Ray Searage continued pitching, saw 7 ML seasons, coached
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It took Ray Searage a while to make the majors and stick there, into his ninth pro season. But Searage was determined to get there, The Associated Press wrote in April 1985.
"I've kept myself relatively healthy and stayed in shape," Searage told The AP then. "I knew all the work I put in the past years wouldn't go for naught, which they didn't. I wasn't going to quit unless I couldn't pitch anymore."
Searage spoke then coming off his second season in the majors, first with the Brewers, where he saw 21 outings and had a stellar 0.70 ERA. He then continued pitching in the majors over seven total seasons, his last in 1990 with the Dodgers.
Searage's career began in 1976, taken by the Cardinals in the 22nd round of the draft out of West Liberty University in West Virginia.
Searage started in the Gulf Coast League. He made single-A St. Petersburg in 1977 and AA Arkansas in 1979. He arrived in the Mets system in 1980 and New York in 1981.
Searage saw 26 relief outings with the Mets in 1981 and had a 3.68 ERA.
After two seasons at AAA with the Indians, Searage joined the Brewers for 1984. He then returned to the majors with those 21 outings.
He got another 33 relief outings there in 1985, but had a 5.92 ERA. After starting with the Brewers in 1986, he moved to the White Sox mid-season. He had a 6.95 ERA in 17 outings before the move, but a 0.62 mark in 29 outings after.
Searage saw 58 games with the White Sox in 1987 before signing with the Dodgers for 1988. He played 1988 at AAA Albuquerque.
Searage made Los Angeles for 1989 and started well early before being sidelined with back spasms. His return went rough, but Searage told The Los Angeles Times he felt he had to pitch, whether he was 100 percent or not.
"It would be nice to have the job security where you could say, 'I can't pitch today, I'm not feeling too good,'" Searage told The Times. "But I can't. [My back] has good days and bad days. But as long as I'm here, I've got to take every chance they give me."
Searage saw 41 relief outings in all that year and had a 3.53 ERA. He then returned for 29 more in 1990. He also saw 10 outings at high-A Bakersfield. His 1990 Dodgers time proved his last in the majors.
He then finished out his career at AAA in 1991 and 1992 with the Phillies and Angels.
Searage then turned minor league pitching coach then, in 2010, major league pitching coach with the Pirates. He continued in Pittsburgh for 10 seasons, into 2019.
In 2016, he was credited by MLB.com with rejuvenating numerous pitching careers.
"I have an opportunity to help somebody out, to resurrect a career, to get them back on track?" Searage told MLB.com then. "Man, I'm going for it. I'm going to have fun."
- Sheboygan Press, Associated Press, April 2, 1985: Ray Searage Hopes Long Road Ends With Spot In Brews' Starting Rotation
- Los Angeles Times, Aug. 16, 1989: Even Phillies Prove to Be Too Much for Dodgers, Who Lose, 7-6
- MLB.com, March 9, 2016: Pirates have 'pitcher whisperer' in Searage
Made the Majors:1,450-31.7%-X
Never Made Majors:3,128-68.3%