STEVE AVERY
of the
BOSTON RED SOX
#33
Pitcher

A.K.A. Steverino

Born: April 14, 1970
Birthplace: Trenton, MI
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205

PICS OF STEVE


Steve Pitching 1


Steve Pitching 2


Steve Pitching 3


Steve Pitching 4


Steve Pitching 5


Steve Pitching 6


Avery Card 1


Steve wipes his mouth

POINTS OF INTEREST

Steve made his professional baseball debut at Pulaski in 1988. He pitched at Durham and Greenville in 1989.
At John F. Kennedy High School, Taylor, Michigan, Steve was recipient of the Gatorade Circle Award by Oscar Meyer in 1988, presented to the Michigan Male Player of the Year. He was also selected Male Athlete of the Year for Michigan by USA Today. Steve batted .511 with 8 HR and 44 RBI his senior season. His career average was .401 with 11 HR and 80 RBI.
Began '89 season with Braves' Durham farm, compiling 6-4 record, 1.45 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 86 2/3 innings.
Moved up to Greenville where he was 6-3 with 2.77 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 84 1/3 innings.
Braves made him 3rd player overall selected in June '88 amateur draft after he was Michigan high school pitcher of the year.
In 4-year high school career he was 29-4 with 1.11 ERA and 376 strikeouts in 210 2/3 innings.
In 1st pro season, at Pulaski, was 7-1 with 1.50 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 66 innings in '88.
Steve turned down a baseball scholarship to Stanford University in order to sign with the Braves, who made him the third overall draft pick in June '88, behind (former) Padres' Andy Benes and (former) Indians' Mark Lewis. The choice of Steve made it three years in a row Atlanta had used its #1 pick to select a lefthanded pitcher, following Kent Mercker ('86) and Derek Lilliquist ('87).
No player epitomized the Braves' 1991 turnaround more than Steve. After a disappointing 3-11 record as a rookie in 1990, Avery went 18-8 in '91, helping Atlanta win the National League West. He posted two key wins against the Dodgers in September.
Steve's father Ken, now a HS athletic director, pitched in the Detroit system. When his request for a raise was refused, he became a teacher to support his family. Ken taught the art of pitching to Steve who, in 1988, commanded what was then the 2nd-highest signing bonus ever.

CAREER STATISTICS

Year Team League W L G GS CG IP H R ER BB SO ERA
1990 ATLANTA NL 3 11 21 20 1 99.0 121 79 62 45 75 5.64
1991 ATLANTA NL 18 8 35 35 3 210.1 189 89 79 65 137 3.38
1992 ATLANTA NL 11 11 35 35 2 233.2 216 95 83 71 129 3.20
1993 ATLANTA NL 18 6 35 35 3 223.1 216 81 73 43 125 2.94
1994 ATLANTA NL 8 3 24 24 1 151.2 127 71 68 55 122 4.04
1995 ATLANTA NL 7 13 29 29 3 173.1 165 92 90 52 141 4.67
1996 ATLANTA NL 7 10 24 23 1 131.0 146 70 65 40 86 4.47
1997 BOSTON AL 5 2 12 12 0 68.2 85 42 36 28 28 4.72
TOTALS 77 64 215 213 14 1291.0 1265 619 556 399 843 3.88

As of 8/1/97