Happy Birthday: Mario Soto is 68
Career: 100-92 3.47, 3-time All-Star
Reds Hall of Fame: 2001
He had four consecutive seasons throwing 257, 273, 237, 256 innings.
He had four consecutive seasons of 10, 13, 18, and 13 complete games and 72 for his career.
From 1980-1985, Soto struck out more batters (1,063) than any other pitcher in MLB.
Soto was a very good pitcher on a lot of very bad teams and the Reds scored very few runs for him.
Soto was 14-13 2.79, 257 innings, 274 K for a Reds team that finished 61-101 in 1982.
I actually forgot Soto debuted with the 1977 Reds and played with Rose, Bench, Morgan, Concepcion, Griffey and Geronimo.
What a changeup, what a temper. Here's an SI story on Soto in July of 1984.
I'll never forget two moments that Soto sparked
1. Ron Cey (Cubs 3B) hit a home run, originally ruled fair by 3B umpire Steve Ripley. Soto went nuts. Reds manager Vern Rapp argued the ball was foul.
After conferring, the umpires overruled the call, calling it foul, but Soto was ejected. He charged the field and attacked Cubs coach Don Zimmer, which led to a 10-minute brawl. He was suspended five games.
2. Braves OF Claudell Washington homered off Soto in the first inning. Soto then brushed Washington back the next time up. Washington let go of the bat on a swing, sending the bat in the direction of Soto. Both benches emptied. Soto wound up throwing the baseball at Washington as he approached the mound.
I'll never forget May 12, 1984: Soto lost a no-hitter with 2-outs in the 9th when George Hendrick (St Louis) homered to tie the game 1-1. I was mowing the grounds of Ashland Chemicals (Dad was regional manager) in Indianapolis and had stopped to listen to the final out. I stood up on the riding mower to get better reception on my radio. What a crusher. But the Reds did win the game in the bottom of the 9th on a Brad Gulden single vs Bruce Sutter to score Dave Concepcion.
Soto has shoulder surgery late in the 1986 season, missed most of the 1987 season and was released in June of 1988. Soto signed with the Dodgers, but would retire in December of 1988 at the age of just 32.
Soto earned $5.7M....for his career. How much do you think his 1981-84 seasons would be worth today?