Rico Rossy

Elam Jose Rossy Ramos

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.
• School Purdue University
• High School Frontier High School (Chalmers)
• Debut September 11, 1991
• Final Game September 27, 1998
• Born February 16, 1964 in San Juan, P.R.

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Biographical Information

After not appearing in a Major League game since 1993, veteran infielder Rico Rossy was brought up to the Major League Seattle Mariners at the end of June in 1998. Manager Lou Piniella had been growing increasingly frustrated with third baseman Russ Davis' defensive ineptitude and was looking for someone to provide solid defense, even if it meant weaker offense. Piniella started Rossy on June 21st, batting 9th in the order, while Davis sat on the bench. Rossy responded by going 2-for-3 with a walk and a home run - his first big league long ball since July 5, 1993 with the Kansas City Royals. He started 16 games in the months of June and July, all of them at third base, and occasionally spelled Joey Cora defensively at second base. He had the game of his life on July 18th against his old team, the Royals, in the Kingdome. He went 4-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored in an 8-5 victory. His timing couldn't have been better; that Saturday night game drew a huge number of fans to the Kingdome, and also gained national attention - it was the first ever Turn Ahead the Clock Night. After that tremendous game, he had only three more hits on the season, and was relegated back to defensive replacement and pinch running duties for the months of August and September. (Though he did start one final game, on September 22nd, where he went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs batted in.) His final game came on September 27th, coming into the game in the top of the 5th inning to play third base in place of Davis. For the season, he slashed .198/.253/.309 with 6 doubles, 1 home run, 4 RBI, and 12 runs scored. Not good offensive numbers, especially considering the bloated offensive output that year, but he did exactly what Lou Piniella wanted him to do: provide solid defense. He played third base, second base, and shortstop all without committing an error with decent range numbers.

He spent the 1999 season in AAA with the Las Vegas Stars in the San Diego Padres chain, slashing .255/.359/.417 to close out his professional career.