Background
Tewksbury was born in Concord, New Hampshire and attended Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook, New Hampshire.
Tewksbury was born in Concord, New Hampshire and attended Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook, New Hampshire.
He played professionally for the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Saint Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and the Minnesota Twins. He played college baseball at Rutgers and Saint Leo University. Tewksbury"s talent was initially discovered by Andy Michael in Concord.
Michael contacted the New York Yankees and Tewksbury was drafted by them out of Saint Leo University in the 19th round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft.
He played for the Yankees for two years, before being sent to the Chicago Cubs. As a free agent in 1988, he signed with the Saint Louis Cardinals, where he would stay until 1994.
Again a free agent, he went to the Texas Rangers for a year. In 1996, he signed with the San Diego Padres for one more year.
In December 1996, he signed with the Minnesota Twins and played for two years with the team, but shoulder problems effectively ended his baseball career after that.
Due to the shoulder and arm problems he faced over the course of his playing career, Tewksbury became known as an excellent control pitcher. His best year was 1992, in which he went 16-5 on the season and had a 2.16 European Research Area in 233 innings pitched. His injury problems marred his success from that point forward, with his best post-Cardinals year being in San Diego, where he helped the Padres capture the Netherlands West division title.
In 1997, the ever-crafty Tewksbury threw an Eephus pitch, joining an elite few who have thrown the "junkiest pitch in baseball." He threw it to power-hitter Mark McGwire in an interleague play game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and McGwire grounded out on the pitch - twice.
Tewksbury has been quoted as calling this pitch "The Dominator." During and after his baseball career, he became well known for his philanthropy. He has done a lot of work for the Boys and Girls Club of America, as well as hospital visits for sick children.
He was very popular among his fans and peers, his Texas manager saying, "He"s a true professional on and off the field — and a pleasure to have in the clubhouse." After retiring, he worked as a player development consultant for the Boston Red Sox and appeared as a commentator for Red Sox coverage on the New England Sports Network He earned his bachelor of science degree in physical education at Saint Leo University in 2000 and earned his master"s degree in psychology at Boston University in 2004. He has been a sports psychology coach for the Red Sox since 2004.
He is an Adjunct Professor of Sport Psychology & Exercise at NHTI, Concord"s Community College.
Tewksbury still lives in New Hampshire, continuing his charitable work. He played himself in the movie The Scout.