The heir to Moe Drabowsky, Tug McGraw, and Roger McDowell, Steven “Turk" Wendell is keeping the tradition of lovable zany relievers alive. His nickname came from his grandfather at age three as he repeatedly hurled himself into a snow mound out of the window of his western Massachusetts home. Turk attended Quinnipiac College in Connecticut and was drafted by the Braves. In the minors, he quickly gained attention for his litany of superstitions—drawing three crosses in the dirt, waving to the center fielder before his first pitch, chewing black licorice and brushing his teeth between innings. His antics endeared him to the fans of Santurce, Puerto Rico in the winter of 1991-92, and that year he won the Juan Pizarro Award as the PRWL’s outstanding pitcher.
Turk has discarded portions of his routine over the years, but he still bounds over the foul line as he takes the field. He delights the Shea Stadium crowd by slamming the rosin bag down on the mound with gusto. Wearing number 99 in homage to the Charlie Sheen character in the movie Major League, Turk insisted that the Mets make out his contract in an amount that ended in 99 cents. Underneath his uniform top he wears a necklace of animal teeth from beasts the avid hunter has brought down himself. If it is a new species, when he dresses his quarry, Turk takes a bite from the raw heart in communion with the creature’s spirit. On a mountain lion hunt in Colorado after the 1999 season, Wendell and a companion were caught outside in frigid weather, but the “master camper” enjoyed the challenge, building a fire in best Jack London style.
Although Turk has drawn some flak for his Ted Nugent-like pursuits, he gladly does meet-and-greet appearances and readings for children. His hard slider and rubber arm make Wendell an effective and busy fireman. He posted 18 saves for the Cubs in 1996 and set a Mets club record with 80 appearances in 1999.
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Posted June 28, 2001.
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