Nino Espinosa - #35 - RHP
Born: Villa Altagracia, Dom. Rep. 8/15/1953
Died: Villa Altagracia, Dom. Rep. 12/24/1987
B-R, T-R... 6'0", 185 lbs
Nino Espinosa was injured for much of the season, and seemed to have completely lost his fastball when he came back, becoming a finesse pitcher. He did manage to appear in 12 games, compiling 3 wins and 5 losses in the 1980 season. In his 76 innings of work, Espinosa had a 3.77 ERA to go along with 13 strikeouts. Some controversy was sparked when he and Randy Lerch were both left off the playoff roster, with rookie Marty Bystrom taking the spot.
1980 Statistics
|
|
IP |
W |
L |
K |
ERA |
|
1980 |
76.1 |
3 |
5 |
13 |
3.77 |
Lifetime Statistics
|
Year |
Team |
IP |
W |
L |
S |
K |
ERA |
|
1974 |
Mets |
9.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5.00 |
|
1975 |
Mets |
3.0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
18.00 |
|
1976 |
Mets |
41.2 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
30 |
3.67 |
|
1977 |
Mets |
200.0 |
10 |
13 |
0 |
105 |
3.42 |
|
1978 |
Mets |
203.2 |
11 |
15 |
0 |
76 |
4.73 |
|
1979 |
Phillies |
212.0 |
14 |
12 |
0 |
88 |
3.65 |
|
1980 |
Phillies |
76.1 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
13 |
3.77 |
|
1981 |
Phillies |
73.2 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
22 |
6.11 |
|
1981 |
Blue Jays |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9.00 |
|
TOTALS |
|
820.1 |
44 |
55 |
0 |
338 |
4.17 |
Phillies Publications
From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:
How Obtained: Acquired from Mets, March 27, 1979, for Richie Hebner and minor league second baseman Jose Moreno.
1979 Season: Finished second on the staff in win (14)… Between 4/15 and 5/10 he pitched 34.1 innings without allowing an earned run… Won five of his first six starts… Was 3-0 in April and 5-1 in July… Beat the Mets four times and picked up his first career wins over LA, SD and SF… Had 3 SHO and was 8-3 vs. the West… Suffered some shoulder stiffness near the end of the season and returned to his Dominican Republic home before the end of the year.
Career: Led the Mets in wins for two years… Has committed just three errors and only one until last year… Led Mets pitchers with 14 hits in 1978… Came to the U.S. in summer of 1970 to live with his brother Amable; played amateur baseball in the Bronx and in Brooklyn’s Pan American League where he attracted Mets scouts… Signed with the Mets on 9/30/1970.
Personal/Misc: Played winter ball in the Dominican for the Aguilas club.
From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:
How Obtained: Acquired from Mets, 4/27/1979 (sic), for Richie Hebner and second baseman Jose Moreno.
1980 Season: A shoulder injury ruined his season… Started the season on the DL with tendonitis and bursitis… Pitched at Spartanburg where he was 1-1 in three games… Started his first game for the Phillies on 7/4 at St. L. and pitched eight scoreless innings allowing just two hits… Had another strong effort vs. St. L. on 9/12 at Vet hurling seven scoreless innings.
Career: Won 14 games in his first season with the Phillies in 1979 pitching 34/1 innings without allowing an earned run between 4/15 and 5/10… Won five of his first six starts… Was steady pitcher all season until developing shoulder stiffness late in the season… Led Mets in wins for two years before coming to the Phillies during spring training, 1979… Good hitter and fielder.
Personal/Misc: He came to the U.S. in summer of 1970 to live with his brother… Played amateur baseball in the Bronx and Brooklyn’s Pan American League where he attracted Mets scouts… Signed with New York on 9/30/1970… Brother Julio pitched for Phils Bend, Oregon, minor league club in 1980 and is on the Spartanburg roster for 1981.
From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:
- Favorite Color: Blue (not because of the Mets)
- Favorite Singer/Group: Donna Summer, The Jacksons
- Favorite Song: On The Radio
- Favorite City: Phila., LA
- Least Favorite City: Montreal
- Person You'd Most Like To Meet: Don’t really know
- Boyhood Idol(s): Juan Marichal
- Biggest Turn-On: Winning last game of 1977 – Kept Mets from losing 100 games
- Biggest Turn-Off: Phillies not winning in 1979
- Favorite Subject in School: Baseball
- Favorite TV Show: Starsky & Hutch
- Person You Most Admire: Manny Mota, Juan Marichal
- Favorite Book: Bible
- Greatest Achievement: Making the Majors
- Most Memorable Moment: Pitching 3 hitter against Carlton (1977). Won 1-0 and drove in winning run.
- Hobbies: Music, swimming
- Toughest Batter You've Faced: Garvey, Reggie Smith, Schmidt