Dan Quisenberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dan Quisenberry |
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Quisenberry in 1986
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: February 7, 1953 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
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| Died: September 30, 1998 (aged 45) Leawood, Kansas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 8, 1979, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| April 23, 1990, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 56–46 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.76 | ||
| Strikeouts | 379 | ||
| Saves | 244 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Daniel Raymond Quisenberry (born February 7, 1953 – died September 30, 1998), known as "Quiz", was an American baseball player. He was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played most of his career for the Kansas City Royals.
Quisenberry was famous for his unique "submarine" pitching style. This meant he threw the ball underhand, almost from the ground. He was also known for his funny quotes. He led the American League in saves five times. This was a record at the time (1980, 1982–85). When he retired in 1990, his 244 saves were the fifth-highest in MLB history.
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Early Life
Dan Quisenberry was born in Santa Monica, California. His parents divorced when he was seven years old. His mother later married Art Meola, an engineer. Art encouraged Dan and his older brother to play baseball.
Dan played baseball at Costa Mesa High School/Middle School. In 1973, he was named the most valuable player (MVP) for his college team at Orange Coast College. He then went to the University of La Verne. There, he met his future wife, Janie Howard, in a square dancing class.
Baseball Career
Quisenberry signed with the Kansas City Royals in 1975. He started with a lower-level team in Waterloo, Iowa. He pitched a full game in his very first start. Later that season, he moved up to a higher minor league team in Jacksonville, Florida. To make money, he worked at a sporting goods store and a funeral home.
On July 8, 1979, Dan Quisenberry made his MLB debut. He was 26 years old. He pitched for the Kansas City Royals against the Chicago White Sox. He pitched almost three innings without giving up any runs. He finished his first season with a 3–2 record and five saves.
Becoming a Star Closer
In 1980, his manager suggested he try the "submarine" pitching style. This was to make it harder for hitters, since he didn't throw super fast. From 1980 to 1985, Quisenberry became one of the best "closers" in the American League. A closer is a pitcher who finishes the game, usually in the last inning, to "save" the win for their team.
He led the American League in saves for six seasons during this time. He also won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award every year. This award goes to the best relief pitcher. He was also considered one of the best pitchers for the Cy Young Award.
Pitching Style and Success
Unlike many other closers, Quisenberry did not throw a very fast fastball. Instead, he used amazing control and tricky pitches. His submarine delivery helped a lot. His main pitch was a "sinking fastball." This pitch made hitters hit the ball on the ground, which is usually easier for fielders to catch. He also threw a curveball, a changeup, and sometimes a knuckleball.
Quisenberry didn't get many strikeouts. But he rarely walked batters or threw wild pitches. In 1983, he set a new record with 45 saves in one season. He was the first pitcher in MLB history to have more than 40 saves twice. He helped the Royals win the World Series in 1985. He was even the winning pitcher in Game 6 of that series.
Later Career and Retirement
In 1983, the Royals gave Quisenberry a special "lifetime contract." However, in 1988, he struggled and was released by the Royals. He then played for the St. Louis Cardinals for a year and a half. In 1990, he signed with the San Francisco Giants.
Early in the 1990 season, he hurt his shoulder. This was his first serious injury. Quisenberry decided to retire from baseball in 1990. He finished his career with 244 saves.
Hall of Fame Discussion
After he retired, people discussed if Dan Quisenberry should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. In 1996, he didn't get enough votes to stay on the ballot. Another pitcher with similar stats, Bruce Sutter, was later voted into the Hall of Fame. In 2013, a special committee looked at Quisenberry's case again, but he still didn't get enough votes.
Quisenberry, along with other pitchers like Bruce Sutter, helped change how teams used relief pitchers. They showed how important a dedicated "closer" could be in the ninth inning.
Personal Life
Dan Quisenberry and his wife, Janie, lived in Kansas City. They had two children, Alysia and David. The family supported a local food bank.
Quisenberry was a religious person. He said his wife and his faith helped him become calmer. After his baseball career, Quisenberry became a poet. He published some poems and a book of poetry called On Days Like This. He was also known for his funny and clever sayings. One famous quote was, "I've seen the future and it's much like the present, only longer."
Death
In January 1998, Quisenberry started having bad headaches and vision problems. He was diagnosed with a serious type of brain cancer. He passed away in September 1998 in Leawood, Kansas, at the age of 45.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
- List of notable brain tumor patients
- Major League Baseball titles leaders
