Former major league reliever Scott Sauerbeck has passed away, the Pirates announced on Thursday morning. He was 53.
Sauerbeck was a Cincinnati native who attended Miami University in Ohio. The Mets selected him in the 23rd round of the 1994 draft. Sauerbeck pitched four years in the New York system. They lost him to the Pirates in the ’98 Rule 5 draft. The 6’3″ southpaw would spend the majority of his career in Pittsburgh.
As a rookie, Sauerbeck fired 67 2/3 innings with an even 2.00 earned run average. He tossed a career-high 75 2/3 frames the following season, posting a 4.04 ERA. He struggled in ’01 but rebounded with arguably his best season the year after that. Sauerbeck pitched to a 2.30 ERA across 62 2/3 innings while striking out nearly 28% of opposing hitters.
Pittsburgh dealt Sauerbeck to the Red Sox at the ’03 trade deadline. While he struggled down the stretch in Boston, the deal allowed him to pitch in the postseason for the only time. He made one appearance in that year’s ALCS loss to the Yankees. Sauerbeck missed the following season to injury. He concluded his career with brief stints in Cleveland and Oakland.
Over parts of seven seasons, Sauerbeck pitched to a 3.82 ERA. He recorded 20 wins, struck out 389 hitters, and finished 98 games. MLBTR sends our condolences to his family, loved ones, former teammates and friends.
Peace be with you and yours, Mr. Sauerbeck.
RIP
Far too young.
Terrible news. I remember the Sox getting him for the ’03 stretch run, unfortunately he didn’t do that wwll though
R.I.P. Scott
He was the only MLB player with a degree in geology. In his first few seasons, he scooped up some “dirt” (fines, really) from mounds and had his professor run the sample with x-ray diffraction. Sauerbeck then published his senior thesis “The mineralogy of National League pitching mounds”, in which he found that they are all locally-derived clay, with the exception of the Astrodome (no clay). Domes don’t need clay to dry up rain.
I love this story.
This is one of the most interesting comments I’ve ever read on this site.
That’s so cool… what a great way to tribute an obviously interesting person!
Thank you for sharing!!
Mind-boggling, what a great tribute and thanks for sharing. Wow.
Interesting. Does that mean he completed his degree while a major league player?
RIP S.S.!!!
RIP
Way too young. Condolences to the family and friends.
Shawn, I’d like to add to the chorus, thanks for sharing, really cool stuff.
RIP Scott Sauerbeck!!
I also remember the Sox getting him at the deadline. A name I will never forget. I had never heard the geology story before; very cool.
Remembering the Pirates got Freddy Sanchez via trading him partly because in the original deal that sent Sauerbeck to Boston with Mike Gonzalez for Brandon Lyon and Anastacio Martinez Lyon failed a physical meaning he had to be sent back with Martinez for Gonzalez but that Sanchez was added to the Pirates return with Jeff Suppan going to Boston
I remember Scott seemingly striking out every Giant batter when he came in to pitch except for a big late inning homer from Armando Rios back in the day.
RIP Scott Sauerbeck.
RIP Scott…..
RIP Scott. Too damn young. Remember you with the Pirates, seems like yesterday.
Scott had a good year with the 2005 Indians, probably the best team to have missed the playoffs in the wild card era. Taken way too soon, may he rest in peace.