Andy Pettitte

At 51 years old, Andy Pettitte has this physical status:

Andrew Eugene Pettitte (born June 15, 1972) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily for the New York Yankees.

He also pitched for the Houston Astros.

Pettitte won five World Series championships with the Yankees and was a three-time All-Star.

He ranks as MLB's all-time postseason wins leader with 19.Pettitte was drafted by the Yankees organization in 1990, and he signed with them roughly a year later.

After debuting in the major leagues in 1995, Pettitte finished third in voting for the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award.

In 1996, he led the AL with 21 wins and was runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award.

Two years later, he was the Yankees' Opening Day starter.

Pettitte established himself as one of the "Core Four" players who contributed to the Yankees' late-1990s dynasty that produced four championships.

Pettitte won the 2001 AL Championship Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in helping his team win the pennant.

After spending nine seasons with the Yankees—a stint in which he won at least 12 games each season—Pettitte signed with the Astros in 2004.

He rejoined the Yankees in 2007 and later that season admitted to using human growth hormone to recover from an elbow injury in 2002.

Pettitte's second tenure with the team lasted six seasons, interrupted by a one-year retirement in 2011, and also produced a fifth World Series championship in 2009.

He retired after the 2013 season. Pettitte's pitching repertoire included a four-seam and cut fastball and several off-speed pitches such as a slider, curveball, and changeup.

A left-handed pitcher, he had an exceptional pickoff move to first base, which allowed him to record 98 career pickoffs.

Among Yankees pitchers, Pettitte ranks first in strikeouts (2,020), third in wins (219), and tied for first in games started (438).

He won the most games of any pitcher in the 2000s. His uniform number 46 was retired by the Yankees on August 23, 2015.

Early life

Pettitte was born on June 15, 1972, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is of Italian and Cajun descent, and the younger of two children born to Tommy and JoAnn Pettitte. He moved to Texas while in the third grade. Pettitte attended Deer Park High School in Deer Park, Texas, where he pitched for the school's baseball team. His fastball ranged from between 85–87 miles per hour (137–140 km/h). Pettitte also played center and nose guard for the school's football team.

The Yankees selected Pettitte in the 22nd round, with the 594th overall selection, of the 1990 Major League Baseball draft. Recruited by San Jacinto College North in Houston, Texas, he opted to play college baseball when coach Wayne Graham compared him to Roger Clemens. As Pettitte enrolled in a junior college rather than a four-year school, the Yankees retained the right to sign him as a draft-and-follow prospect. On May 25, 1991, he signed with the Yankees, receiving an $80,000 signing bonus ($159,160 in current dollar terms), double the Yankees' initial offer.

Personal life

Pettitte met his wife, Laura, in high school. They have four children: Josh, Jared, Lexy, and Luke. Pettitte and his wife are devout Christians. The family resides in Houston, although Pettitte also owned a home in Westchester County, New York before putting it up for sale in 2020.

All three of Pettitte's sons have played baseball. Josh was selected by the Yankees in the 37th round of the 2013 MLB draft, but enrolled at Baylor University rather than sign a professional contract. He played at Rice University after transferring from Baylor in April 2014, before announcing his retirement on Instagram after a series of injuries in February 2018. His son, Jared, played for the University of Houston before transferring to Dallas Baptist University in 2020. He signed a professional contract with the Miami Marlins. As of 2022, Luke is a junior on the baseball team at Second Baptist School. Pettitte's daughter plays volleyball at Dallas Baptist University.

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Professional baseball career

Pettitte played for the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and Oneonta Yankees of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League in 1991, making six starts for each team. Pettitte was teamed up with catcher Jorge Posada, his longtime batterymate, for the first time. At the time, Pettitte threw a knuckleball. Posada's first attempts to catch the knuckleball, causing Pettitte to call off the game.

Pettitte played for the Greensboro Hornets of the Class A South Atlantic League in 1992. With 130 strikeouts and 55 walks in 27 games, he pitched to a 10–4 victory-loss record and a 2.20 earned run average (ERA). Pettitte and Posada were first seen with Derek Jeter in the '90s. In the 1993 season, Terry Cannons of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League started pitching, posting an 11–9 record, a 3.04 ERA, 129 strikeouts, and 47 walks in 26 starts. During the season, he made his first appearance for the Albany-Colonie Yankees of the Class AA Eastern League. titte started the 1994 season with Albany-Colonie, where he had a 7-two record and 2.71 ERA in 11 starts before being promoted to the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League. Pettitte made a 7-two record and a 2.98 ERA in 16 starts with Columbus. He was named as the Yankees' year-best minor league pitcher of the year by the Yankees.

