Andy Pettitte

Andrew Eugene "Wantu" Pettitte (born June 15, 1972 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Related Topics:
June 15 - 1972 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana - American - Left-handed - Pitcher - Major League Baseball

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He made his major league debut on April 29, 1995 with the New York Yankees, with whom he spent nine seasons in the starting rotation. Selected by the Yankees in the 22nd round of the 1990 draft, he opted to attend junior college; on May 25, 1991 he signed with them as an amateur free agent. Pettitte was a part of six American League pennant-winning teams and four World Series championship teams. He is tied for a record 13 playoff wins with John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves. He is the only MLB pitcher since 1930 to win at least 12 games in each of his first nine seasons.

Related Topics:
April 29 - 1995 - New York Yankees - Starting rotation - 1990 - Draft - May 25 - 1991 - Free agent - American League - World Series - Playoff - John Smoltz - Atlanta Braves - 1930

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Pettitte has been a 20-game winner twice, in 1996 and 2003, each time with a 21-8 mark. In 1996 he was the runnerup to Pat Hentgen for the AL Cy Young Award after leading the league in wins, and in 2001 he was named the MVP of the ALCS after winning both the first and last games. He was named to the AL All-Star team in 1996 and 2001.

Related Topics:
Winner - 1996 - 2003 - Pat Hentgen - Cy Young Award - 2001 - MVP - ALCS - All-Star

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On December 11, 2003, Pettitte signed a 3-year, $31.5 million free agent deal with the Houston Astros. His old Yankees teammate Roger Clemens joined him a few weeks later, forgoing his planned retirement. Pettitte's 2004 season was shortened by elbow surgery but he has returned in 2005 as one of the league leaders in ERA and an important factor in the Astros contending for the wild card. Prior to the 2005 season, Pettitte had a record of 155-82, with 1,354 strikeouts and a 3.94 ERA.

Related Topics:
December 11 - Houston Astros - Roger Clemens - 2005 - Strikeout - ERA

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Pettitte (pronounced "PET-it") married Laura Dunn on January 9, 1993; they have four children.

Related Topics:
January 9 - 1993

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Pettitte was born on the same day as former Yankee pitching teammate Ramiro Mendoza. He was also born on the same day as Tony Clark, who played for the Yankees in 2004.

Related Topics:
Ramiro Mendoza - Tony Clark - 2004

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