Turk Wendell was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for ten seasons. He was known for his eccentric behavior on and off the field, including his superstitions and unique rituals.
Wendell was born on May 19, 1967, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where he played college baseball. In 1988, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round of the MLB draft but did not sign with the team.
Instead, Wendell signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1989 and made his MLB debut in 1993. He played for the Cubs until 1997, when he was traded to the New York Mets. Wendell played for the Mets until 2001, when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He played for the Phillies for one season before being traded to the Colorado Rockies in 2002. He played for the Rockies until 2004, when he retired from baseball.
Wendell was known for his unique behavior on the field, including his superstitions and rituals. He would always chew black licorice while pitching and would never step on the foul line when walking on or off the field. He would also brush his teeth between innings and wear a necklace made of animal teeth.
Despite his eccentricities, Wendell was a successful relief pitcher. He had a career record of 36-29 with an ERA of 3.93. He recorded 36 saves and struck out 546 batters in 552 innings pitched.
Wendell's best season came in 1999 when he played for the Mets. He had a record of 8-5 with an ERA of 3.09 and recorded 27 saves. He also struck out 118 batters in 98 innings pitched.
After retiring from baseball, Wendell became a real estate agent and also worked as a hunting and fishing guide. He also appeared on the reality TV show "Survivor" in 2008.
In conclusion, Turk Wendell was a successful relief pitcher in MLB known for his eccentric behavior on and off the field. He played for several teams during his ten-year career and had a career record of 36-29 with an ERA of 3.93. Despite his quirks, he was a valuable player and a fan favorite.
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