Books and articles about Scott Erickson

SHOPPING » Look for Scott Erickson books at BN.com » Look for Scott Erickson books at Amazon.com Your purchases keep BaseballLibrary.com online. Thank you!

RELATED LINKS Ask The Experts » Has there ever been a game with more than one triple play? Around the Web » Giambi deserves finder's fee for hooking up Erickson, Yankees from newsday.com » Scott Erickson from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

One of the most durable starters of the 90's, right-hander Scott Erickson thrived on a sinking fastball that induced numerous ground-ball outs off the bats of frustrated hitters. After notable early-career success, including a 2.87 ERA in his rookie year of 1990 and a 20-win campaign for the World Champion Twins in 1991 (when he finished second to Roger Clemens in the Cy Young Voting), Erickson seemed to lose his way in the mid-90's.

Though he notched one of his career highlights by tossing a no-hitter against the Brewers on April 27, 1994, Erickson lost 52 games from 1993 through 1996, a stretch that saw him three times average more than five earned runs per nine innings. Traded to the Orioles in mid-season 1995, Erickson gradually recovered his form in Baltimore, going 47-32 for the Birds from 1997 through 1999. In 1998 he solidified his status as an innings-eater by leading the AL in starts (36), innings pitched (251.1) and complete games (11). After making at least 32 starts every year in the 90's save the strike-shortened 1994 season, Erickson was limited to just 16 starts in 2000 by elbow injuries that would eventually require season-ending "Tommy John" surgery. (AGL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 5, 1989: The Orioles select Louisiana State University pitcher Ben McDonald (14–3) with the first pick in the annual amateur draft. He'll sign August 19 and debut September 6, missing by three days being the first in this draft to debut. The Jays John Olerud, picked on the 3rd round, will debut September 3, singling in his first at bat. The next three picks are high schoolers: the Braves take Tyler Houston; the Mariners pick Roger Salkeld; and the Phillies choose Jeff Jackson. The White Sox get Frank Thomas with the 7th pick, while the Angels take Kyle Abbott with the 10th, and Chad Curtis on the 45th round. The Dodgers use their 1st round pick on Jamie McAndrew, son of former Mets P Jim McAndrew. Mo Vaughn goes to Boston on the 23rd pick and Chuck Knoblauch to the Twins on the 25th (he had been picked on the 18th round by the Phils in 1986, but did not sign). On the 4th round, the Twins select and sign P Scott Erickson, who was drafted but not signed in the previous three drafts. » June 24, 1990: The Twins Scott Erickson wins his 12th game in a row, stopping the Yankees, 5–0, and allowing just two hits. He retires 24 of the final 25 batters. Erickson will go on the DL for the first two weeks in July with a strained elbow. » June 29, 1990: Scott Erickson, 10–0 for the past two months, has his 12-game win streak snapped, as the Twins lose to the White Sox, 8–4. » April 21, 1991: After losing his 1st two starts when the Twins were shut out, Scott Erickson is victorious, 4–3, at California. He allows five hits and benefits from an tie-breaking unearned run off reliever Mark Eichhorn. It is the start of a 12-game win streak for Erickson, who will go 20–8 on the year. » May 28, 1991: Minnesota's Scott Erickson, the American League pitcher of the Month, shuts out Texas, 3-0, stopping the Rangers' 14-game winning streak, the longest in club history, but not the longest in the AL this season. Starting June 1, the Twins will win 15 in a row. » June 24, 1991: The Twins Scott Erickson wins his 12th consecutive decision, tops the majors, stopping the Yankees, 5–0, on two hits. He retires 24 of the final 25 batters. » June 29, 1991: In an 8–4 loss to the White Sox, the Twins Kirby Puckett collects his 1500th career hit, off winner Greg Hibbard. Scott Erickson is the loser, ending his 12 game win streak. » July 20, 1991: At Boston, Twins ace Scott Erickson stops the Red Sox, 5–0. Kirby Puckett hits his first ever homer at Fenway. » June 28, 1992: Minnesota rumbles by Oakland for the 3rd straight game, 10–2, to leave the two teams tied in the American League West at 43–31. Scott Erickson wins over Kevin Campbell. Kirby Puckett and Greg Gagne homer for the Twins. » July 9, 1992: Baltimore's Brady Anderson and Mike Devereaux lead off the game against the Twins Scott Erickson with back-to-back homers. The Orioles go on to a 4–2 victory. » July 24, 1992: Minnesota P Scott Erickson hurls a 1–hit, 5-0 victory over the Red Sox in the 1st game of a DH. Tom Brunansky's single is the only hit. Roger Clemens takes the loss. Boston wins the nitecap, 5–4, scoring a run with one out in the 9th. » April 27, 1994: Minnesota P Scott Erickson no-hits the Brewers, 6-0. It is the first no-hitter in the history of the Metrodome. Erickson strikes out five while walking four in his gem, the first Minnesota no-hitter in 27 years. » July 7, 1995: The Twins trade P Scott Erickson to the Orioles in exchange for P Scott Klingenbeck and a player to be named. » September 5, 1995: Cal Ripken ties Lou Gehrig's all-time mark by appearing in his 2,130th consecutive game. The Orioles shutout the Angels behind Scott Erickson by a score of 8-0. » October 13, 1996: The Yankees defeat the Orioles, 6-4, giving them the American League pennant. The victors score all of their runs in the 3rd inning, which features home runs by Jim Leyritz, Cecil Fielder, and Darryl Strawberry. Scott Erickson gives the three homers in one inning, a first in the LCS. Bobby Bonilla, Todd Zeile, and Eddie Murray homer for the losers. » July 6, 1997: In Detroit, the Tigers top the Orioles, 14–9, their 3rd straight win after 11 consecutive losses. Brian Johnson and Travis Fryman homer for the Tigers while teammate Bobby Higginson adds a two-run inside-the-park homer, his fifth round tripper this week. For Scott Erickson (11-4) it is the worst start of his career for Baltimore, allowing all 12 runs, 11 earned, and 10 hits in four 1-3 innings. Willie Blair (6-4) takes the win in relief. The O's are led by Rafael Palmeiro's homer, triple and single and homers by Geronimo Berroa, Jeff Reboulet and Tony Tarasco. » August 12, 1997: Scott Erickson pitches a three-hitter and Rafael Palmeiro has three hits, including a three-run homer, as the Baltimore Orioles defeat Oakland, 8-0. The game is played without a public address announcer. The Orioles shut off the microphone to pay tribute to Rex Barney, who had served as the Orioles' PA announcer since 1974. Barney, 72, was found dead in his home earlier in the day. » October 8, 1997: The Orioles take Game one of the ALCS as Scott Erickson and Randy Myers combine to limit Cleveland to four hits in a 3-0 win. Brady Anderson and Roberto Alomar homer for Baltimore. » July 21, 2002: Orioles' P Scott Erickson is arrested after getting into a domestic dispute with his girlfriend. He is charged with second–degree assault. » August 13, 2002: In Minnesota, the Twins' Rick Reed needs little help in shutting out the Baltimore Orioles, 6–0. Doug Mientkiewitz hits two homers and David Ortiz adds a home run and 2-run double. In the pre-game ceremonies celebrating Native American Heritage Day, golfer Notah Begay, a Navajo, chips the opening pitch. The losing pitcher is Scott Erickson, who had beaten his former team nine straight times over six seasons.