Ron Davis came in to get saves, saw 11 majors seasons
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Yankees reliever Ron Davis had just set the American League record for most consecutive strikeouts in relief - 8 - in May 1981 and Davis wasn't impressed, he told Newsday.
He'd actually gotten nine-straight out to secure the Yankees win, his first recorded out on a popup, Newsday wrote.
"Nothing special to me," Davis told Newsday afterward. "I just came in to get the save. Doesn't matter to me if they hit the ball on the ground or pop up or strike out. Just get out."
Davis went on to have several special years in the majors, including four straight with the Twins where he saved more than 20 games. Overall, Davis saw time in 11 major league seasons with five clubs, including the Yankees and Twins.
Davis' career began in 1976, drafted by the Cubs in the third round out of Blinn College in Texas.
Davis played his first two seasons at single-A Pompano Beach, then saw AA Midland in 1978 before being traded to the Yankees. Davis then made the Bronx in that year and saw four games.
Davis returned to New York for another 44 relief appearances in 1979. He went 14-2, with a 2.85 ERA. He saw another 53 appearances in 1980, then 43 in 1981. His 1981 campaign saw him become an all-star and pitch in nine postseason games.
Davis then got traded to the Twins for 1982 and he soon became the Twins' closer. He saved 22 games that year and 30 the next.
In the midst of a contract dispute with the Twins, Davis told The Minneapolis Star-Tribune his hopes of continuing to take advantage of the Minnesota hunting and fishing.
"Also, I have a chance to be No. 1 reliever for all the years I'm here and that's one of my main goals, to stay No. 1 wherever I go," Davis told The Star-Tribune then.
Davis stayed in Minnesota for 1984 and 1985, saving another 29 and 25 games. He then started 1986 back in Minnesota, but his ERA hit 9.08 in 36 games before being traded to the Cubs. He finished out 1986 with another 17 appearances, but a 7.65 ERA.
He saw just 25 outings in 1987 between the Cubs and the Dodgers. Going into spring 1988, Davis worked to reinvent himself as a sidearm pitcher, The San Bernardino County Sun wrote.
"My stuff is just as hard as it was three years ago," Davis told The Sun. "I just have to decide which way I want to throw."
Davis ended up moving to the Giants that year and seeing nine final appearances. He played 1989 in Japan with Yakult. He then returned stateside for 10 final appearances with the Yankees at AAA Columbus to end his career.
Davis later saw his son Ike Davis follow him to the majors. Ike Davis played in the majors over seven seasons, from 2010 to 2016.
- Newsday, May 5, 1981: Yankees' Davis Strikes It Big
- Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Sept. 18, 1983: Questions about the future dog Ron Davis
- San Bernardino County Sun, Feb. 29, 1988: Ron Davis: Trying to save career
Made the Majors:1,467-31.8%-X
Never Made Majors:3,142-68.2%