Mike Torrez

Born in Topeka in 1946 and a graduate of Topeka High School, Mike Torrez attracted scouts while playing American Legion baseball.  He was an Eastern Kansas All-Star and struck out 18 when he faced the Nebraska All-Stars.  The St. Louis Cardinal signed Torrez to a contact shortly after his 20th birthday.

He made his MLB debut with the Cardinals in 1967 and became a full-time major leaguer in 1969.  St. Louis traded him to Montreal during the 1971 season. Torrez won 16 games for the Expos in 1972 and 15 in 1974.

Traded to Baltimore, he won 20 games in 1975, but the Orioles sent him to Oakland for 1976 as part of the Reggie Jackson trade.  Torrez won 16 games for Oakland in 1976 before getting traded to the Yankees in April of 1977. He reached the playoffs for the only time in his career that year, winning two World Series games as the Yankees defeated the Dodgers.

After the World Series, Torrez signed a free agent deal with Boston.  In 1978, the Red Sox and Yankees played a tie-breaker game to determine the winner of the American League East.  Torrez pitched the game and allowed the infamous home run to Bucky Dent that allowed the Yankees to win.

He pitched for Boston for four more seasons, winning 16 games in 1979.  After the 1982 season, he was traded to the Mets and finished his career with Oakland in 1984.

Torrez pitched 18 years and won 185 games in the major leagues.

In Topeka, the Michael A. Torrez Baseball Complex honors his accomplishments.

For more, read Mike Torrez’s Society for American Baseball Research bio.