*Italian Heritage Doubtful/Unlikely

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jeff pico, 1989 ToysRUs Rookies #22, Cubs

Player: Pico, Jeff

Card: 1989 Toys R Us Rookies #22

Position: RHP

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playerbio

Jeffrey Mark Pico (born February 12, 1966 in Antioch, CA) is a former professional baseball pitcher and current coach. He played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs.

Jeff's teammates at Antioch High School included former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alex Sanchez and PGA Tour pro Larry Silveira. In his sophomore year Jeff posted a 7–3 season with a 1.53 ERA. Named Most Valuable Player during both his junior and senior years, the 6’2", 170-lb. pitcher had a 6–0 record in 1984 when the team won the North Coast championship. He is one of four Antioch players to have his baseball jersey retired.

He was drafted in the 13th round of the 1984 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs. In his major league pitching debut on May 31, 1988, against the Cincinnati Reds, Jeff threw a four-hit shutout and was the first Cubs pitcher to throw a shutout in his major league debut since Bill Lee on May 7, 1934, against the Philadelphia Phillies. "I'm thrilled," Pico told reporters afterward. "Yes, I'm a little stunned. … That's the best I've pitched all season."

Pico played three seasons and appeared in 113 games from 1988 through 1990; he had a career ERA of 4.24. In his best preseason, 1989, he had an ERA of 3.77 and a 3–1 record. His major league career posted a winning lifetime 13–12 record in 295 career innings.

Jeff was the pitching coach for multiple MiLB teams, and was the pitching coach of the Cincinnati Reds in 2014 and 2015. In 2019, he was named bullpen coach of the Detroit Tigers and stayed until the end of the 2020 season.

Jeff was inducted into the Antioch (CA) Sports Legends Hall of Fame in 2010. Researcher Gene Leggitt informs Baseball Amore that Jeff is not of Italian heritage, resulting in the "Doubtful" notation.

(excerpted from The Greatest 21 Days, Baseball Almanac, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)

morecards

1991 Score #326

tourstops


*Jeff is also part of the Italian Ancestry Unsure/Doubtful Tour – Next Page


Jeff is also part of the Chicago Cubs Players Tour – Go To the Next Stop


See Jeff’s baseball cards at TCDB


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