Denny Neagle

Denny Neagle
Pitcher
Born: September 13, 1968 (1968-09-13) (age 43) Gambrills, Maryland
Batted: Left	Threw: Left
MLB debut
July 27, 1991 for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
July 20, 2003 for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics
Win–Loss record	124–92
Earned run average	4.24
Strikeouts	1,415
Teams
Minnesota Twins (1991) Pittsburgh Pirates (1992–1996) Atlanta Braves (1996–1998) Cincinnati Reds (1999–2000) New York Yankees (2000) Colorado Rockies (2001–2003)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star selection (1995, 1997) World Series champion (2000)

Dennis Edward Neagle Jr. ( /ˈneɪɡəl/; born September 13, 1968 in Gambrills, Maryland) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was last under contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during the 2005 season, but he did not play due to injury. During the 1990s, he was one of the top pitchers in baseball, but his career, and personal life, deteriorated in the early 2000s.

Career

Arundel Senior High School

Neagle attended Arundel Senior High School and played on the baseball team.

University of Minnesota

Neagle attended the University of Minnesota and played on the baseball team.

Minnesota Twins

Neagle was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1989 amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins. He saw some action in the summer of 1991 for the Twins, but was not on their postseason roster when the club won the 1991 World Series.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Neagle was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training in 1992, and became a full-time starter for the Pirates in 1994. The following season, Neagle posted a 13-8 record with a 3.43 ERA and became the ace of a mediocre Pittsburgh staff. That year, Neagle represented the Pirates at the All-Star Game. He got off to an impressive 14–6 start in 1996. On August 27, 1996, he pitched eight innings giving up only two runs to the first place Atlanta Braves. The next day, the Braves traded a young Jason Schmidt to Pittsburgh for Neagle in the midst of their playoff run.

Atlanta Braves

Neagle was given the opportunity to start in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, earning a no-decision.

Remaining with the Braves in 1997, Neagle had his best season, going 20–5 with a 2.97 ERA. He earned another All-Star selection and finished third in Cy Young Award voting. In the 1997 National League Championship Series, Neagle pitched a complete-game shutout.

Neagle's 16-11 record and 3.55 ERA in 1998 were still solid numbers, but the emergence of Kevin Millwood made him expendable and he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds after the season.

Cincinnati Reds

Injuries limited Neagle to 19 starts in 1999, but he stormed out to an 8–2 record in 2000.

New York Yankees

The playoff-bound New York Yankees traded prospects Drew Henson, Jackson Melián and Ed Yarnall to acquire Neagle on July 12, 2000. He only registered a 7-7 record over the rest of the season with the Yankees, and his playoff performance was shaky, but his team triumphed in the 2000 World Series and Neagle earned a championship ring.

Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and legal troubles

In December 2000, the Colorado Rockies signed Neagle and fellow left-hander Mike Hampton to expensive contracts. Neagle's contract was for five years and $51 million,^[1] and his 17-19 record and 5.31 ERA over the 2001 and 2002 seasons spelled disaster for the Rockies. Due to injuries, Neagle only started seven games in 2003. He went 2–4 with a 7.90 ERA, pitching what was to be his last Major League game on July 20, 2003.

Neagle missed the 2004 season due to ligament and elbow surgeries. Then, in late November 2004, a Denver policeman ticketed him for soliciting a woman for oral sex. Less than a week later, the Rockies canceled the final year of his lucrative contract, citing a morals clause in his contract.^[2] The incident ultimately led to the end of Neagle's marriage.

He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before the 2005 season, but did not play due to injury.

On January 24, 2006, Neagle pleaded guilty in Jefferson County, Colorado, on one charge of patronizing a prostitute. Although the sentence can carry a maximum of a $500 fine and up to six months in prison, Neagle was only sentenced to 40 hours of community service.

On August 27, 2007, Neagle was arrested for and later pleaded guilty to driving under the influence.^[3]

On December 13, 2007, Neagle was mentioned in the Mitchell Report in connection with steroids.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball wins champions
• List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins

References

1. ^ Mormile, Anthony (2000-12-09). "Opening day of winter meetings puts free agents in spotlight". ESPN.com. http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/news/2000/1209/933125.html. Retrieved 2009-08-16. 
2. ^ "Rockies terminate Neagle's contract". CBC Sports. 2004-12-06. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/12/06/neagle041206.html. Retrieved 2008-11-28. 
3. ^ Drinking & Driving - For the Record - (HometownAnnapolis.com)^{[dead link]}

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Preceded by John Smoltz

National League Wins Champion 1997

Succeeded by Tom Glavine

Persondata
Name	Neagle, Denny
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 13, 1968
Place of birth	Gambrills, Maryland
Date of death
Place of death