Zuvella batted .315 his first professional season with the Durham Bulls. In 1981, Zuvella batted .299 with eleven home runs for the Savannah Braves, however, his .947 fielding percentage was less than acceptable for a shortstop. His fielding improved considerably in 1982, and at the end of the season, he received a September call-up to the Atlanta Braves.
Zuvella made his major league debut with the Braves on September 4, 1982, appearing as a pinch runner in a 4–1 loss to the Montreal Expos.[1] With All-Star Rafael Ramírez firmly entrenched at short, Zuvella spent parts of the next four seasons on Atlanta's bench, appearing in a career-high 81 games in 1985. In that season, his most successful, he batted .253 in 190 at bats.
As it turned out, Zuvella got off to an extremely slow start with the Yankees, going hitless in his first 28 at bats. By the end of the season, he was reassigned to the Yankees' triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, and Wayne Tolleson was given the starting shortstop job.
Zuvella split 1987 between the Yankees and Columbus as well, but his hitting did not improve any, and he was released at the end of the season. In two seasons with the Yankees, Zuvella batted .122 with two runs batted in, four runs scored and no home runs.
Cleveland Indians
Prior to the start of the 1988 season, Zuvella signed with the Cleveland Indians. He was reasonably productive serving as Jay Bell's and Félix Fermín's back-up in 1988 and 1989, respectively, but Cleveland released him during spring training in 1990. Zuvella signed with the Kansas City Royals immediately afterwards, spending the next two seasons with their triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Royals before retiring. He appeared in two games with Kansas City in the beginning of the 1991 season.
Post-playing career
After his retirement as a player, Zuvella worked in the Colorado Rockies organization as a manager and instructor. From 1994 to 1995, he was the manager of the Class AA New Haven Ravens. He has also returned to Stanford on several occasions to play in the school's annual Alumni Game.[2][3][4]
Zuvella now sells real estate in California.[citation needed]
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Game footage of Zuvella appears in the 1986 movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In the film, the character Mr. Rooney is watching a game between the Braves and the Chicago Cubs on a television in a bar. He sees batter Claudell Washington hit a foul ball, which is caught by the film's title character, who was supposedly sick at home from school. This footage was taken from a game played on June 5, 1985,[5] and in the clip, Zuvella is the runner on first base.[6]
Notes
^Retrosheet Boxscore: Montreal Expos 4, Atlanta Braves 1. Retrosheet.org (1982-09-04). Retrieved on 2009-01-16.
^Baseball - Stanford University Official Athletic Site 2006-02-18 at the Wayback Machine. Gostanford.collegesports.com (2005-10-09). Retrieved on 2009-01-16.
^Baseball - Stanford University Official Athletic Site 2005-03-17 at the Wayback Machine. Gostanford.collegesports.com. Retrieved on 2009-01-16.
^2005 Stanford Baseball Team Gets By Alumni, 10-8 :: Michael Taylor hits grandslam to cap seven-run fifth frame for Cardinal 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine. Pac-10.org (2004-10-15). Retrieved on 2009-01-16.
^Retrosheet Boxscore: Atlanta Braves 4, Chicago Cubs 2. Retrosheet.org (1985-06-05). Retrieved on 2009-01-16.
^Chandler, Rick. (2006-03-22) Baseball: Save Ferris!. Deadspin.com. Retrieved on 2009-01-16.
