American League Pitcher Dave Righetti Breaks Major League Record for Most Saves

It was late in the season, September 1979, while sitting in the Twins' press box in Minnesota, I watched Dave Righetti, a 19-year-old-southpaw, make his second pitching start as a major leaguer with the Yankees. He sparkled in the game, although emerging as a loser.

Faced by the Twins in Bloomington, Minn., the teenager was replaced in the seventh inning. He had allowed only three hits. The Twins, nevertheless, went on to post a 3-1 victory.

Righetti went on to become one of the sport's all-time great relief pitchers. In 1986, he led the American League with 46 saves. That also was the season he turned in two saves in a double-header with the Boston Red Sox.

In 1984, Righetti was moved to the Yankee bullpen by Manager Yogi Berra because of an excess of starters on the New York roster. He lost little time in demonstrating he was as effective as the Yankees' previous great closer, Goose Gosage.

In that losing Righetti effort in Minnesota, five years earlier, the Twins triumphed despite singles by the Yankees' Bobby Murcer and Chris Chambliss in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively. That Twins triumph followed two straight shutouts they had suffered two nights earlier in Chicago.

Their subsequent 3-1 victory over the Yankees brought particular cheer to the Twins clubhouse.

But there was some of the same in the New York team's locker room. Billy Martin, then the Yankee manager, expressed delight over Righetti's performance. He was to observe his 20th birthday that November.

"Dave throws hard and has a good slider." said the Yankee skipper. "I'm convinced he's got a strong shot to be a team member next year. He has the makings of a 20-game winner."

Berra's decision five years later to have Righetti fill the role of a reliever proved an astute one. It immediately moved him into strong focus as a Yankee stalwart. Indeed, in that first year in the bullpen, the tall southpaw posted an impressive 31 saves.

In the game I saw in Minnesota, a one-run single and a two-run homer in the seventh inning by rookie John Castino, which just cleared the fence, brought about Righetti's discouraging defeat. It was odd if only because Castino's glove rather than his bat was supposed to be his chief asset.

In that losing appearance against the Twins, Righetti faced only 22 batters in the 6 2/3 innings he was on the mound. He walked only one and struck out six.

It was evident that, despite his fine showing, he had been flustered by the home run pitch to Castino, who earlier had singled home the victors' first run. After all, Castino was not considered a long-ball hitter.

"I had discussed how to pitch to him earlier with our catcher, Bruce Robinson," he told me later. "We evidently had Castino figured out the wrong way."

Righetti remained with the Yankees until 1990, after which he played for the San Francisco Giants and subsequently joined three other clubs.

Extracurricular achievements included being named to the American League All Star team in 1986 and 1987 and breaking the major league record for saves with the 46-game total.