Steve Sparks was a professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams during his career. He was born on July 2, 1965, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and attended Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. After high school, he attended Sam Houston State University, where he played college baseball for the Bearkats.
Sparks was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of the 1987 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Brewers in 1995 and played for them until 1998. During his time with the Brewers, he was primarily used as a relief pitcher and had a record of 14-12 with a 4.97 earned run average (ERA).
In 1999, Sparks signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent. He had a successful season with the Tigers, posting a record of 14-9 with a 3.65 ERA. He also threw his first career shutout that season. However, he struggled in the following season, finishing with a record of 4-14 and a 5.52 ERA.
After his time with the Tigers, Sparks signed with the Oakland Athletics in 2001. He had a solid season with the A's, finishing with a record of 14-7 and a 3.65 ERA. He also threw his second career shutout that season. However, he struggled in the following season, finishing with a record of 6-8 and a 5.52 ERA.
In 2003, Sparks signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He had a decent season with the Diamondbacks, finishing with a record of 8-11 and a 4.54 ERA. However, he struggled in the following season, finishing with a record of 1-5 and a 5.46 ERA.
Sparks was known for his unique pitching style, which involved throwing a knuckleball. He learned the pitch from former MLB pitcher Phil Niekro and used it throughout his career. He was also known for his durability, as he pitched in over 200 games during his career.
After his playing career, Sparks became a broadcaster for the Houston Astros. He also wrote a book about his experiences as a knuckleball pitcher, titled "Sparks Fly Upward: The Story of Steve Sparks and the Houston Astros."
Overall, Steve Sparks had a solid career as a pitcher in MLB. He finished with a career record of 59-76 and a 4.90 ERA. He was known for his unique pitching style and his durability, and he had some successful seasons with several different teams.
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