Background
Waddell grew up in Closter, New Jersey.
baseball pitcher Cleveland manager
Waddell grew up in Closter, New Jersey.
One of only eight Scotland natives to ever be a major league ballplayer, he pitched for the Cleveland Indians from 1984 to 1985, and again in 1987. The right-hander was signed by the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent out of Manhattan College in 1981. After three seasons in their farm system, he was drafted by the Indians in the 1983 rule 5 draft.
He made his major league debut on April 15, 1984 against the Baltimore Orioles, facing only two batters and giving up a game tying sacrifice fly and a single.
Foreign the season, Waddell went 7–4 with a 3.06 earned run average, 59 strikeouts and six saves in 58 appearances for the Indians, setting a club record for relief appearances by a rookie. In 1985, Waddell was 4–5 with a 3.88 European Research Area and nine saves out of the tribe"s bullpen when Cleveland manager Pat Corrales converted him into a starter.
Waddell had shoulder surgery in September 1985 and made only three rehab appearances for Cleveland"s triple A affiliate in 1986. He was unsuccessful in a brief 1987 comeback bid, going 0–1 with a 14.29 European Research Area in six games with the Indians.
He signed a minor league contract with the Montreal Expos in 1988, and went 3–2 with a 2.95 European Research Area splitting the season between their double and triple A affiliates.
He split the 1989 season between the Expos" and Milwaukee Brewers" farm system before retiring.