Matt Karchner

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Matt Karchner
Pitcher
Born: (1967-06-28) June 28, 1967 (age 56)
Berwick, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 18, 1995, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
June 14, 2000, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Win–loss record21–13
Earned run average4.21
Strikeouts166
Saves27
Teams

Matthew Dean Karchner (born June 28, 1967) is an American former professional baseball player who was a pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1995 to 2000.[1]

Playing career[edit]

Karchner graduated from Berwick High School in Berwick, Pennsylvania in 1985.[2] He played college baseball as a third baseman at Bloomsburg University[3] and led NCAA Division II with 1.59 runs batted in per game in 1988.[4]

The following year, he was selected in the eighth round of the 1989 Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Royals.[5] He was converted to pitching and was assigned to the Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League to begin his professional career.[6]

After three seasons in the Royals' farm system, Karchner was selected in the 1991 Rule 5 draft by the Montreal Expos.[6][1] He signed a one-year contract with the Expos in January 1992[7] but was returned to the Royals that April.[1]

Karchner spent two more seasons in the Royals' farm system before being selected by the Chicago White Sox in the minor league phase of the 1993 Rule 5 draft.[6][1] To begin the 1994 season, Karchner was assigned to the Birmingham Barons where he played with Michael Jordan.[2] Karchner made his Major League debut on July 18, 1995 at Yankee Stadium and pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Kirk McCaskill.[1][8] Karchner was a regular in the White Sox bullpen for the remainder of that season as well as the following two seasons.[9][10][11] Between 1997 and 1998, he set a franchise record by converting 20 consecutive save opportunities.[12]

On July 29, 1998, Karchner was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Jon Garland who was then 18 years old and struggling in the minor leagues.[3] The move was widely criticized by prospect experts at the time[13] and was later described in the Chicago Tribune as "one of the most lopsided in [Cubs] franchise history"[3] and in The Athletic as the "greatest White Sox trade ever."[14] Karchner struggled in his debut season with the Cubs but was brought back the following year nonetheless.[15] In 1999, he missed substantial time due to groin injuries.[16] By 2000, Karchner's attitude had soured and manager Don Baylor chose to keep him in the minors with the Iowa Cubs due, according to Karchner, to his negative attitude. The Cubs released him in September 2000. Needing offseason shoulder surgery and facing free agency, Karchner chose to retire.[3]

Karchner later told Mitchell Report investigators that, during spring training in 1999, he was present when two of his Cubs teammates injected each other with steroids in their shared apartment. He further reported that he had been offered steroids but declined to use them.[17]

Coaching career[edit]

In January 2004, Karchner was named the interim head baseball coach at Susquehanna University.[18] He resigned that position in June 2005.[19]

Personal life[edit]

Karchner's wife gave birth to their daughter, Emma, on April 1, 1994.[2] By the time his playing career ended, he had multiple children.[3]

As of 2005, Karchner lived in Berwick, Pennsylvania.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Matt Karchner Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Bennett, Steve (May 16, 2020). "Karchner recalls days as Micahel Jordan's teammate in Birmingham". Scranton Times-Tribune. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Haugh, David (May 12, 2005). "Trade finally making some waves". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Division II Baseball Records" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  5. ^ "8th Round of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Matt Karchner Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  7. ^ "BaseballAtlanta Braves -- Agreed to terms with..." Baltimore Sun. January 18, 1992. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Chicago White Sox at New York Yankees Box Score, July 18, 1995". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Matt Karchner 1995 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  10. ^ "1996 Chicago White Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  11. ^ "1997 Chicago White Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  12. ^ Verducci, Tom (June 18, 2001). "High-Wire Act There's no safety net for major league closers, who put it all on the line each time they work, saving the day... or wasting their teams' best efforts". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  13. ^ Sickels, John (June 16, 2001). "Down on the Farm: Garland, Ohka". ESPN. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  14. ^ Fegan, James (April 16, 2020). "Behind the greatest White Sox trade ever: Jon Garland for Matt Karchner". The Athletic. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Cubs Sign Pitcher Karchner". Associated Press. January 23, 1999. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Cubs place Matt Karchner on DL". United Press International. July 17, 1999. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  17. ^ Mitchell, George J. (December 13, 2007). "Mitchell Report" (PDF). Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. p. 232. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  18. ^ "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times. January 30, 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  19. ^ "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times. June 8, 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2021.

External links[edit]

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