Editing Dave Righetti (section)

===New York Yankees (1979–1990)===
Righetti made his major league debut with the Yankees on September 16, 1979, wearing uniform number 56. In this game against the [[Detroit Tigers]] he pitched five [[inning]]s, striking out three and allowing three [[hit (baseball)|hits]], six [[base on balls|walks]], and three [[earned runs]]. After Righetti made his second start, Yankees' [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Billy Martin]] declared that Righetti "will win 20 games next season".<ref name=":0" /> However, Righetti struggled with his [[control pitcher|control]], and spent the 1980 season with the [[Columbus Clippers]] of the [[Class AAA]] [[International League]], where he had a 6–10 win–loss record and a 4.63 ERA with 101 walks and 139 strikeouts in 142 innings.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aapNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1546%2C1904364|title=Banished once, Righetti is secure as major leaguer|last=Katz|first=Michael|date=July 6, 1983|newspaper=[[Lakeland Ledger|Lakeland (Fla.) Ledger]]|access-date=February 14, 2017|pages=1D, 5D|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref>

[[File:Dave Righetti - New York Yankees - 1981.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Righetti in 1981]]
Though Righetti pitched well in spring training in 1981, the Yankees did not have room for him on their roster, so he began the season with Columbus. After he pitched to a 5–0 record and 1.00 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 45 innings, the Yankees recalled Righetti from Columbus in May 1981.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i6ErAAAAIBAJ&dq=dave-righetti&pg=4854%2C95979|title=Dave Righetti is AL Rookie of the Year|date=December 1, 1981|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Nashua)|Nashua (N.H.) Telegraph]]|access-date=February 14, 2017|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> He was assigned [[uniform number]] 19. The Yankees reserved numbers ending in 9 for pitchers they viewed as having promise: [[Dick Tidrow]] wore 19 for the Yankees, while [[Catfish Hunter]] wore 29, [[Ron Davis (pitcher)|Ron Davis]] wore 39, and Guidry wore 49.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Rookie-really-has-Righetti-s-number-S-F-2495546.php |title=Rookie really has Righetti's number / S.F. pitching coach gives up No. 19 to honor Frandsen's late brother, DJ |publisher=SFGate |date=June 2, 2006 |access-date=October 30, 2012 |first=Henry |last=Schulman}}</ref> Righetti pitched strongly as a starter for the Yankees, posting an 8–4 win–loss record in 15 [[games started]], with a 2.06 [[earned run average]] (ERA) and 89 strikeouts in 105 [[innings pitched]] during the 1981 season.<ref name=":0" /> Righetti won the [[American League]]'s [[MLB Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] award, beating [[Rich Gedman]] and [[Bob Ojeda]].<ref name=roy>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i6ErAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gfwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4854,95979&dq=dave-righetti&hl=en ''The Telegraph''] via Google News Archive Search</ref> Righetti defeated the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] twice during the [[1981 American League Division Series]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} The Yankees reached the [[World Series]] that year; however, he was knocked out of game three of the [[1981 World Series]] early, which was won by the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref name=":2" />

In 1982, Righetti pitched to an 8.53 ERA during [[spring training]]. Steinbrenner sought to demote Righetti to the minor leagues, but stated he "got outvoted then".
Through June 1982, Righetti had pitched to a 5–5 win–loss record with a 4.23 ERA. Though his 77 strikeouts were fourth-best in the [[American League]], his 62 walks were considered a problem. The Yankees demoted Righetti to the minor leagues, for what Steinbrenner termed a "{{frac|2|1|2}}-week intensive brushing up".{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} [[Sammy Ellis]], Righetti's pitching coach with Columbus, said that Righetti had been rushing his pitching motion, which was likely due to anxiety.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O_hLAAAAIBAJ&dq=dave-righetti&pg=1795%2C1648108|title=For Dave Righetti, an ordeal for the chosen|last=Amdur|first=Neil|date=July 19, 1982|newspaper=[[Spokane Spokesman-Review|Spokane (Wash.) Spokesman-Review]]|access-date=February 14, 2017|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> Working with Ellis, Righetti made four starts for the Clippers, recording 33 strikeouts in 26 innings, before he was recalled to New York. Righetti finished the 1982 season with 11 wins in 27 starts, with a 3.79 ERA and 162 strikeouts and 108 walks. His strikeouts were third-best in the AL, while his walks led the league.<ref name=":0" />

