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Kevin Appier

Retired bats=Right — No. –
Pitcher
Bats: {{{bats}}}	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
June 4, 1989 for the Kansas City Royals
Selected MLB statistics (through 2004)
ERA	3.74
W-L	169-137
K	1,994
Former teams
Kansas City Royals Oakland Athletics New York Mets Anaheim Angels Kansas City Royals

Robert Kevin Appier (December 6, 1967) is retired right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, and Anaheim Angels.

Appier had a strong rookie campaign for the Royals in 1990, going 12-8 including a one hit shut out against Detroit and posting the league's fourth-best ERA (2.76). He was awarded Rookie Pitcher of the Year. In 1991, he had 13 wins (tied for the team best), and pitched 3 shutouts, two of which were back to back against the Red Sox and Yankees. He was the opening day starter in 1992 and posted a 15-8 record with the league's second-best ERA (2.46) for a team that only went 72-90. Appier had a career high nine game winning streak from May 30-July 29 and won American League Pitcher of the Month for July, going 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA. In 1993 he had a career high in wins going 18-8 and set a club record of 33 consectutive scoreless innings. He finished third in Cy Young Award balloting and lead the league in ERA (2.56), and was selected to Baseball America's post-season All-Star team. The strike-shortened 1994 season was his first without double-digit wins. In a rain-interrupted start, Appier struck out a career high 13 batters in 5.2 innings. In 1995, he tossed 6.2 innings of no-hit ball on opening day vs. Baltimore, and was named American League Pitcher of the Month for June. He was selected to the American League All-Star Team, pitching 2 perfect innings. In 1996 Appier became the first Royal's pitcher to strikeout 4 batters in an inning, and had a career high in strikeouts with 207- the second best in Royal's history. He also won the Royals/Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award for outstanding service to his team and community. 1997 was his first sub-.500 season, despite posting a 3.40 ERA (7th best in AL). He picked up his 100 career victory at Pittsburgh on June 15. In November of that year, Appier suffered a fall at his home resulting in a grade-3 acromioclavicular separation. Dr. Steven Joyce surgically repaired three partially torn ligaments. He missed most of the 1998 season after submitting to surgery for a long-term issue of a torn labrum finally resulting in a fracture line in the articular cartilage in the shoulder socket. For the 2nd time, Appier was named the Royals/Roberto Clemente Man of the Year. In 1999, he was traded to Oakland July 31st. He combined for 34 starts (tied for 2nd in AL) and totalled 16 wins in spite of a 5.+ ERA. He left KC as the Royal's all-time leader in strikouts (1451), also ranked 4th in wins (114), starts (269), and innings pitched (1820.2). Appier collected his 1500th strikeout vs. Seattle on Oct. 1st.

As the Athletics made their surprising run winning the American League West title in 2000, Appier provided a solid veteran arm in support of Oakland's developing young starters, making his 8th Opening Day start, and winning 15 games for his fifth season with at least 15 wins. He collected his first major league hit with a single off Eric Gagne. Despite a good showing, he lost his only start in that year's ALDS when the Athletics were shutout. In Game 5, after the Yankees scored 6 runs in the first inning, Appier (for the first time in 10 years) came in to relieve in the 2nd inning. He threw 4 innings, allowing 1 run. Combined, Appier posted an ALDS 3.48 ERA with 13 strikouts in 10.1 innings pitched.

As a free agent in 2001, Appier signed a contract with the NY Mets. He tied for the team lead in wins, going 11-10 with a 3.57 ERA, marking the 9th time he posted double digit wins and 8th time to tally 200+ innings pitched. Appier was undefeated in his final 12 appearances, going 6-0 (2nd longest streak in Mets history). Making a playoff push, the Mets went 6-0 in his final six starts with Appier going 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA.

After the one campaign in New York, Appier was traded to Anaheim for Mo Vaughn. During a solid season with the World Series winning Angels in 2002, Appier went 14-12 with a 3.92 ERA, the sixth time in his career to win 14 or more games. He posted a 3.08 ERA over the final 14 starts of the season. In Game 2 of the division series, Appier went 5 innings, giving up 3 runs, and left the game leading 4-3. He was left with a no-decision after a blown save by Francisco Rodriguez, but the Angels rallied back to win the game 8-6. In game 1 of the ALCS, Appier went 5 innings in a 2-1 loss against the Twins. He started game 5 of the ALCS, going 5.1 innings, and left contest with the Angels leading 3-2 in the game that put Anaheim in the World Series. He was denied the decision, but the Angels went on to win the game 13-5. His 2002 ALCS innings pitched and ERA were identical to his 2000 ALDS numbers at 10.1 innings and a 3.48 ERA. Starting game 2 of the World Series, Appier did not factor into the decision after a terrible 5 runs in 2+ innings pitched, the Angels went on to win the game 11-10. With the Angels facing elimination and the Giants having scored 16 runs in Game 5, Appier started Game 6. He pitched 4 innings of shutout ball before yielding a 5th inning 2-run HR, and leaving with a man on base who eventually scored via stolen base and wild pitch off Francisco Rodriguez. The Angels ended up with an astonishing finish, earning a 6-5 victory. The following season, Appier was plaqued with a previously undiagnosed flexor tendon injury and was eventually released July 31st, 2003. He then signed with the Royals, but after five starts needed surgery. After missing most of 2004, Appier briefly retired. He then came out of retirement and was re-signed by the Royals to a minor-league contract before the 2005 season but failed to make the team in spring training. He retired on March 29. Appier threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Royals' home opener in 2005. In October of 2005, Appier applied for reinstatement with Major League Baseball. He signed a minor-league contract with the Seattle Mariners and attempted a comeback with the AAA Tacoma Rainiers. During 10 games, mostly starting, Appier was 1-2 with a 4.54 ERA. On June 3, 2006 Appier asked for and was granted his release by the Rainiers. With limited offers, as of July, 2006, Appier officially retired.

He continues his work with Hope House shelter for battered women and children, Special Olympics, Disabled Veterans, and other charitable foundations.

• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis