Roger McDowell: 1986 World Champion Mets Right-Handed Reliever (1985 - 1989)
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Roger Alan McDowell was born December 21, 1960, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents Herbert & Edna had two other children as well with Roger being the youngest of the McDowell children.After high school in Cincinnati, he attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio on a baseball scholarship.
By 1982 the six foot one, right hander was signed by the New York Mets in the third round of the amateur draft.
On April 28th he got a spot start & gave up three runs in five innings of work. After a May 4th start where he was shelled for six runs in Cincinnati, he never made another start.
On May 11th, he earned his first career save, pitching three scoreless innings in a 4-0 combined shut out over the Phillies. In his next two appearances he collected wins in Atlanta & then a 12th inning victory at Shea over the Giants, where Gary Carter provided the walk off RBI single.
From June 29th thru July 12th ha allowed just one run in 12.2 innings over seven appearances for a 0.71 ERA, collecting three more saves. He would allow at least one run in each of his next five appearances. By the end of July Roger had eight saves with a 5-4 record & two blown saves.
Four days later, on September 29th, in Pittsburgh Johnny Rays two run double tied the game, giving McDowell his sixth blown save, although the Mets won the game in extras.
1986 Championship Season: In the Mets 1986 Championship season, McDowell was very valuable out of the bullpen. He had an incredible year as a reliever, beginning with a pair of holds in his first two appearances.
On April 21st, he collected his first win thank to Gary Carter's walk off base hit to beat the Pirates. On April 24th, McDowell pitched two scoreless innings then George Fosters RBI base hit in the top of the 10th inning was enough to beat Todd Worrell & the rival Cardinals in St. Louis.
On April 29th, Roger collected his first save of the season pitching three scoreless innings in 13.2 innings over seven appearances gaining three more saves & a win Atlanta in a 10-5 win.
On July 28th at Wrigley Field, McDowell pitched two scoreless innings at Wrigley Field earning his seventh victory to get to 7-0 with six saves, nine holds & 2.10 ERA at the beginning of July.
On September 1st, he pitched two scoreless innings over the Giants at Shea Stadium. Mookie
Wilson & Howard Johnson's RBI hits in the bottom of the 8th led to Roger's 13th win.
The Hot Foot: McDowell was legendary on the '86 Mets for being the leading practical joker. McDowell became a popular player around Shea Stadium & a star in the Mets 1986 “Let’s Go Mets " video.
In that video, he gave in depth detail on how to give a “Hot Foot” with his accomplice, Howard Johnson.
The hot foot was a lit matchbook stuck with bubble gum onto the back of a player’s cleats. He instructed youngsters not to try it at home, as it was only to be done by professionals.
Quite the Character: As the Mets leading prankster McDowell would become famous for many funny incidents.
In another game he appeared on the field dressed in full attire alongside a mariachi band. At a time when MLB announced it was cracking down on pitchers doctoring baseballs he wore a carpenters belt with sandpaper, a file & chisel in the bullpen.
Post Season: 1986 NLCS: In the NLCS win over the Houston Astros McDowell was fantastic once again, pitching in two games allowing only one hit in seven innings pitched.
In the Game #4 loss to Mike Scott, McDowell pitched a scoreless 7th & 8th innings.
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1986 World Series: In the World Series against win over the Boston Red Sox, Roger made his first appearance as he closed out two innings of the Mets 7-1 win at Fenway Park.
In the Game #4 Mets 6-2 win he allowed the two runs in 0.2 innings pitched. In the bottom of the 7th inning, McDowell gave up an RBI single to Dwight Evans & an RBI sac fly to Dave Henderson.
In the top of the 8th inning Roger gave up a lead off hit to Dave Henderson, then with two outs intentionally walked Wade Boggs. He was relieved by Jesse Orosco who got Bill Buckner to fly out. The Mets went on to win the game in the 10th inning, on Mookie Wilson's little roller up along first got by Bill Buckner with two outs allowing Ray Knight to score the walk off run.
In Game #7 it was McDowell who got credit for the win, pitching a scoreless seventh inning, before New York broke it open in the bottom of the inning highlighted by Ray Knight's HR.
After the Championship: In 1987 McDowell would emerge as the teams main closer ahead of Jesse Orosco. He began the year late as a hernia injury delayed him until May.
On May 15th in his second appearance he collected his first save of the season. Four days later on May 19th, he pitched two scoreless over the Padres at Shea earning his first win.
