Jon Papelbon
Full Name and Common Aliases
Jon Robert Papelbon is a former American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 13 seasons.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on November 24, 1978, Papelbon is still active in various capacities related to the sport.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: American
Profession: Former Professional Baseball Pitcher, Current Broadcaster
Early Life and Background
Jon Papelbon was born in an Air Force family, which led to a peripatetic childhood for him. He spent time on various military bases around the country before settling with his family in Petaluma, California. Growing up, Papelbon was a multi-sport athlete, excelling in baseball, basketball, and football.
Papelbon's passion for baseball led him to attend Petaluma High School, where he became an accomplished pitcher. His talent caught the attention of college scouts, leading him to join the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Gauchos as a walk-on player.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout his career, Papelbon achieved numerous accolades:
World Series Champion: Papelbon won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2007.
All-Star Selections: He was named an MLB All-Star five times (2008-2012) and received three saves titles during that period.
Career Saves Leader: As of his retirement, Papelbon ranked second all-time among left-handed pitchers with 368 saves.Notable Works or Actions
Some notable events in Papelbon's career include:
Record-Breaking Reliever: In 2011, he set the Red Sox franchise record for most saves in a single season (37).
Philadelphia Phillies: Papelbon signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015 and recorded 16 saves during his first season with the team.Impact and Legacy
Jon Papelbon's impact on baseball extends beyond his impressive statistics:
Influence on Modern Relief Pitching: His dominant performance in the late innings of games helped shape the modern bullpen role.
* Leadership and Team Dynamics: Papelbon was known for his strong leadership qualities, which contributed to the success of his teams.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Papelbon's quotes often highlight his competitive drive and dedication to excellence:
> "I'm a guy who's always going to be in the game, whether it's on the mound or helping out my teammates however I can."
Quotes by Jon Papelbon
I felt very confident. I knew my (bullpen) session went well before being called upon. I just took it from there, keep it simple and not do too much. I knew every pitch, every out, everything that was going on at that point of the game was a big thing and everything was going to matter.
I stick to my program and that's all I'm really worried about, getting my body ready to go for the season. Everything else I just let fall by the wayside.
The whole dugout just starts laughing. The man knows how to hit. It's amazing to see that kind of talent. I'm sure he'll be able to save some for the season. The home runs will be for the season.
I should have come out because it was pretty sore the next day and it was pretty sore at the time. It took me a while to get feeling back in it, but I just didn't really want to come out.
That's a tough lineup. For me to be successful today, I was able to pitch inside of that left-handed lineup. Being able to use my split- finger helped. ... To come away with two wins was good against these guys.
That was my hardest jump. It will be a good test for him this year because in Double-A you don't necessarily have (former) big league hitters in lineups. In Triple-A, you do.