Paul Splittorff

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#15317E
bgcolor2=#15317E
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Paul Splittorff
position=Pitcher
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1946|10|8
city-state|Evansville|Indiana
debutdate=September 23
debutyear=by|1970
debutteam=Kansas City Royals
finaldate=June 26
finalyear=by|1984
finalteam=Kansas City Royals
stat1label=Win-Loss Record
stat1value=166-143
stat2label=ERA
stat2value=3.81
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=1057
teams=
*Kansas City Royals (by|1970-by|1984)
highlights=
*20 wins in 1973

Paul William Splittorff Jr. (pronEng|ˈsplɪɾˌɔɹf; born October 8, 1946 in Evansville, Indiana) is a former left-handed starting pitcher for Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals. With 166 career victories, he remains the most successful pitcher in Royals history.

Splittorff made his debut on September 23, by|1970 and by by|1972, at age 25, he was a fixture in the Royals' rotation. He finished in the league top 10 in wins three times, in by|1973, by|1977, and by|1978. Never an All-Star and usually overshadowed by teammates Steve Busby, Dennis Leonard and Larry Gura, Splittorff's consistency and longevity resulted in him winning more games than any of them. Splittorff was known for staring down hitters after he struck them out. Known as "the Yankee Killer", he was particularly effective pitching against the New York Yankees, who tended to stock up on left-handed hitters to take advantage of the dimensions of Yankee Stadium, and Splitorff compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.68 earned run average pitching in four championship series against the Yankees.

He retired in by|1984 when his effectiveness faded at the same time the Royals had numerous young pitchers coming through the ranks. His final game was June 26, by|1984.

After his retirement, Splittorff became a television color commentator for the Royals. He was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in by|1987.

Before beginning his professional career, he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity at Morningside College.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins

References

*1976 Baseball Register published by The Sporting News

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/splitpa01.shtml Paul Splittorff at baseball-reference.com]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Psplip001.htm Retrosheet]