Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Doug Sisk

Danny Erickson
December 17, 2000
I have always thought that Doug Sisks' pitching in 1983 and 1984 was pretty awesome. It was a shame that he struggled mightily with his control after that. Doug Sisk was one of the nicest ballplayers I have ever met. He talked with me extensively after his signing session at the last 1986 Mets reunion show. Doug listened to all the questions I asked him and replied with glee. A nice man.

kinerskorner
June 9, 2001
i have just been told that there is a character in that new rob schneider movie "the animal" named doug sisk. if this is true, that is either a tremendous coincidence or one of the screenwriters is a twisted Mets fan with a very kense sense of humor.

b u i c k
June 25, 2001
I used to get the worst stomach aches when this dude came out of the pen. I was just a kid then but Sisk made me feel as though I had the belly of a eighty-two year old.

Rich M.
August 16, 2001
Does anyone know what Dougie is doing these days? I live in Portland, Oregon, and a few months ago saw a real estate sign with the name "Doug Sisk" as the local realtor. I know he was born and raised in Washington state, so since he is a Northwest guy, could it be that he is now in real estate? I was tempted to call and ask him, but never did.

clemens sux
October 24, 2001
Was actually a decent reliever before suffering bone chips in his elbow in 1985. His main problem was that he just could not strike people out, they almost always put the ball in play. And he was definitely rattled by the fans and press.

Jim Snedeker
November 19, 2001
I just never thought always walking the first man you face was part of a reliever's job.

Hot Foot
March 1, 2002
As a nine year old in 86 I would pray that he would never enter the game when I saw him warming up in the bullpen.

Gallace
March 27, 2002
Hey, look at those ERA's. He actually wasn't that bad except for 85. In today's game he would be a multi-million dollar pitcher!

Shari
May 20, 2002
I used to get agita when he would come into the game. I get the same feeling when John Franco comes in nowadays, another guy who was great at loading up the bases and getting himself out of it. If only they had a thing called "Agita Saves" Dougie would top the list.

Larry Burns
May 30, 2002
Doug Risk? The best terrible relief pitcher I ever saw. He could choke on sherbert. In one game that my friends and I went to, Doug blew a save and it cost the Mets dearly. (I cannot even remember which time, there were so many). We were all feeling little pain and our disappointment and outrage reigned down on Dougy from on high. We were so pissed off we continued to rant and rail about what a poor job he does. We stopped to refill our supplies at a local 7-Eleven and one of my friends, a rather laidback and mild mannered guy, goes in and with no remembrance leaves a sparkling stream on a bag of Fritos. He, to this day, has no inkling why he did this, and he has not returned. But that is illustrative of how desperate Sisk could make a Met fan.

Johnny Met
July 3, 2002
The May 4, 1985 game is one I'll never forget. It was my 25th birthday and I thought I'd celebrate by watching the Mets. Unfortunately, Doug Sisk was brought in and promptly gave up a double, triple, grand slam and walked the opposing pitcher all in the same inning. No wonder us fans wanted him to walk the plank.

DK
December 8, 2002
Doug Sisk actually lives in the Tacoma area now and works for the boys and girls club of Pierce County as the athletic director. I have had the honor of working with him and he is a great guy. I could only imagine what he was like back in the day. His stats are great. He likes working with the kids and seeing them mature. They all think that it is cool working with a actual major league ballplayer.

Gordon
December 17, 2002
I know I was in the minority: No matter how bad(and he was B-A-D) Sisk was, I NEVER booed him. I would close my eyes and shake my head every time he blew a game, a lead etc., BUT I always felt sorry for the man. The fans never gave him a moment of peace!! He deserved to be in KC or Milwaukee where the fans are more tolerant of awful pitchers!! I can still hear everyone yelling.."Sisk, you stink!!"

Moe
December 19, 2002
Funny story about Doug Sisk. One night at Shea myself and a few buddies were waiting for the team bus to arrive at Shea coming back from a road trip. Doug Sisk comes off the bus holding a crate of wine. We approached him to sign and he said, "Sure, but can you hold this? I have something I have to do." He gave us the crate of wine, took two steps, and then threw up all over the place for about five minutes straight. He then came back, thanked us for holding his wine and then signed for us.

