Sunday, January 10, 1999
Denny Neagle profile
Full name: Dennis Edward Neagle Jr.
Position: Pitcher
Throws: Left
Age: 30
Born: 9/13/68 in Gambrills, Md.
Resides: Atlanta, Ga.
Career record: 81-55, 3.78 ERA in 266 games (169 starts)
Best season: 20-5, 2.97 ERA in 1997
Personal: Married to Jennifer Neagle, no children
Education: Attended the University of Minnesota on a baseball scholarship (1986-89) but considered the Air Force Academy because he wanted to be a pilot.
Acquired: By the Reds Nov. 10, 1998, with outfielder Michael Tucker and minor league pitcher Rob Bell in exchange for second baseman Bret Boone and pitcher Mike Remlinger.
Professional resume: Selected by the Minnesota Twins in the third round of the 1989 June draft; made his major league debut with the Twins in 1991; traded to Pittsburgh in 1992 with outfielder Midre Cummings (briefly a Red) in exchange for pitcher John Smiley (also a former Red); traded to Atlanta in 1996 for pitcher Jason Schmidt and minor leaguers Ron Wright and Corey Pointer.
Postseason experience: Has appeared in nine playoff games, including two in the 1996 World Series with Atlanta (0-0, 3.00, six innings).
Best stat: Has won 16 games or more each of the last three years.
Best pitch: Curveball. Throws fastball 85-88 mph. “I've learned from watching guys like Tommy Glavine, Bob Tewksbury, Scott McGregor. You don't have to rare back and try to get as much as you can on your fastball. Go with what's gotten you there. If your strength is control, go with it.”
Golf: Plays in pro-ams during winter.
Movies: A comedian at heart and a huge movie buff, favorite movies include the comedies Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Weekend at Bernie's.
Friends: Best friend is his 25-year-old brother, Doug, the tennis coach at the Naval Academy. Best baseball friend is former Brave and current Giants pitcher Alan Embree, his Harley-riding buddy. Is also friends with actor Jonathan Silverman from the TV show The Single Guy and the movie Weekend at Bernie's.
Heroes: His parents, Denny Sr. and Joann. “They instilled in me the principle to be the best person and player I can be. My dad's a food salesman, and he takes a lot of pride in being the best food salesman he can be. That's how I feel about my baseball career.”
On pulling pranks: “Some people's expense is different than other's. I know who has a good sense of humor and who doesn't take pranks so well ... I want everybody to have some laughs.”
On winning: “I used to say I wanted the ring. But guys lose their rings or they go in a trophy case somewhere. One thing you never lose is the memories.”
Where you can meet him: Reds Caravan, Jan. 20 (Maysville, Portsmouth and Huntington), Jan. 21 (Lexington) and Jan. 22 (Frankfort, Ky., and Louisville).
Reds Stories
UC 54, SOUTHERN MISS. 52
UC NOTEBOOK
Head says no; heart says 29-0
Value of 70th home-run ball going, going . . .
Maris' Hall hopes gone with Mark
UK 73, VANDERBILT 57
NKU 72, IUPU-FORT WAYNE 69
MIGHTY DUCKS 6, PHILADELPHIA 4
CHICAGO 4, CYCLONES 3
XAVIER 56, DUQUESNE 42
XU NOTEBOOK
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