Steve Ontiveros---1986
PART I
We are only left to wonder what the career of
Steve Ontiveros would have been like if
injuries hadn't sidetracked him along his
journey.
With a career riddled with arm injuries, the
pitching Ontiveros (the other Steve O. was a
third baseman with the Cubs and Giants)
turned in two spectacular seasons in his
10-year major league career.
Originally a second round pick for the A's out
of the University of Michigan in 1982, the
curve baller made a big splash during his
rookie campaign of 1985. Working out of the
pen, Ontiveros went 1-3, with a sparkling 1.93
ERA in 39 outings. He limited AL hitters to 45
hits in 74-2/3 innings and also recorded eight
saves filling in for Oakland closer Jay Howell.
We are only left to wonder what the career of
Steve Ontiveros would have been like if
injuries hadn't sidetracked him along his
journey.
With a career riddled with arm injuries, the
pitching Ontiveros (the other Steve O. was a
third baseman with the Cubs and Giants)
turned in two spectacular seasons in his
10-year major league career.
Originally a second round pick for the A's out
of the University of Michigan in 1982, the
curve baller made a big splash during his
rookie campaign of 1985. Working out of the
pen, Ontiveros went 1-3, with a sparkling 1.93
ERA in 39 outings. He limited AL hitters to 45
hits in 74-2/3 innings and also recorded eight
saves filling in for Oakland closer Jay Howell.
Moved to the Oakland rotation in May '87, Ontiveros went 10-8, 4.00 on the season
as the A's finished in third place. Arm woes settled in by 1988, as Ontiveros would
spend parts of the next four seasons in the bigs with Oakland, Philadelphia and Seattle.
Healthy again in 1994, Ontiveros took the American League by storm, going 6-4 as a
swingman, but posting a league best 2.65 ERA in a triumphant return to Oakland. His
minuscule ERA topped the likes of Boston's Roger Clemens (2.85), Kansas City's David
Cone (2.94) and Baltimore's Mike Mussina (3.06) as he grabbed the ERA crown.
An 8-2 start in 1995 earned him a place on the AL All-Star squad, though the
right-hander picked up the loss when he gave up the game winning home run to
All-Star MVP Jeff Conine of the Marlins.
Injuries re-emerged soon afterwards as Ontiveros would rehab in the minors for four
seasons before one last hurrah with the Red Sox in 2000 for three outings.
Ontiveros would close out his career with a 34-31, 3.67 mark and one big question of
"What If?"
as the A's finished in third place. Arm woes settled in by 1988, as Ontiveros would
spend parts of the next four seasons in the bigs with Oakland, Philadelphia and Seattle.
Healthy again in 1994, Ontiveros took the American League by storm, going 6-4 as a
swingman, but posting a league best 2.65 ERA in a triumphant return to Oakland. His
minuscule ERA topped the likes of Boston's Roger Clemens (2.85), Kansas City's David
Cone (2.94) and Baltimore's Mike Mussina (3.06) as he grabbed the ERA crown.
An 8-2 start in 1995 earned him a place on the AL All-Star squad, though the
right-hander picked up the loss when he gave up the game winning home run to
All-Star MVP Jeff Conine of the Marlins.
Injuries re-emerged soon afterwards as Ontiveros would rehab in the minors for four
seasons before one last hurrah with the Red Sox in 2000 for three outings.
Ontiveros would close out his career with a 34-31, 3.67 mark and one big question of
"What If?"
Part II
While growing up in Niles, MI during my teens, the times in which I wasn't holding a bat or a ball
were consumed by dribbling and shooting. Tall and lanky, but physically weak, I was a shortstop
and a pitcher in the summer and a small forward in the winter. Baseball was always my first love,
but basketball was my winter mistress.
Presently during the baseball off-season, I have the pleasure of coaching girls basketball at a tiny
Class A high school in the Northern Kentucky area. Our school is small and hasn't had much
success in recent years. However, the team is in a transitional period as many of the starters
have graduated, leaving our program with a youthful and athletic squad.