Mr. Sparkle
December 26, 2002
What can you say about Doug Sisk? The guy was unbelievable. He pitched like a handicapper lays points on a football game. If you're ahead by 4 runs he'll walk the bases loaded and then strike out the side. He blew a few games but overall was more effective than not. Still, he made you reach for the Tums every time he came into a game. Never got the first batter out, never did anything easy. Generally however he got the job done, but not without a slow torture. Had to be a Met.

VIBaseball
February 5, 2003
The thing about Doug Sisk was that his ball really moved. Especially the first two years, he had a wicked sinker, a lot like Roger McDowell's in many ways. Then the word got around -- people started laying off his pitches, and the walk totals went up. And he let things get to him mentally (though some of the abuse just became vicious).

Ray
April 24, 2003
I always rooted for him because he was all to human. In fact, he was the human embodiment of Charlie Brown when he was out there on the hill. I actually own a Doug button that I purchased at Shea. At the time the girl behind the counter said that it was the only one of his that she ever sold. I still have it.

Joe "Metsie" Feltman
April 30, 2003
Always rooted for the guy (of course he, was a Met) he used to have good sinker but you always got that feeling of impending DOOM when he came to the mound (similar to the gut-wrenching feeling we all get when we see Benitez today). Seemed like he always gave it his all...I mean look at his picture, he looks like he broke his jock strap whilst delivering the ball (sinker, low and outside...ball four).

Anyway, he pitched during a Golden, mid-eighties era for the Mets and he was the only fun thing about their rare losing in 1986. There was this guy I used to work with at the old Sterns Dept Store, who would pop a gasket everytime Sisk would come into a game. He would call the guy Richie Zisk (there was a player on the Pirates, I think, by that name) and this co- worker of mine used to curse up and down that the Mets should trade him)... Of course he got his wish and the rest is history!

Jeff In Florida
July 22, 2003
Two Mets have given me a real sinking feeling when they would come into a game. The first one was Doug Sisk. When he came in I would said to my friends, "What will go wrong tonight?" There was one that gave me a worse feeling. Anthony Young. Any time he came in I told my friends, "We are going to lose." and I was almost always right.

S. Carol Anne
August 4, 2003
Doug was one of the nicest, most down-to-Earth players in MLB and that was very refreshing. Besides his light- hearted personality, I believe that he COULD have been a bigger addition to the club than he was. . . thank GOD he was no Armando Benitez! If Davey Johnson had used him correctly before and after his surgery, he would have been the effective middle-reliever sinker ball pitcher the Mets sorely needed at that time. I blame Davey Johnson for the early demise of such a promising young pithcher.

Rev Matt
August 8, 2003
Doug Sisk was a true blue Met in the tradition of Marvelous Marv Thornberry and Chico Escuela. I think his problem was that his sinker had so much movement on it there was no way he could control the pitch. In order to get it in the strike zone he probably had to aim it behind the batter's head. He'd walk the bases loaded with one out and either throw a double play ball or a passed ball.

Too bad Casey didn't live long enough to see Doug "risk" Sisk in action.

Dave A
September 16, 2003
I remember driving down to Virginia Beach one summer night and I got the Orioles game on the radio. I think they were playing in Cleveland. It was a tight game, in the late innings when Sisk entered. I didn't need a TV to picture the scene. A packed stadium, a hostile crowd, a hot summer night. The sweat dripping down Sisk's babyfaced cheeks. Runners on the corners and nobody out. I was smiling, I knew what was coming. Ball 1 Ball 2 Ball 3 Bases Loaded The crowd gets louder, next batter Ball 1 Ball 2 Foul Ball (Why the guy swung, I'll never know) Ball 3 Bases clearing double, Orioles losing and here comes the manager, That'll be all for Doug Sisk. He definitely did not have the make up to be pitching in close ball games. I think he would've been rattled pitching in my Tuesday night softball league. I did feel for the guy. Must've been the baby face.

