Eddie Solomon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eddie Solomon |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: February 9, 1951 Perry, Georgia |
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| Died: January 12, 1986 (aged 34) Macon, Georgia |
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| debut | |||
| September 2, 1973, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 1, 1982, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 36–42 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.00 | ||
| Strikeouts | 337 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Eddie Solomon Jr. (born February 9, 1951 – died January 12, 1986) was an American baseball player. People often called him "Buddy J." He was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Eddie played in 191 games for six different teams. His career lasted from 1973 to 1982.
Eddie was born in Perry, Georgia. He was about 6 feet 2 inches tall. He weighed around 185 pounds. During his time in baseball, he played for several famous teams. These included the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. Later, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox.
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Meet Eddie Solomon: A Baseball Pitcher
Eddie Solomon was a talented baseball pitcher. He played for many years in the big leagues. His journey to professional baseball was quite interesting. He worked hard to achieve his dreams.
Starting His Baseball Journey
Eddie did not get picked in the 1969 baseball draft. But he still got a chance to play. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent. This meant he joined the team without being drafted.
From Farm System to the Big Leagues
Eddie spent five seasons in the Dodgers' farm system. This is where young players train. They get ready for the major leagues. In September 1973, he got his first chance. He played in a few games for the Dodgers. He played only eight games over two seasons with them.
In 1975, the Dodgers traded Eddie. He went to the Chicago Cubs. He played only six games for the Cubs. Then, he was traded again. This time, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 1976 season was important for Eddie. He played in 26 games for the Cardinals. Most of these were as a relief pitcher. A relief pitcher comes into the game after the starting pitcher.
Finding His Stride with the Braves
In 1977, Eddie went back to the minor leagues. But he was traded again. He joined the Atlanta Braves in May. After playing more in Triple-A, the Braves called him up. Triple-A is the highest level of minor league baseball.
The Braves gave Eddie a new role. He became a starting pitcher. This means he would start the game on the mound. He played in 18 games for the Braves. He started 16 of those games. He won 6 games and lost 6. This was good for a team that lost many games that year.
In 1978, Eddie pitched mostly in the bullpen. But in 1979, he returned to starting games. He had his best year yet. He started 30 games. He pitched 186 innings. He also had 4 complete games. This means he pitched the entire game himself. He also got 96 strikeouts. Even with these great numbers, he won 7 games and lost 14.
Success with the Pirates
Eddie's good pitching caught the eye of other teams. The Pittsburgh Pirates were the champions at the time. They got Eddie in 1980. This trade led to his most successful seasons.
With the Pirates, Eddie was a "swing man." This means he could be a starting pitcher or a relief pitcher. He won 15 games and lost 9 in 1980 and 1981. He had 4 complete games. He also had one save. A save happens when a pitcher finishes a close game. His earned run average (ERA) was very good. It was 2.93. This shows he didn't give up many runs.
In 1982, things changed. Eddie didn't pitch as well for the Pirates. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox in June. He pitched in six games for the White Sox. He won one game. But he left the team in July. He stopped playing minor league baseball after the 1983 season.
Eddie's Career Highlights
As a major league player, Eddie Solomon had a career record of 36 wins and 42 losses. His earned run average was 4.00. He played in 191 games. He started 96 games and pitched in relief for 95 games.
He had 8 complete games in his career. He never pitched a shutout. He also had 4 saves. In total, he pitched 718 innings. He gave up 764 hits. He also walked 247 batters. He struck out 337 batters.
A Life Remembered
Eddie Solomon passed away at a young age. He was 34 years old. He died on January 12, 1986, in Macon, Georgia. He is remembered for his time as a pitcher in Major League Baseball.
