Eric Rasmussen

Infobox MLB retired
name=Eric Rasmussen
position=Pitcher


width=300
bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=black
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1952|3|22
city-state|Racine|Wisconsin
debutdate=July 21
debutyear=by|1975
debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
finaldate=October 2
finalyear=by|1983
finalteam=Kansas City Royals
stat1label=Win-Loss Record
stat1value=50-77
stat2label=Strikeouts
stat2value=489
stat3label=ERA
stat3value=3.85
teams=
*St. Louis Cardinals (1975-by|1978, by|1982-1983)
*San Diego Padres (1978-1980)
*Kansas City Royals (1983)
*Fort Myers Sun Sox (by|1989-by|1990) (Senior Professional Baseball Association)
highlights=
*Holds the distinction of being the only major league pitcher to ever toss a shutout in his first National League start (July 21, 1975) and his first American League start (August 6, 1983).

Eric Ralph Rasmussen is a retired professional baseball player who was born Harold Ralph Rasmussen on March 22, by|1952 in city-state|Racine|Wisconsin, but legally changed his name to Eric during the by|1976-77 offseason. [cite web|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1092358/2/index.htm|title="The Week (April 17-23)" (SI Vault, May 2, 1977 issue) |accessdate=2008-07-03]

MLB career

Rasmussen was originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the January by|1971 free agent draft, but opted instead to attend the University of New Orleans where he was named first team All-America. The St. Louis Cardinals then selected him in the 32nd round of the June by|1973 free agent draft.

Rasmussen pitched in the Major Leagues from 1975-1980, and again from 1982-1983. In late by|1980 & by|1981, Rasmussen pitched in the Mexican League. He also pitched for the Fort Myers Sun Sox for the duration of the two-year run of the Senior Professional Baseball Association.

Coaching

Rasmussen accepted a pitching coach position in the Cleveland Indians' minor league system in by|1988. In by|1991, he jumped over to the Minnesota Twins' oganization, where he has remained ever since. From 1991 through by|1995 he was the pitching coach for the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Twins, in by|1996 and by|1997, he coached the Twins' advanced A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle, in by|1998 he jumped to the Double A New Britain Rock Cats, and in by|1999, he returned to the Miracle.

Some of the more notable names to have been coached by Rasmussen include Johan Santana, Francisco Liriano, LaTroy Hawkins & Mark Redman. [cite web|url=http://miraclebaseball.com/|title=Fort Myers Miracle|accessdate=2008-07-16]

by|2008 Miracle Roster

ee also

*Fort Myers Miracle
*Minnesota Twins

References

ources