Former Thresher Inducted Into Hall of Fame

A former Threshers coach just received Hall of Fame honors.

Pitching coach Darold Knowles, who started his coaching career with Clearwater, was inducted into the Florida State League Hall of Fame on Wednesday. He has been a part of the Dunedin Blue Jays coaching staff since 2006.

"He's a great guy," D-Jays spokesman Craig Durham said. "He was very excited."

Knowles pitched 16 seasons in the Major Leagues and set a record in 1973 as the only pitcher to appear in all seven games of a World Series (as a member of the champion Oakland A’s). During his Major League Baseball career, Knowles played for Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, Oakland, Chicago, Texas, Montreal and St. Louis.

Knowles began the Florida State League as a coach with the Clearwater Threshers in 1991 before moving to the Jays organization.

Some of the players who excelled under Knowles last season include Deck McGuire, Drew Hutchison and Chad Jenkins, Durham said. 

"This season there were a lot of young pitchers," Durham said. "Our pitching staffs have been very good year after year."

Durham said he has received no word on whether Knowles will continue with the Jays in the upcoming season. Contracts are reviewed on an annual basis.

Other Stats:

• Knowles is left-handed.
• He was honored alongside former FSL standouts Derek Jeter, Ivan Rodriguez and Clint Hurdle.
• He was an Major League All-Star in 1969, a season in which he went 9-2 with a 2.24 ERA.
• He finished his Major League career with 66 wins, 143 saves and a 3.12 ERA over 765 games.