THE 1979 PITTSBURGH PIRATES relieving in the ninth inning of a scoreless duel with the and he ended the 1981 season with a record of 6-9 and Ed Whitson Cincinnati Reds, gave up two runs and took the loss. a 4.02 ERA. On August 21, 1979, Whitson duked it out with After the season Whitson was traded to the By Mike Huber Giants shortstop Roger Metzger. In batting practice Cleveland Indians for second baseman Duane Kuiper. and Metzger From April through July 1982, Whitson went,-1 for the the pitcher was taking some big cuts, refining his bunting Tribe, entirely in relief, but in late July he developed A FASTBALL PITCHER WHO SPENT HIS International League. His strikeouts were down, and suggested Whitson concentrate on players argued, and the spat continued into a sore wrist. By August he was placed in the rotation, 15-year major-league career playing for five teams, by mid-June he had but one victory against five defeats, skills. The started his last nine games for Cleveland, going Ed Whitson was an All-Star in 1980 and amassed a with a 4.35 ERA. On June 3o he suffered his ninth the clubhouse when Whitson evidently said, "I've and he knocking him 3-I. His season record was 4-2. He had picked up two 126-123 career record in 2,240 innings pitched. The loss in a row, losing to Charleston, 4-2. The Sporting had enough," and decked Metzger, seconds? Both players saves and had pitched a complete game shutout in 6-foot-3 right-hander was a starter for the first half News hinted on August 6,1977, that Whitson might unconscious for about five a season of the Pirates' 1979 championship team, but he might be superstitious: "After suffering through nine straight downplayed the event, and the Giants snapped a one of his late-season starts, and he posted ERA of 3.26. best be remembered for his temper and his rocky losses, he changed his uniform number from 18 to 20 six-game losing streak that night. For the second offseason in a row, Whitson was tenure with the New York Yankees in the mid-198os. and immediately won his next two starts to up his Whitson ended 1979 with a 5-8 record for the Eddie Lee Whitson was born on May 19, 1955, in record to 3-9."2 Giants, posting a 3.95 ERA, and a combined 7-11 record traded in 1982, this time to the San Diego Padres, his in four seasons. The Padres envisioned Johnson City, Tennessee, to Starlin and Anna Mae Whitson finished the International League season (4.10). He had 17 starts in 18 appearances. When the fourth team starting rotation. San Diego ( Johnson) Whitson. Starlin worked as a logger. 8-13 with a 3.84 ERA, and was a September call-up Pirates players divided their postseason money, they Whitson as a key to their Eichelberger and first Starlin "took off" when Eddie was 7 years old, to the Pirates. He made his major-league debut on awarded Whitson $7,000. traded starting pitcher Juan baseman Broderick Perkins to Cleveland for Whitson. leaving a deserted wife and nine children. Eddie's September 4 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. In 11/3 After the season, on November 24, Whitson and fans. siblings were Bradford, Buford, Eugene, Dennis, innings, he allowed a run on three walks and a sacrifice Kathleen A. Mulholland were married in Franklin The trade stirred some disquiet among Cleveland Martha, Trula, Randy, and Susan. Anna Mae and fly, but recorded his first major-league strikeout. County, Ohio. In 1980 he was strictly a starter. By Pete Franklin, a talk-show host in Cleveland, told Starlin were divorced on June 4, 1981, exactly 16 years Whitson's first big-league start (and first victory) June 7 he was just 2-7, both victories shutouts over his listeners that the Indians were trading away an after they were married. came via conditions out of his control on September the Chicago Cubs. By July i he had won five straight established right-handed starter for "Pancake" Perkins Ed Whitson was a star pitcher at Unicoi County 17, 1977, in Montreal. First, there was a rain delay games and evened his record at 7-7. Two weeks later, and "Hamburger" Eichelberger.6 However, Cleveland High School in Erwin, Tennessee. On June 5,1974, the of over two hours before the contest started. Then, Whitson was at the All-Star Game. Vida Blue had general manager Phil Seghi said, "I look at it this way. right-handed fastball pitcher was drafted by Pittsburgh scheduled starter Jerry Reuss was scratched after been named to the team, but when the Giants placed We are trading a no bill for two s5 bills. Whitson and in the sixth round of the amateur draft. Pirates scout developing stiffness in his left shoulder while he was Blue on the disabled list with a herniated cervical disc, Eichelberger have good arms. But we also get Perkins, Ken Beardslee signed him to a contract and paid him getting ready in the bullpen. Manager Chuck Tanner Whitson was named to the National League squad. 