Floyd Youmans

From BR Bullpen

160 pix

Floyd Everett Youmans

BR page

Biographical Information[edit]

Floyd Youmans pitched in the major leagues from 1985 to 1989 for the Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies.

Youmans, a childhood friend and high school teammate of former New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden, was drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 1982 amateur draft, one round after the club selected Gooden.[1] On December 10, 1984, Youmans was traded to the Expos along with Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald and Herm Winningham for future Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter.

Youmans made his major league debut in the middle of the following season, starting on July 1st against the St. Louis Cardinals. He had a fine rookie season, finishing with an earned run average of 2.45, best of any starter on the team. 1986 saw the hard-throwing right-hander enter the rotation full-time, throwing five double-digit strikeout games and finishing third in the National League in strikeouts. He threw one-hitters on June 8th and July 8th. He also led the league in bases on balls, however, limiting his effectiveness and contributing to a 13-12 win-loss record.

In 1987 Youmans was plagued with injuries, visiting the disabled list three times.[2] He also threw three shutouts in the month of July, however, and was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for the achievement.[3]

After the 1987 season Youmans checked into a rehabilitation program, originally reported to be for drugs,[4] but later revealed to be for alcohol.[5] He would never pitch a full season again. On June 25, 1988, Youmans was suspended indefinitely "for failing to comply with his drug-testing program."[6] In August he admitted having used cocaine.[7] The suspension was later clarified as 60 days, but he did not return to the majors that season.

On December 6, 1988 Youmans was traded to the Phillies with Jeff Parrett for Kevin Gross. His 1989 season with the Phillies was marred by injury; he was on the disabled list for most of May and pitched his last game on June 24th. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery was performed on August 22nd[8], and the 25-year-old Youmans would never pitch in the majors again.

After rumors that the Phillies might give Youmans a workout in spring 1992, he attended spring training with the Chicago White Sox in 1993 and a tryout camp for potential replacement players with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1995. Finally, Floyd attempted a comeback in 2003 at age 39 in the Canadian Baseball League, but only pitched five games before the league folded.

Notes[edit]

  1. baseball-reference.com. "1982 Mets Picks in the June Draft." Retrieved July 3, 2007.
  2. New York Times. "Sports People; Youmans Disabled." August 20, 1987.
  3. baseballlibrary.com. [1] Retrieved July 3, 2007.
  4. New York Times. "Sports People: Youmans Enters Clinic." October 14, 1987.
  5. New York Times. "Sports People: Youmans Checks Out." November 12, 1987.
  6. New York Times. "Sports People; 60 Days for Youmans." August 11, 1988.
  7. New York Times. "Sports People; Youmans 'Clears Air.'" August 12, 1988.
  8. New York Times. "Sports People: Baseball; Youmans Is Out." August 23, 1989.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Danny Gallagher: "Youmans' career ended at 25", in Remembering the Montreal Expos, Scoop Press, Toronto, ON, 2005, pp. 128-132.

Related Sites[edit]