Pettitte was ranked as the 49th best prospect in baseball prior to the 1995 season. Pettitte began training for a spot in the starting rotation with Sterling Hitchcock. Hitchcock made his major league debut with the Yankees on April 29, 1995, and Pettitte opened the season in the bullpen. On May 16, the Yankees demoted him back to the minors to encourage him to continue training. He was called back by an accident to Jimmy Key Eleven days later. Pettitte became a member of the starting rotation with Scott Kamieniecki and Mélido Pérez both suffering from injuries. On June 7, he won his first major league victory. He continued to do well throughout July, leading Yankees' starters in ERA. Marty Cordova and Garnet Anderson won six of his last seven starts, finishing the season with a 12–9 record and a 4.17 ERA and ranked third in American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award balloting. He appeared in Game 2 of the 1995 American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Seattle Mariners, allowing four runs in seven innings. The Mariners won the series from three to two.

The Yankees traded Hitchcock before the 1996 season, with Believing Pettitte being the best pitcher. Pettitte had a 13–4 record at the end of the season and made the AL All-Star team, which started with him in the rotation. Due to a sore arm, he did not participate in the 1996 MLB All-Star Game. With 21 victories and a third-place finish in winning percentage (.724), he led the AL to victory and ranked third in ERA (3.87). He came in second second in vote since 1972, second to Pat Hentgen for the AL Cy Young Award. Hentgen received the award in part because he played more complete games than Pettitte. In the 1996 American League Championship Series (ALCS), the Yankees defeated the Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles. Tatte was a fan of two games against the Orioles, but he was denied his opportunity for a third time in the series due to rain. Game 1 of the 1996 World Series began against the Atlanta Braves. In the first game, he allowed seven runs in 2+13 innings, but the Yankees beat John Smoltz in Game 5, which the Yankees won 11-0. In Game 6, the Yankees defeated the Braves in Game 6 to win the series, four games to two.

Pettitte placed first in games (35), led the way in pickoffs (14), and double plays were induced (36). He finished third in the league in innings pitched (IP) (240+13) (a career high), fourth in ERA (2.88), wins (18), and winning percentage (.720), seventh in complete games (4), eighth in strikeouts (2.43). In the AL Cy Young Award voting, Pettitte came in fifth place. In 1998, he was seventh in the league in complete games (5; a career high), and eighth in wins (16). Pettitte allowed four home runs against the Cleveland Indians in Game 3 of the 1998 ALCS. In the 1998 World Series, the Yankees won the series and beat the San Diego Padres. In Game 4, they defeated Kevin Brown in the series's deciding game.

In 1999, the Yankees captured the World Series. They continued to excel in the 2000 season. In total games (3), the Titte came in third in the AL in victories (19), sixth in winning percentage (6.79), and seventh in complete games (3). With his fourth World Series Championship, he started the season off. After winning Games 1 and 5 against the Seattle Mariners in the 2001 ALCS, he joined the All-Star team for the second time and was named the ALCS Most Valuable Player. He was third in walks per nine innings (1.84), and eighth in strikeouts (164) and strikeouts per nine innings (7.36).

In the following year, he finished ninth in the AL in winning percentages (.722) and complete games (3). Through 2003, the titte continued his triumph. Wins (21), fifth in wins (724), sixth in strikeouts (180; a career high) and ninth in walks per nine innings (2.16), the second in the league in victories (21), sixth in league victories (724), seventh in strikeouts (724), seventh in wicket outs (78), and sixth in walks per nine innings (2.16). He was named the best left-handed pitcher in baseball by the Warren Spahn Award, which is given annually.

After the 2003 season, Pettitte became a free agent. Pettitte, who wanted to play closer to his Deer Park home and was disappointed that the Yankees were not interested in re-signing him, has signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Houston Astros of the National League. He changed his uniform number to No. No. Roger Clemens, who had previously worn the number 21 in Boston and Toronto, has been given the number 21 in honor. His 2004 season, in which he held batters to a.226 batting average, was reduced by elbow surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon.

Pettitte played well in the 2005 World Series, helping the Astros win the 2005 World Series for the Astros. His 2.39 ERA was his best on record and second in the NL behind teammate Clemens. He finished second in the league walks/9 IP (1.6%) and LOB percentage (79.7%; a career high), third in sacrifice hits (15), fifth in wins (17), and eighth in winning percentage. (.654). He had a career-best 4.17 SO/BB ratio, beating left-handed batters who had outhit righties when batting against him.

