Today the Chicago Cubs named Mark Riggins as their new pitching coach, replacing Larry Rothschild.
Riggins, 53, (Not to be confused with Tim Riggins from Friday Night Lights) has been promoted to the major league level after spending the last three seasons as Chicago ’s minor league pitching coordinator.
He begins his second go around as a major league pitching coach, holding the role with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1995 under managers Joe Torre and Mike Jorgensen. Riggins (“Texas Forever!”) also has 15 seasons experience as a minor league pitching coordinator.
Prior to joining the Cubs organization, Riggins spent 29 seasons in the Cardinals chain as a minor league pitcher, minor league manager and coach, minor league pitching coordinator and major league pitching coach. Upon retiring as a player in 1983, he began his coaching career the next year and worked his way through the organization by coaching at every level, culminating with a stop in the majors in 1995.
As a ballplayer, Riggins signed with the Cardinals in 1979 out of Murray State University and advanced as high as Triple-A Louisville. His first coaching opportunity was with rookie-level Johnson City in 1984. By 1989, Riggins was handling pitching coach duties at Triple-A Louisville just six years after his retirement as a player. His time in Louisville also included a stint as interim manager in 1992.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net , a Midwest webzine. He’s also a regular contributor to the Tribune’s Chicago Now network, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports.com
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