Wilson Eduardo Alvarez...he and his wife, Daihanna, have three daughters Vanessa (4/16/93), Viviana (1/16/95) and Valentina (7/15/00)...represented Venezuela in international tournaments at every age
level and pitched 12 no-hitters from 1981-86...once fanned 21 batters in a Little League game...runs the
Wilson Alvarez Foundation which provides food, water and clothing for the needy throughout his native
country...an animal lover, he once considered becoming a veterinarian...signed by Rangers' scout Luis Rosa.
2005
Completed a 14-year Major League career by pitching in 21 games, two
as a starter and 19 out of the bullpen...in his 19 relief outings, posted
a 2.25 ERA (4 ER/16.0 IP)...announced during the season that he would
retire following the campaign, forgoing the final year of a two-year
contract...had an injury-plagued campaign as he had three different stints on
the disabled list that forced him to miss a total of 106 games...started season
on DL with left shoulder tendinitis and was activated on May 3, having
been out of action for the season's initial 25 games...returned to the DL
on June 6 (retroactive to May 31) with left shoulder
impingement and was activated on July 19 after missing 42 games...on Aug. 11, was
placed back on the DL (retroactive to Aug. 7) due to left
shoulder impingement and returned to active roster on Sept. 20 after 39
games missed.
2004
Was 7-6 with a 4.03 ERA in 40 games, including 15 starts...was 6-5 with a 4.95
ERA in 15 starts and was 1-1 with a save and a 2.44 ERA in 25 relief appearances...
held right-handed hitters to a .222 batting average and lefties hit him at a
.307 clip...was 4-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 23 games at Dodger Stadium...won five consecutive
decisions from July 10-Aug. 17, which tied for the longest winning streak
by a Dodger pitcher in 2004...began the season in the bullpen and allowed one run
in 2.0 innings in his first appearance on April 5 vs. San Diego...pitched 10.0 consecutive
scoreless innings over four outings from April 9-22, allowing five hits and
a walk with 11 strikeouts...on April 9 vs. Colorado, pitched 3.0 scoreless innings of
relief, striking out six, including the first four batters he faced, to earn his fourth big
league save...on April 22 at Colorado, struck out three in 3.0 scoreless
innings...was nearly perfect in his first start of the season on May 7 at Pittsburgh
as he retired the first 15 batters before allowing a leadoff infield single to Chris
Stynes in the sixth inning...that was the only baserunner he would allow over his
7.0 innings...in his next start, on May 12 vs. Chicago, pitched 7.2 scoreless innings,
giving up just five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts...retired 13 consecutive batters at one point...left May
28 start vs. Milwaukee after 2.0 innings due to a strained left hip...after seven straight relief outings, started
on July 5 vs. Arizona and hurled 6.0 innings, allowing three runs, five hits and a walk, in club's eventual 6-5,
10-inning victory...earned victory in next start on July 10 vs. Houston and Roger Clemens, who he last
opposed on April 9, 1997...posted his third career relief victory on July 15 at Arizona, his first since Sept. 5,
1992 at Kansas City while with the White Sox...notched fourth victory in a row and career win No. 100 on July
29 at Colorado as he started and pitched 5.0 innings, yielding two runs, four hits and a pair of walks while
striking out six...struggled in a start on Aug. 27 at New York in a 9-2 loss...had to leave the game when he was
struck on his left arm with a comeback to the mound...was scratched from his start on Sept. 23 at San Diego
with a strained left hamstring...did not pitch again due to soreness in his left him until Sept. 27 vs.
Colorado...pitched 2.0 perfect innings and struck out three...pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in relief in the
Dodgers' NL West-clinching 7-3 comeback win on Oct. 2 vs. SF...appeared in two games in the National
League Division Series against the Cardinals and went 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA (4 ER, 3.1 IP).
