Joe Magrane

Joseph David Magrane

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 6", Weight 230 lb.
• School University of Arizona
• High School Rowan County High School
• Debut April 25, 1987
• Final Game June 21, 1996
• Born July 2, 1964 in Des Moines, IA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Joe Magrane was signed as a 1st round pick in the 1985 amateur draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and scouting supervisor Marty Keough and scout Thornton Lee.

Magrane made the major leagues early in the 1987 season and pitched well, going 9-7, 3.54 as a rookie and logging 170 1/3 innings. The Cardinals had no true ace that season, but still managed to win a division title. Magrane started Game 3 of the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants, but gave up 4 runs in 4 innings and did not figure in the decision as the Cardinals eventually won the game, 6-5. He started Game 1 of the 1987 World Series against the Minnesota Twins and was charged with the 10-1 loss, then in the decisive Game 7, he gave up 2 runs in 4 1/3 innings and had a no-decision. The Cardinals eventually lost the game and the series. In 1988, he went only 5-9, but still led the National League in ERA at 2.18. In 1989, his ERA went up to 2.91, but this time, his record was more representative of how well he pitched, as he finished 18-9. The Cardinals were on a downward spiral, though, and in 1990, he fell to 10-17 in spite of pitching over 200 innings with a 3.59 ERA (an ERA+ of 106).

Magrane missed the 1991 season with an injury and was never again a top-line pitcher after that, even though he played four more seasons in the majors.

After his playing career ended, Magrane has been a television broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He worked as a color analyst for NBC calling the 2008 Olympics. Magrane was not actually in Beijing, however; the baseball games were broadcast from a studio in New York.

Magrane's nephew, Jim Magrane, played minor league ball for a decade and in 2010 played in the CPBL.

Notable Achievements

• NL ERA Leader (1988)
• 15 Wins Seasons (1989)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1989 & 1990)