From August 23rd thru August 31st, he posted five saves in the week while pitching 5.2 scoreless innings & reaching the twenty save mark. He would pitch eight straight scoreless appearances into early September. On September 5th at Dodger Stadium, he set a new career high with 23 saves.
On September 11th in a game that is looked at as a big turning point of the Mets season, he gave up a big game tying HR to St. Louis’ Terry Pendleton during the years tight pennant race. It was the seventh HR he gave up that season. Jesse Orosco took the loss the next inning.
1988 NL Eastern Champion Season: McDowell started out the year with back-to-back wins in early April, then notching a third victory at the end of the month. In May he collected five saves as he allowed a run just twice in eleven appearances.
On July 17th, he recorded saves in back-to-back games in Atlanta while reaching double digits in saves for the fourth straight year. On August 28th, he after not allowing a run in almost three weeks, he gave up a season high four runs taking the loss to the Giants at Shea. Overall in August he was 1-1 with four saves.
Mets All Time Save List: That season McDowell moved into third place on the All Time Mets save list behind Tug McGraw & Jesse Orosco. But Meyers was better, saving 26 games with a 7-3 record & a 1.72 ERA.
1988 Post Season- NLCS: In the 1988 NLCS upsetting loss to the Dodgers McDowell made four appearances in the seven game series.
In Game #4 at Shea Stadium, he came on to pitch the 12th inning after Mike Scioscia had tied up the game hitting with a devastating HR off Dwight Gooden. McDowell then gave up the next big blow, a game winning HR to Kirk Gibson as he took the loss. That was the game that turned the series around.
In Game #5 he finished off the 7-4 loss at Shea Stadium.
Traded to Phillies: On June 18th, the Mets then made a horrible trade sending Roger McDowell & Lenny Dykstra to the Philadelphia Phillies for Juan Samuel. Samuel was converted to play centerfield & was a huge disappointment, while Dykstra with all his personable issues, eventually became an NL MVP.
In 1990 he went 6-8 with 22 saves moving up to 6th best in the league. By June of 1991 he had only three saves & a 3.20 ERA when he was traded to the Dodgers for two minor leaguers.
That year he went 6-3 with seven saves & a 2.55 ERA for the remainder of the season.
In 1992 his ERA ballooned to over four while leading the league in relief losses and having the lowest save percentage of closers. That year the Dodgers finished with their only last-place finish of the 20th century.
By 1993 McDowell had become a middle reliever playing in Los Angeles for two more seasons. In 1995 he signed with Texas& that year was second in the A.L. in appearances (64) going 7-4 with four saves & a 4.0.7 ERA.
In 1996 he signed on with the Orioles for 1996 under his old manager Davey Johnson & with former team mate Jesse Orosco. A shoulder surgery ended his season in mid-August. In 1997 after two more shoulder surgeries he was forced to retired at age 37.
Career Stats: In his 12-year career he was 70-70 with 159 saves (74th all time), 524 strikeouts and 1050 innings pitched in 723 games (86th all time).
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In 2011 his staff was first in innings & strikeouts, fourth in ERA & fifth in victories. They allowed the third most HRs & runs scored.
In 2010 they were third in wins, ERA, walks & earned runs as well as being first in HRs allowed.
He had to attend sensitivity classes & the everything was on. He returned in his role as pitching coach later that season.
After that, from 2013-2016, the Braves fell under .500, finishing in last place in 2016. Fredi Gonzales was replaced by Brian Snitker as manager. McDowell's staff was 13th in wins (68) with the third most losses in the NL (93).
"We wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future."
By 1982 the six foot one, right hander was signed by the New York Mets in the third round of the amateur draft.
In the minor leagues he was still a starting pitcher, going 11-12 at AA Jackson in 1983. In 1984, with the AA Jackson Mets, he suffered an arm injury & had surgery to repair it, missing all but three games that season.
After the injury he converted from being a starter to being a full-time relief pitcher. McDowell’s best pitch & basically his only pitch was his sinker ball which made him a right-handed ground ball specialist.
Mets Career: In 1985 McDowell surprisingly made the Mets staff out of Spring Training. Davey Johnson was keen on McDowell as he pitched well & was the better choice as Doug Sisk was having control issues then started the year at AAA Tidewater.
After the injury he converted from being a starter to being a full-time relief pitcher. McDowell’s best pitch & basically his only pitch was his sinker ball which made him a right-handed ground ball specialist.