2003
Was invited to Spring Training as a non-roster player fighting for a spot in the bullpen and ended up being one of the anchors of the Dodgers' top-rated rotation... won six consecutive decisions as a starter in 10 games between July 13-Sept. 23, posting a 1.39 ERA in that time...the Dodgers were 9-3 in his 12 starts...had a 25- inning scoreless streak from Sept. 7 (2nd inning) through Sept. 23 (3rd inning), the longest scoreless streak by a Dodger pitcher since Chan Ho Park also had 25.0 consecutive scoreless innings to close out the 2000 season...tied for the longest streak by a Dodger since Orel Hershiser's recordsetting 59.0 scoreless innings in 1988...walked two batters or less in 20 of his 21 appearances and posted a 3.6 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio...was 0-0 with one save and a 1.48 ERA in nine relief appearances...started the season at Triple-A Las Vegas, going 5-1 with a 1.34 ERA in eight starts...had his contract purchased by the Dodgers from Las Vegas on June 7 and spent the rest of the season with Los Angeles...pitched 5.0 innings in relief that same day vs. the Chicago White Sox, allowing two runs and striking out five...earned a save in his next outing on June 14 at Cleveland with 4.0 scoreless innings of relief in the Dodgers' 5-2 win...it was his third career save, with the others coming on Aug. 10, 2002 at Kansas City and April 7, 1992 at California...made his first start of the season on July 8 at San Diego and suffered an 8-5 loss, allowing six runs in 4.0-plus innings...picked up his first win of the season in his start on July 13 at Colorado, allowing three runs in 5.0 innings in a 9-3 win...utilized out of the bullpen again after the break, allowing two runs in 9.2 innings in four appearances from July 20-Aug. 1...returned to the rotation for good on Aug. 9 at Chicago as he defeated the Cubs 6-1, pitching 7.0 shutout innings...did not walk a batter and retired the last 12 Cubs he faced...had no decision in his next start at Florida on Aug. 13, a 2-1, 11-inning loss...allowed one run in 6.0 innings and struck out a season-high eight...had no decision in his next start on Aug. 20 vs. Montreal, despite pitching 7.0 scoreless innings...allowed three hits and struck out six in the Dodgers' 4-1 win...defeated the Astros 4-1 on Sept. 2 at Dodger Stadium, allowing one run on six hits in 5.0 innings...won 6-2 on Sept. 7 at Colorado, allowing one run on eight hits in 7.0 innings...pitched a fourhit 6-0 shutout vs. San Diego on Sept. 12, walking one and striking out seven...it was his first shutout since June 18, 1997 vs. the Cubs while playing for the White Sox...it was his fourth career shutout and 12th career complete game, first since June 25, 1999 vs. Toronto while pitching for Tampa Bay...also pitched shutout ball for 7.0 innings in a 2-0 win vs. Arizona on Sept. 18...had no decision in the Dodgers' 2-1 win on Sept. 23 at San Diego, allowing one run in 7.0 innings...the run he allowed in the fourth inning on a wild pitch snapped a 25.0 scoreless-inning streak...had his six-game winning streak snapped in his final start of the season on Sept. 28 at San Francisco, allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits in 2.0 innings.
CAREER SUMMARY: The veteran left-hander regained the form from earlier in his career with the Dodgers in 2003, posting a 6-2 record and 2.37 ERA...has pitched in 13 Major League seasons with the Texas Rangers (1989), Chicago White Sox (1991-97), San Francisco Giants (1997), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998-99, 2002) and Dodgers (2003), compiling an 94-82 overall record in 294 games (246 starts)...the 94 wins rank first all-time among Venezuelan pitchers...he also ranks 13th among active Major League pitchers...from 1993-99 he joined Atlanta's John Smoltz as the only two Major League pitchers to allow fewer hits than innings pitched (minimum 20 starts)...has a 0.57 career ERA at Dodger Stadium (3 ER/47.2 IP), the second-lowest mark of all-time among pitchers with 25 or more innings pitched...in only his second big league game for the White Sox on Aug. 11, 1991, picked up his first Major League win by becoming the eighth-youngest pitcher (21 years, four months) to throw a no-hitter as he blanked Baltimore, 7-0...pitched in 1994 Major League All-Star Game...twice posted a careerhigh 15 victories for Chicago (1993 and 1996)...put together a 15-game winning streak from Aug. 24, 1993-May 27, 1994...threw the first pitch in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history on March 31, 1998 vs. Detroit after signing a five-year free agent contract...originally inked by Texas as a non-drafted free agent on Sept. 23, 1986...made Major League debut with the Rangers on July 21, 1989 and five days later was traded with Scott Fletcher and Sammy Sosa to the White Sox for Harold Baines and Fred Manrique.
2002
Returned to the Major Leagues with Tampa Bay after pitching in 10 minor league games (all rehabilitation appearances) from 2000-2001 while recovering from a left-shoulder injury...underwent rotator cuff surgery on May 25, 2000...on April 6 at Yankee Stadium, made first Major League appearance since Sept. 26, 1999...following his April 14 start vs. Toronto, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his right side...after two rehabilitation outings at Double-A Orlando, in which he was 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA, was activated from the DL on May 31...pitched 6.0 innings, allowing two earned runs and six hits, on June 5 at Toronto to earn his first big league win since Aug. 29, 1999 at Cleveland...went back on the disabled list on July 17 with tendinitis in his left elbow...activated on Aug. 6 and tossed 3.0 scoreless innings of one-hit relief that night, striking out four, at Cleveland...on Aug. 10 at Kansas City, hurled 4.0 relief innings, allowing one earned run, in the Devil Rays' 13-6 triumph to record his second professional save...overall in seven August outings, posted a 2.76 ERA (5 ER/16.1 IP).
