Rhéal Cormier: Difference between revisions

Cormier was born in [[Moncton]], [[New Brunswick]], on April 23, 1967.<ref name="br">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cormirh01.shtml|title=Rheal Cormier Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=March 8, 2021}}</ref> His parents were Ronald and Jeanette Cormier;<ref name="MLB obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rheal-cormier-dies|title=Former Phils reliever Cormier dies at 53|date=March 8, 2021|last=Zolecki|first=Todd|publisher=Major League Baseball|work=[[MLB.com]]|accessdate=March 8, 2021}}</ref> they were of [[Acadian]] descent.<ref name="Cormier first of Acadian heritage">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hymGG28xYcoC&q=rheal+cormier+%22acadian+heritage%22&pg=PA159|title=Cardinals Encyclopedia|year=1999|author1=Mike Eisenbath|author2=Stan Musial|p=159|ISBN=9781566397032|accessdate=June 9, 2011}}</ref> Cormier attended [[Polyvalente Louis-J.-Robichaud]] in his hometown.<ref name="br"/> He went on to study at the [[Community College of Rhode Island]],<ref name="br"/> earning [[College Baseball All-America Team|All-American]] honours in 1987 and 1988.<ref name="MLB obit"/> Cormier pitched for the [[Canadian national baseball team]] at the [[1987 Pan American Games]] and the [[1988 Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/canadian-baseball-hall-fame-pitcher-rheal-cormier-dies-53|title=Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Rheal Cormier dies at 53|date=March 78, 2021|agency=[[The Canadian Press|Canadian Press]]|publisher=[[SportsNet]]|work=sportsnet.ca|accessdate=March 8, 2021}}</ref> He was subsequently drafted by the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in the sixth round of the [[1988 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref name="br"/>

Cormier made his major league debut on August 15, 1991.<ref name="br"/> He startedwas the St. Louis Cardinals' game[[starting pitcher]] against the [[New York Mets]], going six [[Innings pitchedInning|innings]], giving up one [[earned run]], and [[Strikeout|striking out]] two.<ref name="brdebutboxscore">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN199108150.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals 4, New York Mets 1 Box Score|date=August 15, 1991|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=July 4, 2011}}</ref> He pitched for St. Louis through the 1994 season. On April 9, 1995, St. Louis traded Cormier and [[Mark Whiten]] to the Boston Red Sox for [[Cory Bailey]] and [[Scott Cooper (baseball)|Scott Cooper]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1995-04-09-9504100595-story.html|title=OnOne-Day Sale for Red Sox|date=April 8, 1995|last=Doyle|first=Paul|publisher=[[The Hartford Courant]]|work=courant.com|accessdate=March 9, 2021}}</ref> In Boston, Cormier split time as a starter and a [[relief pitcher|reliever]]. He had a 4.07 [[earned run average]] (ERA) in 1995.<ref name="br"/>

Following the 1995 season, the Red Sox traded Cormier with [[Shayne Bennett]] and [[Ryan McGuire]] to the Montreal Expos for [[Wil Cordero]] and [[Bryan Eversgerd]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-01-11-9601110155-story.html|title=Cordero Dealt to Red Sox|date=NovemberJanuary 11, 1996|last=|first=|publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]]|work=chicagotribune.com|accessdate=March 9, 2021}}</ref> Cormier spent all of 1996 and one game in 1997 with the Expos. In 1998, he signed as a free agent with the [[Cleveland Indians]]<ref name="br"/> and began the year in the [[Minor League Baseball|minor leagues]] before shoulder problems ended his season.<ref name="olympicsBIO">{{cite web|title=Rheal Cormier Bio|url=http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=1508/bio/index.html|publisher=NBC Olympics|work=nbcolympics.com|accessdate=July 4, 2011|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5zvWuuh3j?url=http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=1508/bio/index.html|archivedate=July 4, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1999, Cormier signed a free agent deal to return to Boston. In two seasons, he made 124 appearances for the Red Sox, all of which came in relief. After the 2000 season, the Philadelphia Phillies signed the reliever as a free agent. In the next six seasons with the Phillies (his longest tenure with any major league team), Cormier had his most successful years. In 2003, he logged {{frac|84|2|3}} innings and a career-best ERA of 1.70. In 2004, he made 84 appearances, a career high. On July 31, 2006, Cormier was traded by Philadelphia to the Cincinnati Reds for pitching prospect [[Justin Germano]].<ref name="br"/> The Reds, leading the National League [[Wild card (sports)|wild card]] race at the time of the trade, sought bullpen help through the trade.<ref name="CINtrade">{{cite web|last=Callis|first=Jim|title=Reds Make Another Bullpen Move|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/trade-central/2006/262081.html|publisher=[[Baseball America]]|work=baseballamerica.com|accessdate=July 4, 2011|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5zvX7uhMi?url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/trade-central/2006/262081.html|archivedate=July 4, 2011|date=July 31, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> The team failed to make the playoffs, however, finishing the season 8 games back in the wildcardwild card race.<ref name="2006wildcard">{{cite web|title=MLB Wild Card Standings – 2006|url=http://espn.go.com/mlb/standings/_/year/2006/type/wild-card|publisher=[[ESPN]]|work=[[ESPN.com]]|accessdate=July 4, 2011|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5zvXDVJTJ?url=http://espn.go.com/mlb/standings/_/year/2006/type/wild-card|archivedate=July 4, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Cormier's 2006 season with the Reds included 21 appearances and a 4.50 ERA.<ref name="br"/>

