Laddie Renfroe


Cohen Williams "Laddie" Renfroe is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched in four games with the Chicago Cubs in. Renfroe pitched with a sidearm delivery and appeared primarily as a relief pitcher and closer throughout his nine-year professional career.

Career

Renfroe pitched for the University of Mississippi where he set a school record for the most wins during his career. While in college, he experimented with a sidearm delivery, which he eventually adopted permanently. In 1982, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 25th round of the 1984 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft, and began the season with the Geneva Cubs.
After three seasons in Class-A ball, Renfroe split both the and seasons between the Double-A Pittsfield Cubs and Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Pitching for the Double-A Charlotte Knights of the Southern League in, he led all minor league pitchers with 19 wins, and won the Southern League Pitcher of the Year award that season. He was promoted back to Iowa in, and spent the following three seasons with the club.
He was called up to the Chicago Cubs on July 2,, and made his Major League debut the following day at Wrigley Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He ultimately appeared in four games as a relief pitcher with Chicago, garnering a 0–1 win–loss record and a 13.50 ERA. He returned to Iowa on July 25.
In September as a member of the Iowa Cubs, he was injured when struck in the head by an errant baseball. The resultant head trauma caused him speech and vision problems, and he retired thereafter, in part because of sustained complications from the injury.

Personal life

Renfroe played soccer, football, and baseball in at Nashua High School in Nashua, New Hampshire. He pitched two no-hitters in high school and led his team to the state championship in 1979. After retiring, he coached baseball and soccer and relocated to Olive Branch, Mississippi.
His son David was an infielder in the Boston Red Sox's minor league system from to.