2001
Missed his second straight full season with an injured left shoulder... spent the year rehabilitating from rotator cuff surgery he underwent on May 25, 2000...suffered a setback in August while rehabbing the shoulder, experiencing tightness in his left forearm and it was announced on Aug. 25 he would remain on the disabled list the remainder of the season...made nine rehabilitation starts with Triple-A Durham and Double-A Orlando and went 2-4 with a 3.76 ERA...also had nine rehab outings at extended Spring Training and posted a 0.68 ERA (3 ER/40.0 IP).
2000
Missed the entire season with an injured left shoulder...was placed on the 15-day disabled list on March 31 with left shoulder tendinitis... transferred to the 60-day on May 25 as he underwent seasonending arthroscopic surgery that day to repair a partial tear in his left rotator cuff...the procedure was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, AL...made one rehabilitation start for Single-A St. Petersburg on April 15, throwing four perfect innings, but re-injured the shoulder...accompanied the team to Venezuela in March, his native country, but didn't pitch in the two exhibition games against the Braves...made just two appearances in Spring Training, allowing two earned runs in 4.0 innings pitched.
1999
Had two stints on the disabled list and missed just over a month, but still made 28 starts, second most on the team and three more than in 1998...was sidelined from April 12-28 with inflammation of the AC joint in the left shoulder and from July 18-Aug. 7 with left triceps inflammation....led the team in wins (9), ERA among starting pitchers (4.22), strikeouts (128) and quality starts (15)...was 4-3 with a 3.59 ERA in 11 starts after coming off his second DL stint...was unable to register his fifth double-figure winning season as he went 0-3 with three nodecisions in his final six starts...was 5-3 with a 3.41 ERA in 12 starts after the All-Star break...Tampa Bay won 12 of his last 17 starts from June 20 and he went 7-4 with a 3.38 ERA during that span...tied a club record for wins in a month with four in August (Arrojo 4 in May of 1998)...ranked fourth in the AL in ERA in the month with a 2.12 mark...on Aug. 18 at Detroit, he combined with Albie Lopez to throw the second one-hitter in club history (April 22, 1999 vs. BAL -- Saunders, Mecir, Hernandez)...tossed six shutout innings... allowed only Gabe Kapler's third-inning triple...on June 25 vs. Toronto he threw the Rays' first complete game victory since August 27, 1998...struck out 11 batters in an 11-4 win...it was his first win since May 16 and his first complete game since June 18, 1997 for Chicago...marked the 10th time he fanned 10+ batters in a game and the first time since Sept. 16, 1997 for SF vs. Atlanta ...in the game, fanned Toronto's Shawn Green in the fourth inning for his 1,000th strikeout... on Sept. 26 at New York, he lasted 1.2 innings, his briefest outing since working just 1.0-plus innings on April 24, 1998...pitched on Opening Day April 5 in Baltimore and recorded the loss in a 10-7 Orioles win...worked 3.1 innings before giving way to the bullpen...the start marked his second Opening Day assignment...started the Devil Rays' inaugural game and lost to the Detroit Tigers 11-6...pitched for Venezuela in the Caribbean Series.
1998
Threw the first pitch in Devil Rays history as the Opening Day starter on March 31 vs. Detroit...it was a ball to Brian Hunter...season was disrupted by left-shoulder tendinitis, as he was placed on the disabled list from May 28 -- July 6...limited right-handed hitters to a .236 (101-for-428) batting average, tops among AL lefties and ninth among all AL pitchers...lost a career-high 14 games, which tied for eighth in the AL...best stretch of the season came in April when he won three straight decisions April 5-18...struck out a season-high nine batters on April 18 at Anaheim...had the AL's ninth-best road ERA among those with 10 or more road starts (3.42)...was 4-4 with a 3.73 ERA after winning at Baltimore on May 15...lost his next start at Toronto on May 20 and went on the DL forcing him to miss the next two months...returned on July 10 and went 1-8 in his next nine starts...in last seven starts of the season, posted a 3.18 ERA (15 ER/42.1 IP)...his final victory of the season came on Sept. 8 at Seattle, when he threw 7.0 shutout innings in Tampa Bay's 10-0 win, the largest margin of victory in a shutout ever by a firstyear expansion team...had two no-hit bids against the Yankees and lost both...went 5.0-plus innings at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 24 without allowing a hit, but lost 5-2...also went 4.1 innings on July 10 at Tropicana Field without allowing a hit, but lost 8-4.
