Doug Sisk was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher for the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles. He was born on September 26, 1957, in Renton, Washington, and attended the University of Washington. Sisk was drafted by the Mets in the second round of the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.
Sisk made his Major League debut with the Mets in 1982 and quickly became a reliable relief pitcher for the team. He had a strong arm and was known for his sinkerball, which induced many ground balls. In his rookie season, Sisk appeared in 60 games and had a 2.42 ERA. He also recorded 10 saves and was named the National League Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News.
Sisk continued to pitch well for the Mets over the next few seasons, but his performance began to decline in 1986. He struggled with his control and gave up more home runs than in previous years. Despite this, Sisk was a member of the Mets team that won the World Series that year. He appeared in two games in the series, but did not record a decision.
After the 1987 season, the Mets traded Sisk to the Orioles for pitcher Mike Kinnunen. Sisk struggled in his first season with the Orioles, posting a 5.68 ERA in 47 games. However, he bounced back in 1989 and had one of the best seasons of his career. He appeared in 68 games and had a 2.79 ERA. He also recorded 10 saves and was named the Orioles' Pitcher of the Year.
Sisk continued to pitch for the Orioles through the 1991 season, but his performance declined again. He struggled with injuries and was not as effective as he had been in previous years. After the 1991 season, the Orioles released Sisk, and he retired from baseball.
In his career, Sisk appeared in 448 games and had a 3.55 ERA. He recorded 37 saves and struck out 292 batters in 536 innings pitched. Sisk was known for his sinkerball and his ability to induce ground balls. He was also a reliable relief pitcher for the Mets and Orioles for many years.
After retiring from baseball, Sisk returned to his hometown of Renton, Washington, where he worked as a firefighter. He also coached youth baseball and was involved in the community. Sisk passed away on June 5, 2021, at the age of 63. He will be remembered as a talented relief pitcher who had a successful career in Major League Baseball.
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