Mets Career: In 1985 McDowell surprisingly made the Mets staff out of Spring Training. Davey Johnson was keen on McDowell as he pitched well & was the better choice as Doug Sisk was having control issues then started the year at AAA Tidewater.
On April 11th, 1985 McDowell debuted in the second game of the season, pitching two scoreless innings earning the win 2-1 over St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets won the game in the bottom of the 11th inning, when Danny Heep drew a bases loaded walk from
Neil Allen.
Two days later, McDowell earned his second win pitching a scoreless 8th & 9th inning at Shea against the Reds. In the bottom of the 9th Darryl Strawberry hit walk off HR off John Franco
On April 28th he got a spot start & gave up three runs in five innings of work. After a May 4th start where he was shelled for six runs in Cincinnati, he never made another start.
He collected two more saves & eared his fifth win pitching 4.1 innings at Shea combining with Sid Fernandez in a 2-1 win over Rick Honeycutt & the Dodgers.
In May he had seven consecutive scoreless appearances totaling 21 innings while striking out 11 & walking just three. At the end of May after 21 appearances he was 5-1 with three saves & a 2.82 ERA.
Soon the right handed McDowell & the lefty Jesse Orosco formed an awesome closing duo out of Davey Johnson & Mel Stottlemyre's strong Mets bull pen. McDowell would be used in longer relief & Orosco in the shorter relief stints.
On June 22nd Roger took the loss at Shea to the Expos, as he put two men on & had Terry Francona reach on Wally Backman's error scoring Dan Driessan with the 10th innings winning run. On July 26th he gave up HRs to Ryne Sandberg & Keith Moreland at Wrigley Field suffering losses in back-to-back outings.
On June 22nd Roger took the loss at Shea to the Expos, as he put two men on & had Terry Francona reach on Wally Backman's error scoring Dan Driessan with the 10th innings winning run. On July 26th he gave up HRs to Ryne Sandberg & Keith Moreland at Wrigley Field suffering losses in back-to-back outings.
On August 9th he collected his sixth win pitching three scoreless innings at Shea over the Cubs. On August 17th in Pittsburgh, Roger notched his tenth save of the season coming at Pittsburgh.
In September as the Mets were in the heat of a pennant race with St. Louis, McDowell had a busy month making 15 appearances earning four more saves. On September 7th, he blew a save opportunity in Los Angeles allowing three runs. He then collected four saves & a hold allowing just one in run in his next ten appearances pitching 20.2 innings. On September 18th Roger collected his 15th save of the season, in a 4-2 win over the Cubs at Shea.
On September 25th he was hit with a blown save opportunity his fifth of the year, when Shawon Dunston hit a 7th inning sac fly at Wrigley Field tying the game. Jesse Orosco would give up a walk off single to Chris Speier taking the loss.
At this point New York was three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals with six games left to play, including a three-game set in St. Louis. On October 3rd, McDowell pitched two scoreless innings finishing off a loss to the Cards & although the Mets took two of three at Busch Stadium, it wasn't enough as they finished the season 98-64 three games back.
Topps All Rookie Team: McDowell would finish the year leading the team in appearances with 62 while matching Jesse Orosco for the team lead in saves with 17 (9th most in the NL). He posted a 6-5 record with a 2.83 ERA, striking out 70 batters in 127 innings making the Topps All Star Rookie team.
Topps All Rookie Team: McDowell would finish the year leading the team in appearances with 62 while matching Jesse Orosco for the team lead in saves with 17 (9th most in the NL). He posted a 6-5 record with a 2.83 ERA, striking out 70 batters in 127 innings making the Topps All Star Rookie team.
Quotes- Keith Hernandez: "He's got a wicked sinkerball. I know it & so do the others hitters . They come down to first & talk to me about the kids nasty sinker. He is awesome."
1986 Championship Season: In the Mets 1986 Championship season, McDowell was very valuable out of the bullpen. He had an incredible year as a reliever, beginning with a pair of holds in his first two appearances.On April 21st, he collected his first win thank to Gary Carter's walk off base hit to beat the Pirates. On April 24th, McDowell pitched two scoreless innings then George Fosters RBI base hit in the top of the 10th inning was enough to beat Todd Worrell & the rival Cardinals in St. Louis.
On May 5th he had his worst appearances giving up five runs on five hits at Cincinnati but the Mets still won the game 8-7 as he was credited with a hold. From May 4th thru May 21st he gave up one run in seven appearances, collecting three more saves as well as a victory in a 1-0 combined shut out at Shea over Atlanta. Tim Teufel provided the walk off RBI base hit.