1997
Was fifth in the American League in ERA (3.03) and led the White Sox in wins and strikeouts when he was traded to San Francisco on July 31 as part of a nine-player trade...twenty-four hours later he earned his first NL win, an 8-7 decision over Cincinnati on August 1...beat San Diego, 6-1 on Sept. 27 in the game that clinched the NL Western Division championship marking the second time he has won a division championship clinching game...tied a Major League record on July 21 at Detroit when he struck out four batters in one inning...fanned Tony Clark, Phil Nevin (who reached on a wild pitch), Melvin Nieves and Orlando Miller...San Francisco was 8-3 in his 11 starts...had the best month of any Major League starter in 1997 when he posted a 0.83 ERA (4 ER/43.1 IP) in June and was 4-0 in six starts...did not give up an earned run in three straight June starts including a four-hit complete-game win on June 18 over the Cubs...on June 7 he worked 8.0 shutout innings vs. the Orioles in Chicago's 1-0 11-inning win...marked the first time Baltimore was shut out in 1997...in all, he had six starts in which he worked 6.0 or more innings and did not allow a run...in seven starts from June 7-July 11, won five straight while posting a 0.88 ERA, including a streak of 26.2 innings in which he didn't allow an earned run...his 179 strikeouts were fourth among Major League lefties behind Randy Johnson (291), Jeff Fassero (189) and Shawn Estes (191)...averaged 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings as a member of the Giants...fanned a career-high 12 batters on three occasions, including Sept. 6 vs. Houston in 6.2 innings, tops by a Giant pitcher...started and lost to the Marlins, 6-2, in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, ending the Giants' season...was leading 1-0 through five innings before yielding a grand slam to Devon White.
1996
Matched Alex Fernandez for the White Sox club lead in starts (35, tied for 2nd in the AL) and was second to Fernandez in innings (217.1), wins (15) and strikeouts (181)...only one other American League lefthander won more games (New York's Andy Pettitte with 21)...ranked eighth in the American League in wins and ninth in opponents batting average (.258)...tied for third in the AL with seven pickoffs...right-handers batted only .248 off him, ninth-best in the league and his average of 0.87 home runs per nine innings was eighth best...was 10-4 at the All- Star Break for the second time in his career (1994 was the other time)...was 11-2 with a 2.50 ERA over a 15-start stretch from May 15- July 31...was 5-2 with a 2.49 ERA combined against the four AL playoff teams: Baltimore, Cleveland, New York and Seattle.
1995
Struggled through the first half before going 6-6 with a 3.49 ERA in 16 second-half starts...finished with his first losing season since 1988...opponents hit just .220 off him in the second half...did not commit an error in 38 chances...tied for third in the AL with five pickoffs... was 7-2 with a 4.80 ERA at home and 1-9 on the road despite a 3.87 ERA...his 93 walks were third-highest in the AL.
1994
Finished ninth in the AL with a 3.45 ERA, leading the White Sox...tied for Chicago club lead in wins (12)...his 12 wins were bettered by only AL lefthanders Jimmy Key and Randy Johnson...his win on May 27 at Baltimore gave him an 8-0 record and a 15-game winning streak, tying the club record also held by Lamarr Hoyt...the streak ended on June 7 when he lost to Toronto, his first loss since Aug. 11, 1993...was 10-4 with a 3.63 ERA in the first half and was selected to the American League All-Star team...worked one inning in the All- Star Game and retired all three batters (Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza and Ken Caminiti)...opponents slugged only .354 off him, fifth lowest in AL.
1993
His 2.95 ERA was 2nd in the AL behind KC's Kevin Appier...Finished the season winning his last seven decisions...Named AL Pitcher of the Month for September...Was the winner on Sep 27 in the White Sox division clinching victory, a 4-2 win over Seattle...Led the AL with 122 walks...Won his 14th game on Sep 22 at California, breaking Luis Leal's record for most wins in a season by a Venezuelan pitcher (13 in 1983 and 1984)...that mark was surpassed last season by Seattle's Freddie Garcia who won 17...Opponents hit .230, 6th best in the league.
1992
Began the season in the bullpen, but moved into a starting role in late June and on July 2...he allowed only 2 hits and 2 runs in 7 innings to beat Boston's Roger Clemens...Moved back to the bullpen at the All-Star Break for 14 app's before starting again on Sep 9 vs. Detroit...Overall was 3-1 (5.55) in 9 starts and 2-2 (4.888) in 25 relief
1991
Recalled from AA Birmingham on August 10 and the next day became the 8th youngest pitcher in major league history (21 yrs, 4 mos) to throw a no-hitter when he did it at Baltimore in Memorial Stadium's final season...Fanned Randy Milligan to end the game...The no-hitter came in his White Sox debut, 2nd major league game.
