESPN.com|date=June 15, 2017}} Welsh graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1973.{{cite news|title=Scouting: The home team|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/20/sports/scouting-the-home-team.html|access-date=June 18, 2017|work=New York Times|date=August 20, 1986}} He began his collegiate baseball career at the University of South Florida under coach Jack Butterfield,{{cite news|last1=Schector|first1=Paige|title=Hogestyn recalls his younger 'Days'|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/hogestyn-recalls-his-younger-days/c-46167/t-185364810|access-date=June 19, 2017|publisher=MILB.com|date=March 14, 2006}} and later played a role in selecting former Major League Baseball pitcher Robin Roberts as the South Florida Bulls baseball coach. Welsh played his final collegiate baseball season under Roberts.{{cite news|title=Delaware discovers another son in major league baseball ranks|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/161392072/|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=The News Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 2, 1981}} In 1976, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth Red Sox.{{cite web|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 |access-date=September 25, 2019}}

Playing career

Welsh was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 24th round of the 1976 amateur draft; however, he did not sign.{{cite news|title=Major League Draft Selections Round-By-Round Selections|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/41407460/|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=Valley Morning Star|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 11, 1976}} In 1977, he was drafted again by the Yankees in the 21st round.{{cite news|last1=Crass|first1=Murray|title=Rookie's Dream Ends Amid Yankee Cuts|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/29/archives/rookies-dream-ends-amid-yankee-cuts-another-pitcher-may-go-batted.html|access-date=June 18, 2017|work=New York Times|date=March 29, 1979}} He then went on to play for former Yankees Class AAA organization, the Columbus Clippers. On March 31, 1981, Welsh was involved in a six-player trade with Ruppert Jones, Joe Lefebvre, and Tim Lollar to the San Diego Padres for Jerry Mumphrey and John Pacella.{{cite news|last1=Gross|first1=Jane|title=Jones, Lefebvre traded to Padres|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/01/sports/jones-lefebvre-traded-to-padres.html|access-date=June 18, 2017|work=New York Times|date=April 1, 1981}}{{cite news|title=Jones is disappointed, Mumphrey elated|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/02/sports/jones-is-disappointed-mumphrey-elated.html|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=New York Times|date=April 2, 1981}} In his rookie season with the Padres in 1981, Welsh pitched 123.7 innings while compiling a 6-7 record and a 3.78 ERA. He pitched four complete games—two of which were shutouts. After two years with the Padres, Welsh was purchased by the Montreal Expos.{{cite news|title=[No title]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/89734200/|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|issue=Newspapers.com|date=May 5, 1983}} He was then traded on November 7, 1984, to the Texas Rangers for Dave Hostetler.{{cite news|title=The Texas Rangers traded first baseman Dave Hostetler to...|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/07/The-Texas-Rangers-traded-first-baseman-Dave-Hostetler-to/6079468651600/|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=United Press International|date=November 7, 1984}}{{cite news|title=[No title]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/193132026/|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=Longview News-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 8, 1984}} With the Rangers, he posted a 2–5 record with an ERA of 4.13. On April 4, 1986, Welsh signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds,{{cite news|last1=Kiesewetter|first1=John|title=Reds Signed Chris Welsh 30 Years Ago|url=http://wvxu.org/post/reds-signed-chris-welsh-30-years-ago|access-date=June 19, 2017|publisher=WVXU|date=April 4, 2016}} and he was released by the team after the conclusion of the season, on November 12.{{cite news|title=[No title]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/129247953/|access-date=June 19, 2017|work=Des Moines Register|agency=Associated Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 12, 1986}}

Welsh was known for an unusual pitching delivery in which he would "straight-arm" the ball; he extended his left arm and pitched the ball sidearm with the arm almost completely straight and little to no bending of his elbow.

Broadcasting career

Welsh has been the Bally Sports Ohio TV color analyst for the Cincinnati Reds since 1993, teaming with long-time sportscaster George Grande until Grande's retirement in 2009 to form the longest-running TV broadcasting partnership in team history. During broadcasts, he commonly jokes about his playing career being nothing more than mediocre. Also, he is known as "The Crafty Left-Hander" because of his unconventional throwing motion. His current broadcast partner is John Sadak.