Eddie Watt

Eddie Watt
Eddie Watt
	Pitcher
	Born: April 4, 1941 (age 83); Lamoni, Iowa, U.S.
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	April 12, 1966, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
	June 14, 1975, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	38–36
Earned run average	2.91
Strikeouts	462
Saves	80
Teams
	Baltimore Orioles (1966–1973); Philadelphia Phillies (1974); Chicago Cubs (1975);
Career highlights and awards
	World Series champion (1970); Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame;

Eddie Dean Watt (born April 4, 1941) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed relief pitcher from 1966 through 1975, most prominently as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that won three consecutive American League pennants from 1969 to 1971 and, won the World Series in 1970. He also played for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs. In 2000, Watt was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.^[1]

Baseball career[edit]

Watt started just 13 out of the 411 games he appeared in, all during his rookie season. He was 2–5 as a starter and 7–2 with 4 saves as a reliever for the 1966 World Series Champion Orioles. He did not appear in any of the four World Series games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jim Palmer, Wally Bunker, and Dave McNally all pitched complete games, and the team needed only one relief appearance, provided in record fashion by Moe Drabowsky.^[2]

In 1969 the Orioles won the American League pennant and were upset in the World Series by the New York Mets. Watt contributed to Baltimore's 109–53 regular season record with a career-high 16 saves and a career-low 1.65 earned run average in 71 innings.

Watt was an important part of Baltimore's 1970 Championship season though it was not one of his best seasons statistically. He won 7 games and saved 12 with a 3.25 ERA in 53 appearances. He was the losing pitcher in the Orioles' 6–5 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds in Game 4 of the 1970 World Series. With the Orioles leading 5–3, he entered the contest in relief of Jim Palmer who had allowed a walk to Tony Pérez and a single to Johnny Bench to open the top of the eighth inning. His first pitch to Lee May resulted in a three-run homer to left field that prevented the Orioles from sweeping the Series which it would eventually win the following day. Watt had not pitched in any match during the previous two weeks.^[3]

In Game 1 of the 1971 American League Championship Series versus the Oakland Athletics, Watt relieved starter Dave McNally, blanking the A's for the last two innings, earning a save. The Orioles would go on to sweep the Athletics, eventually facing the Pittsburgh Pirates in that year's Fall Classic, where Watt would make relief appearances in Games 3 and 4.

He was consistently effective during seven seasons of pitching exclusively in relief for Baltimore. From 1967 to 1973 he averaged 46 appearances, 67 innings, and 10 saves with an ERA of 2.40.

On December 7, 1973 Watt was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies for an estimated $70,000. In 1974 he appeared in 42 games for the Phils, going 1–1 with 6 saves and a 3.99 ERA. He was released by Philadelphia just before Opening Day in 1975, and he hooked on briefly with the Chicago Cubs, making his last major league appearance on June 14, 1975. He spent most of the season with the Wichita Aeros of the American Association.

Career totals include a record of 38–36 in 411 games pitched, 13 games started, 1 complete game, 240 games finished, 80 saves, and an ERA of 2.91. In 659.2 innings he gave up just 37 home runs, an average of about one per 18 innings, and had a very low WHIP of 1.188. He had a batting average of .190 in 100 at bats with 3 home runs, hit against Johnny Podres, Frank Kreutzer, and Sam McDowell.

References[edit]

^ "Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame at MLB.com". mlb.com. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
^ "Baltimore Orioles 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 2". retrosheet.org. October 5, 1966. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
^ Durso, Joseph. "Reds Top Orioles on Home Run, 6–5," The New York Times, Thursday, October 15, 1970. Retrieved October 15, 2020

External links[edit]

Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
Eddie Watt at SABR (Baseball Bioproject)
Eddie Watt at Baseball Library
Eddie Watt at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
Klingaman, Mike. "Catching up with...former Oriole Eddie Watt," The Toy Department (The Baltimore Sun sports blog), Monday, May 2, 2011.

[1] "Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame at MLB.com". mlb.com. Retrieved 9 December 2019.

[2] "Baltimore Orioles 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 2". retrosheet.org. October 5, 1966. Retrieved March 16, 2015.

[3] Durso, Joseph. "Reds Top Orioles on Home Run, 6–5," The New York Times, Thursday, October 15, 1970. Retrieved October 15, 2020

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v t e Baltimore Orioles 1966 World Series champions
2 Bob Johnson 3 Curt Blefary 5 Brooks Robinson 6 Paul Blair 8 Andy Etchebarren 9 Russ Snyder 11 Luis Aparicio 12 Woodie Held 15 Davey Johnson 16 Sam Bowens 17 John Miller 19 Dave McNally 20 Frank Robinson (AL and World Series MVP) 22 Jim Palmer 23 Vic Roznovsky 25 Moe Drabowsky 26 Boog Powell 27 Wally Bunker 28 Eddie Fisher 29 Dick Hall 32 Gene Brabender 34 Larry Haney 37 Stu Miller 39 Eddie Watt 40 Frank Bertaina
Manager 42 Hank Bauer Coaches 14 Gene Woodling 31 Harry Brecheen 41 Sherm Lollar 55 Billy Hunter
Regular season

v t e Baltimore Orioles 1970 World Series champions
5 Brooks Robinson (World Series MVP) 6 Paul Blair 7 Mark Belanger 8 Andy Etchebarren 9 Don Buford 10 Elrod Hendricks 14 Merv Rettenmund 15 Davey Johnson 16 Bobby Grich 19 Dave McNally 20 Frank Robinson 21 Curt Motton 22 Jim Palmer 24 Pete Richert 25 Moe Drabowsky 26 Boog Powell (AL MVP) 29 Dick Hall 30 Chico Salmon 32 Marcelino López 35 Mike Cuellar 36 Tom Phoebus 37 Terry Crowley 39 Eddie Watt 40 Dave Leonhard 44 Jim Hardin
Manager 4 Earl Weaver Coaches 31 George Bamberger 41 Jim Frey 48 George Staller 55 Billy Hunter
Regular season American League Championship Series

v t e Members of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame
Roberto Alomar Brady Anderson Luis Aparicio Harold Baines George Bamberger Steve Barber Hank Bauer Mark Belanger Paul Blair Mike Boddicker Mike Bordick Hal Brown Don Buford Al Bumbry Mike Cuellar Rich Dauer Doug DeCinces Rick Dempsey Mike Devereaux Mike Flanagan Jim Gentile Bobby Grich Dick Hall J.J. Hardy Elrod Hendricks Chris Hoiles Billy Hunter Davey Johnson John Lowenstein Dennis Martínez Tippy Martinez Lee May Scott McGregor Dave McNally Ray Miller Stu Miller Melvin Mora Eddie Murray Mike Mussina Johnny Oates Gregg Olson Jim Palmer Milt Pappas Boog Powell Paul Richards Cal Ripken Jr. Cal Ripken Sr. Brian Roberts Brooks Robinson Frank Robinson Gary Roenicke Ken Singleton B. J. Surhoff Gus Triandos Eddie Watt Earl Weaver Hoyt Wilhelm Gene Woodling
Herb Armstrong Award Joe Angel Richie Bancells Rex Barney Rob Brown Frank Cashen Harry Dalton Jack Dunn III Jerold Hoffberger Phil Itzoe Lenny Johnston Lee MacPhail Fred Manfra Bill O'Donnell Hank Peters Don Pries Ralph Salvon Chuck Thompson Ernie Tyler Fred Uhlman Sr. Julie Wagner Eddie Weidner
"Wild Bill" Hagy Award Wild Bill Hagy Mo Gaba