Barry Zito

Barry Zito

Barry William Zito (born May 13, 1978) is an American left-handed pitcher for Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants. He previously played seven seasons with the Oakland Athletics.

During his time with the Athletics, he won the 2002 American League Cy Young Award and made three All-Star teams. He also didn't miss a scheduled start in his career during that time, and led the American League in starts four times.

After the 2006 season, the Giants signed Zito to the most expensive contract in history for a pitcher at the time. Since joining the Giants, Zito has been an average pitcher at best, and he has been widely seen as a disappointment due to his large contract. After going 9–14 in 2010, he was left off the postseason roster when the Giants went on to win the World Series that year. However, Zito enjoyed a resurgence in 2012, with a win–loss record of 15–8. His performance in crucial Game 5 of the 2012 NLCS, in which he pitched 7-2/3 shutout innings, became a worldwide phenomenon on Twitter.

Zito is known for his idiosyncrasies and his offbeat personality. He created the charity Strikeouts for Troops which provides money to hospitals for soldiers wounded in military operations.

Read more about Barry Zito:  Early Life, High School and College, Pitching Style, Awards, Personal Life

Famous quotes containing the word barry:

    Let’s face it, we became ingrown, clannish, and retarded. Cut off from the mainstream of humanity, we came to believe that pink is “flesh-color”, that mayonnaise is a nutrient, and that Barry Manilow is a musician.
    Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941)