Les Straker

[Al from SoDak]

Les Straker literally came out of nowhere in 1987. He pitched fine during the season but unexpectedly worked his way into becoming the third starter in the playoffs, helping the Twins win the 1987 World Series. Then, just as quickly, he was gone.

Les Straker was born on October 10, 1959, in Venezuela. The Cincinnati Reds signed him in 1977. 

Straker pitched seven years in the Reds minor league system but struggled in 1981 and 1983 in AA. He was granted free agency after the 1983 season, signed shortly after that with the Oakland A’s, and again was mediocre at AA in 1984. Since the Twins always needed pitching, they signed Straker before the 1985 season. Something changed in 1985, as he was downright good for AA Orlando. In 1986, he had a decent season for AAA Toledo, setting himself up for a 1987 that no one could have seen coming.

Straker made the Twins out of spring training in 1987 and began the season as the fifth starter. He was only the 40th native Venezuelan to make it to Major League baseball. (Much has changed as nearly 400 more Venezuelans have debuted since Straker in 1987.) In 1987, the Twins went 11-20 in his 31 appearances (26 starts). His record was 8-10 with an ERA of 4.37. His statistics suggest he was a fairly average pitcher, ending the year with a 106 ERA+. The Twins used 12 starting pitchers in 1987. Through the process of attrition, Straker seemed to outlast the other Twins starting pitchers (minus Viola and Blyleven) to the point that he earned the nod as the third starter for the postseason.

He started game three of the American League Champion Series against the Detroit Tigers on his 28th birthday. It did not go well for him. He gave up five runs in 2.2 innings pitched, with all five in the third inning. However, he did not get the loss as Dan Schatzeder came in and offered 3.1 innings of shutout baseball, and the lineup rallied to take a 6-5 lead in the 7th inning. Sadly, Jeff Reardon could not hold the lead, and the Twins lost 7-6. But that was their only loss of the five-game series. The Twins’ batters were hot, scoring 34 runs in the five games and beating the Tigers four games to one to advance to the World Series for only the second time in team history.

In the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Straker started games 3 and 6, making him the first Venezuelan to pitch in the World Series. Ironically, the Twins lost the game he pitched well and won the game he pitched poorly. Straker threw six innings in game three in St. Louis, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks. He left with the lead as the offense scratched across a single run in the top of the sixth. The bullpen could not hold the lead as Juan Berenguer allowed three runs in only one-third of an inning, and the Cardinals won 3-1. Game six was a poor performance by Straker. He gave up four runs in three innings. This time, the bullpen was much better. Berenguer, Schatzeder, and Reardon allowed only one run in six innings. Then the offense came alive with Don Baylor’s first Twins home run and Kent Hrbek’s grand slam. The Twins won 11-5. As we know, they also won game seven in their first World Series championship. 

In 1988, Straker again started the season as a Twins’ starting rotation member. His 1988 statistics seem similar to, if not better than, 1987. However, he was injured and did not pitch between June 13 and September 4. 

He pitched for the Twins’ AAA Portland team in 1989, winning eight games with a 4.26 ERA. He moved on in 1990 but pitched only 6.2 innings for Montreal’s AAA team. And that was the end. He was done at 30 years old. His career record was 10-15. I wonder how many World Series starting pitchers won only ten games in their entire playing career.

Since 2004, Straker has continued to contribute to the sport he loves. He has served as a pitching coach in the Phillies minor league system, specifically working with their Venezuelan and Dominican Summer League teams. This role allows him to share his knowledge and experience with young players, helping them develop their skills and reach their potential.

Les Straker was a late bloomer who bloomed at the right time for him and the Twins, allowing them to create history together in 1987.

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[tborg]

Thanks for this very well written summary of Les Straker's career.  Not many people can answer the question "who was the third starter for the Twins in the 1987 playoffs after Viola and Blyleven?"

[Doctor Wu]

Another nice flashback. Straker looked like he was going to become a good, or at least decent, starting pitcher after that breakout year in 1987. And then, he disappeared almost as quickly as he appeared. I had wondered what had happened to him. No appearances after the age of 30?! But good to hear that he is still working with young players in the minors. Good luck to you Les!

[nicksaviking]

Les was the first autograph I got. He was jogging the outfield and I reached around the plexiglass at the foul pole to hand him a baseball card.

Crazy he only pitched two season in the majors. He was actually better in 1988 than 1987 but didn't get a shot in 1989 even with Blyleven leaving and Viola getting traded mid season. 

[gil4]

On 8/9/2024 at 10:14 AM, nicksaviking said:

Les was the first autograph I got. He was jogging the outfield and I reached around the plexiglass at the foul pole to hand him a baseball card.

Crazy he only pitched two season in the majors. He was actually better in 1988 than 1987 but didn't get a shot in 1989 even with Blyleven leaving and Viola getting traded mid season. 

    I know this comment was from a long time ago, but I just stumbled upon the Straker post today. 
That was strange that he didn't get more of a shot, but he picked a bad time to get hurt.  In 1988, he missed half of June, all of July and all of August, 

    Meanwhile, he had more competition than in 1987.  That's not saying much - in 1987 they had Viola, Blyleven, Straker, and a bunch of guys who were truly awful.  Mike Smithson with a 5.94 ERA was the #4 starter.  In 1988, they still had Viola (won the Cy young) and Blyleven (not good, but he really wasn't fighting Straker for a job.) Add Allan Anderson, who led the league in ERA, and Straker is fighting to keep the 4th or 5th starter slot.  That competition was quite a bit better than 1987 - Charlie Lea and Freddie Toliver weren't great but they were OK.  Roy Smith made four starts and was OK, too. (He was better in relief.)  Straker was slightly better than them, but it was a group of guys who were basically interchangeable, and Straker had the bad luck to get hurt.  

     In 1989, they added a few more interchangeable parts - Rawley, Dyer, Guthrie started a few games, Smith was better and was in the rotation.

     And then the Viola trade happened, which brought back Aguilera (a starter at the time), Tapani, and West (supposedly the key acquisition/best prospect).  That buried Straker - his 4.24 ERA in the PCL was better than it sounds - a lot of those stadiums were launching pads. 

     And then he pitched 6-2/3 innings in AA and disappeared.