Dave LaRoche
David Eugene LaRoche (born May 14, 1948 in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. LaRoche was recently the pitching coach for the New York Mets' short-season affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones.
He is the father of current Chicago White Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche, and Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Andy LaRoche.
LaRoche made his debut for the California Angels in 1970 and went on to pitch 14 seasons in the major leagues. LaRoche is most famous for throwing his own variant of the eephus pitch, which he called 'La Lob.' Over his career, LaRoche went 65–58, with 819 strikeouts in 1,0491⁄3 innings pitched. He has a career 3.53 ERA.
During his time as a player representative for the Minnesota Twins LaRoche had a reputation as a troublemaker. According to Bert Blyleven, "A reporter asked him why he wanted to be player rep and Dave said, 'Because all the player reps under Calvin Griffith get traded.'"
LaRoche is of Mexican descent. According to his son Andy, Dave LaRoche's surname was Garcia, however, he changed it to LaRoche at age seven, the last name of his stepfather. "La Roche is French, but I have no French in me," Andy LaRoche said. "My grandfather was 100% Mexican."
- ^ The Twins at the Met, 2009, Beaver's Pond Press, Edina Minnesota, page 131
- ^ Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, "Andy La Roche wants a little space. Is that so wrong?" (February 21, 2007)
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