After allowing two runs in an outing in San Francisco, Roger allowed just one run in 22 innings over his next ten appearances for a 0.41 ERA while collecting three more wins & his fifth save of the season.
On July 22nd, he was the winning pitcher in the classic game at Riverfront Stadium where the Mets & Reds brawled with Ray Knight punching out Eric Davis at third base.
In August he recorded seven saves, with six in six straight games, in the final two weeks of the month. From August 6th thru August 14th, Roger earned victories in three straight appearances.
On August 5th, at Wrigley Field, McDowell gave up an 8th inning three run HR to Jerry Mumphrey taking the loss. The next day in the first game of a double header he earned his tenth win of the year, allowing a run in two innings of an extra inning win.
On August 9th although he gave up two runs in Montreal which tied up the game, he got the win as Gary Carter collected a two run single off Jeff Reardon in the top of the 9th inning.
From August 17th thru September 7th, McDowell collected a win & eight saves, including earning a save in six straight appearances reaching the 17 save mark, matching his previous years total.
Wilson & Howard Johnson's RBI hits in the bottom of the 8th led to Roger's 13th win.
On September 25th, the Cubs Brian Dayett tied the game with a sac fly in the 8th inning, but the Mets scored three times in the bottom frame helping McDowell earn his career high 14th victory of the season. In the final games of the regular season, McDowell collected two more saves in October giving him 22 on the year.
Mets Relief Pitcher Records: Overall he finished the season setting franchise records for wins by a reliever (14) going 14-9 as well as appearances (75). Over the course of the season, McDowell would pitch three innings or more in fifteen appearances.
McDowell collected 22 saves (8th in the league) and 3.02 ERA, striking out 65 batters in 128 innings pitched in 75 appearances (2nd most in the NL).
The Hot Foot: McDowell was legendary on the '86 Mets for being the leading practical joker. McDowell became a popular player around Shea Stadium & a star in the Mets 1986 “Let’s Go Mets " video. In that video, he gave in depth detail on how to give a “Hot Foot” with his accomplice, Howard Johnson.
The hot foot was a lit matchbook stuck with bubble gum onto the back of a player’s cleats. He instructed youngsters not to try it at home, as it was only to be done by professionals.
Upside Down Man: In a game at Los Angeles he performed a classic stunt on a nationally televised game as he came out of the dugout wearing his uniform upside down, pants on his head, jersey on his legs doing a handstand around the field.
He once got fans attention who were near the clubhouse then opened a door exposing Jesse Orosco sitting on a toilet bowl .
When the Mets honored Rusty Staub on a day at Shea, Roger led the team onto the field all wearing Red wigs as they presented Rusty with a plaque.
In the Game #4 loss to Mike Scott, McDowell pitched a scoreless 7th & 8th innings.
Game Six: In the epic 16 inning Game #6 in Houston, McDowell pitched five shutout innings, coming in the 9th thru the 13th inning. He allowed no runs on one hit with no walks while striking out two Astros.
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In the Game #4 Mets 6-2 win he allowed the two runs in 0.2 innings pitched. In the bottom of the 7th inning, McDowell gave up an RBI single to Dwight Evans & an RBI sac fly to Dave Henderson.
Game Six: In the classic Game #6 McDowell came on to relieve Bob Ojeda in the top of the 7th with the score tied at two. He started the inning with a leadoff walk to Marty Barrett. After getting Bill Buckner to ground out, Barret advanced. Then Ray Knight made a crucial throwing error allowing Jim Rice to reach base & Barrett to advance to third. The Red Sox went ahead on a ground out to second by Dwight Evans allowing Barrett to score.
In the top of the 8th inning Roger gave up a lead off hit to Dave Henderson, then with two outs intentionally walked Wade Boggs. He was relieved by Jesse Orosco who got Bill Buckner to fly out. The Mets went on to win the game in the 10th inning, on Mookie Wilson's little roller up along first got by Bill Buckner with two outs allowing Ray Knight to score the walk off run.In Game #7 it was McDowell who got credit for the win, pitching a scoreless seventh inning, before New York broke it open in the bottom of the inning highlighted by Ray Knight's HR.
World Series Stats: All in all Roger appeared in five World Series games, collecting a win, allowing four earned runs with two strike outs, four walks & ten hits in seven innings of work.
1986 Mets Post Season Stats: In seven post season games he was 1-0, allowing five runs on 11 hits with five K's & six walks for a 2.51 ERA.
