David Wells
With his brash, rock-and-roll image, flabby belly, tatooed left-arm, and a flare for controversy, southpaw David Wells rarely stayed in one place for long. But his sharp curveball and savvy pitching acumen translated into success and more than 200 career victories. In 1998 at Yankee Stadium, Wells hurled the 14th perfect game in baseball history. After putting in his finest season for the Bronx Bombers in 1998, he was traded to the Blue Jays for Roger Clemens, prompting him to lash out at the Big Apple. A few years later all was forgiven, and Wells came back to the Yankees, winning 19 games as a 39-year old.
Quotes From Wells
"I drank beer and a I had a career year." — Wells on his 1998 season
"I would have never thought I'd make it 25 years in spring training. That's basically for the love of the game. You come out every year, year after year, and do something that you grew up admiring."
Played For
Toronto Blue Jays (1987-1992)
Detroit Tigers (1993-1995)
Cincinnati Reds (1995)
Baltimore Orioles (1996)
New York Yankees (1997-1998)
Toronto Blue Jays (1999-2000)
Chicago White Sox (2001)
New York Yankees (2002-2003)
San Diego Padres (2004)
Boston Red Sox (2005)
Best Season: 1998
In May, Wells hurled the perfect game, and he used that masterful performance to springboard his way to an 18-4, 3.49 season. He twirled five shutouts that season and helped the Yankees to a league record 114 wins. He went a perfect 4-0 in the post-season as the Yanks won the World Series championship.
Factoids
A fan of baseball history and Babe Ruth, David Wells once wore one of the "Bambino's" actual Yankee caps in a major league game.
1998 perfect game-hurler David Wells attended the same high school as Yankee pitcher Don Larsen, who threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
Born
David Lee Wells was born on May 20, 1963, in Torrance, CA.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: TOR
Major League Debut
June 30, 1987
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1987
B.J. Surhoff
Edgar Martinez
Ellis Burks
Matt Williams
Ken Caminiti
Tom Glavine
Jose Mesa
Lance Johnson
Ron Gant
Nicknames
Boomer
Similar Players
Jamie Moyer
Related Players
Babe Ruth, Kirk Gibson, Roger Clemens
No-Hitter
5/17/1998: For NYY (A) vs. MIN (A), 4-0 at NYY. 9 innings pitched.
Post-Season Appearances
1989 American League Championship Series
1991 American League Championship Series
1992 World Series
1995 National League Championship Series
1995 National League Divisional Series
1998 American League Championship Series
1998 American League Divisional Series
The Pitches He Threw
A nasty, looping curveball, a slider, changeup, and sneaky-quick fastball.
Awards and Honors
1998 AL ALCS MVP
Feats
On may 17, 1998, in front of a sell-out crowd at Yankee Stadium, Wells hurled the 14th regular season perfect game in baseball history. He defeated the Minnesota Twins, 4-0.
Milestones
On the final day of the 2003 regular season, September 28, Wells defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 3-1 at Yankee Stadium, for his 200th career victory.
All-Star Selections
1995 AL
1998 AL
2000 AL
Replaced
Mike Flanagan had been a lefty in the Blue Jays rotation in 1989. In 1990, after starting in the pen, Wells was promoted to the rotation to give the Jays the lefty they were missing (Flanagan had been released).
Learn More about David Wells
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