- George Sherrill
Infobox MLB player
width = 150
name = George Sherrill
team = Baltimore Orioles
number = 52
positionplain =Closer
birthdate = birth date and age|1977|4|19
birthplace = city-state|Memphis|Tennessee
bats = Left
throws = Left
debutdate = July 16
debutyear = 2004
debutteam = Seattle Mariners
statyear = 2008
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value = 13-13
stat2label =Earned run average
stat2value = 3.96
stat3label =Strikeout s
stat3value = 196
stat4label = Saves
stat4value = 35
teams =
*Seattle Mariners (by|2004-by|2007)
*Baltimore Orioles (by|2008-present)
awards =
*All-Star selection in by|2008George Friederich Sherrill (born
April 19 ,1977 inMemphis, Tennessee ), also known as "The Brim Reaper" and "Duckbill", is aleft-handed closer for theBaltimore Orioles . Sherrill was not drafted after graduating fromAustin Peay State University . Sherrill was a career player in the independent leagues before finally getting an opportunity with theSeattle Mariners .Minor Leagues/Seattle Mariners
Sherrill began his professional career in by|1999 with the
Evansville Otters of theFrontier League . In by|2001, he was traded to theSioux Falls Canaries of the Northern League. In by|2002, he was traded to theWinnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern League.In July by|2003, Sherrill’s contract was purchased by the Mariners. He played the balance of the season for the Double-A
San Antonio Missions , and was selected as a Seattle representative for the Arizona Fall League.In by|2004, he started the season with the Triple-A
Tacoma Rainiers making the Triple-A All-Star team. However, he was not allowed to play in the All-Star game since he was being promoted to the Mariners. Sherrill made his MLB debut onJuly 16 , mlby|2004, against theCleveland Indians .mlby|2007 was a breakout season for Sherrill; he posted career numbers, with a sub-2 ERA for most of the season. With the mlby|2006 injury of
Mark Lowe , and the trading away ofRafael Soriano during the offseason, Sherrill became the primary 8thinning bridge to Mariners closerJ. J. Putz .Baltimore Orioles
On
February 8 , mlby|2008, Sherrill was traded to the Baltimore Orioles along with rising star Adam Jones and minor league pitchersKam Mickolio , Chris Tillman, and Tony Butler, all for Orioles leftyÉrik Bédard . [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080208&content_id=2368497&vkey=hotstove2007&fext=.jsp Mariners seal deal for Bedard] ] OnMarch 18 , 2008, Sherrill was named the closer for Baltimore Orioles. [ [http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sherrill318,0,868192.story Orioles name Sherrill closer] ]On
July 6 , 2008, Sherrill was named as one of the closing pitchers to represent theAmerican League in the 2008 All-Star Game. In his first All-Star game appearance, Sherrill struck out 2 batters and gave up one hit over 2 1/3 innings. He pitched part of the 12th, and all of the 13th and 14th innings in the record-setting 15 inning game. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore;_ylt=AiVJi07KYZBndPQUwTYNk8Y5nYcB?gid=280715131 Yahoo Sports 2008 MLB All-Star Game] ] ]Sherrill is noted for wearing his hat flat-billed as a statement of independence (his teammates in the minor leagues used to joke that he didn't even know how to bend the brim of his hat like a proper professional). [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/14/AR2008051403963_2.html?sid=ST2008051404079 These Birds Are Cuckoo, but They Can Crow a Little] ]
In a newly founded tradition, some of Sherrill's Baltimore teammates will flip up the brim of their hats every time he successfully closes a game. Orioles fans have nicknamed this move the Flat Breezy, and the Orioles television announcers sometimes announce an O's win after a Sherrill save as "flat breezy time." In a
MASN post-game interview, Sherrill credited Oriolesfirst baseman Kevin Millar , a noted prankster, as the originator of this gesture. Sherrill has been nicknamed "The Brim Reaper".His entrance song is
White Zombie 'sBlood, Milk and Sky .References
External links
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=430941 Baltimore Orioles Official Bio]
* [http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/teams/players/bio/?id=4625&hubname=mlb-mariners Sherrill’s professional career]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sherrge01.shtml George Sherrill’s Baseball Reference page]
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