RetroSimba

Gregg Olson wanted to be a closer again in the major leagues and figured the Cardinals would give him a chance.

On Jan. 23, 1996, Olson, a free agent, signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals for $600,000.

The Cardinals were seeking a closer to replace Tom Henke, who retired. They invited Olson to their major-league spring training camp, providing him an opportunity to make the team.

Olson, the relief ace of the Orioles before injuring his right elbow, said he thought he was being brought in to compete for the closer’s role.

Rookie sensation

Born and raised in Nebraska, Olson attended Auburn and was a teammate of Frank Thomas and Bo Jackson as a freshman.

A right-hander, Olson was chosen by the Orioles as the fourth pick in the first round of the 1988 amateur draft. Selected ahead of him were Andy Benes (Padres), Mark Lewis (Indians) and Steve Avery (Braves).

In 1989, Olson received the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Tom Gordon of the Royals was second in the balloting and Ken Griffey Jr. of the Mariners was third. Olson was 5-2 with 27 saves and a 1.69 ERA for the 1989 Orioles. In 85 innings pitched, he struck out 90 and allowed 57 hits.

Olson had more than 30 saves for the Orioles three years in a row (1990-92). Tony La Russa, who managed the Athletics then and who chose Olson for the 1990 all-star team, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “He’s got an excellent fastball. You can always tell how good it is because he’s able to pitch up in the strike zone without getting hurt.”

Arm woes

In 1993, Olson was having another stellar season, with 29 saves and a 1.60 ERA, when he went on the disabled list Aug. 9 because of a ligament tear in his right elbow. “I went from (throwing) 90 mph to 82 in a heartbeat,” Olson said to the Post-Dispatch.

He rejected reconstructive surgery because he didn’t want to sit out a year.

Granted free agency in December 1993, Olson signed with the Braves and opened the 1994 season in the minors. He was called up to the Braves in May. Olson made 16 appearances for them and had a 9.20 ERA when the season was halted in August by the players’ strike.

A free agent again, Olson signed with the Indians in March 1995. He began the season in the minors and had 13 saves in 18 appearances. Olson got called up to the Indians in June and was shipped to the Royals in July.

Olson pitched well for the Royals in the last two months of the 1995 season. “He’s got a drop-dead curveball and he’s getting it over,” Royals manager Bob Boone told The Sporting News.

The Royals’ closer, Jeff Montgomery, was eligible to become a free agent after the season and Olson ‘”figured to be a possible replacement” if Montgomery departed, the Kansas City Star reported.

Olson got a scare in a game against the Indians on Sept. 29 when he experienced pain in his right elbow, but medical tests showed muscle irritation, no ligament damage, according to Royals officials.

In 20 appearances for the 1995 Royals, Olson was 3-3 with three saves and a 3.26 ERA.

Montgomery and Olson became free agents, but Montgomery opted to re-sign with the Royals. General manager Herk Robinson said Olson “would love to pitch here,” the Kansas City Star reported, but wanted to be a closer. With Montgomery returning, Olson sought alternatives.

Insurance policy

A month before the start of spring training in 1996, the Cardinals’ top candidates for the closer role were T.J. Mathews and John Frascatore. The Cardinals were hoping to acquire closer Dennis Eckersley from the Athletics. They signed Olson as insurance in case Eckersley wasn’t available.

With Olson, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty told the Post-Dispatch, “We have a proven closer who not too long ago was considered one of the game’s top relievers.”

Regarding Olson’s elbow trouble, Jocketty said, “He is starting to come back. By midseason or sooner he might be pretty reliable.”

Jeff Moorad, Olson’s agent, said of the Cardinals’ move, “This is a chance to catch lightning in a bottle. This type of bargain basement shopping is why Walt Jocketty is so highly regarded.”

Three weeks after they signed Olson, the Cardinals acquired Eckersley and named him the closer. The deal reunited Eckersley with manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan, who were in their first season with the Cardinals after leaving the Athletics.

Olson was stung. He told the Post-Dispatch he signed with the Cardinals because he wanted to be the closer.

“I was excited about the opportunity, and I still am, but I thought I was stealing a great opportunity,” Olson said. “I’m not demanding anything, but ultimately I’d like to close. I want to get back where I walk off the mound and the team walks off with me.”

La Russa indicated Olson, 29, might be used to close games when Eckersley, 41, wasn’t available to pitch.

“It’s very helpful to have more than one guy who can pitch because Eckersley is not quite as durable as he was a half-dozen years ago,” La Russa said.

Duncan said of Olson, “If he’s healthy, he’ll surprise a lot of people in camp.”

On the move

Soon after, on Feb. 22, the Post-Dispatch reported Olson “has to cut back drills because of a strained muscle in his forearm.”

Olson was sidelined for more than two weeks before he was ready to pitch in exhibition games. He struggled to throw his curveball for strikes.

“There are about three guys around who can get by throwing all fastballs, and I’m not one of them,” Olson told The Sporting News.

On March 24, Olson was assigned to the minor-league camp. The Cardinals allowed him to contact other clubs before he had to report to Louisville. The Cardinals released him when the Reds showed interest.

Olson began the 1996 season with a Reds farm club and earned four saves in seven games. The Reds traded him to the Tigers. In 43 games for the 1996 Tigers, Olson was 3-0 with eight saves and a 5.02 ERA.

On Aug. 26, 1996, the Astros, who were challenging the Cardinals in the National League Central Division, acquired Olson from the Tigers.

A week later, on Sept. 4, the Astros were in St. Louis to play the Cardinals, with first place at stake. The Cardinals led the second-place Astros by a half-game in the standings.

In the seventh inning, with the Cardinals ahead, 5-1, Olson relieved Donne Wall. Royce Clayton singled, stole second, advanced to third on Ray Lankford’s flyout and scored on Olson’s wild pitch. The run gave the Cardinals a 6-1 lead and provided a valuable cushion. The Astros rallied against Eckersley but fell short, losing 6-4 and dropping 1.5 games behind the Cardinals. Boxscore

The Cardinals went on to become division champions. Olson went on to pitch for the Twins, Royals again, and Diamondbacks before finishing with the Dodgers in 2001. He had 30 saves for the 1998 Diamondbacks, an expansion team.

In 14 years in the majors, Olson had 40 wins and 217 saves.