Steven John Wendell

Nickname: Turk
Years Played: 1993-2004
Teams: Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Colorado Rockies
Highlights/Awards: World Series Appearance (2000)
Career Stats: 36-33, 3.93 ERA, 552 Games, 6 Complete Games, 33 Saves, 551 Strike-outs
Best Season: 2000; 3.59 ERA, 8-6, 77 Games, 82.7 IP , 73 SO, 1.222 WHIP
DYK: Wendell is probably best known for his baseball-related eccentricities, which included: (1) Whenever he entred or left the baseball field, he would leap over the baseline. (2) Wendell insisted that the upmire roll the ball to the mound rather than simply throw it to him. If an umpire would ignorantly throw the ball to him, Wendell was known to let it go past him, or even to let it bounce off his chest, after which he would retrieve it from the ground.

(3) Whenever he began a new inning, Wendell would turn and wave to the center fielder and wait for him to wave back before proceeding. (4) At the beginning of each inning, Wendell would reportedly draw three crosses in the pitcher's mound dirt. (5) Whenever his catcher stood, Wendell would crouch down. (6)Wendell would chew black licorice while pitching. (7) Wendell often brushed his teeth between innings (some claim that he brushed between every inning). (8) Wendell wore number 99, in honor of Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn, the main character in the movie Major League. (9) Wendell wore a necklace made from the claws and teeth of various animals he had hunted and killed. (10) Wendell sometimes threw his glove into the stands when leaving a game.
Thoughts: I remember really wanting this guy to be good. In truth, his antics probably kept him in the big time longer than he should have been. Had he been a reliever his entire career he could have been a decent closer. He was a strange cat.