Sparky Lyle - # 39 - LHP

Born – Reynoldsville, Pa., 57/22/1944

B-L, T-L… 6-2, 205

 

Sparky Lyle was obtained from the Texas Rangers for a player to be named (which would ultimately be Kevin Saucier, who was sent before the 1981 season).  Lyle, who had been struggling out of the pen for the Rangers, experienced a bit of a renaissance with the Phils in 1980 in his short time with the team.  He appeared in 10 games for the Phils, including the division clincher against the Expos, and saved two.  He would remain on the Phils into the 1982 season, and then was sent to the White Sox to finish his career.  Because he was not acquired until September 13, he was not eligible for the postseason roster.

1980 Statistics

 

IP

 W

 L

Ks

ERA

1980- Rangers

80.2

3

2

43

4.69

1980 - Phillies

14.0

0

0

6

1.93

TOTAL

84.2

3

2

49

4.28

Lifetime Statistics

Year

Team

IP

W

  L

  S

   K

ERA

1967

Red Sox

43.1

1

2

5

42

2.28

1968

Red Sox

65.2

6

1

11

52

2.74

1969

Red Sox

102.2

8

3

17

93

2.54

1970

Red Sox

67.1

1

7

20

51

3.88

1971

Red Sox

52.1

6

4

16

37

2.75

1972

Yankees

107.2

9

5

35

75

1.92

1973

Yankees

82.1

5

9

27

63

2.51

1974

Yankees

114.0

9

3

15

89

1.66

1975

Yankees

89.1

5

7

6

65

3.12

1976

Yankees

103.2

7

8

23

61

2.26

1977

Yankees

137.0

13

5

26

68

2.17

1978

Yankees

111.2

9

3

9

33

3.47

1979

Rangers

95.0

5

8

13

48

3.13

1980

Rangers

94.2

3

2

8

43

4.69

1980

Phillies

14.0

0

0

0

6

1.93

1981

Phillies

75.0

9

6

2

29

4.44

1982

Phillies

36.2

3

3

2

12

5.15

1982

White Sox

12.0

0

0

1

6

3.00

TOTALS

 

1390.1

99

76

238

873

2.88

Phillies Publications

Sparky Lyle did not appear in the 1980 Phillies Media Guide.

From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:

 

 

How Obtained:  Acquired from the Texas Rangers on 9/13/80 for a player to be named later (LHP Kevin Saucier)

 

1980 Season:  Did an excellent job after coming over from the Rangers to shore up the Phillies bullpen…  Took some of the workload from McGraw which helped Tug down the stretch…  Gave up four runs, two earned in the first appearance on 9/14, then did not give up another run until his final appearance on 10/4 to finish with a 1.93 ERA…  Still relies on his slider as his main pitch…  Had appeared in just 49 games when the Phils got him from Texas… Was not eligible for post-season play.

 

Career: Extended his major league records.  Most games, relief pitcher, no starts, 806 and most innings, pitched, relief pitcher, league (AL) 1,253…  Ranks sixth on the all-time games pitched list (806); Elroy Face is fifth (848)… Ranks second on the all-time saves list (233) behind Rollie Fingers (244); Lyle is all-time AL leader in saves…  Led AL in saves, 35 (1972) and 23 (1976)… Cy Young Award winner, 1977… THE SPORTING NEWS Fireman of the Year Award winner, 1972.

 

Personal/Misc:   Author of “The Bronx Zoo) about his years with the World Champion Yankees…  Lettered in football and basketball in high school…  Originally signed as a free agent by the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1964…  Drafted by Red Sox in November of 1964…  Traded to Yankees in March, 1972 and to the Rangers in November, 1978…  Hobbies are photography, astronomy and motorcycling.

 

Sparky Lyle did not appear in the 1980 Phillies Yearbook.