Steve Sharts

Stephen Wayne Sharts

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 5", Weight 205 lb.

• School Cal State Northridge
• High School Simi Valley High School

• Born August 17, 1964

BR Minors page

Steve Sharts spent two seasons in AAA yet never made the majors. His brother Scott Sharts also played pro ball.

Steve Sharts was on the CSU Northridge team that won the 1984 Division II College World Series. In the 1985 amateur draft, he went to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 17th round. The southpaw had a very good pro debut with the Bend Phillies at 5-2, 2.11. He was third in the Northwest League in ERA behind Clay Parker and Jeff Roberts. Despite his success, he was left off the NWL All-Star team - the pitchers chosen were Parker, Tim Burcham, Darrell Rodgers and Joe Lynch.

Sharts struggled with the 1986 Spartanburg Phillies (5-8, 5.97) and Reading Phillies (5 R in 6 IP). In 1987, the tall hurler improved to 9-6, 3.34 with two saves for the Clearwater Phillies, walking only 25 in 118 2/3 innings. He was a very effective reliever for Reading in 1988 (3-1, Sv, 2.21 in 46 G, 13 BB in 61 IP). He had the lowest ERA of any Reading hurler with 10+ games - teammates included Tim Fortugno, Chuck McElroy, Chuck Malone, Scott Service, Rick Surhoff and Tim Mauser.

Steve split 1989 between Reading (2-2, 1.53) and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (1-2, 6 Sv, 3.33). He again had a lower ERA than many teammates who would wind up in the majors. After another good year with the Red Barons in 1990 (6-2, 3 Sv, 2.99, 1.05 WHIP in 61 G), Sharts ended his career. In his last season, only McElroy had a lower ERA for a Red Baron squad which also included Todd Frohwirth, Jason Grimsley, Tommy Greene, Alex Madrid, Malone, Mauser, Dickie Noles, Wally Ritchie, Bob Scanlan and Service.

Overall, Sharts was 31-23 with 12 saves and a 3.46 ERA in 244 minor league games (49 starts). He walked only 156 in 557 1/3 innings.

Primary Sources: 1985-1986 Baseball America Statistics Reports, 1987-1991 Baseball Guides