Joe Blanton continued to pitch in MLB through 2013, when he retired in 2014.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,378 |
26 Facts About Joe Blanton
2.
Joe Blanton returned from retirement to pitch in MLB from 2015 through 2017.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,379 |
4.
In 2003, while pitching for the Kane County Cougars and the Midland RockHounds, Joe Blanton ranked second in all of Minor League Baseball with a combined 174 strikeouts.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,381 |
5.
Joe Blanton struck out 143 batters in 176 innings, tossing one complete game in 26 starts.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,382 |
6.
Joe Blanton made his major league debut on September 21,2004, against the Texas Rangers.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,383 |
7.
In 2005, Joe Blanton joined the starting rotation that had lost pitchers Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson to trades.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,384 |
8.
Joe Blanton was third on the team in innings pitched, but still exceeded 200 innings in his first full season.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,385 |
9.
Joe Blanton's ERA was best among all rookies with 100 or more innings pitched.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,386 |
10.
Joe Blanton tied the Oakland rookie record for most wins in a season with 12.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,387 |
11.
Joe Blanton did not pitch in the ALDS for the Athletics, but was named to the roster for the ALCS, where he pitched two innings in one appearance, allowing no hits or runs.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,388 |
12.
Joe Blanton struck out 140 batters, walked 40, and gave up 101 earned runs, resulting in a 3.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,389 |
13.
Joe Blanton pitched three complete games in 2007, but his first one of the season was his third career complete-game loss, on April 25.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,390 |
15.
In Game 4 of the 2008 World Series, Joe Blanton hit his first major league home run to become the 13th pitcher overall and first since Ken Holtzman in 1974 to hit a home run in a World Series game.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,392 |
16.
Joe Blanton was credited with the win in the Phillies' Game 4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on four hits.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,393 |
17.
In December 2012, Joe Blanton signed a two-year contract worth $15 million with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,394 |
18.
On March 26,2014, Joe Blanton was granted his unconditional release from the Angels.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,395 |
19.
Joe Blanton made two starts in the minors and then on April 13,2014, Blanton announced his retirement from baseball.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,396 |
20.
Joe Blanton pitched in a pro day at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin to demonstrate his pitching for potential major league clubs.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,397 |
21.
On February 13,2015, Joe Blanton signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,398 |
22.
Joe Blanton would earn $1 million at the major league level with up to $3 million in incentives.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,399 |
23.
On July 29,2015, Joe Blanton was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,400 |
24.
On January 19,2016, Joe Blanton signed a one-year, $4 million contract to return to the Dodgers.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,401 |
25.
Joe Blanton pitched five scoreless innings in the 2016 National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals but struggled in the 2016 National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs, allowing seven earned runs in only three innings of work to be credited with the loss in two games.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,402 |
26.
On March 2,2017, Joe Blanton signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Washington Nationals.
| FactSnippet No. 2,329,403 |