George Frazier attempted to put his three World Series losses into perspective. After being charged with losses in the third, fourth and sixth games of the 1981 World Series, the New York Yankees relief pitcher spoke to the media.
“How many guys get to pitch in a World Series?” Frazier asked reporters. Then he took it down a notch.
“How many guys even get to play in the big leagues? I did my best. I’m not ashamed. If I was with St. Louis, I’d have been fishing instead of pitching in a World Series.”
Originally signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976, Frazier was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for catcher Buck Martinez. On June 7, 1981, prior to the baseball strike, the Cardinals sent Frazier to the Yankees to complete a deal in which the Yankees sent the Cardinals shortstop Rafael Santana.
Martinez had a successful career as a catcher, manager and broadcaster, while Santana was the shortstop for the 1986 New York Mets.
Yankees catcher Rick Cerone claimed that Frazier had pitched well in his losing efforts.
“He lost three games and they didn’t hit a ball hard off him yet.”
Frazier agreed but admitted that Pedro Guerrero’s two-run triple had been hit hard.
“I don’t think I made one bad pitch in the World Series. Only one ball was hit hard, that was Guerrero’s triple. I lost. That’s history. Spring training is two and one-half months away. I can’t wait to be there.”
It is fascinating how each of us sees things the way we want to see them.
In three appearances against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Frazier worked three-and-two-thirds innings, gave up seven runs on nine hits, walked three and struck out two. He had a 17.18 ERA and a 3.27 WHIP.
Frazier did go to spring training with the Yankees in 1982. He had a decent season, winning four games and losing four games with a respectable 3.47 ERA and a 115 ERA+. The Yankees failed to repeat as American League champions.
On Feb. 5, 1984, the Yankees traded Frazier and young Otis Nixon, who would find stardom and problems with the Atlanta Braves, to the Cleveland Indians for shortstop Toby Harrah.
Never more than a journeyman pitcher, Frazier’s career ended after the 1987 season at the age of 32. He finished at 35-43 with a 4.20 ERA, a 96 ERA+ and 1.47 WHIP.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com