Scott Sanderson obit

Scott Sanderson, who pitched for the Cubs and White Sox in his 19-year career, dies at 62

He was not on the list.

Scott Sanderson, a 1974 Glenbrook North graduate who helped the Chicago Cubs win two division championships and spent a season with the White Sox during a 19-year career, died Thursday. He was 62.

 

An official at Conway Farms Golf Club, where Sanderson was a longtime member, confirmed the death. A cause of death was not immediately known.

Sanderson compiled a 163-143 record with a 3.84 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 472 appearances (407 starts) with seven teams from 1978-96. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound right-hander was a third-round draft pick by the Expos out of Vanderbilt in 1977, was promoted to the majors at age 21 after only 28 minor-league appearances and spent the first six seasons of his career in Montreal Expos. The Cubs acquired him in a three-team trade in December 1983, and he spent the next six seasons with the North Siders.

 

Sanderson went 8-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 24 starts in 1984, helping the Cubs win the National League East Division to break a 38-year playoff drought. In 1989, he went 11-9 in 37 appearances (23 starts) as the Cubs won their second East title in six years.

 

Subsequent stops included the Oakland Athletics (1990), New York Yankees (1991-92), California Angels (1993), San Francisco Giants (1993), Chicago White Sox (1994) and Angels again (1995-96).

 

In his one season on the South Side, he went 8-4 with a 5.09 ERA as the fifth starter. The Sox were in first place in the American League Central at 67-46 before the players’ strike that started Aug. 12 ended the season.

Sanderson made his only All-Star appearance for the Yankees in 1991 and finished 16-10 with a 3.81 ERA that season.

He made two other postseason appearances: with the Expos in 1981 and A’s in 1990. He made two relief appearances in the 1990 World Series when the A’s were swept by the Reds.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who coached for the Angels from 1994 to 2005, said Thursday that Sanderson was “thoughtful, kind. Just a wonderful man.”

After he retired from baseball, Sanderson worked as an agent, representing players such as Josh Beckett, Josh Hamilton and Todd Helton.

He was a longtime Northbrook and Lake Forest resident. He led Glenbrook North to the IHSA baseball state championship in 1974.

His notable teammates include: Gary Carter, Ross Grimsley, Steve Rogers, Rusty Staub, Larry Parrish, Andre Dawson, Chris Speier, Ellis Valentine, Bill Lee, Tim Raines, Warren Cromartie, Tim Wallach, Al Oliver, Terry Francona, Jeff Reardon, Manny Trillo, Larry Bowa, Ron Cey, Jody Davis, Bob Dernier, Leon Durham, Gary Matthews, Keith Moreland, Dick Ruthven, Ryne Sandberg, Rick Sutcliffe, Lee Smith, Steve Trout, Davey Lopes, Bill Buckner, Mel Hall, Dennis Eckersley, Rick Reuschel, Shawon Dunston, Manny Trillo, Greg Maddux, Jamie Moyer, Rafael Palmeiro, Rich Goose Gossage, Bob Tewksbury, Vance Law, Darrin Jackson, Mark Grace, Jerome Walton, Mitch Williams, Dwight Smith, Joe Girardi, Mike Bielecki, Carney Lansford, Terry Steinbach, Dave Henderson, Mike Gallego, Walt Weiss, Willie Randolph, Willie McGee, Harold Baines, Rickey Henderson, Dave Stewart, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Bob Welch, Rick Honeycutt, Ozzie Canseco, Roberto Kelly, Jesse Barfield, Don Mattingly, Steve Sax, Matt Nokes, Mike Witt, Pascual Pérez, Bernie Williams, Kevin Maas, J. T. Snow, Sterling Hitchcock, Danny Tartabull, Charlie Hayes, Chuck Finley, Gary Gaetti, Kelly Gruber, Tim Salmon, Jim Edmonds, Barry Bonds, Will Clark, Royce Clayton, Matt Williams, Bill Swift, John Burkett, Rod Beck, Bud Black, Wilson Álvarez, Jack McDowell, Roberto Hernández, Robin Ventura, Ozzie Guillén, Ron Karkovice, Frank Thomas, Joey Cora, Julio Franco, Jim Abbott, Garret Anderson, Tony Phillips, Mark Langston, Gary DiSarcina, Darin Erstad, Chili Davis and Damion Easley.

His coaches include: Dick Williams, Jim Fanning, Bill Virdon, Jim Frey, Gene Michael, Don Zimmer, Tony La Russa, Stump Merrill, Buck Showalter, Buck Rodgers, Dusty Baker, Gene Lamont and Marcel Lachemann.