Jeffrey Theodore Schneider is an American former professional baseballplayer. He appeared in 11 Major Leaguegames as a relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles in. A switch hitter who threw left-handed, Schneider stood tall and weighed. He is perhaps best remembered for appearing on Cal Ripken, Jr.'s 1982 Toppsrookie card. Born in Washington, Schneider attended high school in Illinois before attending Iowa State University. Drafted twice, he signed with neither team, opting to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent in 1974. He played five years in their organization, leading the Carolina League in wins and saves in 1977 without making a single start. After the 1978 season, he was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the Rule 5 draft; he reached the major leagues in 1981 when the Orioles sought to reinforce their roster for the second half of the season. Used exclusively in relief, Schneider appeared in 11 games, recording a save. After the season, he was a minor part of a trade to the California Angels. He split 1982 between their system and the Toronto Blue Jays' organization and finished his career in 1983 in the minors for the Blue Jays.
Schneider began his minor league career with four appearances for the Class A Short SeasonAuburn Phillies of the New York–Penn League in 1974. He remained at Auburn in 1975 where, used exclusively in relief, he had a 3-2 record, a 2.82 earned run average, and 37 strikeouts in 21 games, along with 24 walks in 51 innings pitched. He moved up to the Peninsula Pilots of the Class A Carolina League in 1976, where he was used as a starter for his only significant amount of time professionally. In 29 games, he had a 4-7 record, a 3.93 ERA, and 77 strikeouts in 103 innings. Despite moving into the bullpen full-time in 1977, he led the Carolina League with 15 wins and 22 saves for Pensacola while recording 102 strikeouts in 119 innings of work. Promoted to the Double-AReading Phillies of the Eastern League in 1978, he went 4-4 with a 2.83 ERA and two saves in 42 games to go along with 56 strikeouts and 47 walks in 86 innings. After the season, he was drafted into the Baltimore Orioles' organization in the Rule 5 draft.
Baltimore Orioles
1979-81 (minors)
Schneider pitched for the Charlotte O's of the Double-A Southern Association in 1979, where he again made 42 appearances. He had a 3-7 record, a 3.43 ERA, 67 strikeouts, and four saves in 105 innings of work. He was promoted to the Triple-ARochester Red Wings in 1980, where he had a 2-4 record, a 4.86 ERA, 28 strikeouts, 25 walks, and eight saves in 45 games over 50 innings of work. In 1981, with Rochester, he had a 5-1 record, a 2.35 ERA, and 61 strikeouts in 69 innings while collecting 12 saves. He participated in the longest professional baseball game, pitching scoreless innings of relief with eight strikeouts for Rochester as they lost 3-2 to the Pawtucket Red Sox in 33 innings.
A strike split the 1981 major league season, and the Orioles, in an attempt to strengthen their roster, called up Schneider and Cal Ripken, Jr., on August 7. Schneider replaced Steve Luebber. In his debut game, at Memorial Stadium on August 12, he gave up a grand slam home run to Frank White of the Kansas City Royals, But in his final 10 games, he compiled an earned run average of 3.74. On August 19, he logged a career-high innings in relief of Mike Flanagan during a 6-3 loss to the California Angels. He earned his only MLB save on August 25, recording the final out of a 6-5 win against the Seattle Mariners. Schneider made what would be the final appearance of his brief major league career October 2, allowing two runs over three innings of relief in a 9-0 loss to the New York Yankees. In his career, all of which came during the 1981 season, he allowed 27 hits and 12 walks, with 17 strikeouts, in 24 innings pitched. His ERA was 4.88. The Orioles finished fourth during the second-half of the season and failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Schneider was a minor part in the trade that sent Doug DeCinces to the Angels for Dan Ford during the offseason. He made 18 appearances in 1982 for the Spokane Indians, their Pacific Coast League affiliate, before getting sent to the Toronto Blue Jays during the season. Schneider pitched 34 games for the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League, where he spent the rest of the season. His combined Triple-A totals for that year were a 3-5 record, a 4.04 ERA, 51 strikeouts, 50 walks, and eight saves in 78 innings of work in 52 games. He pitched one final season, for Syracuse in 1983. In 37 games, he had a 4-4 record, a 5.13 ERA, 52 strikeouts, and 60 walks in innings while recording three saves. He said that after retiring, life took him "to school, family, job, friends. Back to being a normal person." Schneider is perhaps best remembered for appearing on the 1982 Topps "Baltimore Orioles Future Stars", a rookie card that also featured Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.
