"He looked good the other night in our practice game," Luebber told The Spokesman-Review. "He kept the ball down pretty well. He's got a good fastball, a slider and a changeup. We'll probably try him on a curve, too."
Whatever Luebber tried, Czyzewski's career turned out to be brief. But Luebber has continued to use his pitching ideas to help young hurlers in the three decades since. Luebber's work as a minor league pitching coach continued in 2015 as pitching coach with the Royals at high-A Wilmington.
His long career in baseball began long before his coaching career. His career started as a player. He made the majors in parts of five seasons. He also came within one out of a no-hitter.
Luebber's career began in 1967, taken by the Twins in the 13th round of the draft out of Missouri Southern State University.
Luebber started in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He stayed at single-A through 1970, he then made his move to Minnesota. He made AA Charlotte in 1971 and then the majors.
Luebber got into 18 games, starting 12, in 1971. He went 2-5, with a 5.03 ERA. He returned to the Twins for a brief run in 1972, two relief appearances.
He then didn't return to the majors until 1976. His near-no-hitter came that year. It came Aug. 7. He came one out away and had an 0-2 count before a single broke it up. He soon lost his shutout, but he got the win.
Despite the loss of his no-hitter, Luebber told The Associated Press he was still happy.
"You don't pitch a two-hitter in the big leagues every night and this one's sure got a lot of people's attention," Luebber told The AP.
Luebber went 4-5 overall in 1976, with a 4.00 ERA over 38 outings, 12 starts. He returned to the majors in two more seasons, briefly in 1979 and for seven final outings with the Orioles in 1981.
He then soon started his coaching career in the minors with the Padres. He coached at AA Wichita in 1987. He made AAA Las Vegas in 1989, then high-A Riverside in 1990.
Luebbers moved to the Orioles for 1991, coaching at AA Hagerstown, then moved to AAA Rochester for 1992. He watched over a young Arthur Rhodes. Luebbers saw progress in Rhodes, even after a poor outing, according to The Baltimore Sun.
"He knows his breaking ball is progressing," Luebber told The Sun. "It's getting sharper. He's getting better arm speed."
Luebber has gone on to work for the Rangers as a roving instructor, then as a minors coach with the Rangers, Marlins and Royals. He's served as pitching coach at Wilmington since 2007 and continued there in 2015.
Luebber told The Wilmington News Journal in July 2015 that he used his entire career to coach his Royals prospects.
"[The Royals] like the fact that I have experience at all of those levels, because it gives us a chance to give these pitchers a picture in their head of what it's like to pitch up a level," Luebber told The News Journal. "That's what I tell them all the time. The pitches I expect you to make are big-league pitches, not A-ball pitches."
- Meriden Morning Record, Associated Press, Aug. 9, 1976: No-hitter flirtation gives Luebber initial recognition
- Spokane Spokesman-Review, June 19, 1984: Indians turn pro tonight
- Baltimore Sun, April 26, 1992: Despite 6-run outing, pitcher Rhodes catches a break
- Wilmington News Journal, July 14, 2015: Luebber's long ride - 29 years in minor league ball
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,150
Made the Majors: 922-42.9%
Never Made Majors:1,228-57.1%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 391
10+ Seasons in the Minors:230
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