Cal Eldred

[Matt Breen]

Cal John Eldred was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1967. He attended the University of Iowa and was drafted by the Brewers in the 1st round (17th overall) in 1989. Eldred was a big right-hander with everything you'd want in a pitcher - size, athleticism, and a plus fastball and curve. As an advanced college arm, he moved quickly through the Brewer system, enjoying a cup of coffee in 1991. But it was Cal Eldred's masterful 1992 debut that Brewer fans would forever remember.

Eldred began the '92 season at AAA, logging 141 innings in 19 starts before being called up to the big leagues mid-July. Over the rest of the season, he threw 100 innings, produced an ERA of 1.88, and won 11 games in 14 starts. He finished 4th in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. The team won 92 games - good, but not enough to capture the division (stupid Wild Card game - where were you when we needed you). Few pitchers have begun a career on such a high note - and certainly not one for the Brewers. Big things were expected from the young Midwesterner. 

With expectations high, Eldred came down to earth in his second year. He won 16 games plus led the league in innings pitched, but his ERA rose to 4.01. In 1994, his numbers continued to falter as his strikeout rates dropped and his walk rates increased. Then, in 1995, after only four starts, Eldred was placed on the Disabled List with a sore elbow. Tommy John surgery was next, and he missed the rest of the season, plus parts of the 1996 campaign.

Eldred threw 202 innings in 1997, but he was not the same pitcher - as his 4.99 ERA would attest. He fought injuries and ineffectiveness for two seasons, including an ugly 7.79 ERA in 82 IP in 1999, before being dealt with Jose Valentin to the White Sox in return for Jaime Navarro and John Snyder.

Eldred’s first season in Chicago wasn’t bad - until elbow problems flared up, and he was forced to shut down his season in July. But it was worse in 2001. Another elbow injury limited him to just two games. He spent the rest of 2001 and all of 2002 rehabilitating his arm, and in 2003, at the age of 35, he returned to the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals as a reliever. He pitched three more years, retiring after the 2005 season. He was 37.

After retiring, Eldred moved into the broadcast booth, serving as an analyst for the Big Ten Network and the Cardinals. He also served as a Special Assistant to Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak. In 2017, he became the pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. He was fired from that position after the 2022 season.

Two of Eldred’s sons played collegiate baseball, including C.J. Eldred - who pitched for Iowa - just like his father. 

Looking back, Eldred's rookie season was electric. The team was competitive, and Eldred was a large part of that, as he produced a 4.2 bWAR in only 100 innings. He was a Midwest kid with a strong work ethic - an All-Star in the making. But it was not to be as injuries ultimately undid a promising career. Many points to the hefty workload imposed upon him in 1993 as the source of Eldred's woes. He was only 25 years old, and Manager Phil Garner had him work a league-leading 258 innings (after he had thrown 241 the previous year). A sore arm and TJ surgery were almost inevitable, and the rest of his career was marred by various arm injuries. 

During his time in Milwaukee (parts of nine seasons), Eldred threw 1,078 innings, struck out 686 batters, won 64 games, and produced 13.1 bWAR - all of which slot him in the top 10 in club history for each of those categories. 

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[BrewerFan]

Maybe the first year I was old enough to really follow the Brewers closely and understand what was going on...Cal and Listach carried that team as the two young guys(aside from Yount and Molly of course)! 

A great year...and a horrible year(Bando). But a memorable one...

[B.F.-rakes]

On 6/17/2024 at 5:04 PM, BrewerFan said:

Maybe the first year I was old enough to really follow the Brewers closely and understand what was going on...Cal and Listach carried that team as the two young guys(aside from Yount and Molly of course)! 

A great year...and a horrible year(Bando). But a memorable one...

What was horrible?I see that u have Bando in parenthesis 

[B.F.-rakes]

Was such a promising year with the unbelievable starting pitching, but was sad because it was last year of Molitor in Milwaukee, Gantner retired. So many years of Yount,Molitor &Gumby

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, B.F.-rakes said:

What was horrible?I see that u have Bando in parenthesis 

Bando ran out Molitor...very deliberately. It was also the transition from a good owner(Bud) to him becoming the interim commissioner and then the very dark "Selig-Prieb," years.

 

[B.F.-rakes]

2 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

Bando ran out Molitor...very deliberately. It was also the transition from a good owner(Bud) to him becoming the interim commissioner and then the very dark "Selig-Prieb," years.

 

That makes sense now,sorry! People that give Attanasio grief have no idea how good they have it.Obviously the wildcard has helped with the Brewers playoff appearances,,but all we had for a long time was the 1982 squad to celebrate, and they "lost",That team was obviously special ,but all I want b4 I die is a world series champion, and with no salary cap in mlb,the owner we have now is a godsend compared to past ownership imo and has rebuilt the entire organization with great hires all over the place and gives us at least a fighting chance.But thank u for the Eldred post,brought back alot of memories 

[B.F.-rakes]

31 minutes ago, B.F.-rakes said:

That makes sense now,sorry! People that give Attanasio grief have no idea how good they have it.Obviously the wildcard has helped with the Brewers playoff appearances,,but all we had for a long time was the 1982 squad to celebrate, and they "lost",That team was obviously special ,but all I want b4 I die is a world series champion, and with no salary cap in mlb,the owner we have now is a godsend compared to past ownership imo and has rebuilt the entire organization with great hires all over the place and gives us at least a fighting chance.But thank u for the Eldred post,brought back alot of memories 

I was 9 in 1982 and my dad got transferred to South Florida, so we moved down there in august of 82 from Brookfield, wi.In 85 or 86 my parents let me and my brother(15mo. Younger then me) come stay with my uncle&aunt for the summer in west allis.We lived at county stadium and didn't miss a game,autographs b4 and after every home game,batting practice,exploring area's of county stadium that we snuck into. and my Uncle wasn't strict at all,so we were in heaven. We came up every summer till we moved back in 1992..Caught alot of Molitor's hitting streak in 87,,was at filming of Major League movie, Cal Ripken cursing out my brother for him accidentally spilling  soda on him as he got into a cab as we swarmed for his autograph. Wade Boggs walking to cab with his mistress, which at the time was big news nationally. Was at Nolan Ryan's 300th win. Was a blast and when Brewers were competing for division the crowds were loud and rowdy, especially the bleachers. Sorry for post, u got me reminiscing 

[patrickgpe]

thanks for this. Eldred was my favorite brewer as a kid. I was 12 in 92 and he had such a good rookie year.  That 92 team was fun and is probably part of the reason I am as big of a fan as I am. Bosio and Navarro had great seasons too.