He debuted with the Red Sox on May 25, 1977, starting the second game of a doubleheader with the Minnesota Twins, as he pitched 2.1 innings to take the loss.[2] For the season, Paxton went 10-5 with a 3.83 earned run average and 58 strikeouts splitting his time as a starter, and out of the bullpen.
Following his only season with the BoSox, Paxton was dealt to the Cleveland Indians with Ted Cox, Bo Díaz and Rick Wise for Dennis Eckersley and Fred Kendall. His most productive season came in 1978 with Cleveland, when he recorded career-highs in wins (12), strikeouts (96), ERA (3.86), shutouts (2), complete games (5) and innings pitched (191.0). On April 8, 1978, Paxton recorded the only save of his MLB career. Surprisingly, it came on opening day of the 1978 season. The Indians defeated the Royals 8-5 and Paxton pitched the final three innings of the game, preserving the win for starting pitcher Wayne Garland.[3] On July 21, 1978, Paxton struck out four batters in the fifth inning of an 11–0 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Paxton was in the Indians' starting rotation again in 1979. After playing in four games for the Indians in 1980, he spent most of 1980 and all of 1981 in the minors before retiring.
^"Baseball Program to Retire Mike Paxton's Jersey Friday Night". University of Memphis. 2007-05-10.
^"Minnesota Twins 9, Boston Red Sox 4". Baseball-Reference.com. 1977-05-25.
^"Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians Box Score, April 8, 1978". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Almanac
April 11, 2024
mike, paxton, michael, wayne, paxton, born, september, 1953, former, major, league, baseball, starting, pitcher, batted, threw, right, handed, pitcherborn, 1953, september, 1953, memphis, tennessee, batted, rightthrew, rightmlb, debutmay, 1977, boston, soxlast. Michael De Wayne Paxton born September 3 1953 is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher He batted and threw right handed Mike PaxtonPitcherBorn 1953 09 03 September 3 1953 age 70 Memphis Tennessee U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutMay 25 1977 for the Boston Red SoxLast MLB appearanceMay 3 1980 for the Cleveland IndiansMLB statisticsWin loss record30 24Earned run average4 71Strikeouts230TeamsBoston Red Sox 1977 Cleveland Indians 1978 1980 Paxton was drafted out of Oakhaven High School in Memphis by the New York Yankees in the 1971 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign choosing instead to attend Memphis State 1 After four seasons with the Memphis Tigers in which he was a four year letter winner under head coach Bobby Kilpatrick Paxton was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1975 Major League Baseball draft He debuted with the Red Sox on May 25 1977 starting the second game of a doubleheader with the Minnesota Twins as he pitched 2 1 innings to take the loss 2 For the season Paxton went 10 5 with a 3 83 earned run average and 58 strikeouts splitting his time as a starter and out of the bullpen Following his only season with the BoSox Paxton was dealt to the Cleveland Indians with Ted Cox Bo Diaz and Rick Wise for Dennis Eckersley and Fred Kendall His most productive season came in 1978 with Cleveland when he recorded career highs in wins 12 strikeouts 96 ERA 3 86 shutouts 2 complete games 5 and innings pitched 191 0 On April 8 1978 Paxton recorded the only save of his MLB career Surprisingly it came on opening day of the 1978 season The Indians defeated the Royals 8 5 and Paxton pitched the final three innings of the game preserving the win for starting pitcher Wayne Garland 3 On July 21 1978 Paxton struck out four batters in the fifth inning of an 11 0 win over the Seattle Mariners Paxton was in the Indians starting rotation again in 1979 After playing in four games for the Indians in 1980 he spent most of 1980 and all of 1981 in the minors before retiring See also editList of Major League Baseball single inning strikeout leadersReferences edit Baseball Program to Retire Mike Paxton s Jersey Friday Night University of Memphis 2007 05 10 Minnesota Twins 9 Boston Red Sox 4 Baseball Reference com 1977 05 25 Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians Box Score April 8 1978 Baseball Reference com Retrieved 2022 07 10 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Almanac Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mike Paxton amp oldid 1177564898, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
