Born:  Coral Gables, Fla., 7/26/1958  B-R, T-R...  6'5", 200 lbs.

Beginning the season in the minor leagues, Bystrom was the smash rookie success with his late-season call up. His five wins in September helped pave the way for the Phils to win the division title. He also pitched a game in both the LCS and the World Series. Although Bystrom never again duplicated his rookie success, he will forever be in Phillies lore as a contributing member of the first world championship club in the team's history.

1980 Statistics

 

Games

 W

 L

Ks

ERA

1980

        6

  5

 0

21

1.50

LCS

        1

  0

 0

  1

1.80

WS

        1

  0

 0

  4

5.40

Lifetime Statistics

Year

Team

IP

W

  L

  S

   K

ERA

1980

Phillies

  36.0

  5

  0

  0

  21

1.50

1981

Phillies

  53.2

  4

  3

  0

  24

3.35

1982

Phillies

  89.0

  5

  6

  0

  50

4.85

1983

Phillies

119.1

  6

  9

  0

  87

4.60

1984

Phillies

  56.2

  4

  4

  0

  36

5.08

1984

Yankees

  39.1

  2

  2

  0

  22

2.97

1985

Yankees

  41.0

  3

  2

  0

   16

5.71

TOTALS

 

435

29

26

  0

258

4.26

Phillies Publications

From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:

 

How Obtained:  Signed by scouts Hugh Alexander and Catfish Smith in December, 1976.

 

Three-year pro...  One of top pitching prospects in Phillies system...  Tied for American Association lead in games started and finished ninth in ERA...  Led Carolina League in innings pitched and strikeouts while sharing high with 15 wins the year before...  Was impressive in instructional league each of last two years...  1976 Miami Killian High grad... Attended Miami Dade South Junior College...  Played American Legion Ball...  Hobbies:  racquetball.

 

Oklahoma City manager Lee Elia:  "Throws a good fast ball and better slider.  Improved greatly the second half of the season and in the instructional league."

From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:

 

1980 Season:  Recalled by the Phillies from Oklahoma City on September 1 and had a spectacular month starting five games and winning all five to take N.L. Pitcher of the Month Award...  Started season on the DL with a hamstring pull he suffered running near his Miami home before spring training, an injury he aggravated in a clubhouse fall during spring training...  Pitched his first game for OKC on May 18, but re-injured hamstring again; placed on DL until June 12, then posted a 6-5 record for the 89ers...  After coming to the big leagues, he allowed no earned runs in his first 20 IP including a five-hit SHO over the Mets in his first start on 9/10 @ Shea...  Phillies won every game he started last fall, give in regular season and two in post-season.

 

1980 Post-Season:  Was the starting pitcher in game five of the LCS and WS, both games were won by the Phillies even though he had no decisions in both games.

 

Career:  A four-year pro signed as a free agent...  Led Carolina League in IP and K and shared league high 15 wins in 1978...  Jumped from A to AAA in 1979 where he tied for American Association lead in games started and finished ninth in ERA.

 

Personal/Misc:  1976 Killian (Miami) High School Grad...  Attended Miami Dade South Junior College...  Played American Legion Ball.

From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:

  • Favorite Color:  Blue
  • Favorite Singer/Group:  Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin
  • Favorite Song:  Stairway to Heaven
  • Favorite City:  My home twon, Miami, Fla.
  • Least Favorite City:  Des Moines, Iowa
  • Person You'd Most Like To Meet:  Hugh Hefner
  • Boyhood Idol(s):  Willie Mays, Juan Marichal
  • Biggest Turn-On:  To play major league baseball
  • Biggest Turn-Off:  Two-faced people
  • Favorite Subject in School:  Physical Education
  • Favorite TV Show:  Monday Night Football
  • Favorite Book:  Ball Four
  • Person You Most Admire:  My father for getting me started in baseball
  • Greatest Achievement:  Pitching a perfect game on August 12, 1976
  • Most Memorable Moment:  The last out, a strikeout to end the perfect game and my father attending that game
  • Hobbies:  All sports and music, playing the drums
  • Toughest Batter You've Faced:  There have been too many to choose just one