- Wilson Alvarez
Infobox MLB retired
name=Wilson Alvarez
position=Pitcher
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate =birth date and age|1970|3|24Maracaibo ,Zulia State ,Venezuela
debutdate=July 24
debutyear=by|1989
debutteam=Texas Rangers
finaldate=September 28
finalyear=by|2005
finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
stat1label=Win-loss record
stat1value=102-92
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.96
stat3label=Strikeout s
stat3value=1,330
teams=
* Texas Rangers (by|1989)
*Chicago White Sox (by|1991-by|1997)
*San Francisco Giants (by|1997)
* Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|1998-by|1999, by|2002)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2003-by|2005)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (1994)Wilson Eduardo Alvarez Fuenmayor (born
March 24 ,1970 inMaracaibo ,Zulia State ,Venezuela ) is a formerMajor League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played in 13 seasons for the Texas Rangers (by|1989),Chicago White Sox (by|1991 – by|1997),San Francisco Giants (1997), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|1998 – by|2002) andLos Angeles Dodgers (by|2003 – by|2005).Acquired from the Rangers two years before, Alvarez provided one of the highlights of the 1991 Chicago White Sox season by pitching a
no-hitter against theBaltimore Orioles at Memorial Stadium in only his second Major League start. It was quite a contrast to his only previous appearance, when he faced five batters for the Rangers and gave up two walks, a single and twohome run s without retiring a batter, giving him a career ERA, prior to his no-hit gem, of infinity.Alvarez had control problems in the minors, and it carried over to the big leagues. After shouldering a very heavy workload in 1991, the prospect was kept under scrutiny for most of the by|1992 season. Between the Majors, minors and winter league action, Alvarez worked close to 300 innings in '91; a significant number for anyone, but especially for a 21-year-old pitcher. But it wasn't until by|1993 that he managed to break into the rotation permanently. That season, Alvarez won 15 games, but his control problems continued -- he led the league with 122 walks.
In by|1994, Alvarez went 12-8 and made the
American League All-Star team. After a disappointing 8-11 in by|1995, he had 15 wins and 181strikeout s in by|1996. He was sent to the Giants in 1997 as part of a 10-player mega-deal. Afree agent after the season, he signed a five-year contract with Tampa Bay. He was the team's first pitcher, and started Opening Day onMarch 31 , 1998, throwing the Devil Rays' first ever pitch (a ball to Detroit'sBrian L. Hunter ).The inconsistency and poor conditioning continually kept the talented lefty from realizing his full potential. In his first season with the Rays, Alvarez missed two months with tendinitis in his shoulder, eventually losing 14 games during the season. The following year he made two trips to the
disabled list . Finally, he had arthroscopic shoulder surgery and missed the next two seasons. After finishing his contract with Tampa Bay, Alvarez signed with the Dodgers. He began the 2003 season as a starter for Triple-A Las Vegas. After going 5-1 with a 1.15 ERA, he filled the long relief role for the Dodgers at mid-season. Later he got a chance to start, collecting a 5-0 record and 1.06 ERA over a stretch of nine games. In 2004, he went 7-6 in 40 games (15 as a starter).On
August 1 , 2005, Alvarez announced he would retire after the season.Alvarez compiled a career 102-92 record with 1330 strikeouts and a 3.96 ERA in 1747.2 innings.
Replaced as pitching coach of the
State College Spikes by Brian Tracy on April 8, 2008.Trivia
* In José Canseco's book, , he dedicated a whole chapter on how he gave Wilson Alvarez steroids because of Alvarez's battles with his weight.
* Alvarez's no-hitter came exactly one year after the death of his son due topremature birth .ee also
*
List of Major League Baseball no-hitters External links
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B08110BAL1991.htm Box Score of Wilson Alvarez´s No Hitter]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
