Dave Righetti Biography

David Allan Righetti, born November 28, 1958, is an American professional baseball coach and former player known by the nickname Rags. Righetti played in Major League Baseball from 1979 through 1995, competing for the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, and Chicago White Sox. Dave Righetti held the position of pitching coach for the Giants from 2000 to 2017. Righetti began his career as a starting pitcher before being converted into a relief pitcher by the Yankees in 1984, where he later served as their closer. He won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1981, marking a standout debut season in the major leagues. Righetti enrolled at San Jose City College, where he continued his development as a pitcher on the school's baseball team. At Cottrell's urging, the Rangers selected Righetti on January 11, 1977, in the first round with the 10th overall pick of the amateur draft.