Keith Comstock
| Keith Comstock | |
|---|---|
 Comstock with the San Francisco Giants in 1987 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: December 23, 1955 San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: April 3, 1984, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| NPB: April 18, 1985, for the Yomiuri Giants | |
| Last appearance | |
| NPB: August 16, 1986, for the Yomiuri Giants | |
| MLB: August 5, 1991, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 10–7 |
| Earned run average | 4.06 |
| Strikeouts | 142 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 8–10 |
| Earned run average | 4.47 |
| Strikeouts | 94 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Keith Martin Comstock (born December 23, 1955) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for parts of six seasons with the Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Mariners. He also played for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and several Minor League Baseball teams before his tenure in MLB.
Comstock served as a minor league and organizational pitching coach after his career.
Career
[edit]Comstock was drafted by the California Angels in 1976 and played for their minor league affiliate, the Idaho Falls Angels. He spent the next eight years in the minor leagues. According to a 1990 Sports Illustrated article, in 1983 the Oakland Athletics organization sold him to the Detroit Tigers for $100 and a bag of balls, which he had to deliver himself.[1] In 1984, he was called up to the majors by the Minnesota Twins. From 1985 to 1986, he played in Japan for Nippon Professional Baseball's Yomiuri Giants, and from 1987 to 1991 he played for the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Mariners as well as minor league teams.[1][2]
In 1989, while playing for the Las Vegas Stars Triple-A team, Comstock appeared on a memorable baseball card pretending to be hit in the crotch by a ball. ESPN called it "the funniest baseball card ever made."[2] He was part of a seven-player trade going from the Giants to the Padres in July 1987 that sent Kevin Mitchell to the Giants.[3][4] By the end of his career, Comstock had played in teams across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, and Puerto Rico.[1]
Comstock subsequently went into coaching. He was a minor league pitching coach for several seasons and was the rehab pitching coordinator for the Texas Rangers in 2008.[2][5]
Personal life
[edit]Comstock was born in San Francisco, California and attended San Carlos High School in San Carlos, California.[3]
Comstock is the great-grandson of the former United States Postal Inspector and politician Anthony Comstock. He lives in Arizona with his wife. He has three children and six grandchildren.[citation needed] Comstock's younger brother pitched in the minors in 1987 and 1988.[6]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Lidz, Franz (June 4, 1990). "Waiting to Pop His Cork". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 72, no. 23. p. 74. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- 1 2 3 Sanchez, Robert (August 21, 2019). "'You're the guy with the ball to the crotch': The inside story behind the funniest baseball card ever made". ESPN. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- 1 2 "Keith Comstock Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Padres Send Dravecky and Mitchell to Giants for Brown in 7-Player Deal". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 5, 1987. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Keith Comstock - Intl, MLB, Minor League Baseball Statistics". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ↑ "Brad Comstock - Minor League Baseball Statistics". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
- 1955 births
- Living people
- American expatriate baseball players in Canada
- American expatriate baseball players in Japan
- Baseball players from San Francisco
- Birmingham Barons players
- Calgary Cannons players
- Cañada Colts baseball players
- El Paso Diablos players
- Idaho Falls Angels players
- Las Vegas Stars (baseball) players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Minnesota Twins players
- Minor league baseball managers
- Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers
- Phoenix Firebirds players
- Quad Cities Angels players
- Salinas Angels players
- San Diego Padres players
- San Francisco Giants players
- Seattle Mariners players
- Tacoma Tigers players
- Toledo Mud Hens players
- Yomiuri Giants players
- West Haven A's players
- West Haven Whitecaps players
- Baseball players from San Mateo County, California
- People from San Carlos, California
- 20th-century American sportsmen
- San Carlos High School alumni