Alan Ray Olmsted (born March 18, 1957) is a former
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB). He played in 5 games for the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
in 1980.
Pre-MLB baseball
The Cardinals drafted Olmsted in the June 1975 amateur draft (13th round) out of Hazelwood High School (
Florissant, Missouri
Florissant () is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, within Greater St. Louis. It is a middle class, second-ring northern suburb of St. Louis. Based on the 2020 United States census, the city had a total population of 52,533, making it the 12 ...
). He spent the next 4 seasons (1976–1979) working his way through the Cardinals' minor league system from the
rookie
A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year).
In contrast with a veteran who has experience and expertise, a rookie is usually inexperienced ...
leagues through the
AA level.
Olmsted began the 1980 season with the AA
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The Travelers are affiliated with the Seattle Mariners as members of the Texas League.
History
The team succeeded ...
in the
Texas League
The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...
before being promoted to the
AAA
AAA, Triple A, or Triple-A is a three-letter initialism or abbreviation which may refer to:
Airports
* Anaa Airport in French Polynesia (IATA airport code AAA)
* Logan County Airport (Illinois) (FAA airport code AAA)
Arts, entertainment, and me ...
Springfield Redbirds of the
American Association American Association may refer to:
Baseball
* American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891
* American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997
* American Association of Profe ...
.
He was promoted to the major league level in September 1980 as a
September call-up
A Major League Baseball roster is a list of players who are allowed, by league agreement, to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Each MLB team maintains two rosters: an active roster of players eligible to participate in an MLB game, and ...
.
September 1980
Olmsted made his MLB debut on September 12 starting the second game of a double-header against the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
at
Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The seating capacities were 65,358 for foo ...
. Pitching
shutout
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
baseball for 9 innings, he yielded to the bullpen as the Cardinals eventually won, 5–0, in 11 innings.
Olmsted's second start came on September 20 when the Cardinals hosted the
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
. Pitching 5 innings and giving up 4 runs, he posted another no-decision. The Expos' 9th inning run gave the visitors a 5–4 victory.
Olmsted's only victory game on September 23 when the Cardinals defeated the Phillies, 6–3. As the game's starting pitcher, he surrendered 6 hits and 3 runs over 8 innings. Although he left the game with the
bases loaded
B backdoor breaking ball
:A breaking pitch, usually a slider, curveball, or cut fastball that, due to its lateral motion, passes through a small part of the strike zone on the outside edge of the plate after seeming as if it would miss the p ...
, the bullpen put out the next 2 batters to
preserve
The word preserve may refer to:
Common uses
* Fruit preserves, a type of sweet spread or condiment
* Nature reserve, an area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or other special interest, usually protected
Arts, entertainment, and media
...
the victory.
Olmsted gave up 2 runs on 4 hits through the first 6 innings against the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
at
Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium (), formally known as William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York City. on September 28. The Cardinals gave up an additional 6 runs in the 8th inning as Olmsted was tagged with his only career loss in the 8–0 final.
In his final career start on October 3, Olmsted gave up 4 runs to the Mets over 5 innings. Although the Cardinals would win, 6–4, he ended his MLB career with a no decision.
Over Olmsted's 5 starts, he pitched 34 innings, yielding 13 runs (11 earned) on 32 hits, walking 14, and striking out another 14.
Post-MLB baseball
Following the
1980 season, Olmsted was involved in a multi-player trade when the Cardinals sent him along with pitchers
John Littlefield
John Andrew Littlefield (born January 5, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched two seasons in the major leagues, for the St. Louis Cardinals and for the San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professi ...
,
Kim Seaman
Kim Michael Seaman (born May 6, 1957) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who appeared in 27 games for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB) during the 1979 and 1980 baseball seasons.
Early career
Seaman attended ...
, and
John Urrea
John Goody Urrea (born February 9, 1955) is a former professional baseball pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to and the San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego ...
, catchers
Terry Kennedy and
Steve Swisher
Steven Eugene Swisher (born August 9, 1951) is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Diego Padres from 1974 to ...
, and
utility infielder
In baseball, a utility player is a player who typically does not have the offensive abilities to justify a regular starting role on the team but is capable of playing more than one defensive position. These players are able to give the various s ...
Mike Phillips to the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
for pitchers
Rollie Fingers (who would be traded to the
Milwaukee Brewers a few days later) and
Bob Shirley
Robert Charles Shirley (born June 25, 1954) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or parts of 11 seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1977 to 1987, for the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yanke ...
, catcher/first baseman
Gene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace (; born Fiore Gino Tenacci; October 10, 1946), better known as Gene Tenace, is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball from through , most n ...
, and minor league catcher
Bob Geren.
He spent the 1981 baseball season with the
Hawaii Islanders
The Hawaii Islanders were a minor league baseball team based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that played in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League for 27 seasons from 1961 through 1987.
Originally an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics, the Islanders played ...
, the Padres' AAA affiliate in the
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...
.
In February 1982, Olmsted was again involved in a multi-player trade between the same two teams when he was the "
player to be named later
In Major League Baseball, a player to be named later (PTBNL) is an unnamed player involved in exchange or "trade" of players between teams. The terms of a trade are not finalized until a later date, most often following the conclusion of the seaso ...
" in a December 1981 trade in which the Padres sent him along with pitcher
Steve Mura
Stephen Andrew Mura (born February 12, 1955) is an American retired Major League Baseball player. A pitcher, Mura played from - with the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, and Oakland Athletics. He was a member of the Card ...
and shortstop
Ozzie Smith
Osborne Earl Smith (born December 26, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player. Nicknamed "the Wizard of Oz", Smith played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball, winning the National ...
to the Cardinals in exchange for pitcher
Luis DeLeón
Luis Antonio DeLeón Tricoche (born August 19, 1958, in Ponce, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched all or parts of seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between and . He was the co- closer for ...
, right-fielder
Sixto Lezcano
Sixto Joaquin Lezcano Curras (born November 28, 1953) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball outfielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 12 seasons (1974–1985). He played for five MLB teams and won a Gold Glove during ...
, and shortstop
Garry Templeton
Garry Lewis Templeton (born March 24, 1956) is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. He played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets from 1976 t ...
.
He completed his professional career in 1982 playing for the
Louisville Redbirds
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border.
...
, the Cardinals' AAA farm team in the American Association.
References
External links
, o
Retrosheet o
Pura Pelota
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olmsted, Al
1957 births
Living people
Arkansas Travelers players
Baseball players from St. Louis
Gastonia Cardinals players
Hawaii Islanders players
Johnson City Cardinals players
Louisville Redbirds players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Springfield Cardinals players
St. Louis Cardinals players
St. Petersburg Cardinals players
Tigres de Aragua players
American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela