Ricky Bottalico is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on August 26, 1969, in New Britain, Connecticut, and attended Central Connecticut State University. Bottalico was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1991 MLB draft and made his debut with the team in 1994.
Bottalico was known for his fastball and slider, which he used to strike out batters. He was a reliable closer for the Phillies, recording 34 saves in 1996 and 34 saves in 1997. He was named an All-Star in 1996 and finished 10th in the National League Cy Young Award voting that year.
After spending six seasons with the Phillies, Bottalico was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1998. He spent two seasons with the Cardinals before being traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2000. He was then traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, where he helped the team win the National League Championship Series and advance to the World Series.
Bottalico played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003 and the New York Mets in 2004 before returning to the Phillies for his final season in 2005. He retired from baseball after the 2005 season with a career record of 38-38, 117 saves, and a 3.99 ERA.
After retiring from baseball, Bottalico became a broadcaster for the Phillies and currently works as an analyst for NBC Sports Philadelphia. He also runs a baseball academy in New Jersey, where he teaches young players the skills and techniques he learned during his career.
Overall, Ricky Bottalico had a successful career as a Major League Baseball pitcher, earning accolades and respect from his peers and fans. He was known for his strong arm and ability to close out games, and his contributions to the teams he played for helped them achieve success on the field.
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