Jack Savage

John Joseph Savage

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 190 lb.
• School University of Kentucky
• High School St. Xavier High School
• Debut September 14, 1987
• Final Game September 14, 1990
• Born April 22, 1964 in Louisville, KY USA

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Biographical Information

Jack Savage was signed as an 8th round pick in the 1985 Amateur Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers and scout Carl Loewenstine.

1985-1988: Dodgers prospect

His first season in the minors was superb - in 24 games and 44 2/3 innings pitched with the Great Falls Dodgers, he had a 5-1 record with 8 saves, 51 strikeouts and a 1.01 ERA. He tied Jack Dietz for the Pioneer League lead in saves, made the league All-Star team and was rated as the #8 prospect in the circuit by Baseball America, between Walt Weiss and Geronimo Berroa.

In his second year, Savage struggled with the 1986 Bakersfield Dodgers (5-8, 9 Sv, 4.40. Savage recovered and had a lot of success with the San Antonio Dodgers in 1987 - he appeared in 49 games, striking out 67 in 69 1/3 innings while posting a record of 5-6 with 10 saves and an ERA of 2.60. Promoted to the Albuquerque Dukes, he had a 0-4, 4.20 record with one save, but allowed a run per inning (over half of them unearned).

He made his Major League debut on September 14, 1987 at the age of 23 and wearing the number 50. He pitched one inning and gave up one hit. He pitched a total of 3 1/3 innings in the majors that season, with an ERA of 2.70. Seeing no Major League ball in 1988 and 1989, the success he witnessed in his very small sample size in the Majors in 1987 did not carry over to his next stint in the Majors.

1988-1989: Tidy work in Tidewater

After the 1987 season, Jack was part of the big three-team deal that sent Bob Welch to the Oakland Athletics, Alfredo Griffin and Jesse Orosco to the Dodgers and Kevin Tapani to the New York Mets along with others being shuffled about, including Savage going to the Mets. The trade helped both Oakland and LA develop their World Series teams of that period.

Jack never pitched for the Mets. Instead, he spent two years with the Tidewater Tides. He was 5-8 with 13 saves and a 3.16 ERA for them in 1988 and even made 9 starts. He allowed just 67 hits in 88 1/3 innings. In 1989, Savage went 3-2 with 6 saves and a 3.59 ERA.

1990-1991: With the Twins

In the winter of 1989-90, he again was part of a major trade with World Series implications as the Mets dealt him as a player to be named later with Tapani, Rick Aguilera, David West and Tim Drummond to the Minnesota Twins for Frank Viola.

Jack did well with the 1990 Portland Beavers, going 1-2 with 3 saves, a 1.31 ERA (albeit a 3.48 RA) and 25 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.

In 26 innings pitched for the Twins in 1990, wearing number 20, he had a subpar ERA of 8.31, all the while losing two games and giving up three home runs. He was able to save one game that season, though. His control came into question that season: he threw four wild pitches, or one every 6.5 innings.

Even though his control on the mound was less than stellar, he kept it in check when playing defense - he didn't commit a single error in his brief career in the major leagues.

He played his final major league game on September 14, 1990 at the age of 25 - exactly three years after his debut.

Savage struggled for Portland in 1991 (2-4, 6.56, 1 Sv, 1.92 WHIP) and even was back in AA, posting a 2-1, 1.88 line with the Orlando Twins.

As of last notice, he resided in Louisville, Kentucky.

Sources: 1986-1987 Baseball America Statistics Reports, 1988-1992 Baseball Almanacs and 1991 Baseball Guide.