When the Astros missed the playoffs, they went 14-13-13 with a 4.20 ERA during the 2006 season. He tied for fifth in starts (35), tied for sixth in pickoffs (4), and eighth in double plays induced (26), and seventh in strikeouts (178) and batters faced (929).

Pettitte's rookie option for 2008, worth $16 million, began with a one-year, $16 million deal with the New York Yankees following the 2006 season. Pettitte had been quoted by the Astros for a one-year deal. Pettitte won his 200th game in his career on September 19, 2007. In 2007, he led the American League in starts (34), was seventh in batters faced (916), and was ninth in wicket pitched (215+13) in the regular season, finishing ninth in the regular season with a 15-9 record. He had the 5th-lowest HR/9 innings pitch ratio in the AL at 5.67).

Pettitte left 2008 as a free agent after the season, declining his 2008 pick over in 2008. Pettitte's salary arbitration was agreed upon by the Yankees, but Pettite said no. On December 12, he agreed to a one-year, $16 million deal with the Yankees.

Pettitte, the Yankees' last starting pitcher at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2008. In the second inning, he struck out Baltimore Orioles catcher Ramón Hernández for his 2,000th career strikeout. With 204, the Yankees led the Yankees in innings pitched in 2008. Pettitte has averaged 158 strikeouts per season over 14 years, the same number as he set in 2008.

On January 26, 2009, Pettitte decided to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with incentives. Pettitte eventually received $10.5 million for 2009 based on a combination of innings pitched and days on the active roster. Pettitte was the Yankees' fourth starter in the 2009 season, behind CC Sabathia, A. J. Burnett, and Chien-Ming Wang, as well as Joba Chamberlain.

The Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Game 6 of the ALCS on October 25, 2009, clinching the series and advance to the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. His career total number of series-clinching victories jumped to five, beating the record he previously shared with Roger Clemens, Catfish Hunter, and Dave Stewart.

During Game 3 of the World Series, Pattinte led the way in his first postseason appearance as a single to center field with Nick Swisher. He was the winning pitcher for the game. On three days of rest, Torte fought Game 6 of the 2009 World Series. Experts were skeptical of the decision to pitch the 37-year-old on short rest, but Pettitte was the winning pitcher in Game 6, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 7–3. He extended his career total series-clinching victories to six, and boosted his record for post-season victories to 18. He was the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to start and win three series-clinching playoff games in the same year. Derek Lowe won three series in 2004, but one of his victories came in relief. Pettitte had been the winning pitcher in the division-clinching match against the Red Sox on September 27, 2008, and had been the winning pitcher against the Red Sox on September 27.

Since the 2009 season, the titte had applied for free service. He resigned with the Yankees after receiving a one-year deal worth $11.75 million. Pettitte was 11–2 in the first half of the 2010 season, a 3.2 ERA, and made his debut in the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. With an 11-3 record and a 3.28 ERA, the season was his lowest since 2005.

Pettitte resigned on February 4, 2011, after months of rumors about his future, he announced it on February 4, 2011. He spent the year away from professional baseball.

In spring 2012, the Yankees announced that he would join the Yankees as a guest instructor. Pettitte signed a minor league deal with the Yankees worth $2.5 million on March 16, 2012, saying that his return gave him "the scratch." To improve his endurance and pitch count, Torte began the season in the minor leagues pitching in games for different affiliates. In a loss to the Seattle Mariners 6–2, Pettitte returned on May 13 allowing four runs over 6+13 innings. Pettitte was struck hard by a ground ball during a game against the Cleveland Indians on June 27, 2012. Pettitte had a fractured left fibula and would be out for at least six weeks, and it was reported shortly after. On September 19, 2012 against the Blue Jays, pitching five scoreless innings. In 12 games, he finished the season with a 5–4 record and a 2.87 ERA. He made two appearances in the offseason.

For the 2013 season, Trette re-signed with the Yankees, committing to a one-year, $12 million deal. Pettitte was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 17, 2013 due to a strained left trapezius muscle. On June 3, he was activated. Pettitte won his 250th game against the Seattle Mariners on June 8, making him the fifth pitcher in major league history to win as many games. Pettitte struck out Justin Morneau in a game against the Minnesota Twins on July 1, thereby defeating Whitey Ford as the Yankees all-time strikeout leader with 1,958. On September 6, he slugged out his 2,000th batter as a Yankee.

