| Dave Righetti began and ended his career as a starting pitcher. As a minor leaguer with the Tulsa Drillers, he set a Texas League record when he struck out 21 Midland Cubs batters on July 16, 1978. That is the league's record for a 9-inning outing (Bob Turley fanned 22 in a 16-inning effort in 1951). He made his major league debut with the New York Yankees the following season and was the 1981 American League Rookie of the Year. On July 4, 1983, he pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox. In 1984, he was moved to the bullpen, and in 1986, he set a major league record (since broken) by recording 46 saves. After 7 successful seasons as the Yankees closer, he was signed as a free agent by the San Francisco Giants. He saved 24 games in 1991, but after that, his numbers trailed off. After stints with the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays, he ended his career as a starter once again with the Chicago White Sox in 1995.
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