Barry Zito

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Zito was selected by the Oakland Athletics with the ninth pick of the first round in the 1999 MLB draft and signed for a $1.59 million bonus. He made his major league debut on July 22, 2000, against the Anaheim Angels, allowing one run in five innings and getting the win. In his third career start, he went seven innings and gave up one run against the Toronto Blue Jays. On September 10, 2000, Zito pitched his first complete game shutout against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, throwing 110 pitches, striking out eight, and allowing five hits. He finished his rookie season with a 7-4 record and a 2.72 ERA in 14 starts, receiving a vote for AL Rookie of the Year. In 2001, Zito struggled early, posting a 6-7 record with a 5.01 ERA in his first 22 starts, but rebounded to win Pitcher of the Month in August (5-1, 1.02 ERA) and September (6-0, 1.89 ERA), finishing the season 17-8 with a 3.49 ERA. On May 8, 2002, Zito signed a 4-year, $9.3 million contract extension with Oakland. That season, he went 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA, leading the AL in wins and winning the AL Cy Young Award. On September 8, 2002, Zito became the first pitcher in the AL to win 20 games, pitching seven innings and allowing no earned runs against the Minnesota Twins. He made the AL All-Star team in 2002, 2003, and 2006.

In Their Own Story

On August 28, 2002, Zito earned his 19th win of the season against the Kansas City Royals. He lost his bid for a perfect game in the sixth inning when Neifi Pérez singled with one out. Zito gave credit to Pérez: 'I wasn't pitching to maintain a no-hitter or something,' Zito said. 'I left the ball up over the middle to Pérez, and he hit it up the middle. It was a good piece of hitting.' In his next start, against the Seattle Mariners, Zito took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before John Olerud singled. Zito made his postseason debut in Game 4 of the 2000 ALDS against the New York Yankees, going 5+2⁄3 innings, striking out 5, walking 2, and allowing an earned run to earn the win, outpitching Roger Clemens. In the 2001 ALDS, Zito pitched Game 3 against Mike Mussina, going eight innings, striking out six, walking one, and allowing an earned run, but took the loss as the Yankees won 1-0.

Reader's Guide

Barry Zito's tenure with the Oakland Athletics spanned seven seasons from 2000 through 2006. He was a left-handed starting pitcher known for his curveball. Zito led the American League in wins in 2002 with a 23-5 record and a 2.75 ERA, earning the AL Cy Young Award. He was a three-time All-Star with the Athletics, selected in 2002, 2003, and 2006. Alongside Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder, Zito was part of the Big Three rotation that defined the early 2000s Athletics. Over his Oakland career, Zito posted a 102-63 record with a 3.58 ERA. Key moments include his major league debut on July 22, 2000, a win against the Anaheim Angels; his first complete game shutout on September 10, 2000, against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays; and his 20th win on September 8, 2002, against the Minnesota Twins. Zito signed a 4-year, $9.3 million contract extension on May 8, 2002. He finished sixth in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2000. After the 2006 season, Zito became a free agent and signed with the San Francisco Giants.

Did You Know?

• Zito made his major league debut on July 22, 2000, against the Anaheim Angels, allowing one run in five innings and earning the win.
• On September 10, 2000, Zito pitched his first complete game shutout against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, throwing 110 pitches and striking out eight.
• Zito was named AL Pitcher of the Month in both August and September of 2001, going a combined 11-1 with a 1.32 ERA over those two months.
• On September 8, 2002, Zito became the first pitcher in the American League to win 20 games that season, pitching seven innings and allowing no earned runs against the Minnesota Twins.
• Zito signed a 4-year, $9.3 million contract extension with the Athletics on May 8, 2002.