"Carrie"
December 2, 2003
I have very positive memories of Doug. He was somewhat of a hero to me growing up. He taught me to root for the underdog. He was always very nice to me. When he was traded to Baltimore, he even took the time to write. As far as his skill level goes, true fans know the whole story. He was doing very well, then he was hurt. When he came back from surgery, Dave Johnson never used him. So, at first, Davey OVER used him, then not at all. For a sinkerballer like Doug to be effective, his arm has to be tired. THAT is why he lost his edge and I believe poor managerial skills ended his career. I will NEVER forgive DJ for what he did to Doug. Any one who doubts this story can look at his early stats. They do not lie. Hope Doug, Lisa and Lindsay are doing well now.

Frank the Met
December 6, 2003
Doug Sisk is one of those players where one cannot simply look at his career stats in order to make a judgment of him. You actually had to see him pitch. He was the wildest pitcher I've ever seen in 35 years watching baseball. He would throw a pitch in the dirt on a 3-0 count. By far, he was the most unreliable pitcher in Mets history - the absolute last guy you ever wanted to see come in a game. It was amazing how many times he would come in, walk two or three guys, then get out of it with a hard smash right at someone for a double play. But eventually, his luck ran out and he has since suffered from his well-deserved negative reputation.

scott rogers
December 19, 2003
Dont know why, but he was one of my favorites. Maybe it was because no one else liked him. I remember him getting the win on Opening Day in 1983, the day Seaver came back. He was great in 83, 84, good combo with Orosco, was not as good in 85 when McDowell and Orosco were the new closers. He went downhill after that. At least he got a ring in 86. I remember he was in the last car in the parade with Neimann. For some reason it was way behind. The accouncers on tv were talking about something else and then they said, oh wait, here comes one last car.

Tony P
January 21, 2004
You guys are way too harsh in your criticisms. Doug was one of the few bright spots on a couple of very bad Mets teams (thus the reason his save totals are lower than they should be.)

Sad thing is, you guys remember only his latter couple of years, when injuries made him a shell of the pitcher he was earlier.

Dennis Crabtree
April 9, 2004
Until just recently Doug Sisk worked for me in the Tacoma, Washington area. What a truly nice person he is, always willing to take the time to visit no matter how busy he is at the time. Regardless of the perception of many of the fans who have responded to this site, Baseball needs more Doug Sisk's as role models. Far too many of todays 'great players' are lousy role models for our kids. Go Doug!

Jonathan Stern
May 22, 2004
Jeff Pearlman's new book on the '86 Mets is required - if occasionally stomach-turning - reading for all Mets fans aged 18 and older. Several of the more stomach- turning stories involve Sisk. I cannot help but wonder what I would rather be remembered for if I was Sisk - the things I did on the field or (as recounted in the book) what I did in the clubhouse.

Most interesting of all: according to the book, Sisk warned Ojeda, Darling, Teufel and the gang not to go to Cooters.

DaveyMet
June 13, 2004
It might not be fair, because his stats aren't HORRIBLE and I was pretty young, but I remember when he came in the game, you felt you were gonna lose, sort of like when Weathers comes in now, or when the bases are loaded, 2 out and Mike Cameron up to bat.

Joe P.
September 24, 2004
The answer to a great Met trivia question- Who was the winning pitcher in Tom Seaver's return game (on opening day) to the Mets in 1983? {I was there!!!}

JFK
October 27, 2004
I remember that opening day game in 83. A combined shut out. Seaver went the first 6 innings and Sisk the last three.

Perlman's book really blames Sisk as one of the main culprits for the down fall of the Mets.

drstuu
December 3, 2004
The pranks and drinking beer that you talk about - that was Sisco. Even back in the days in community college that was him. That is what got him to the big leagues because he didn't take himself or life too serious that he stressed out about things. He just wanted to have fun. What people don't know is that he was extremly competitive and serious but in his own quirky way. Plus he was sincere and caring about friends and people who were not in his baseball grouping. He is a very humble and giving person.

A.J. Antezana
June 15, 2005
One game that typified the incredibly horrible relief pitcher that Doug Sisk was, is the 7/28/84 game against the Cubs. The night before, Gooden pitches a gem and we take a 4.5 game lead in late July.

