This week in Catching Up with the Bucks, we are taking a look at former Buck Tim Lavery. Lavery played for the Bucks from 1998-1999. He is from Naperville, IL and attended the University of Illinois.
As a pitcher for the Bucks, the 6’3”, 210 pounder had one of the best careers of any Buck player. Over the two seasons, Lavery started 13 games for the Bucks and finished with a 10-1 record, putting him at a tie for 6th on the Bucks career wins list, as well as finishing 2nd in career winning percentage (.909). Over this time, Lavery posted a microscopic ERA of 1.74 while striking out 69 batters compared to walking only 23 batters. In 1998, Lavery had a season to remember, finishing with a 1.87 ERA (5th best in Bucks single season), and nine wins (tied-2nd) and just one loss . In 2011, Lavery was inducted into the Bucks Hall of Fame.
After his career with the Bucks, Lavery was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round of the 1999 amateur draft, after previously being selected by the Cubs in 1996 and not signing with them. He performed well instantly at the A- level, finishing the year with a 3-2 record and an ERA of 3.63. He also had 43 strikeouts in just 39.2 innings pitched. Lavery kept improving and put up sub-3.00 ERA seasons in 2001 and 2002, part of that time coming with the Pirates organization. In both of these seasons he also put up strikeout to walk ratios of over four to one. Lavery actually ended his career with the Pirates, playing for A+ Lynchburg and walking away from playing baseball in 2002. He finished his career with a 3.29 ERA, an 11-12 record, and 173 strikeouts (6.26 strikeouts per nine innings) compared to just 54 walks.
Tim Lavery will always be remembered as one of the great Waterloo Bucks of all-time and we wish him the best in all that he does.
