University of Memphis Athletics
Baseball Program to Retire Mike Paxton's Jersey Friday Night
May 10, 2007 | Baseball
May 10, 2007
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - As it has become tradition under Head Coach Daron Schoenrock, the University of Memphis baseball program, will honor a former Tiger for his accomplishments and contributions to the program and its history. This year's honoree is former Memphis pitcher Mike Paxton. A standout for the Tigers from 1972-75, Paxton will have his jersey retired in a pre-game ceremony Fri., May 11, prior to Memphis' series opener against Houston.
Paxton was a four-year letterwinner under Head Coach Bobby Kilpatrick, whose jersey was retired last season. In his stint in the Blue and Gray, the right hander went 22-11 and struck out over 200 batters. The 22 wins he posted on the mound ranks sixth all-time on Memphis' career pitching wins list, while his 2008 strikeouts and 259 innings of work are both ranked fifth. The Memphis, native recorded 19 complete games as Tiger, including going the distance in one of the program's 11 one-hitters to defeat Millikan College 2-1 in 1975. Paxton put up two of the program's top-five single-season ERA totals when he finished with a 1.87 (fourth on Memphis' single-season list) in 1974 and then followed that by posting a 1.98 ERA in 1975. He led the Tigers in innings pitched in '74 and then paced the staff in innings (67.0) and strikeouts (68) in the '75 season. He was inducted into the M-Club Hall of Fame in 1982.
Paxton was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1975 amateur draft and worked his way through the farm system. He made his Major League debut in a Red Sox uniform against the Minnesota Twins on May 25, 1977. As a rookie, he went on to post a 10-5 record, with a 3.58 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 108 innings of work. He made 12 starts in 29 appearances. His strongest outing came on July 28, 1977 when he tossed a 12-0 complete-game shutout vs. the Milwaukee Brewers.
He was traded to the Cleveland Indians prior to the 1978 season and had perhaps the most productive season of his four-year career. He worked 191 innings and went 12-11 with 96 strikeouts in 27 starts. In his 27 starts, Paxton went the distance five times. He was dominant, posting a pair of complete-game shutouts in the 1978 schedule. Paxton accomplished and unusual feat on July 21, 1978 when he struck out four batters in the fifth inning of an 11-0 win against the Seattle Mariners.
Paxton finished his career in 1980 with the Indians. For his Major League stint, he went 30-24 in 99 appearances with 63 starts and 10 complete games. He struck out 230 hitters and posted a 4.71 lifetime ERA.