While optimism reigns, the under- classmen ladies who are going to be thrust into the starting
roles this winter are still in a mode of having to learn how to win. They have the potential and
hopefully they will figure it out.
Our Head Coach rallied the young girls together after the recent school year and took the group
to a team camp at Eastern Kentucky University this past summer. While the girls took a beating
against some of the bigger schools, they held there own against some of the smaller schools;
however they didn't win a game.
As you might guess, yes, my eldest daughter is on the team, which allows us to spend time
together after I miss most of her life each spring and summer. Well, my daughter came back from
the summer camp and said that the consensus of the girls on our team was that the other schools
were bigger, thus they were better.
Hmmmm....
Back to Steve Ontiveros.
I grew up playing with and against Steve Ontiveros from the age of 13 until we graduated high
school. I had the good fastball; he had the awesome curveball. My dreams of pitching in the big
leagues evaporated in a cloud of arm injuries in college; yet Steve Ontiveros came from the same
small town of roughly 15,000 people and made it to the big leagues. Honestly, on a quick look at
this picture, can you pick out the future big leaguer?
Ontiveros was a weak and skinny kid (front row, fifth from left), but had the desire and the talent
to be good.
While growing up in Niles, MI during my teens, the times in which I wasn't holding a bat or a ball
were consumed by dribbling and shooting. Tall and lanky, but physically weak, I was a shortstop
and a pitcher in the summer and a small forward in the winter. Baseball was always my first love,
but basketball was my winter mistress.
Presently during the baseball off-season, I have the pleasure of coaching girls basketball at a tiny
Class A high school in the Northern Kentucky area. Our school is small and hasn't had much
success in recent years. However, the team is in a transitional period as many of the starters
have graduated, leaving our program with a youthful and athletic squad.
While optimism reigns, the under- classmen ladies who are going to be thrust into the starting
roles this winter are still in a mode of having to learn how to win. They have the potential and
hopefully they will figure it out.
Our Head Coach rallied the young girls together after the recent school year and took the group
to a team camp at Eastern Kentucky University this past summer. While the girls took a beating
against some of the bigger schools, they held there own against some of the smaller schools;
however they didn't win a game.
As you might guess, yes, my eldest daughter is on the team, which allows us to spend time
together after I miss most of her life each spring and summer. Well, my daughter came back from
the summer camp and said that the consensus of the girls on our team was that the other schools
were bigger, thus they were better.
Hmmmm....
Back to Steve Ontiveros.
I grew up playing with and against Steve Ontiveros from the age of 13 until we graduated high
school. I had the good fastball; he had the awesome curveball. My dreams of pitching in the big
leagues evaporated in a cloud of arm injuries in college; yet Steve Ontiveros came from the same
small town of roughly 15,000 people and made it to the big leagues. Honestly, on a quick look at
this picture, can you pick out the future big leaguer?
Ontiveros was a weak and skinny kid (front row, fifth from left), but had the desire and the talent
to be good.
Thus, my message to the girls on the team and to all players out there who think that
just because you come from a small town that you can't make it to the pros or win
against the big schools... Hogwash!
When they toss the ball in the air for the tipoff or throw that first pitch, nobody asks
what the size of your school is or how big the town is... in the end the players and
team who put the time and effort in usually win. Winning is not an accident, it is the
byproduct that comes from hard work, playing as a team and getting the most from
your talent.
And as evidence, I give you Steve Ontiveros... from the Niles Babe Ruth Junior
League American Division All-Star Team of 1975 to the Major League All-Star Game
of 1995.
(9/7/08)
just because you come from a small town that you can't make it to the pros or win
against the big schools... Hogwash!
When they toss the ball in the air for the tipoff or throw that first pitch, nobody asks
what the size of your school is or how big the town is... in the end the players and
team who put the time and effort in usually win. Winning is not an accident, it is the
byproduct that comes from hard work, playing as a team and getting the most from
your talent.
And as evidence, I give you Steve Ontiveros... from the Niles Babe Ruth Junior
League American Division All-Star Team of 1975 to the Major League All-Star Game
of 1995.
(9/7/08)