Joe Sambito

Infobox MLB retired
name=Joe Sambito


position=Pitcher
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1952|6|28
city-state|Brooklyn|New York
debutdate=July 20
debutyear=by|1976
debutteam=Houston Astros
finaldate=October 3
finalyear=by|1987
finalteam=Boston Red Sox
stat1label=Win-Loss record
stat1value=37-38
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.03
stat3label=Saves
stat3value=84
teams=
* Houston Astros (by|1976-by|1984)
* New York Mets (by|1985)
* Boston Red Sox (by|1986-by|1987)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (1979)

Joseph Charles (Joe) Sambito (born June 28, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Houston Astros (1976-1982, 1984), New York Mets (1985) and Boston Red Sox (1986-1987). He batted and threw left-handed.

Sambito has been one of the most dominating closers in Houston Astros history. A fastball and slider specialist, Sambito was a starter in the minors, as he led the Southern League in strikeouts at Triple-A Columbus in 1975. A year later he was promoted to the Astros, where he immediately moved into a relief role.

From 1978 through 1981, Sambito led Houston in saves, with a career-high 22 saves and a 1.78 ERA in 1979 – a season in which he posted a string of over 40-2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run and also made the National League All-Star team. He started 1982 with four saves and a 0.71 ERA in nine appearances, but saw his career ruined by an injury when was discovered that bone chips had damaged the ligaments of his pitching elbow. He missed the rest of the season and all of 1983 recuperating from Tommy John surgery. The next two years, he failed in comeback attempts with Houston and the New York Mets. Sambito made the Boston Red Sox roster in the 1986 spring training, as he helped the Red Sox to reach the World Series after going 2-0 with 12 saves. He retired in 1987 after posting a 2-6 record with 6.93 ERA.

In an eleven-season career, Sambito posted a 37-38 record with a 3.03 ERA and 84 saves in 461 games.

Following his retirement, Sambito became a players counselor and representative. Some of his clients have included Andy Pettitte, Ryan Klesko, Jeff D'Amico and Morgan Ensberg.

External links

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/S/Sambito_Joe.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sambijo01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.astrosdaily.com/players/interviews/Sambito_Joe.html Astros Daily interview]