After the Game #7 victory as the fans were finally removed from the field by exiting thru the centerfield gates, with this centerfieldmaz in being one of them, McDowell celebrated on the mound drinking champagne with his teammates.
After the Championship: In 1987 McDowell would emerge as the teams main closer ahead of Jesse Orosco. He began the year late as a hernia injury delayed him until May.
Later in the month he gave up seven runs over three appearances as his ERA rose to 4.15. On June 7th in the second game of a double header with the Pirates Roger gave up a season worst five runs, along with HRs to Andy Van Slyke & Mike Diaz blowing the save & taking a loss.
On June 1st he reached double digits in saves for the third straight season as he collected number ten at Shea over the rival Cardinals. He collected five straight saves that month before giving up a 9th inning game tying RBI single to the Cards Tommy Herr in St. Louis. But he was off the hook with a win when Howard Johnson blasted a two run HR in the top of the 10th. The next day he collected his 15th save of the season.
From August 23rd thru August 31st, he posted five saves in the week while pitching 5.2 scoreless innings & reaching the twenty save mark. He would pitch eight straight scoreless appearances into early September. On September 5th at Dodger Stadium, he set a new career high with 23 saves.
On September 27th, he blew his seventh save of the season in a loss at Pittsburgh. On September 23rd he made his final appearance of the year, notching his 25th save.
The Mets suffered thru injuries that year & were unable to repeat to the post season. For 1987, McDowell posted a career high 25 saves (5th best in the league) going 7-5 in 56 games with a 4.16 ERA. He struck out 32 batters & walked 28 in 88.2 innings while finishing off 45 games.
After the season, Jesse Orosco who had 16 saves of his own, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. McDowell now would platoon with the Mets new young fire ball pitcher, Randy Meyers in the closer role.
The Mets suffered thru injuries that year & were unable to repeat to the post season. For 1987, McDowell posted a career high 25 saves (5th best in the league) going 7-5 in 56 games with a 4.16 ERA. He struck out 32 batters & walked 28 in 88.2 innings while finishing off 45 games.
After the season, Jesse Orosco who had 16 saves of his own, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. McDowell now would platoon with the Mets new young fire ball pitcher, Randy Meyers in the closer role.
By the All Star break he was 4-2 with eight saves & a 2.12 ERA.
From July 16th thru August 24th, McDowell allowed did not allow a run in 15 of his 16 appearances, 19.1 innings as he went 1-0 with six saves in that time.
On September 9th, Roger earned his 15th save of the year as he collected a season high four strike outs in a win at Montreal. He made just eight appearances that month, seven of them on the road as the Mets clinched anther Eastern divisional title.
In the Mets 1988 NL Eastern division winning season, McDowell saved 16 games with an improved ERA from last season (2.63). He went 5-5 with 46 strike outs & 31 walks in 89 innings in 62 appearances. He also got credit for seven holds in a set up role to Randy Meyers. Myers led the bullpen with 26 saves, going 7-3 with a 1.72 ERA. It was clear he was the closer of the future.
Mets All Time Save List: That season McDowell moved into third place on the All Time Mets save list behind Tug McGraw & Jesse Orosco. But Meyers was better, saving 26 games with a 7-3 record & a 1.72 ERA.
In Game #2 at Dodger Stadium he closed out the Mets 6-3 loss pitching a scoreless inning.
After a rain out, he came into the Mets Game #3 win at Shea Stadium in the 7th inning of a 3-3 tie relieving Ron Darlin. In the 8th he loaded the bases giving way to Randy Myers & was charged with a run, but the Mets put up five runs in the bottom of the 8th leading to the win.
In Game #4 at Shea Stadium, he came on to pitch the 12th inning after Mike Scioscia had tied up the game hitting with a devastating HR off Dwight Gooden. McDowell then gave up the next big blow, a game winning HR to Kirk Gibson as he took the loss. That was the game that turned the series around.
Overall in the NLCS he was 0-1 as he gave up three runs on six hits, with five strikeouts & two walks in six innings pitched in four appearances.
1989: In 1989 things were changing for the team. Veterans Keith Hernandez & Gary Carter were past their prime, new faces were coming into the scene but the chemistry wasn't there.
From late April into early May, McDowell had four saves with an ERA under two. But from May 12 thru May 28th he lost four games including a five run debacle on May 21st to the Giants. By June McDowell was 1-5 with four saves & a 3.31 ERA .
Mets Career Stats: In his five-year Mets career Roger was 33-29 with 84 saves (8th on the Mets all-time list) while posting a 3.13 ERA.
