Braden Looper

After a promising freshman year at Wichita State, Braden Looper became a dominant relief pitcher as a sophomore, saving thirteen games with a 1.77 earned run average.

A preseason All-American as a junior, Looper lived up to the billing, recording twelve saves with a 2.09 ERA on a Shocker team that made the College World Series field.  Looper was a consensus All-American and pitched for the bronze medal-winning Team USA in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Drafted third overall by St. Louis, Looper signed with the Cardinals after his junior year.  He made his major league debut in 1998 but was traded to Florida after just one season.

Looper quickly established himself in the Marlins’ bullpen, appearing in 70+ games for five straight seasons.  He assumed the closer role in 2002 and had 28 saves for the World Series Champions in 2003.

In 2004, Looper signed with the New York Mets and saved 29 games in his first season, followed by 28 saves in 2005.

In 2006, he went back to the Cardinals as a set-up man.  In 2007, he became a starter for the first time in his career.  He started 30 games, posting a 12-12 record with a 4.94 ERA.  He again won twelve games in 2008, then fourteen games in his final season, pitching for Milwaukee.

In twelve major league seasons, Looper appeared in 670 games, winning 72 and saving 103.

Originally from Mangum, Oklahoma, Looper and his family make their home in Chicago.