Ricky Bottalico

Who is Ricky Bottalico?

Ricky Paul Bottalico is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. In high school, he played for South Catholic High School in Hartford, Connecticut under coach Tom DiFiore, He attended college at Central Connecticut State University before pursuing a career in professional Baseball. He compiled a career earned run average of 3.99 over twelve major league seasons, during which he pitched for several teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets, and Milwaukee Brewers. He was also signed by the Baltimore Orioles to a minor-league contract in 2006. Bottalico was invited to spring training that year, and was released.

In his prime, Bottalico threw a fastball in the upper 90s, along with a hard curveball. Bottalico also was the only Phillies player on the National League team in the 1996 All-Star Game, held in Philadelphia, pitching one inning.

During a game against the San Francisco Giants on August 2, 1998, Bottalico was notable for hitting Barry Bonds with a pitch, which led to Bonds charging after Bottalico and igniting a bench-clearing brawl.