He had 228 strike outs with 154 walks in 468 innings in 280 appearances (15th most appearances on the Mets all-time list). For the 50th Anniversary of the Mets, McDowell was named the all-time Mets right-handed reliever.
Post Mets Career: McDowell was not a fan of the Mets rookie Gregg Jeffries & had spoken out about it. When the Phillies came to Shea it all came to a boil On September 27th, in the final game of the season at Shea Stadium Jeffries grounded out & after running to first base he turned charging the mound wrestling McDowell to the ground. A bench / bullpen clearing brawl ensued. It was a bizarre ending in the last home game of the season & it must have been the personal issues between the two Mets radio broadcaster Bob Murphy said.
McDowell posted a 1.11 ERA while saving 19 games for the last-place 1989 Phillies, finishing with 23 overall (9th in the league).
In 1990 he went 6-8 with 22 saves moving up to 6th best in the league. By June of 1991 he had only three saves & a 3.20 ERA when he was traded to the Dodgers for two minor leaguers.
That year he went 6-3 with seven saves & a 2.55 ERA for the remainder of the season.In 1992 his ERA ballooned to over four while leading the league in relief losses and having the lowest save percentage of closers. That year the Dodgers finished with their only last-place finish of the 20th century.
In 1996 he signed on with the Orioles for 1996 under his old manager Davey Johnson & with former team mate Jesse Orosco. A shoulder surgery ended his season in mid-August. In 1997 after two more shoulder surgeries he was forced to retired at age 37.
Career Stats: In his 12-year career he was 70-70 with 159 saves (74th all time), 524 strikeouts and 1050 innings pitched in 723 games (86th all time).
Family: Roger & his first wife had one son together. He & his second wife Gloria have two daughters. They reside in Marietta, Georgia.
Retirement: McDowell began his coaching career in the Dodgers minor league organization in 2002.
In 2006 McDowell replaced Leo Mazzone as the pitching coach of the Atlanta Braves and has held the position through 2016. His staff had improved each year, until the final three seasons when the organization went into a rebuilding mode.
Retirement: McDowell began his coaching career in the Dodgers minor league organization in 2002.
In 2006 McDowell replaced Leo Mazzone as the pitching coach of the Atlanta Braves and has held the position through 2016. His staff had improved each year, until the final three seasons when the organization went into a rebuilding mode.
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In 2010 they were third in wins, ERA, walks & earned runs as well as being first in HRs allowed.
Drama:
In April of 2011 in San Francisco a fan claimed McDowell used foul language, homosexual slur & obscene gestures after being heckled before a game at AT & T Park. The person making the claims also said McDowell said "kids don't belong at a ball park" & threatened them with a bat.
McDowell apologized two days later but Commissioner Bid Selig said his actions were inappropriate. He was placed on leave by the Braves & then suspended two weeks by MLB.
McDowell apologized two days later but Commissioner Bid Selig said his actions were inappropriate. He was placed on leave by the Braves & then suspended two weeks by MLB.
He had to attend sensitivity classes & the everything was on. He returned in his role as pitching coach later that season.In 2012 his second place Atlanta Braves staff was third in the NL in wins (94) & complete games (5). They were first in shut outs (4) & fourth in ERA (3.42).
In 2013 McDowell's staff led the NL in ERA (3.18) & Craig Kimbrel helped his bullpen be second in the league in saves. But the 96 win Braves were eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2013 NLDS.
In 2013 McDowell's staff led the NL in ERA (3.18) & Craig Kimbrel helped his bullpen be second in the league in saves. But the 96 win Braves were eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2013 NLDS.
They were 11th in ERA, runs, & tenth in walks. It was announced after the season was over, that he would not return to Atlanta in 2017.
He was dismissed after eleven seasons. "Roger is a terrific coach and an even better person,"
general manager John Coppolella said.
From there he went on to serve as the Baltimore Orioles pitching coach in 2017.
Television Career: In 1990 McDowell made his first TV appearance on MTV Rock & Jock.
In 1992 Roger made a cameo appearance on the Seinfeld Show with his former teammate & pal Keith Hernandez. In the classic Seinfeld episode, " the boyfriend" Roger McDowell makes a video cameo getting blamed for the spitting toward Kramer & George Castanza. McDowell claims he gets a check for $13.52 every time the episode airs.
Mets Old Timers Day: In 2022 McDowell returned to the Mets for the Old Timers Day celebration.