Rick Sawyer

Born: 4/7/1948 in Bakersfield, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1974-04-28 | Final Game: 1977-09-23

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 205 lbs

Full name: Richard Clyde Sawyer

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Biography

Rick Sawyer was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1977. Born in 1948, he made his debut during a transitional period in baseball marked by the emergence of power hitters and a growing emphasis on specialized pitching roles. Sawyer established himself as a reliable arm in the bullpen and rotation, finishing his career with a record of 12-9 and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.49. Throughout his tenure, Sawyer showcased his ability to strike out hitters, amassing a total of 82 strikeouts over his career. Despite not recording any saves, his contributions on the mound were vital for his teams during his playing years. While his statistical achievements may not place him among the most prominent pitchers of his era, Sawyer's journey through the game reflected the evolving landscape of baseball in the mid-1970s, a time when pitchers were beginning to adapt to the offensive challenges posed by increasingly powerful lineups. He retired on September 23, 1977, leaving behind a legacy as a determined competitor in a dynamic period of the sport.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
12	9	74	20	4	2	0	200.3	229	100	17	96	82	4.49	0

Career ERA 4.49 vs. league average 3.72 across their career seasons — 20.8% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1974	NYY	AL	0	0	1	0	0	0	1.7	2	3	1	1	16.20	—	-
1975	NYY	AL	0	0	4	0	0	0	6.0	7	2	2	3	3.00	—	-
1976	SDP	NL	5	3	13	11	4	2	81.7	84	23	38	33	2.53	3.51 (+28%)	-
1977	SDP	NL	7	6	56	9	0	0	111.0	136	72	55	45	5.84	4.00 (-46%)	-

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
74	44	4	8	0	0	0	4	0	7	10	0.182	0.294	0.182	0.476	0.0

Career AVG .182 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — 29.7% below league average.

Career OBP .294 vs. league average .325 across their career seasons — 9.6% below league average.

Career SLG .182 vs. league average .377 across their career seasons — 51.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.476 vs. league average 0.702 across their career seasons — 32.2% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS
1974	NYY	AL	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—
1975	NYY	AL	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—
1976	SDP	NL	13	24	2	5	2	2	2	0.208	—	—	—	—
1977	SDP	NL	56	20	2	3	2	5	8	0.150	—	—	—	—