Darling pitches the usual game and leave with a 3-3 tie that leaves him with a no-decision after 7 innings. In comes Sisk, who walks the first batter, hits the second batter trying to bunt over the runner, then when the next batter tries to bunt the runners over, he throws the ball away. Hence the avalanche began: 8 runs!

Needless to say, we lost and then lost a doubleheader to the Cubs the next day and we quickly fell out of contention.

Here is the line score on that great outing of Sisk's: 0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 4 R, 1 BB, 0 SO.

len
July 10, 2005
One of the things I'll always remember about Dougie Risk was in '86, how in the post game euphoria of celebrating the Mets' first division win since '73, he apparently was on camera in the clubhouse, showering Cashen with champagne.

Cashen responded to this by actually saying on the air while wiping away what must have been bitter champagne for him, "Why is it that the guys who do the least always have the most champagne?" Frank sure got that right!!!

Jamey Bumbalo
November 29, 2005
I have to agree with all the comments about dreading seeing Doug Sisk walk to the mound. I'm sure he's a nice guy (as several writers attest) and he did have good career stats with the Mets (Mets career ERA of 3.10), but every time he came into the game, I had a sense of, as another writer put it, impending doom. He just could not control his pitches. I remember hearing Murph comment something to the effect that "Sisk has so much movement on the ball"--and thinking that the rest of the sentence should have been, "that he has no idea where his pitches will go."

Pete
August 12, 2006
Our memories of Doug are much worse than his stats seem to suggest. I'd like to know what his "inherited runners allowed to score" stat is. Two memories I have are that he pitched the last 3 innings and got the win in Tom Seaver's return to the Mets on Opening Day '83. (I remember the Mets promoting Doug and Jesse Orosco as their one-two punch coming out of the bullpen.) And I'm pretty sure that he was a "replacement" player in '95 with the Mets just before they settled the strike.

Edgy DC
August 12, 2006
Frank Cashen may have been dead right. But Len is dead wrong. Cashen's comment — "You know, it's always the guys who contribute the least who spray the most champagne" — was about Kevin Elster.

It's easy enough to paint Doug Sisk's struggles in 1985 as the difference maker in the division race that year, but Sisk had a perfectly respectable season in 1986, and he has every reason to be proud of his contribution to that team.

Stu
August 13, 2006
Edgy, you are wrong as well. Cashen's comment was about Randy Niemann.

Edgy DC
August 19, 2006
I googled "Kevin Elster" + "Frank Cashen + "champagne" quickly found about a dozen references that say it was Elster, but I replaced Elster's name with Niemann's and found a few putting Randy into the account. I even found one of somebody correcting somebody putting Niemann into the story and saying it was Howard Johnson.

Elster gets the most hits (plus my own memory). Neimann is generally placed into a similar account (which may well be the same incident embellished differently) in which he douses the GM and receives a "glare of death" on national television.

But this is a memories of Doug Sisk page, and I can find no accounts of this story in which Sisk is the object of Cashen's barb.

Ed Rising
August 19, 2006
I remember sitting in the left field Mezzanine one night rooting Doug on as hard as I could. Shouting out every encouraging word possible. Telling him I believed in him - coaxing him to get through one of those innings when he'd give up a hit and walk 2 batters and eventually get a double play. Rooting for Doug Sisk (Or Doug Risk as he came to be known) was pure exhaustion! Davey wasn't the only one who needed Rolaids with him on the mound. In fact it would have been funny if Doug did those commericals with Davey!

Probably the only advantage to the extinction of 'old timers' games is that I will probably never have to go through one of his relief appearances again! But I loved him anyway!

metfanforlife
September 1, 2006
I remember Sisk giving me heart attacks in the 80s, and how he eventually was booed so badly. I went to the Mets 1986 reunion celebration, and wouldn't you know it, when he was introduced, someone in a nearby section yelled out really loudly, "YOU SUCK!"

It was mean, but we all started laughing.

