Steve Ridzik

Infobox MLB retired
name=Steve Ridzik
position=Pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=April 29 1929
deathdate=death date and age|2008|1|8|1929|4|29
debutdate=September 4
debutyear=by|1950
debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
finaldate=May 10
finalyear=by|1966
finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=39-38
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.79
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=406
teams=
*Philadelphia Phillies (by|1950-by|1955)
*Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds (by|1955)
*New York/San Francisco Giants (by|1956-by|1957)
*Cleveland Indians (by|1958)
*Washington Senators (by|1963-by|1965)
*Philadelphia Phillies (by|1966)
highlights=
*Member of by|1950 NL pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillies

Stephen George Ridzik (April 29, 1929 – January 8, 2008) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for five teams from by|1950 to by|1966, primarily the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Senators.

Born in Yonkers, New York, Ridzik was signed by the Phillies at the age of 16 and made his Major League debut on September 4, 1950 pitching in relief. In by|1953, Ridzik started 12 games and relieved in 30 more going 9-6 with an earned run average of 3.77. The Phillies traded him on April 30, by|1955, along with Smoky Burgess and Stan Palys, to the Cincinnati Redlegs for Andy Seminick, Glen Gorbous, and Jim Greengrass. After having his contract sold to Seattle of the Pacific Coast League that same year, the New York Giants claimed him the next month in the Rule 5 draft.

Ridzik pitched for the Giants from by|1957 to by|1958 appearing in 56 games including 5 starts. On April 8, 1958, the Giants sold his contract to the Cleveland Indians where he would pitch in six more games before his contract was sold again to the Chicago Cubs. He would not pitch a Major League game with the Cubs before his contract was sold to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League.

Ridzik signed with the Washington Senators three years later in by|1963 after developing a knuckleball. He would appear in 132 games, mostly in relief, over the next three years for the Senators. On April 13, 1966, his contract was sold back to his original team, the Phillies. He would appear in two games with the Phillies that year before calling it a career.

After life as a baseball player, Ridzik worked in the Washington D.C. area for a military food distributor until moving to Florida in the late 1980s. In Florida, he helped with the organizing of charity events featuring former Major League players. He also helped establish the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association with former Senators teammate, Chuck Hinton. He died January 8, 2008, after fighting heart disease for several years.

External links

* [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=ridzist01 Baseball Almanac]
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Steve_Ridzik_1929 Baseball Library]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3200977 ESPN: Obituary]