In this series, I will look at each player who played in 1981, the year I was born. Because, why not?
Chuck Rainey was Boston's first round draft pick in the January 1974 draft. He was picked 19th overall. Rainey moved steadily through the minors at first, but seemed to get stuck in Pawtucket for a couple of years. He finally made his Major League debut in 1979. That year, he made it into 20 games, starting 16 of them and having a record of 8-5 with a 3.82 ERA. He struck out 41 and walked 41 in 103.2 innings. He cemented his spot on the pitching staff for the next season. His record improved (8-3), but his ERA (4.86) rose more than a run. Nevertheless, Rainey was solid.
In 1981, Rainey pitched sparingly due to an injury he suffered in 1980. He also returned to the minors for a short stint to get back on track as the combination of the injury and the strike that year caused some difficulties for Rainey.
When he was healthy though, he was pretty decent. Rainey pitched in just eleven games, starting just two of them, but had a record of 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He pitched 40 innings, striking out 20 and walking 13. Rainey was never a big strikeout pitcher. His career high was just 84 with the Cubs in 191 innings pitched.
The next season, he was back in the rotation for 25 of his 27 games and had a record of 7-5, but his ERA ballooned to 5.02. In 129 innings pitched, he struck out 57 while walking 63. After the season, he was traded to the Cubs for Doug Bird. It was with the Cubs that he had his biggest season from an innings standpoint and had a 14-13 record. Rainey also pitched for the Athletics.
He came within one out of a no-hitter for the Cubs in 83.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I did not know that.
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