On April 28, 2007, Cormier was [[designated for assignment]] by the Reds after a poor start to the 2007 campaign. He had 3three [[innings pitched]] (IP), a 9.00 ERA, and 1one strikeout inwhile hispitching time withfor Cincinnati that season. On May 13, 2007, the [[Atlanta Braves]] signed Cormier to a minor league contract and assigned him to their AAA-affiliate, the [[Richmond Braves]].<ref name="br"/><ref name="brm">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cormie001rhe|title=Rheal Cormier Minor Leagues Statistics & History|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=March 9, 2021}}</ref> He played only briefly for them before deciding to retire.<ref name="retire">{{cite web|title=Rheal Cormier Fantasy Baseball News, Notes, Rumors and Statistics|url=http://www.kffl.com/player/4986/MLB|workpublisher=[[KFFL]]|work=kffl.com|accessdate=July 4, 2011|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5zvXeYHYM?url=http://www.kffl.com/player/4986/MLB|archivedate=July 4, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2008, heCormier joined the [[Moncton Mets]], a senior team based in Moncton, New Brunswick, in an attempt to make a comeback and join the Canadian Olympic Team participating in the [[2008 Olympics]] in Beijing. CormierHe had pitched for Moncton 21 years earlier, prior to his major league career.<ref name="moncton">{{cite web|last=Fox|first=Chris|title=Rheal Cormier's stint with Moncton Mets nears end; Not only do New Brunswickers get to see major leaguer, Cormier gets to return to where it all began before heading to the Olympics.|url=http://chrisfoxjournalism.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/rhealcormier.pdf|work=Chrisfoxjournalism on WordPress|accessdate=July 4, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618204922/https://chrisfoxjournalism.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/rhealcormier.pdf|archivedate=June 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Prior to the 2006 season, Cormier played for the [[Canada national baseball team]] in the [[2006 World Baseball Classic|World Baseball Classic]]. Despite winning two of three games, the team failed to advance beyond the first round. While their record matched [[United States national baseball team|Team USA]] and [[Mexico national baseball team|Team Mexico]], they were eliminated in the tie breaker because they allowed the most runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060312&content_id=1346409&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|title=Notes: Canadians comment on Classic|date=March 12, 2006|last=Mandel|first=Ken|publisher=Major League Baseball|work=[[MLB.com]]|accessdate=August 15, 2008}}</ref> Cormier appeared in two of the games (Mexico and [[South Africa national baseball team|South Africa]]), pitching {{frac1frac|1|2|3}} innings, giving up 1 hit, and allowing no earned runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ww2.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=784 |archiveurl=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120216065737/http://ww2.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=784 |url-status=dead|archivedate=February 16, 2012|title=World Baseball Classic Player Statistics: Canada|date=March 26, 2006|publisher=World Baseball Classic web site |access-dateaccessdate=August 15, 2008 }}</ref>

After representing Canada at the [[Baseball at the 1987 Pan American Games|1987 Pan American Games]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1987_Pan_American_Games_(Rosters)#Canada|title=1987 Pan American Games (Rosters)|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|[[work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=July 30, 2016}}</ref> Cormier played for the Canadian national baseball team in the [[Baseball at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Summer Olympics]] in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]; at the time baseball was a [[demonstration sport]].<ref name="demonstrSportdemo sport">{{cite web|title=Discontinued Olympic Sports: Baseball|url=http://www.topendsports.com/events/discontinued/baseball.htm|publisher=Top End Sports|work=|accessdate=July 4, 2011|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5zvYdv1l8?url=http://www.topendsports.com/events/discontinued/baseball.htm|archivedate=July 4, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Canadian team did not win a medal during this competition, ending with a 1–2 record. The squad's lone win, however, did come against the eventual gold medal-winning American team.<ref name="results">{{cite web|title=Official Report: Competition Summary and Results Volume 2|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1988/1988v2.pdf|accessdate=July 4, 2011}}</ref>