MSL to MLB: Al Levine An Angel in the Bullpen

Levine Finally Finds Relief, and a Comfortable Fit, in Anaheim

Note: This story appeared in the Daily Herald on August 9, 2001. Al Levine was a pretty remarkable success story by going from Hoffman Estates to Harper College, where he pitched nearly 14 innings in ONE DAY to win two tournament games, to Southern Illinois and ultimately a nice MLB career. One year after this he played a big role out of the bullpen for Anaheim as it won its only World Series title.

There’s nothing comfortable about a 2-run lead late in a game at Fenway Park.

Not with Nomar Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez, Dante Bichette and Carl Everett waiting to take their shots at the Green Monster some 300 feet away in left field.

Not exactly a Boston tea party.

That was the scary situation Al Levine was called into by Anaheim Angels manager Mike Scioscia last week. At stake was a chance to get closer in the hunt for an American League wild-card berth.

Fifteen pitches later, the 1986 Hoffman Estates High School graduate and right-handed relief pitcher had retired the powerful foursome. Levine preserved a 4-2 victory with his second save of the season and fourth of his big-league career.

“I enjoy what I’m doing right now,” Levine said. “It’s fun going in games where you’re winning or games that are close. That makes it more enjoyable.”

Especially since the 33-year-old Levine, who also pitched two years at Harper College, is having the best of his six seasons in the majors.

Levin has become a key part of one of the majors’ best bullpens as a setup man for hard-throwing closer Troy Percival. Going into Wednesday night’s game against the White Sox, he was 5-6 with a 2.21 ERA in a team-high 45 appearances.

The White Sox selected Levine in the 11th round of the 1991 amateur draft out of Southern Illinois University. His progression through their system and toward a chance to live out a hometown dream included playing with Michael Jordan at Class AA Birmingham in 1994.

The big call finally came in 1996. But the next two seasons weren’t quite what he envisioned.

Levine went back and forth between the White Sox and Triple-A Nashville four times. He worked 45 ⅔ innings in 41 relief appearances with a 2-3 record and 6.32 ERA.

“I was just a guy who came in when they needed somebody, and it wasn’t the best situation coming up and down,” Levine said. “They had guys doing great jobs and I didn’t fit.”

Levine also didn’t enjoy some of the peripheral demands of playing in his hometown. The worst blow of all was the death of his father, Alvin, from a tumor, the same day he was sent to Nashville in 1997.

“It was kind of sad, but I really didn’t care and baseball wasn’t a priority in my life,” Levine said. “I was thinking about what I was going to do with my family and things like that.

“But there’s no excuse. I didn’t do very well and things change. It was a struggle that year and it was probably best for me to get out of there.”

Levine got traded to Texas and was 0-1 in 30 games with a 4.50 ERA in 1998. He was let go before the start of the 1999 season and picked up by the Angels.

“I had confidence in myself,” Levine said. “You have to have others believe in you to keep you there. That’s part of the key.”

Levine has found that in Anaheim with Scioscia and pitching coaches Dick Pole and Bud Black. He has made a few mechanical adjustments, but he said his stuff is basically the same.

“They’ve let me do things where before people said you couldn’t do that,” Levine said. “These guys said, “Keep doing what you’re doing,’ and things like that helped out.

“They did a little something with my mechanics here and there and instead of being told that’s not right and being negative they’re more positive.”

It’s evident in Levine’s numbers. He spent all of 1999 in Anaheim and was 1-1 with a 3.39 ERA in 50 appearances. Last year, he was 3-4 with a 3.87 ERA and 2 saves in 51 games. The only reason he made one minor-league stint was to rehab after a two-week stay on the disabled list with an irritated elbow.

“I’m not always looking over my shoulder and saying am I the one who is going to be sent down,” Levine said. “That has a lot to do with it. That makes it easier to pitch.”

Levine did make 5 starts last year and one in an emergency at Comiskey Park. The reason he got the save in Boston last week was Percival had thrown 34 pitches a night earlier.

But Levine doesn’t care how he’s used as long as the bullpen phone keeps ringing for him.

“It’s fun out there and it’s a good group,” Levine said. “I’ve been on teams where it’s different. Here, everyone pulls for each other and it’s a really good atmosphere.”