Larry Andersen

{{short description|American baseball player and analyst (born 1953)}}

{{Uncited category|biography of a living person|cat1=Bellevue Bulldogs baseball players|cat2=Bellevue College alumni|date=February 2022}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Larry Andersen

|image=Larry Andersen.jpg

|caption=Larry Andersen at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia in August 2010

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1953|5|6}}

|birth_place=Portland, Oregon, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 5

|debutyear=1975

|debutteam=Cleveland Indians

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=July 31

|finalyear=1994

|finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=40–39

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=3.15

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=758

|teams=

Cleveland Indians ({{baseball year|1975}}, {{baseball year|1977}},{{baseball year|1979}})
Seattle Mariners ({{baseball year|1981}}–{{baseball year|1982}})
Philadelphia Phillies ({{baseball year|1983}}–{{baseball year|1986}})
Houston Astros ({{baseball year|1986}}–{{baseball year|1990}})
Boston Red Sox ({{baseball year|1990}})
San Diego Padres ({{baseball year|1991}}–{{baseball year|1992}})
Philadelphia Phillies ({{baseball year|1993}}–{{baseball year|1994}})

}}

Larry Eugene Andersen (born May 6, 1953) is an American former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball and current radio color commentator for the Philadelphia Phillies. From {{baseball year|1975}} through {{baseball year|1994}}, Andersen played for the Cleveland Indians (1975, {{baseball year|1977}}, {{baseball year|1979}}), Seattle Mariners ({{baseball year|1981}}–{{baseball year|1982}}), Philadelphia Phillies ({{baseball year|1983}}–{{baseball year|1986}}, {{baseball year|1993}}–1994), Houston Astros ({{baseball year|1986}}–{{baseball year|1990}}), Boston Red Sox (1990), and San Diego Padres ({{baseball year|1991}}–{{baseball year|1992}}).

Playing and coaching career

Andersen possessed an average fastball and outstanding slider. He was drafted out of high school in the seventh round (157th overall) of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft by the Cleveland Indians.{{Cite web |title=7th Round of the 1971 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=1971&draft_round=7&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Andersen made his professional debut that year, posting a record of 1–3 with a 5.31 ERA in 11 games (five starts) with the Gulf Coast League Indians and the Single-A Reno Silver Sox of the California League.{{Cite web |title=Larry Andersen Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=anders001lar |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He pitched in his first full season for Single-A Reno in 1972, going 4–14 with a 6.53 ERA in 124 innings, with a 1.80 WHIP in 27 games (19 starts).

On September 5, 1975, Andersen made his major league debut for Cleveland, tossing a perfect seventh inning in an 11–2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.{{Cite web |date=September 5, 1975 |title=Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Indians Box Score: September 5, 1975 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE197509050.shtml |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}} In parts of three seasons with Cleveland, he appeared in a combined 22 games, and was 0–1 with a 5.40 ERA.{{Cite web |title=Larry Andersen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderla02.shtml |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

On December 21, 1979, Andersen was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for John Burden and Larry Littleton. He spent the entire 1980 season with the Triple-A Portland Beavers, going 5–7 with 15 saves and a 1.74 ERA in 52 relief appearances.

After the 1980 season, Andersen was sent to the Seattle Mariners on October 29 as the player to be named later to complete an earlier trade for pitcher Odell Jones. In his first full major league season, Andersen went 3–3 with five saves and a 2.66 ERA in 41 games with the Mariners. However, his numbers took a turn in 1982, as he finished with one save and a 5.99 ERA in 40 relief appearances.

During the 1982 season, Andersen pulled a prank on Mariners manager Rene Lachemann during a series in Chicago. Referred to as the ‘Mr. Jello’ caper, Andersen, along with teammates Richie Zisk and Joe Simpson moved all the furniture in the hotel suite into a bathroom, filled both toilets with jello and removed the mouthpiece from the phone. The trio were not revealed as the culprits until after the season ended.{{Cite web |last=Nightengale |first=Bob |date=March 8, 1992 |title=Crown Him the Prince of Prank : Is Everybody Having Fun Yet? Padre Pitcher Larry Andersen Is |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-08-sp-6236-story.html |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

Andersen spent most of the 1983 season with Triple-A Portland, going 7–8 with 22 saves and a 2.05 ERA in 52 appearances. On July 29, Andersen's contract was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies for future considerations.{{Cite news |date=July 30, 1983 |title=No Headline |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/30/sports/no-headline-069121.html |access-date=May 22, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}} He was immediately added to the Phillies' roster, and remained with the team for the rest of the season. In 17 games, Andersen was 1–0 with a 2.39 ERA. He pitched in Game 2 and 4 of the 1983 World Series (while Philadelphia lost in five games), pitching two innings each; he allowed a run in Game 2.

