Tim Belcher’s journey from a Sparta farm to the bright lights of Major League baseball included being told “thanks, but no thanks” by colleges and being the “player to be named later” in an MLB trade. From Sparta to Los Angeles, Belcher made his mark.
Born in Mount Gilead and raised in Sparta, Belcher helped out on his family’s farmhouse in his hometown of 250 residents. That work ethic, instilled at a young age, laid the groundwork for Belcher’s 14-year MLB career that yielded 146 wins.
Belcher began his athletic career as a two-sport star at Highland High School in the late 1970s. Although Belcher loved both baseball and basketball with the Fighting Scots, the former emerged as a better option to pursue at the collegiate level. Belcher, a standout shortstop and pitcher at Highland, sent out letters to about 15-16 college baseball programs in Ohio. The feedback was a pile of “not interested” form letters.
Belcher excels with Cougars
Belcher finally found a good fit 12 miles from home at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. As the velocity on his fastball dramatically increased from the mid-80s to mid-90s, Belcher quickly drew the attention of pro baseball scouts.
During his three-year stint at MVNU, Belcher was chosen as a member of The Sporting News' All-American Team and as an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American after his junior year.
His signature outing occurred against Kenyon College on April 5, 1983, when the 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-hander struck out a school-record 18 batters with no walks en route to a no-hitter and 16-0 victory.
“After graduating from high school in the spring of 1980, I was looking for an opportunity to continue my education, play college baseball, and realize my aspiration of becoming a major leaguer,” Belcher told www.mvnucougars.com. “MVNU and the baseball program provided me the opportunity to accomplish that and more. For that, MVNU and those charged with coaching and educating me will forever occupy a special place in my heart.”
Belcher became the first athlete to have his jersey retired at MVNU. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2004.
The Minnesota Twins selected him with the first pick of the 1983 amateur draft. However, when Minnesota low-balled Belcher with $85,000 as a bonus offer, he refused to sign with them. The Yankees selected him in the 1984 supplemental draft. Three weeks later after the Yankees picked him, Belcher went to Oakland as a free agent compensatory pick.
After four years playing in the minors for the A’s, Belcher was dealt to the Dodgers in 1987 as the “player to be named later” in the transaction that delivered Rick Honeycutt to Oakland.
Belcher’s first season in Los Angeles was outstanding, highlighted by a 12-6 record with a 2.91 ERA, 152 strikeouts and 51 walks over 179 2/3 innings. He was effective in the postseason as well, notching three wins (two vs. Mets in the NLCS, one vs. A’s in the WS) for the Dodgers.
"Timmy was kind of a leader on that ballclub,” Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda said in a past interview with Cleveland.com. “What impressed me from the beginning … was this guy was a tremendous competitor. He wanted to beat you, and he wanted to beat you bad."
Belcher was a workhorse for the Dodgers down the stretch in 1988. Over his last 21 appearances, Belcher went 9-2 with three saves, a 2.26 ERA, 94 strikeouts and 28 walks in 115 2/3 innings. He posted a scintillating 1.06 ERA in September.
“I think [the 1988 season] made my career. I was becoming, in a lot of people's eyes, more of a suspect than a prospect. And to be a key member of a world's championship team in '88, rookie pitcher of the year and everything, was special," Belcher said during an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1998. “Had that move never happened or had we never won or had I never been an integral part of the winning, I think my career would've been quite a bit different.”
His impressive campaign netted him recognition as the 1988 Sporting News’ Pitcher Rookie of the Year. Belcher also finished third behind winner Chris Sabo (Cincinnati Reds) and runner-up Mark Grace (Chicago Cubs) in the MLB National Rookie of the Year voting that year.
Buoyed by his auspicious rookie year, Belcher’s second season in Los Angeles went even better. He led the National League with 10 complete games and finished in the Top 10 for wins and ERA. He also tied Red Sox ace Roger Clemens with an MLB-best eight shutouts in 1989.
In 1991, Belcher was sent to the Cincinnati Reds for Eric Davis in a multi-player trade. He matched his career high in victories (15) with the Reds. After two years in Cincinnati, Belcher pitched for five other clubs over the remainder of his career.
After retiring as a player in 2000, Belcher worked several years in an operations role with the Cleveland Indians. Between 2009-2015, he was the Indians’ pitching coach. But he always returned home.
Happy in Sparta
Now 60, Belcher enjoys a slower-paced and relatively carefree life with his wife, Theresa. As a fiery competitor in the big leagues, Belcher’s intensity triggered some disputes with teammates, opponents, umpires and reporters. In retirement, he has mellowed a bit.
The Belchers, who have known each other since childhood, have three children: Maddison, Byron and Ashlynn. All three children were raised in Sparta and attended Highland schools.
Bloodlines run deep for Belcher in Sparta. His grandparents, Ray and Verna Mae, ran Belcher’s General Store for years.
Visitors to the Morrow County History Center can check out a display of Belcher’s MLB jerseys, baseball cards and a baseball from the 1988 World Series. He stopped by the MCHC earlier this year for a meet and greet with fans.
Thirty four years ago, Belcher reached his apex as a player, pitching in the World Series at Dodger Stadium. However, with all due respect to scenic Chavez Ravine, there will always be no place like home for Belcher.
