Books and articles about Richie Zisk

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A three-time minor league home run champ, Zisk replaced Roberto Clemente as Pittsburgh's right fielder in 1973. He moved to left field to accommodate stronger-armed Dave Parker in 1975. From 1973 to 1976, Zisk averaged .299 with 17 HR a season, but felt unappreciated among the Parkers and Stargells, saying he was "buried alive in Pittsburgh." Manager Danny Murtaugh thought Zisk was a lazy dreamer. Zisk welcomed his trade to the White Sox for Goose Gossage and Terry Forster after the 1976 season and reached career highs of 30 HR and 101 RBI in 1977. He then signed a lucrative ten-year contract with Texas as a free agent. After three Ranger seasons, Zisk was traded to Seattle and hit .311 as a DH in 1981, setting a Mariner record with homers in five straight games, and earning AL Comeback Player of the Year honors. After multiple knee operations and a wrist injury, he retired after 1983. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 7, 1967: The last-place Yankees have the first pick in the free-agent draft and use it to take Ron Blomberg. With the next pick, the Cubs tap SS Terry Hughes, who will have just 86 ML at bats. All 20 first-round picks are high school players, and only 11 will eventually reach the major leagues, including John Mayberry (#6, Astros), Jon Matlack (Mets), Wayne Simpson (#8, Reds), Ted Simmons (#10, Cards), and Bobby Grich (#20, Orioles). The O's take Don Baylor with their 2nd pick, then in the secondary phase, select P Mike Adamson. Adamson will leap directly to the O's, debuting July 1, the first player in draft history to bypass the minors. Other selections today include Dusty Baker (26th round, Braves), Matlack (1st round, Mets), Steve Yeager (3rd round, Dodgers) and Richie Zisk (3rd round, Pirates), The Phils strike out as none of their picks will reach the majors. » September 20, 1973: The Pirates lose 4–3 in 13 innings in New York and their lead over the Mets is cut to one-half game. A Wayne Garrett relay from Cleon Jones nails Richie Zisk at the plate in the top of the last inning. » June 9, 1974: Richie Zisk of Pittsburgh hits for the cycle and the Pirates roll over the Giants, 14–1. Jerry Reuss is the winner. » September 28, 1974: The Pirates move a game ahead of 2nd place St. Louis by beating the Mets 7–3. Richie Zisk and Richie Hebner sock home runs. » June 7, 1976: In a 5–4 Pirates win over the Reds, the two teams combine for seven solo homers. Joe Morgan (2) and Pete Rose homer for Cincy, while Al Oliver, Willie Stargell, Richie Zisk and Bill Robinson go deep for the host Pirates. » July 9, 1976: Before 53,328 in Cincinnati, the Pirates score two runs in the 10th on a Richie Zisk homer and take an 11–9 lead, only to lose to the Reds, 12-11. George Foster's single scores the tying and winning runs. » November 8, 1977: Free agent Richie Zisk, formerly of the White Sox, signs a 10-year $2.3 million contract with the Rangers. » April 8, 1978: At the Opener in Arlington, the Rangers edge the Yankees 2–1 behind newcomers Richie Zisk and Jon Matlack. Matlack scatters eight hits in winning, while Richie Zisk belts a 9th inning solo shot off Goose Gossage to break a tie. Guidry goes seven innings for New York allowing six singles and after this no-decision, he will win 13 straight games. » April 10, 1980: At Arlington Stadium, Jon Matlack and the Yankees Ron Guidry both pitch shutout ball for nine innings before being lifted. In the 12th, Goose Gossage relieves with Mickey Rivers on 3rd and Richie Zisk at the plate. His first pitch is wild allowing Rivers to score the games on run. Gossage also lost the '78 Opener when Zisk took him deep in the 9th. Each team manages just four hits in the contest with Bob Watson and Jim Sundberg each collecting three of them. » April 19, 1981: In the first game of a doubleheader the Oakland A's set the major-league record for consecutive wins at the start of the season, running their record to 11-0 with a 6–1 win over Seattle. The record will fall in 1987. The Mariners win the nightcap 3–2 on Richie Zisk's solo home run in the 8th inning. » April 5, 1983: At Seattle, the Mariners open with a 5–4 win over the Yankees. Gaylord Perry makes his 9th Opening Day start, but the win goes to reliever Bryan Clark. Richie Zisk, a Yankee Opening Day nemesis, hits a two-run homer in Seattle's 4-run 3rd inning to chase Ron Guidry. New York chases Perry in the 6th with back-to back homers by Dave Winfield and Steve Kemp. Steve Henderson scores the winner in the 7th when he hits his 3rd single, steals second, takes 3rd on a grounder and scores on a sac fly.