Joe Orsulak
Outfielder
Born: (1962-05-31) May 31, 1962 (age 61)
Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 1, 1983, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 1997, for the Montreal Expos
MLB statistics
Batting average.273
Home runs57
Runs batted in405
Teams

Joseph Michael Orsulak (born May 31, 1962) is an American former Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from 1983 to 1997, with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Florida Marlins, and Montreal Expos. Orsulak, who threw and batted left-handed, played mostly in the outfield, although he played some games at first base. On the basepaths, he had better than average speed, until a 1987 knee injury slowed him down.[1] He was traded from the Pirates to the Orioles for Rico Rossy and minor-league shortstop Terry Crowley, Jr. on November 6, 1987.[2] He led the league in outfield assists, in 1991.[3] In 1992, he made the first out at the Orioles' new Camden Yards ballpark, going on to lead the team that year in batting average.[4] He elected to become a free agent on October 28, 1992, after five seasons with the Orioles.[5] Despite his relatively long career (with five major league clubs), he never played in the post-season in the Majors.

Orsulak played winter ball for three consecutive years with Navegantes del Magallanes in the LVBP (Venezuelan Winter League),[6] starting with the 1983 season, during which he met his future wife, Adriana Venditti. They married during the 1988 All-Star break[7] and had two children, Joseph and Michael. After a long struggle with brain cancer,[8] Adriana died in 2004.[9]

Orsulak grew up in Parsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey,[10] where he graduated from Parsippany Hills High School.[11] He turned down a full scholarship to Seton Hall University in order to sign with the Pirates.[12]

References

  1. ^ Joe Orsulak,New Jersey Sports Heroes. Accessed October 28, 2015.
  2. ^ Justice, Richard. "Orioles, Hemond Discuss a Job," The Washington Post, Saturday, November 7, 1987. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "1991 American League Fielding Leaders", Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed September 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "Whatever Happened To ... ?", The Baltimore Sun, June 7, 2008. Accessed October 28, 2015.
  5. ^ Maske, Mark. "Orsulak to Become Free Agent," The Washington Post, Wednesday, October 28, 1992. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "Estadisticas Beisbol profesional Venezolano". Accessed October 28, 2015.
  7. ^ "Time", Los Angeles Times,July 26, 1996. Accessed October 28, 2015.
  8. ^ "Orsulak Deals With Private Pain". Accessed October 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Adriana Orsulak, 39, wife of Orioles player". Accessed October 28, 2015.
  10. ^ Martinez, Michael. "Baseball; Yankees' Chances Slip By", The New York Times, August 27, 1989. Accessed October 28, 2007. "Orsulak, from Parsippany, N.J., is 8 for 13 in three games against the Yanks with six runs and five runs batted in."
  11. ^ "Orsulak Signs With Marlins - Next Targets: Cone, Mcdowell", The Record (Bergen County), December 6, 1995. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Orsulak, a Parsippany Hills High School graduate, signed a two-year deal worth $1.275 million and is expected to strengthen the Marlins' bench."
  12. ^ "Joe Orsulak tells his MLB draft story and decision to go pro.", Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. Accessed July 1, 2016.

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