In 1984, Andersen became a mainstay in the Phillies' bullpen, and finished with a 3–7 record, four saves and a 2.38 ERA in 64 relief appearances. Andersen began the 1986 season with a 4.26 ERA in 10 games. On May 13, 1986, he was released by the Phillies.{{Cite news |date=May 14, 1986 |title=Transactions |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/14/sports/transactions-764986.html |access-date=May 22, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}

Three days after he was released by the Phillies, Andersen was signed as a free agent by the Houston Astros. On June 23, Andersen was the winning pitcher in a game in which he did not throw a strike to a single batter. While pitching to Cincinnati Reds catcher Bo Díaz in the top of the ninth inning, Andersen threw a wild pitch, and then tagged out Buddy Bell at home plate to end the inning. The Astros went on to win in the bottom of the ninth inning on a two-run home run by Glenn Davis.{{Cite web |date=June 23, 1986 |title=Cincinnati Reds vs Houston Astros Box Score: June 23, 1986 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198606230.shtml |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Andersen appeared in 38 games to end the season, finishing 2–1 with one save and a 2.78 ERA. Andersen also made two appearances during the 1986 NLCS, tossing five scoreless innings.

On December 19, 1986, Andersen re-signed with the Astros as a free agent.{{Cite news |last=Chass |first=Murray |date=December 20, 1986 |title=MORRIS RETURNS TO TIGERS AFTER REJECTIOON BY YANKS; PITCHER ACCEPTS ARBITRATION |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/20/sports/morris-returns-to-tigers-after-rejectioon-by-yanks-pitcher-accepts-arbitration.html |access-date=May 22, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}} In {{baseball year|1987}}, Andersen arguably had his best season in the majors up to that point. He finished with a record of 9–5, a 3.45 ERA, 94 strikeouts, and 101{{fraction|2|3}} innings pitched in 67 games. He set career highs in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. In 1989, Andersen recorded a career-low 1.54 ERA in 60 relief appearances.

On August 30, 1990, Andersen was traded to the Boston Red Sox for minor league prospect Jeff Bagwell.{{Cite news |date=September 1, 1990 |title=Transactions |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/01/sports/transactions-188390.html |access-date=May 22, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}} He made 15 relief appearances for the Red Sox in September, recording one save and a 1.23 ERA. The trade is often regarded as one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history; Andersen spent one month with the Red Sox before becoming a free agent, while Bagwell went on to spend 15 seasons with the Astros and was later inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Schaeffer |first=Steve |date=July 28, 2017 |title=Astros' Jeff Bagwell deal among baseball's all-time most lopsided trades |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-Jeff-Bagwell-baseball-worst-best-trades-11545553.php |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}} In the 1990 American League Championship Series, he pitched an inning each in Game 1, 2, and 4. In Game 1, he was summoned in the seventh with the Sox leading 1-0. He gave up a walk and a hit before a flyball to center was deep enough for a sacrifice fly to tie the game. In the eighth, he gave up a leadoff single to José Canseco and was immediately pulled. The next two pitchers (Tom Bolton and Jeff Gray) proceeded to give up the run in the eighth and then seven more in the ninth as the Red Sox lost 9-1 that marked Andersen with the loss. The Athletics won the series in a sweep.{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=anderla02&t=p&year=0&post=1 | title=Larry Andersen 1994 Postseason Pitching Game Logs }}

On December 21, 1990, Andersen signed a two-year, $4.35 million contract with the San Diego Padres.{{Cite web |last= |date=December 23, 1990 |title=PADRES SIGN ANDERSEN TO 2-YEAR DEAL |url=https://www.deseret.com/1990/12/23/18897533/padres-sign-andersen-to-2-year-deal |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} In 1991, he was 3–4 with a career-high 13 saves and a 2.30 ERA in 38 relief appearances. In 1992, Andersen was 1–1 with two saves and a 3.34 ERA in 34 relief appearances.