4 who will do a lot for our bench."7 a $5,000 bonus.' substituted Whitson as the starter. In his five innings, Shortly after the All-Star Game, Whitson developed Whitson's first season with the Padres also got off To start his professional career, the 19-year-old Whitson gave up five hits and three runs. Goose a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand and to a slow start. He missed the exhibition season with April i5 Whitson was assigned to the Pirates' rookie-level team Gossage pitched four innings of scoreless relief as the sat out from July 22 until August 15. He finished the pulled muscles in his rib cage. In a game on in the Gulf Coast League, where he went 1-4 with a Pirates won, 6-3. That was Whitson's only decision in 1980 campaign with a record of 11-13 and an ERA of against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Whitson suffered 4.3o ERA in eight games. In 1975 he was moved up to his month with the Pirates. 3.10 in 34 starts (2112/3 innings pitched). an injured cartilage in his left knee and was placed Charleston (South Carolina) of the Class-A Western Whitson started 1978 with Columbus but was called Whitson had another slow start in the 1981 season, on the disabled list. He was expected to be gone from Carolinas League and finished with an 8-15 mark and up in late May. Pitching in 43 games, all in relief, he which was interrupted by a players' strike. He was the the team for three to six weeks, but ended up having a 5.07 ERA. posted a 5-6 record with four saves. losing pitcher in his first four decisions. On June 2, knee surgery. When he returned, Whitson became a Whitson continued his minor-league career with In the Pirates magical 1979 season, Whitson started pitching against the Cincinnati Reds, Whitson felt target for the long ball. A player on another team told Salem (Virginia), in the Class-A Carolina League seven games and relieved in 12 (2-3, 4.37) before being some numbness in his right arm. The strike allowed him that he was "tipping his pitches,"8 which had led in 1976. By July 4 he was 6-4 with a 1.71 earned-run traded on June 28, along with pitchers Fred Breining him to rest his arm for two months, but his problems to 16 home runs in 74 innings pitched. After finding average and had struck out 78 batters in 84 innings. and Al Holland, to the San Francisco Giants for Continued after play resumed. In an August 18 start this out, Whitson pitched eight innings in his next He finished the season with a mark of 15-9, earning infielders Bill Madlock and Lenny Randle and pitcher against Pittsburgh, Whitson hyperextended his elbow start without yielding a home run. Class-A all-star status. Dave Roberts. After acquiring Madlock, the third- trying to bunt. After the game, he told reporters, "I The next season, 1984, brought new success for In 1977 Whitson went to spring training with the place Pirates, 612/ games behind first-place Montreal, twisted my arm trying to bunt. I felt a click on every Whitson. He developed a palmball by accident in Pirates, but by the beginning of April, he was sent turned their season around and eventually won the pitch I threw after that, but I won't miss a turn."5 the 1983 season. "The palmball developed in the last to the Columbus (Ohio) Clippers of the Triple-A pennant and the World Series. On June 30 Whitson, Whitson continued to be part of the starting rotation, half of the season, when I couldn't use [my] finger,"9 WHEN POPS LED THE FAMILY THE 1979 PITTSBURGH PIRATES Before 58,346 fans in San Diego, 2o. Martin told reporters After he pitched to and retired one batter in Yankee Whitson allowed from a start on September just five hits in eight innings as the Padres won, 7.1. that Whitson had arm trouble and Ed told reporters Stadium on July 2, Whitson's ERA. stood at 7.54 in The Padres then rallied for comeback wins in never felt better. The fight became an all-out brawl, 14 appearances.