On [[Independence Day (United States)|July 4]], 1983, Righetti threw a [[no-hitter]] against the [[Boston Red Sox]] at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]]. It was the first Yankee no-hitter since [[Don Larsen]]'s [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]] in the [[1956 World Series]], and the first by a Yankee left-hander since 1917. Righetti recorded a swinging [[strikeout]] against [[Wade Boggs]] to end the game. Twenty-five years later, Righetti reminisced about the game:

<blockquote>My biggest worry, because I had a tendency to fall toward third base, was him (Boggs) tapping a ball between me and [[Don Mattingly|Mattingly]] and me trying to get to first base...I threw a lot of fastballs during the at bat, but the last slider I ended up throwing, he happened to miss it. Thank goodness.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/twenty-five-years-later-dave-righettis-no-hitter/ | work=The New York Times | first=Jack | last=Curry | title=Twenty Five Years Later, Dave Righetti's No-Hitter | date=June 27, 2008}}</ref> </blockquote>

In 1984 Righetti was moved to the Yankees' bullpen to replace [[Goose Gossage]], who signed with the [[San Diego Padres]] in the offseason, as their closer. Despite the move being due to the Yankees having an excess of starters, many criticized the decision, arguing that Righetti was more valuable pitching as a starter, where he would accrue more innings.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}

Entering his first game as a relief pitcher with the [[bases loaded]], Righetti did not allow an inherited runner to score, retiring the final seven batters of the game.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZapeAAAAIBAJ&dq=dave-righetti&pg=3760%2C1724634|title=Righetti Sparkles in Reliever Debut|date=April 5, 1984|newspaper=[[Portsmouth Daily Times|Portsmouth (Ohio) Daily Times]]|access-date=February 14, 2017|page=11|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> He proved even more effective in relief, averaging 32 saves per season over the next seven years with the Yankees, and being named an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] in 1986 and 1987. On October 4, 1986, he saved both games of a doubleheader against the [[Boston Red Sox]], finishing the season with 46 saves, and breaking the major league record shared by [[Dan Quisenberry]] and [[Bruce Sutter]]. The record would stand until [[Bobby Thigpen]] saved 57 games for the [[Chicago White Sox]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Martinez |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/05/sports/baseball-righetti-agent-sees-lengthy-talks-ahead.html |title=Baseball; Righetti Agent Sees Lengthy Talks Ahead |work=The New York Times |date=September 5, 1990 |access-date=October 30, 2012}}</ref> Righetti retained the single-season record for left-handers until 1993, when [[Randy Myers]] saved 53 games for the [[Chicago Cubs]]; Righetti still owns the AL record for left-handers.

Righetti became a free agent after the 1987 season. Amid rumors that Righetti would sign a three-year contract worth $20 million with the [[Tokyo Giants]] of [[Nippon Professional Baseball]], Righetti's [[agent (sports)|agent]] acknowledged that the Giants did make Righetti an offer, but stated that the value was considerably less than what was reported, and stated that Righetti would continue to pitch in MLB.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LgszAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EuoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2418,1061984&dq=dave-righetti&hl=en ''Gainesville Sun''] via Google News Archive Search</ref> The contract offer was later estimated at $10 million. Righetti chose to re-sign with the Yankees, signing a three-year contract worth $4.5 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZzwpAAAAIBAJ&pg=4412,5161002&dq=dave-righetti&hl=en|title=Righetti will stay with Yankees|last=Bock|first=Hal|date=December 24, 1987|newspaper=[[Lewiston Daily Sun|Lewiston (Me.) Daily Sun]]|page=17|via=[[Google News Archive]]|access-date=October 30, 2012}}</ref>

Righetti struggled with the Yankees early in the 1988 season, blowing four consecutive save opportunities, resulting in boos from the [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] crowds. He then recorded five saves in consecutive opportunities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f95GAAAAIBAJ&dq=dave-righetti&pg=4555%2C2835778|title=Dave Righetti having a long 1988 season with Yankees|last=Geffner|first=Mike|date=May 29, 1988|newspaper=Newburgh Beacon Evening News|access-date=February 14, 2017|location=[[Newburgh (city), New York|Newburgh, N.Y.]]|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref>

Righetti became concerned with the direction the Yankees were taking, as they had traded away [[Rickey Henderson]], [[Jack Clark (baseball)|Jack Clark]], and [[Dave Winfield]].