Article: Crew Throwback: Teddy Higuera Rose Quickly and Burned Bright

[reillymcshane]

Who is the most successful pitcher in Brewer history? Sheets? Gallardo? Bosio? Caldwell? Nope. The answer is Teddy Higuera. The amazing thing is that Higuera was plunked out of the Mexican league at age 25 - and still had an astounding run from 1986-88 where averaged 7.7 bWAR a year. That run solidified Higuera as the most productive pitcher in franchise history.

Teodoro Valenzuela Higuera was born in Mexico in 1957. He didn't began playing baseball until he was 17, but by age 21, he was pitching in the Mexican League. In 1983, in the wake of the success of fellow Mexican Fernando Valenzuela , the Brewers took a shine to the short, stocky 25-year old lefthander with a five-pitch repertoire. Milwaukee bought Higuera's contract from the Mexican League, and after one year in the minors, installed him into their starting rotation.

Teddy Higuera 's career began with a very good rookie campaign in 1985. The 27-year old threw 212 innings, won 15 games, and had a 3.90 ERA. He broke out the following season, producing one of the finest seasons in Milwaukee Brewer history. Higuera won 20 games, threw 248 innings and struck out 207 batters. He had a 32 inning scoreless streak. He finished 2nd in the Cy Young voting (behind Roger Clemens ), was named to the all-star team, and finished 15th in MVP voting.

Higuera continued to dominate the next two seasons, winning 18 and 16 games, respectively. His 1986-88 run represent three of the five highest season bWAR ratings in team history.

However, beginning in 1989, injuries began to take their toll on Higuera. He was limited to 22 and 27 starts the next two seasons, pitching well, but not great. Then, in 1991, Higuera tore his rotator cuff. He missed most of the season and all of 1992. Higuera struggled to come back the next two years. After the 1994 season, his career was over.

In retirement, Higuera stayed involved in baseball in his native Mexico. He served as the pitching coach for the national team during 2006, 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classics. He was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.

He was also added to the Brewers' Walk of Fame in 2014

Higuera was a great story back in the 1980s. Emerging from the obscurity of the Mexican Baseball League, he was an All-Star and Cy Young runner-up just two short years later. He didn't have overpowering stuff, but he succeeded by keeping hitters off balance with a variety of pitches, sharp control and deception. Higuera had an incredible four-year run in Milwaukee (1985-88), throwing nearly 950 innings during the span, and averaging 17 wins a year.

For his career, Higuera won 94 games, produced a .595 winning percentage, a 3.61 ERA, 1380 innings pitched, 50 complete games, 12 shutouts, and 1081 strikeouts. If injuries had not derailed his career, he would likely own most every major pitching record in Milwaukee.

Today, Higuera sits as one of the most talented and productive pitchers in team history.

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[Brock Beauchamp]

Teddy was my first favorite baseball player all those years ago before I moved to Minnesota. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Teddy was my first favorite baseball player all those years ago before I moved to Minnesota.