References
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
paul, zuvella, born, october, 1958, former, major, league, baseball, player, minor, league, baseball, manager, primarily, shortstop, second, baseman, stood, tall, weighed, pounds, batted, threw, right, handed, shortstopborn, 1958, october, 1958, mateo, califor. Paul Zuvella born October 31 1958 is a former Major League Baseball player and minor league baseball manager Primarily a shortstop and second baseman he stood 6 0 tall weighed 178 pounds and batted and threw right handed Paul ZuvellaShortstopBorn 1958 10 31 October 31 1958 age 64 San Mateo CaliforniaBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutSeptember 4 1982 for the Atlanta BravesLast MLB appearanceMay 2 1991 for the Kansas City RoyalsMLB statisticsBatting average 222Home runs2Runs batted in20TeamsAtlanta Braves 1982 1985 New York Yankees 1986 1987 Cleveland Indians 1988 1989 Kansas City Royals 1991 Paul Zuvella Medal recordBaseballRepresenting the United StatesAmateur World Series1978 Italy Team Contents 1 Atlanta Braves 2 New York Yankees 3 Cleveland Indians 4 Post playing career 5 Ferris Bueller s Day Off 6 Notes 7 ReferencesAtlanta Braves EditFollowing his graduation from Samuel Ayer High School in Milpitas California Zuvella matriculated at Stanford University The Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the eleventh round of the June 1979 Major League Baseball Draft but he elected not to sign and returned to school for his senior year After which the Atlanta Braves selected him in the fifteenth round of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft Zuvella batted 315 his first professional season with the Durham Bulls In 1981 Zuvella batted 299 with eleven home runs for the Savannah Braves however his 947 fielding percentage was less than acceptable for a shortstop His fielding improved considerably in 1982 and at the end of the season he received a September call up to the Atlanta Braves Zuvella made his major league debut with the Braves on September 4 1982 appearing as a pinch runner in a 4 1 loss to the Montreal Expos 1 With All Star Rafael Ramirez firmly entrenched at short Zuvella spent parts of the next four seasons on Atlanta s bench appearing in a career high 81 games in 1985 In that season his most successful he batted 253 in 190 at bats New York Yankees EditFollowing Bucky Dent s August 8 1982 trade to the Texas Rangers the New York Yankees had difficulty replacing him at short with Roy Smalley Bobby Meacham Dale Berra Tim Foli and Andre Robertson among others having been given a shot at the position When the Yankees acquired Zuvella on June 30 1986 along with outfielder Claudell Washington for Ken Griffey and Andre Robertson they believed that they finally found the man who would be able to hold down the position As it turned out Zuvella got off to an extremely slow start with the Yankees going hitless in his first 28 at bats By the end of the season he was reassigned to the Yankees triple A affiliate the Columbus Clippers and Wayne Tolleson was given the starting shortstop job Zuvella split 1987 between the Yankees and Columbus as well but his hitting did not improve any and he was released at the end of the season In two seasons with the Yankees Zuvella batted 122 with two runs batted in four runs scored and no home runs Cleveland Indians EditPrior to the start of the 1988 season Zuvella signed with the Cleveland Indians He was reasonably productive serving as Jay Bell s and Felix Fermin s back up in 1988 and 1989 respectively but Cleveland released him during spring training in 1990 Zuvella signed with the Kansas City Royals immediately afterwards spending the next two seasons with their triple A affiliate the Omaha Royals before retiring He appeared in two games with Kansas City in the beginning of the 1991 season Post playing career EditAfter his retirement as a player Zuvella worked in the Colorado Rockies organization as a manager and instructor From 1994 to 1995 he was the manager of the Class AA New Haven Ravens He has also returned to Stanford on several occasions to play in the school s annual Alumni Game 2 3 4 Zuvella now sells real estate in California citation needed Ferris Bueller s Day Off EditGame footage of Zuvella appears in the 1986 movie Ferris Bueller s Day Off In the film the character Mr Rooney is watching a game between the Braves and the Chicago Cubs on a television in a bar He sees batter Claudell Washington hit a foul ball which is caught by the film s title character who was supposedly sick at home from school This footage was taken from a game played on June 5 1985 5 and in the clip Zuvella is the runner on first base 6 Notes Edit Retrosheet Boxscore Montreal Expos 4 Atlanta Braves 1 Retrosheet org 1982 09 04 Retrieved on 2009 01 16 Baseball Stanford University Official Athletic Site Archived 2006 02 18 at the Wayback Machine Gostanford collegesports com 2005 10 09 Retrieved on 2009 01 16 Baseball Stanford University Official Athletic Site Archived 2005 03 17 at the Wayback Machine Gostanford collegesports com Retrieved on 2009 01 16 2005 Stanford Baseball Team Gets By Alumni 10 8 Michael Taylor hits grandslam to cap seven run fifth frame for Cardinal Archived 2007 09 30 at the Wayback Machine Pac 10 org 2004 10 15 Retrieved on 2009 01 16 Retrosheet Boxscore Atlanta Braves 4 Chicago Cubs 2 Retrosheet org 1985 06 05 Retrieved on 2009 01 16 Chandler Rick 2006 03 22 Baseball Save Ferris Deadspin com Retrieved on 2009 01 16 References EditCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors Preceded byBrad Mills Colorado Springs Sky Sox Manager1997 1998 Succeeded byBill Hayes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Zuvella amp oldid 1150488031, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
