Books and articles about Dave Stieb

Originally signed as an outfielder, Stieb made rapid progress through the Blue Jays' system as a pitcher. He finished second on the team in wins (8) in 1979 despite breaking in midway through the season. With an 11-10 record in 1981, Stieb became the first starting pitcher for the expansion Blue Jays with a winning record, and in 1982 he was named TSN AL Pitcher of the Year, with a 17-14 record and a 3.25 ERA. He has also been a very good fielder. Stieb was among league leaders in innings pitched, complete games, and ERA consistently while the Jays were making the transition from an expansion team to a contender. He was outspoken in his frustration about his teammates ' capabilities, often asking to be traded. He glowered at teammates who made errors and at umpires whose calls he disliked.

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Despite his talent, Stieb has never had an impressive won-lost record (although no Blue Jay pitcher has won more games), and he has shown a tendency to self-destruct late in close games as well as to lose his concentration after temper tantrums. On August 24, 1985, he had a no-hitter through eight innings, then surrendered consecutive home runs to slap-hitters Rudy Law and Bryan Little in the ninth.

Stieb had a team-record streak of 26 scoreless innings in 1985 and led the AL with a 2.48 ERA, the fifth consecutive season he was Blue Jay team leader in ERA. Stieb also led the Blue Jays in innings pitched every season from 1981 through 1985, and led the AL in 1984.

Perhaps chastened by his 7-12 record and 4.74 ERA in 1986, Stieb announced he had become a born-again Christian early in the 1987 season. He regained his form in 1988, posting a 3.04 ERA while going 16-8. Stieb pitched a one-hitter against the Brewers in May, allowing only a single to B.J. Surhoff, and in his last two starts of the season he was one strike away from a no-hitter, only to settle for one-hitters each time. Julio Franco spoiled the first bid with a bad-bounce grounder past the second baseman, and Jim Traber ruined the second with a clean single to right. In his second start of 1989, Stieb one-hit the Yankees, giving him three one-hitters in four starts. (TF)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 31, 1909: For the 2nd time in two years -- the first was on May 25, 1908 -- Bill Burns has a no-hitter broken up with two outs in the 9th, when Washington's Otis Clymer singles. But Burns and the White Sox win 1–0, besting Walter Johnson in the first of two games. Burns is the only pitcher to suffer this fate twice, until Dave Stieb of Toronto does on September 24 and 30, 1988. » March 8, 1985: Dave Stieb, the ace of the Toronto staff for the past five seasons, signs an 11-year contract that could be worth up to $25 million with deferred payments and incentives. » August 24, 1985: Three outs away from a no-hitter against the White Sox, Toronto's Dave Stieb surrenders consecutive home runs to Rudy Law and Bryan Little and is driven from the game. His replacement, Gary Lavelle, gives up a 3rd-straight home run, to Harold Baines, before Tom Henke comes in to save the 6–3 win. » October 2, 1985: Tigers 1B Darrell Evans hits his ML-leading 40th home run of the season and becomes the first player to have a 40 home run season in each league. Evans hit 41 homers for the Braves in 1973. Jack Morris tops Dave Stieb in Detroit's 4–2 win over Toronto. Whitt and Gibson also homer. » October 8, 1985: Dave Stieb allows only three hits in eight innings as Toronto downs KC 6–1 in the ALCS opener, the first in Canada. » September 24, 1988: Toronto's Dave Stieb is one out away from a no-hitter when Julio Franco's apparent game-ending grounder takes a bad hop over 2B Manny Lee's head and Stieb is forced to settle for a 1–0 one-hitter. It is the 7th no-hitter broken up in the 9th inning this season. » September 30, 1988: Dave Stieb is one out away from a no-hitter for the 2nd consecutive game, but falls short again when Jim Traber bloops a single over the head of 1B Fred McGriff. Stieb finishes with his 2nd straight one-hitter 4–0 over the Orioles. » April 10, 1989: Dave Stieb pitches a one-hitter against the Yankees, giving him three one-hitters in his last four starts (dating back to last September). Jamie Quirk's 5th-inning single is the only hit off Stieb in the 8–0 Blue Jays' victory. » August 4, 1989: Hard-luck pitcher Dave Stieb loses a perfect game when New York's Roberto Kelly doubles with two out in the 9th inning, and Stieb finishes with a 2–1 two-hitter. It is the 3rd time that Stieb has lost a no-hitter with two out in the 9th. » August 26, 1989: Toronto's Dave Stieb pitches his 5th career one-hitter, 7–0 over Milwaukee. The spoiler is Robin Yount's 6th-inning single. » September 2, 1990: In the year of no-hitters, Dave Stieb pitches the 9th and final one of the season, blanking Cleveland 3–0. It is the first no-hitter in Blue Jays' history, and the first for Stieb after four close-calls which were ended by 9th-inning hits. Stieb K's nine in beating Bud Black. » December 8, 1992: The White Sox sign free agent P Dave Stieb. » June 18, 1998: Pitcher Dave Stieb is recalled by the Toronto Blue Jays. Stieb, attempting to make a comeback this year, last pitched in the major leagues for the White Sox on May 22, 1993. The veteran righthander hurls an inning of scoreless relief, despite giving up three hits, in Toronto's 13–6 win over the Orioles. Stieb will finish the year at 1–2 and then retire for good. » August 29, 1998: The Blue Jays score in every inning but the 2nd in registering a 14–7 win over the Twins in Toronto. Veteran Dave Stieb wins his first game since 1983. Stieb, who began the year as a guest instructor in spring training, gives up four earned runs in five innings.