Assenmacher was signed by the Braves out of a 1983 tryout camp. As a rookie in 1986, he went 7-3 (2.50) with seven saves in 61 appearances, mostly as a lefthanded setup man for Gene Garber. He went 8-7 with five saves in 1988, posting a 1.16 ERA away from Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium but a 4.87 ERA at home. In mid-1989 Assenmacher was acquired by the Cubs for their successful stretch drive and spent the next four years in Chicago.
Filling in for an injured Mitch Williams, Assenmacher saved ten games in 1990. When Dave Smith went down in 1991, he racked up another fifteen. But Assenmacher never again managed more than eight in a season. Firmly typecast as a situational lefty, he moved on to the Yankees in 1993 and White Sox in 1994 before settling down with Cleveland in 1995. The wily veteran provided steady relief for the Indians until bone spurs in his feet began to limit his effectiveness in 1997. (JCA/SCL/JGR)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»August 22, 1989:
In his only inning of work, Braves reliever Paul Assenmacher strikes out four batters in the 5th inning of a 10–5 loss to St. Louis.
»July 30, 1993: The Yankees obtain P Paul Assenmacher from the Cubs in a 3-way deal which sees P John Habyan go to the Royals and OF Karl Rhodes to the Cubs.
»May 9, 1995: The Indians score eight runs before any outs are recorded in the 1st inning, tying a major league record. Paul Sorrento, Kenny Lofton and Carlos Baerga each hit home runs in the stanza, as Cleveland goes on to a 10-0 victory behind Orel Hershiser and Paul Assenmacher.
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