Hokie ClubRick Knapp, a former standout pitcher for Virginia Tech in the early ’80s, was recently tabbed by Detroit Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland as the ball club’s new pitching coach.
"I'm extremely excited to join the Tigers organization," Knapp said in a Tigers’ press release. "I look forward to working with Jim, the rest of the coaching staff and the talented pitchers throughout the system."
Knapp arrives in Detroit after spending the past 12 seasons the minor league pitching coordinator for the Minnesota Twins.
Knapp pitched his junior and senior seasons for the Hokies and still holds the season and career records for best won-lost percentage. He went 10-0 in 1982 with a 3.86 ERA and threw five complete games, striking out 68 batters. He followed his undefeated season with a 10-1 campaign in 1983 to finish his Tech career with a .952 winning percentage. He tossed nine complete games in his final season and fanned 59 batters.
Following his stellar collegiate career, Knapp was taken in the 41st round by the Texas Rangers and spent five seasons in the minor league system before beginning his coaching career.
Here is a story featuring Knapp on detroittigers.com