Joe Strong

{{Infobox baseball biography

| image =

| name = Joe Strong

| position = Pitcher

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

| birth_place = Fairfield, California, U.S.

| bats = Switch

| throws = Right

|debutleague = CPBL

| debutdate = March 17

| debutyear = 1990

| debutteam = Wei Chuan Dragons

|finalleague = CPBL

| finaldate = June 15

| finalyear = 1996

| finalteam = China Times Eagles

|debut2league = MLB

| debut2date = May 11

| debut2year = 2000

| debut2team = Florida Marlins

|final2league = MLB

| final2date = May 5

| final2year = 2001

| final2team = Florida Marlins

|statleague = CPBL

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 47–33

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 2.71

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 385

|stat2league = KBO

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 6–5

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 2.95

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 54

|stat3league = MLB

| stat31label = Win–loss record

| stat31value = 1–1

| stat32label = Earned run average

| stat32value = 5.81

| stat33label = Strikeouts

| stat33value = 22

| teams =

Wei Chuan Dragons ({{by|1990}}–{{by|1992}})
China Times Eagles ({{by|1996}})
Hyundai Unicorns ({{by|1998}})
Florida Marlins ({{mlby|2000}}–{{mlby|2001}})

|awards=

Taiwan Series champion (1990)

| highlights =

}}

Joseph Benjamin Strong (born September 9, 1962) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Strong played for the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB) from {{mlby|2000}} to {{mlby|2001}}.

Career

Strong attended the University of California, Riverside, where he played college baseball for the Highlanders during the 1984 season.{{cite web|title=University of California, Riverside Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/university_of_california_riverside_baseball_players.shtml |work=Baseball-Almanac.com |accessdate=18 December 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040712224354/http://baseball-almanac.com/college/university_of_california_riverside_baseball_players.shtml |archivedate=12 July 2004 |url-status=dead }} He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 15th round of the 1984 MLB draft. He was a replacement player during spring training in {{mlby|1995}}, and was barred from joining the Major League Baseball Players Association. After being released by the Chicago Cubs organization in 1995 and playing for the independent Surrey Glaciers of the Western Baseball League, he was inactive for two years, but returned to play in the Korea Baseball Organization in {{Baseball year|1998}}.[https://books.google.com/books?id=R_R197maXZQC&dq=Joe+Strong+Korean+Baseball+Organization&pg=PA216 Leagues of Their Own] In February {{Baseball year|1999}}, he signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, became a free agent at the end of the season, and signed with the Florida Marlins in February {{Baseball year|2000}}. After having played in five countries over 16 years, Strong made his MLB debut for the Marlins on May 11, 2000, becoming the oldest MLB rookie in 40 years.[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE6DB123BF930A25756C0A9669C8B63&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss BASEBALL; Never Too Late To Make Debut In the Majors]

On June 17, 2000, Strong picked up his only MLB save. He retired the final out of the 11th inning to preserve a 4-3 Marlins victory over the Pirates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200006170.shtml|title=Florida Marlins at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score, June 17, 2000}} He played for the Marlins again in 2001 and became a free agent after the season ended. In {{Baseball year|2002}}, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians. In {{Baseball year|2004}}, his final season, he played for the independent Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League.

References

External links

{{Baseballstats|mlb=|espn=|br=s/stronjo01|fangraphs=|brm=strong001jos|retro=}}

[http://eng.koreabaseball.com/teams/playerinfopitcher/summary.aspx?pcode=98327 Career statistics and player information] from Korea Baseball Organization

Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:Acereros de Monclova players

Category:African-American baseball players

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Mexico

Category:American expatriate baseball players in South Korea

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Taiwan

Category:Bridgeport Bluefish players

Category:Broncos de Reynosa players

Category:Calgary Cannons players

Category:Camden Riversharks players