On December 18, 1992, Andersen returned to the Phillies as a free agent, signing a one-year, $700,000 contract.{{Cite web |date=December 18, 1992 |title=Phillies sign Andersen |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/12/18/Phillies-sign-Andersen/7158724654800/ |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=United Press International |language=en}} He enjoyed a productive season out of the Phillies bullpen, going 3–2 with a 2.92 ERA in 64 relief appearances. However, Andersen struggled in the postseason, recording a 15.43 ERA in the 1993 NLCS and a 9.82 ERA in the 1993 World Series. On January 18, 1994, he returned to the Phillies on a minor league contract.{{Cite web |date=January 18, 1994 |title=Andersen re-signs with Phillies - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/01/18/Andersen-re-signs-with-Phillies/8527758869200/ |access-date=May 22, 2023 |website=United Press International |language=en}} In his final major league season, Andersen went 1–2 with a 4.41 ERA in 29 relief appearances.

In a 17-season career, Andersen posted a 40–39 record with 49 saves and a 3.15 ERA in 699 games pitched. He is the only member of the Phillies to play in both the 1983 World Series and the 1993 World Series (Darren Daulton had been called up in September 1983, but did not make the post-season roster that year).

In {{baseball year|1995}}, Andersen was a player/coach for the Reading Phillies after he failed to make the Major League club out of Spring Training. He spent the following two seasons as the pitching coach for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.

Philadelphia Phillies broadcasting

Andersen joined the Philadelphia Phillies' broadcast team as a color commentator prior to the {{baseball year|1998}} season, filling the position left vacant by the death of Richie Ashburn late in the 1997 campaign. Andersen worked on both television and radio from 1998 to 2006 before moving exclusively to radio in 2007. Early in his broadcasting tenure, Andersen occasionally provided television color commentary when the Phillies were featured regionally on Fox Saturday afternoon telecasts. During the 2007 season, he began doing play-by-play work on Phillies radio broadcasts during the fifth and sixth innings, but returned to full-time color commentary in 2008.

During his broadcasting career, Andersen said, "In the seventh inning fans all get up and sing 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game,' and they're already there. It's really a stupid thing to say and I don't know who made 'em sing it. Why would somebody that's there get up and sing take me out to the ball game? The first person to do it must have been a moron."{{Cite web |title=Take Me Out to the Ball Game by Jack Norworth |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_stmo.shtml |access-date=October 24, 2019 |website=Baseball Almanac}} The moron in question was fellow broadcaster Harry Caray.{{Cite web |date=February 15, 2018 |title="Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is the 3rd Most Sung Song in America – All Thanks to Harry Caray |url=https://thebigshow.com/rate-the-super-bowl-ads-2-2/ |access-date=October 24, 2019 |website=The Big Show}}

In 2012, Andersen was ranked #12 on the MLB Network Countdown of the Top 25 personalities in Major League Baseball history.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160105022732/http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/7417714/v20108835/countdown-takes-a-look-at-the-top-25-personalities Countdown takes a look at the top 25 personalities]. MLB.com. Retrieved on April 24, 2016. {{Dead link|date=May 2023}}

References

External links

{{baseballstats|mlb=110224|espn=888|br=a/anderla02|fangraphs=1000236|brm=anders001lar|retro=A/Pandel001}}
{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|ed5e63f8}}
[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=anderla02 Larry Andersen] at Baseball Almanac

{{succession box|before=Richie Ashburn|title= Philles Baseball commentator (with Harry Kalas) |years=1998–2006| after= Gary Matthews}}

Category:1953 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela

Category:Baseball coaches from Oregon

Category:Baseball players from Portland, Oregon

Category:Bellevue Bulldogs baseball players

Category:Bellevue College alumni

Category:Boston Red Sox players

Category:Cleveland Indians players

Category:Gulf Coast Indians players

Category:High Desert Mavericks players