Facts, Trivia, Memories and More about Dennis Rasmussen

League Leaders: In 1986, Dennis finished fourth in the league in wins with 18, second to Roger Clemens in Winning Percentage with an 18-6 record (.750), third in the league in WHIP with a 1.158 mark and second again to Roger Clemens in Hits per IP with 7.13 hits allowed over every nine innings.

Statistics: 1986 was probably Dennis' finest Major League season. He was the ace of the Yankee pitching staff and led the team in several categories. ERA (3.88), Wins (18-6), WHIP (1.158), Hits/IP (7.13), Innings Pitched (202.0) and Games Started (31). On the negative side though, he also led in walks (74) and tied with Ron Guidry for home runs allowed (28).

Trade: Dennis was having a decent year with the Yankees, compiling a 9-7 record buta relatively hefty 4.75 ERA. On August 26, 1987 he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right handed veteran starter Bill Gullickson. Gullickson had pitched to a 10-11 record with a 4.85 ERA in Cincinnati. I don't remember, but it was probably a move to exchange struggling starters in an attempt to jump start their seasons. At the time, the Yankees were 4.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers for the AL East lead, while the Reds were 5 back of the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. The swap helped neither team make much of a move in the standings as the Yankees finished 9 games behind Detroit and the Reds kept pace at best, finishing 6 games behind the Giants. But, it can't be said the moves hurt either as Rasmussen went 4-1 with a 3.97 ERA in his month with the Reds, while Bill Gullickson went 4-2 with a 4.88 ERA for the Yanks.