Meaghan
May 16, 2008
I tell you what. Say what you want about the man you know as the "Risk." Growing up as an avid baseball fan due to being a little sister to a big brother, I knew stats like the back of my hand. I agree with several things: Doug was great before surgery and DJ did not use him like he should have afterwards. Mets fans should be a hell of a lot more forgiving- sheesh, it's not like you're cheering for (God forbid) the YANKEES. As a good friend of Doug's nowadays, I can say that he has the biggest heart you will ever know. He does more for youth baseball than ANY former player I have met, and does a lot for local charities. How many players now would do the same thing? He was good for baseball in his own way- tells the funniest stories you will ever know, and has the best quirks of anyone I have ever seen. I am sincerely glad I can call him a friend of mine.

Viva la Sisk!

Michael
May 17, 2008
Too many Mets fans forget that Doug was one of the best relievers in the league before he hurt his arm and lost it. He never deserved the treatment he got from fans, but few do.

docjp86
July 13, 2008
I remember him coming in with sinkers and sliders. He always seemed to load the bases, and usually get out of jams but with the pain to the fan like a dentist pulling teeth. I used to call him Doug RISK. I liked him but he drove us nuts.

Doctor Worm
September 6, 2008
On June 23, 1983, Doug Sisk had a five-inning save. That's something you don't see every day.

Bonbolito
April 3, 2009
He seemed to have a good enough sinker, but if he fell one pitch behind in the count you could sense him panicking. Then things would fall apart. It was tough to watch.

CJ
May 15, 2009
My brother told me that during his days with the Mets someone blew up his car in the Shea parking lot. That so sick.

Burt
July 18, 2011
I was a teammate of Doug in the minors. He was a reliever and then in Double AA was turned into a starter. He was unhittable. He was so successful he jumped from AA to the majors. His sinker was so good it was hard on the catcher's wrist. I believe the catcher called it a very heavy sinker, like trying to catch a cannonball. This guy is down to earth and never changed as he went up the baseball ladder. We used to call him RAG as he always did things HIS way and complained (ragged) when he met resistance. A great guy to hang around I assure you.

Mike D.
December 6, 2011
I grew up with Doug in Pinewood in the Woodmont area of Kent, WA and knew his sister Jolene and his parents Jerry and LaRae. His parents moved down to a place called Dash-Point right on the water. Over the years as we all grew and went our separate ways, I was stunned to hear that a kid from our block grew up to be a Mets player. I haven't seen or heard about Doug in over 40 years until I read this. It seems that a lot of you liked Doug by what you have written here. I hope someday he reads this. Thanks for sharing your stories about Doug.

Bob B
September 9, 2020
I lived through both the good and the bad!

He was so good in '84! Not sure what happened but by '85, he was no longer reliable! As others pointed out, he was always seemed to get to a 3-0 count on most hitters, especially the first batter he faced. It was difficult to sit through when the game was on the line (much similar to watching Familia in 2017-2020 years).

Luckily for the Mets, we found the answer to the RHP Reliever in Roger McDowell!

I do recall that 1986, although not as good as '84, he did turn it around some, he would have his good games along with the bad.

Tom Brennan
April 12, 2021
To this day, one of my favorite Mets of all time. He and Orosco were a great 1-2 punch for awhile. Even when he struggled he was always fun to watch. A little too stressful maybe. Met him. GOOD GUY. Deserved better treatment from his manager and the fans.

Jeffrey Phillips
December 11, 2021
I owned a video store in Brown’s Point North of Tacoma and one of our customers was Doug Sisk! I was amazed the first time I recognized his name when he rented a few movies from us. Of course I had to ask him if he had played ML baseball-when he said yes I remember talking to him about his career and the Mets of ‘86; I brought a ball to work with me and kept it handy and sure enough he signed it for me! Nice gentlemen and generous with his time-always with a smile and he always paid his late fees! The perfect customer! Thanks Doug!

NYSCOTTL
February 28, 2022
Doug Sisk the human walk machine and Double play machine. Had one of the best sinkers in the game.

If you look at his stats and ERA he would have been an above-average relief pitcher today. His WHIP was off the chart but found a way to get the job done. Played a big part in those 108 wins in 1986.

Ryan
December 11, 2022
Doug owned a batting cage in the Olympia, Wa for years. Prior to joining the military I’d stop by and have him sign cards. He was a great guy and last time I checked he moved from Tacoma to Belfair, Wa.

I still have a cello pack I need to drop off to him with him as the top card.