Doug Drabek is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 13 seasons. He was born on July 25, 1962, in Victoria, Texas, and attended the University of Houston, where he played college baseball for the Houston Cougars.
Drabek was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 11th round of the 1983 MLB draft but did not sign with the team. Instead, he signed with the New York Yankees as a free agent in 1983 and made his MLB debut with the team in 1986. He played for the Yankees for two seasons before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1987.
Drabek had his best years with the Pirates, where he played from 1987 to 1992. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 1990 after posting a 22-6 record with a 2.76 earned run average (ERA). He was also named an All-Star in 1990 and 1992 and helped lead the Pirates to the National League Championship Series in 1990 and 1991.
After leaving the Pirates, Drabek played for several other teams, including the Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. He retired from baseball after the 1998 season with a career record of 155-134 and a 3.73 ERA.
Throughout his career, Drabek was known for his control and ability to induce ground balls. He was also a good hitter for a pitcher, with a career batting average of .185 and 7 home runs.
After retiring from baseball, Drabek became a pitching coach and worked with several minor league teams. He also coached his son, Kyle Drabek, who was a pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
In conclusion, Doug Drabek was a successful MLB pitcher who had his best years with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 1990 and was named an All-Star twice. He retired from baseball in 1998 with a career record of 155-134 and a 3.73 ERA.
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