Rick Waits: Yankee Killer

The Rick Waits File

—Rick Waits played twelve seasons in MLB with the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers. He played nine seasons with Cleveland having his best year in 1979 going 16-13 with a 4.44 ERA.

—He is best known for beating the Yankees on the final day of the 1978 season thus forcing the infamous one game playoff between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Bucky Dent’s home run in that game still haunts Red Sox fans to this day. Without Waits’ performance, Bucky Dent would probably be remembered for...well,...probably nothing.

—He later was a player/manager in the Italian Baseball League with for the Rimini Pirates.

—Waits also played in the Senior League for the Fort Meyers Sun Sox, For those who don’t remember (or weren’t alive yet) the Senior League was made up of retired over the hill ex-MLB players who played a short season in cities around Florida. This is obviously pre Marlins and Rays. It only lasted a couple of seasons. Here is an interview with Waits during his time as a Sun Sox.

 —He coached in the Mets organization for many years and also coached in the majors with Seattle and for a year in Japan.

An accomplished vocalist, Waits sang the National Anthem before Indians games several times and showcased his vocal abilities on local and national TV including the Today show. I vividly remember watching him on the Today show but I can’t remember what he sang. I like to think it was “Feelings” but that is probably wishful thinking.

—Rick is also remembered for his boss Tom Selleckesque mustache and way cool seventies baseball hair.

—Written by Casey Redmond
     January 16, 2020

Rick Waits Baseball Reference Page

Rock N Roll Casey’s Website