Ed Whitson was a professional baseball player who played as a pitcher for various teams in the Major League Baseball (MLB) during his career. He was born on May 19, 1955, in Johnson City, Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee.
Whitson began his professional baseball career in 1976 when he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth round of the MLB draft. He made his debut in the MLB in 1977 with the San Diego Padres, where he played for three seasons. During his time with the Padres, Whitson had a record of 22-31 with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.03.
In 1981, Whitson was traded to the New York Yankees, where he played for two seasons. He had a record of 15-10 with an ERA of 3.28 during his time with the Yankees. However, his time with the team was marred by a physical altercation with manager Billy Martin, which resulted in Whitson being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1983.
Whitson played for the Giants for one season before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1984. He played for the Indians for two seasons before being traded back to the Padres in 1986. During his second stint with the Padres, Whitson had a record of 34-22 with an ERA of 3.56.
In 1989, Whitson signed with the New York Yankees as a free agent. However, his second stint with the team was not as successful as his first. He had a record of 5-6 with an ERA of 5.38 during the 1989 season. In 1990, he had a record of 1-6 with an ERA of 5.38 before being traded to the San Diego Padres.
Whitson retired from baseball after the 1991 season. During his career, he had a record of 126-123 with an ERA of 3.79. He was known for his fastball and slider, which were his primary pitches.
Whitson's career was not without controversy. In addition to his altercation with Billy Martin, he was also involved in a brawl with the Atlanta Braves in 1984, which resulted in him being suspended for ten games. He also had a reputation for being difficult to work with, which may have contributed to his frequent trades.
Despite these controversies, Whitson was a talented pitcher who had a successful career in the MLB. He was a two-time All-Star and won a Gold Glove award in 1983. He will be remembered as one of the best pitchers of his era.
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