Warren Brusstar

Warren Scott Brusstar

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 200 lb.
• School Napa Valley College, California State University, Fresno
• High School Napa High School
• Debut May 6, 1977
• Final Game October 3, 1985
• Born February 2, 1952 in Oakland, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Draft

Warren Brusstar was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1970 in the 27th round (635^th overall). He chose not to sign. In 1971, he was drafted by the Giants again, this time in the 6th round (114^th overall). Again, he did not sign. He had to wait until 1973 to be drafted again, this time by the New York Mets in the 33rd round (684^th). Not surprisingly, he did not sign. In 1974, the Phillies were able to get him to sign, after he was drafted in the 4th round (67^th).

Minor Leagues

Brusstar was a successful starter and reliever in the minor leagues. His ERA never reached 3.00 in any of the years he played before making his major league debut (the highest was 2.71). His control was an issue, as he walked 90 or more batters twice.

Major Leagues

On May 6, 1977, at 25, Brusstar made his major league debut with the Phillies. He would never start a game in his career, used primarily as a middle reliever. Only 3 times did he ever appear in over 50 games in a season, because Brusstar, a sinker-slider pitcher, was constantly hampered by shoulder problems from 1977 to 1982. Starting his career with a 2.65 ERA in 1977 (46 appearances, 71 1/3 innings) and a 2.33 ERA in 1978 (58 appearances, 88 2/3 innings), he did not go under 3.00 agin until 1983 with the Chicago Cubs. Warren was a member of the Phillies' first-ever World Championship team in 1980. On August 30, 1982, the Chicago White Sox purchased Brusstar from the Phillies, pitching ten times on the Southside of Chicago. On January 25, 1983, the ChiSox sent Brusstar and Steve Trout to the Chicago Cubs for Scott Fletcher, Pat Tabler, Randy Martz, and Dick Tidrow. Brusstar found fair success with the Cubs. From May 18 to July 7 of that year, he pitched 32 2/3 scoreless innings, which is a Cubs record for a reliever. He made his final appearance in 1985.

As a big leaguer, Brusstar was 28-16 with 14 saves on the bump, pitching to a 3.51 ERA in 484 2/3 innings. At the plate, he batted but .094 (3-for-32) with one extra base hit (a double) and an RBI. His career postseason ERA was 1.96, making 13 appearances spread over several posteasons, and he was unscored upon in World Series play.

Brusstar was pitching coach for the San Bernardino Spirit in 1994, Atlantic City Surf in 1998, Clearwater Phillies in 2000, and Batavia Muckdogs in 2002-2004. He participated in a fantasy camp in Clearwater in 2005 with others from the 1980 and 1993 Phillies championship teams. Warren's wife, Jennifer, took care of Tug McGraw before McGraw died of cancer; Tug was his bullpen mate on the Phillies for a spell. Brusstar currently lives in Napa, CA, where he is pitching coach at Napa Valley College.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980