Russ Swan picked up his first major league win in June 1990. He also almost picked up a no-hitter.The Mariners starter got into the eighth inning against the Tigers before giving up the first hit to Cecil Fielder. Seattle ended up winning 5-2.
"I've been really wild and really hurting myself," Swan told The Associated Press afterward. "Tonight, I finally stopped worrying about throwing strikes and just did it."
Swan was in his second season in the majors, having picked up two starts the previous August with the Giants. He went on to pitch in six big league campaigns, his last coming in 1994.
Swan's professional career began in 1986, taken by the Giants in the ninth round of the draft, out of Texas A&M University.
Swan played that year between short-season Everett and single-A Clinton. He went 8-3, with a 2.61 ERA between them.
In 1989, Swan hit AA Shreveport for the first time, then AAA Phoenix. Then, in August, big league injuries landed Swan in San Francisco. For the Giants, Swan got two starts, giving up eight earned runs in 6.2 innings.
He debuted Aug. 3, two hours after arriving on the plane from Phoenix. He'd even missed his first flight, but made the game in time to be told he was starting that night, The Los Angeles Times wrote.
"I walk in the dugout, and (Manager) Roger (Craig) says, 'Hurry up,' and I said, 'What?' " Swan told The Times. "When they called me up, I didn't even know whether I would be a starter or a reliever. And now I'm starting. It was a shock."
Swan ended up going five innings, giving up three earned runs and taking the loss. Five days later, Swan went just 1.2 innings, giving up three home runs to the Reds.
"They were hitting everything," Swan told The Associated Press. "I hope this doesn't hurt me, because I know I can pitch here. I just have to get ahead in the count and keep the ball down."
After two more outings with the Giants in early 1990, Swan was sent to the Mariners in his home state of Washington. With that first win, Swan went 2-3 in 11 outings with Seattle, eight of them starts. Turned reliever in 1991, Swan got into 63 games with a 3.43 ERA.
He got 55 more outings in 1992, nine of them starts. He went 3-10, with a 4.74 ERA on the season. He began the year as a starter, but early troubles sent him back to the bullpen. He ended up picking up nine saves.
Swan finished out his big league career with 23 outings back in Seattle in 1993, then 12 in 1994 with the Indians. He continued playing in the minors through 1996, ending his professional career.
Swan went on to be a coach in the Rockies system and for Washington State University. Swan, though, passed away in 2006 from a fall.
- Los Angeles Times, Aug. 4, 1989: Dodgers' 6-3 Victory Caps Off a Rough Day for Giant Rookie Swan
- Spokane Spokesman-Review, Aug. 4, 1989: Giant errors hurt Swan's debut in Major Leagues
- Portsmouth Daily Times, Associated Press, Aug. 9, 1989: Reds thump Giants
- Spokane Spokesman-Review, Associated Press, June 11, 1990: From ugly duck to graceful Swan
- ESPN.com, Associated Press, May 1, 2006: Former reliever Swan dies from injuries from fall
Cards Featured: 593/880 - 67.4%
Players/Coaches Featured: 604
Made the Majors: 406 - 67%-X
Never Made the Majors:198-33%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 174-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 128
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