Todd Worrell

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Todd Roland Worrell (born September 28, 1959 in Arcadia, California) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1985 to 1997.

A hard-throwing reliever, Worrell emerged in late August 1985 as the Cardinals' closer, after the loss of Bruce Sutter to free agency. Worrell saved five games down the stretch and compiled an earned run average of 2.91, then pitched effectively in the postseason against the Dodgers in the NLCS and the Kansas City Royals in the 1985 World Series. He was still eligible as a rookie the following season, and his 9-10 record with 36 saves netted him the 1986 National League Rookie of the Year Award, as well as the National League Rolaids Relief Man Award. He was on the mound when winning run in Game 7 of the 1987 World Series scored, though he was not tagged with the loss as the runner who scored it had been inherited from another pitcher. Worrell became the first relief pitcher to save 30 or more games in each of his first three full seasons.

On September 4, 1989, Worrell was pitching for his 125th career save, which would have tied him with Sutter for the Cardinals' career record. While making a pitch, he felt a ligament snap. He underwent elbow surgery in December to repair the damage, then experienced shoulder pain when attempting to come back for the 1991 season and was diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear. As a result, he missed both the 1990 and 1991 seasons due to injuries and rehabilitation.

Worrell came back in 1992 as a set-up man for veteran Lee Smith. At the end of the season he signed as a free agent with the Dodgers, where he struggled for two seasons before regaining his old form and saving 32, 44, and 35 games in the final three seasons of his career and making two of his three career All-Star appearances.

Todd is also the older brother of Tim Worrell, himself a major-league pitcher between 1993-2006. Both attended Biola University. He currently owns and operates Firesteel Creek Hunting Lodge in Plankinton, South Dakota. Josh and Jeremy Worrell have followed in Todd's footsteps as baseball players and currently play collegiately at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.

[edit] See also

• List of Major League Baseball saves champions
• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

[edit] External links

• Todd Worrell at baseball-reference.com
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