A first-round draft pick of Toronto in 1990, Karsay was traded to Oakland in the July 1993 deal that sent Rickey Henderson to the Blue Jays. The right-hander showed promise as a starter when the A’s called him up to the majors in August 1993, but his career took a drastic turn when two separate elbow operations, including “Tommy John” surgery in June 1995, forced him to miss two full seasons. When he made it back to the majors in 1997, Karsay was hammered in 24 starts (3-12, 5.77 ERA) for Oakland. Dealt to the Indians that December, he revived his career as a short reliever, where his mid-90s fastball and sharp-breaking curve proved a formidable combination.
In 50 appearances, all but three from the bullpen, Karsay won 10 games with a 2.97 ERA in 1999. He notched 20 saves in 29 chances the next year, serving as Cleveland’s primary closer until the club added Bob Wickman in a July 2000 trade. The following June Karsay was sent to the Braves along with fellow reliever Steve Reed for lefty John Rocker. Over 74 games with the Braves and Indians in 2001 he collected three wins and eight saves while posting a 2.35 ERA, allowing just 73 hits in 88 innings. (AGL)
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»June 22, 2001:
The Braves send controversial P John Rocker and IF Troy Cameron to the Indians in exchange for pitchers Steve Karsay and Steve Reed.
»December 8, 2001: The Yankees sign free agent P Steve Karsay to a 4-year contract.
»September 11, 2002: At Yankee Stadium the Yankees remember the tragedy of last year with a special monument in Monument Park memorializing those killed as part of the 50–minute pregame ceremony. The Orioles wear 5–sided patches honoring the victims of the attack on the Pentagon. The game goes 11 innings, before Nick Johnson ends in with an RBI single. The Yankees win, 5–4, despite striking out 14 times. Orlando Hernandez issues a walk in the 8th when he goes to his mouth on a 3–2 count while standing on the mound. It was the first walk in six full games (65 innings) by a Yankee pitcher, the longest steak since WW2, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Steve Karsay later hands out another walk.
»October 1, 2002: The Yankees score four runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to come from behind and defeat the Angels, 8–5, in the 1st game of their division series. Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Bernie Williams, and Rondell White all homer for NY while Troy Glaus hits a pair of home runs for Anaheim. Steve Karsay gets the win in relief. This is the Angels first time in the playoffs since 1986, but hey face the same starting pitcher today as they did in their last playoff appearance: Roger Clemens.
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