Pettitte revealed on September 20 that he would retire at the end of the season. Mariano Rivera, a teammate, begged him to do it before the season ends. On September 22, the titte made his last regular season appearance at Yankee Stadium. On September 28, the Astros in Houston, tied for the most major league games started in Yankees history (438). The victory was earned after a complete game in which only one run was allowed on five hits and getting the win. The Astros paid tribute to his career during the game.

In 1996 and 2003, the titte had won 20 games in a season twice, beating 21–8 records. He was one of seven American League pennant-winning teams, one National League pennant-winning squad, and five World Series championship teams. With 19 victories, he holds the most votes in postseason history. He is the first MLB pitcher to win at least 12 games in each of his first nine seasons since 1930. Pettitte was second in the top pickoffs in the series (98), behind Steve Carlton (144).

Pettitte had a 256-153 win-loss record and 2,448 strikeouts in 3,316 innings during his career. He also didn't have a losing season in the major leagues. Pettitte is ranked first in strikeouts (2,020), tied for first in games started (438), and third in wins (219). The most in history, the 81 (11 in the playoffs) win-save combinations. They, as well as teammates Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, have been named as the "Core Four" by the Yankees from 1996 to 2009. His 148 wins from 2000 to 2009 were the most of the decade.

In the postseason, the 19-tenth author had a 3.81 ERA. He has the all-time postseason record for most games played (44) and innings pitched (276+226). He was the second pitcher in history to win three series-clinching games (ALDS, ALCS, and World Series) in the same postseason in 2009 (following Derek Lowe in 2004). With Game 3 of the 2009 World Series, Pettitte defeated Christy Mathewson and Waite Hoyt, the second most World Series openers. With 22 starts, Whitey Ford is in first place. He has appeared in eight different World Series (seven with the Yankees and one with the Astros), and was on the winning end of 19 postseason tournaments, both of which were tops among active players.

The Yankees revealed on February 16, 2015, that Pettitte's number 46 would be retired on August 23, 2015.

Pettitte and former teammate Mariano Rivera were two of 20 players on the ballot for the first time when the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot was revealed. Pettitte received 9.9% of the vote, which was above the 5% minimum required to remain on the ballot but far short of the 75% required for election. In the 2020 election, he obtained 11.3% of the vote, 13.7% of the vote in 2021, and 10.7% of the vote in 2022. A maximum of ten times may be eligible for the vote.

Former relief pitcher Jason Grimsley was named as a user of performance-enhancing drugs by the Los Angeles Times on September 30, 2006. Pettitte was one of five names blacked out in an affidavit filed in federal court, according to the Times. Grimsley told investigators that he obtained amphetamines, anabolic steroids, and human growth hormone (HGH) from someone (later identified as Kirk Radomski), who is a personal strength coach for Roger Clemens and Pettitte. However, The Washington Post announced on October 3, 2006, that San Francisco United States attorney Kevin Ryan's book contained "significant inaccuracies." None of Clemens nor Pettitte's names appeared in the affidavit submitted by Grimsley, contrary to the initial Los Angeles Times article.

In the Mitchell Report, many Yankees were named, including Anthony Mitchell, who was born on December 13, 2007. Mitchell and his staff received the details on HGH injection Pettitte from McNamee, who told them he injected Pettitte on 2–4 times in 2002 to ensure he would recover from an elbow injury faster. McNamee confirmed McNamee's assertion by admitting to using the HGH on two occasions in 2002 to help with an injury and not to improve his results. As soon as possible, the team's captain felt he owed to return to the team as soon as possible. He denied ever further usage of HGH during his career; he also declined to use steroids or any other performance-enhancing drug.

Pettitte admitted to additional injections of HGH in 2008 as part of a hearing before the House of Representatives' Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform, according to an affidavit submitted in a congressional hearing, on February 13, 2008. Pettitte recalled being told by former Yankee teammate Clemens in 1999 or 2000 that Clemens had recently received injections of HGH. During the noted hearing, Clemens recalled that Pettitte "misremembered" Clemens's 1999 or 2000 HGH remark, claiming that what Pettitte really heard was Clemens's notification of his wife's use of HGH, although earlier this same hearing, Clemens denied knowing of any use of HGH by his wife. Pettitte's recollection of events was corroborated by McNamee.

Pettitte reported to Yankees spring training on February 18, 2008, and apologized to both Yankees and Astros fans for his drug use in the past. In the press conference, he said that the performance-enhancing drug controversy had put a "strain" on his friendship with Clemens, his close friend and former colleague.

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