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Vin Mazzaro, 2010 Topps Heritage #270, A's

Player: Mazzaro, Vin

Card: 2010 Topps Heritage #270

Position: RHP

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playerbio

Vincent Michael "Vin" Mazzaro (born September 27, 1986 in Hackensack, NJ) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants.

Mazzaro was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the third round of the 2005 amateur draft, after being scouted by Jeff Bittiger.

Vin made his major league debut as the starting pitcher against White Sox. He had a rocky first inning. Scott Podsednik singled and stole second. Alexei Ramirez lined out, then Mazzaro picked Podsednik off second base. Jermaine Dye singled and Jim Thome drew a walk before Paul Konerko flew out to end the threat. Mazzaro settled down to give up just one more hit (and 3 walks) in the next 5 1/3 innings, leaving in favor of Craig Breslow. Breslow and Brad Ziegler concluded the shutout. He then added 7 1/3 scoreless innings in his second start on June 7 against the Orioles to pick up a second win.

In 2011, Mazzaro was called up to the Royals where he was roughed up, giving up 10 earned runs in one inning in his second appearance with the team on May 16th, and finishing the night after 2 1/3 innings allowing a team-record 14 earned runs. He was only the fourth pitcher since World War II to give up 14 runs in one game. He was immediately sent back to Omaha after that outing. One wonders why a manager would leave a young pitcher in for that kind of damage.

Pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Vin had a memorable outing in relief against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 30, 2013. Coming in the game in the top of the 3rd inning after a 2-hour and 20-minute rain delay, he set down all 15 batters he faced in order over the next five innings, allowing the Pirates to tie the game in the 8th and eventually win it, 2-1, in the 14th.

Vin was pitching so well that manager Clint Hurdle let him bat with two outs and a runner in scoring position in the 5th, and he responded with his first hit of the year off Tyler Thornburg, but the ball was hit so hard that Clint Barmes was unable to score. It was the longest perfect relief outing by a Pirate since Elmer Ponder went 5 2/3 innings back in 1919.

He holds the record for most plate appearances in a single season without an at-bat, with four. In 2009, he had four plate appearances but hit sacrifices in each. The old record belonged to Dwight Bernard, who in 1979 had three plate appearances for the New York Mets without having an official at-bat.

(excerpted from Baseball Almanac, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)

morecards

2011 Topps #409

tourstops


Mazzaro is the last stop on the Born in New Jersey Tour – go Home


Vin is also part of the Athletics Player Tour – Go To the Next Stop


Vin is part of the Pittsburgh Pirates Players Tour – Go To the Next Stop


Vin is also part of the New York/SF Giants Players Tour – Go To the Next Stop


All Vin’s baseball cards can be seen at TCDB


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