Editing David Wells (section)

==Professional career==

===Toronto Blue Jays (1987–1992)===
Wells debuted for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] in 1987 as a [[relief pitcher|reliever]] and did not secure a primary role in the starting rotation until he was 27 years old, starting 25 games during the 1990 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wellsda01.shtml | title=David Wells Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More }}</ref> During his six seasons with the Blue Jays, Wells compiled a 47–46 record and a 3.88 ERA. Wells was a member of the [[1992 World Series]] winning team, the first time he got a championship ring. He was released by the Blue Jays during spring training on March 30, 1993.

===Detroit Tigers (1993–1995)===
A few days after he was released by the Blue Jays, Wells signed with the [[Detroit Tigers]] on April 3.<ref name="B-Ref"/> In 1993, Wells made 32 appearances (30 starts) with an 11–9 record and a 4.19 ERA. In 1994, a season that was cut short due to a [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|strike]], Wells started 16 games, finishing 5–7 with a 3.96 ERA and 5 complete games. He emerged as a top-flight pitcher in 1995, when he was 32. After starting the year at 10–3 with a 3.04 ERA for the struggling last-place Tigers, Wells made his first [[1995 MLB All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] appearance.<ref name="B-Ref"/>

===Cincinnati Reds (1995)===
On July 31, Wells was traded to the [[Cincinnati Reds]] for [[C. J. Nitkowski]], [[Mark Lewis (baseball)|Mark Lewis]], and minor leaguer Dave Tuttle. With Cincinnati, Wells compiled a 6–5 record and a 3.59 ERA.<ref name="B-Ref"/>

===Baltimore Orioles (1996)===
After the 1995 season, Wells was traded to the [[Baltimore Orioles]] for [[Curtis Goodwin]] and minor leaguer Trovin Valdez.<ref name="B-Ref"/> In 1996, he pitched a then-career high 224 [[inning]]s but finished with an 11–14 record and a 5.14 ERA.<ref name="B-Ref"/>

===New York Yankees (1997–1998)===
In 1997, Wells signed as a free agent with the [[New York Yankees]], his favorite team because of a lifelong interest in baseball legend [[Babe Ruth]]. He asked for uniform number 3, Ruth's long-retired number, but was denied. He ended up taking 33 for the Yankees. On June 28, 1997, Wells took the mound wearing an authentic 1934 Babe Ruth hat, which he had bought for $35,000. Manager [[Joe Torre]] made Wells take it off after the first inning because it did not conform to uniform standards. He also fined Wells $2,500, which Wells was happy to pay and later said it was a small price to pay for the thrill of wearing the hat on the field even for one inning—even though Wells then blew a 3–0 lead as the [[Cleveland Indians]] won 12–8. After posting a 16–10 mark in 1997, Wells pitched very well in the Yankees' record-setting 1998 season. He rang up an 18–4 record, finished fifth in the league in ERA (3.49), was third in voting for the [[Cy Young Award]], and won a second World Series ring.

====Perfect game====
{{Main|David Wells' perfect game}}
On May 17, 1998, Wells pitched the 15th [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]] in baseball history, when he blanked the [[Minnesota Twins]], 4–0. Wells attended the same [[San Diego, California|San Diego]] high school, [[Point Loma High School]], as [[Don Larsen]], whose perfect game for the Yankees in the [[1956 World Series]] was the only perfect game or no-hitter ever thrown in [[postseason]] play until 2010, and was until then the only perfect game thrown by a Yankee. ([[David Cone]] would add a third Yankee perfect game in 1999 and [[Domingo Germán]] an MLB-record fourth in 2023.) Wells claimed that he threw the perfect game while having a "raging, skull-rattling [[hangover]]".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.sfchronicle.com/athletics/article/Dallas-Braden-comes-clean-A-s-starter-was-hung-15251241.php |title=Dallas Braden comes clean: A's starter was hung over for 2010 perfect game |author=Susan Slusser |date=May 7, 2020 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030301&content_id=207404&vkey=spt2003news&fext=.jsp&c_id=null|title=Book 'em, David: Wells explains|author=Mark Feinsand|work=MLB.com|date=March 1, 2003|access-date=October 2, 2009|archive-date=October 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023150625/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20030301&content_id=207404&vkey=spt2003news&fext=.jsp&c_id=null|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2003/02/27/wells_hangover_ap/|title=Wells said he threw perfect game while 'half drunk'|website=sportsillustrated.cnn.com|date=February 27, 2003|url-status=dead|access-date=June 18, 2014|archive-date=November 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108233547/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2003/02/27/wells_hangover_ap/}}</ref> Comedian [[Jimmy Fallon]], who partied with Wells the night before the game, backed up this claim.<ref>{{Citation|last=Late Night with Seth Meyers|title=Jimmy Fallon Reminisces on Pitching an SNL Sketch to Mick Jagger|date=April 26, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztD_ojIVQjQ| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ztD_ojIVQjQ| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=April 26, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On September 1, 1998, Wells came fairly close to recording a second perfect game.  Pitching against the [[Oakland Athletics]], he allowed no walks and only two hits, the first of which came with two outs in the seventh inning when [[Jason Giambi]] fought off an 0–2 count and singled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA199809010.shtml|title=Oakland Athletics at New York Yankees Box Score, September 1, 1998 - Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

===Second stint with the Toronto Blue Jays (1999–2000)===
After the season, Wells returned to the Blue Jays as part of a trade for [[Roger Clemens]], along with [[Homer Bush]] and [[Graeme Lloyd]]. He continued to win north of the border, with records of 17–10 and 20–8 over the next two years.

During this stint with the Blue Jays, Wells appeared on the cover of [[Sports Illustrated]] just prior to the [[2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2000 All Star Game]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/wells-latest-victim-of-writer/article18424230/|title=Wells latest victim of 'writer'|author=Larry Millson|work=The Globe and Mail|date=July 6, 2000|access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref> Though Wells said it was an honour to be on the cover, he criticized the article, "The David Wells Diet: Chips, Beer and American League batters" written by [[Jeff Pearlman]], saying that Pearlman focused on Wells' diet and body shape instead of his accomplishments.<ref name="auto"/>

===Chicago White Sox (2001)===
Wells and pitcher [[Matt DeWitt]] were traded to the [[Chicago White Sox]], in a deal that was quickly mired in controversy. The primary player being traded by the White Sox, starting pitcher [[Mike Sirotka]], was injured at the time of the deal and never pitched in the major leagues again. Toronto's general manager, [[Gord Ash]], had not made the deal contingent on the results of a medical examination, however, and MLB ruled in favor of the White Sox. The Blue Jays thus received only [[Kevin Beirne]], [[Brian Simmons (baseball)|Brian Simmons]], and minor leaguer Mike Williams, and the mistake ultimately cost Ash his job.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

The deal did not turn out particularly well for the White Sox, either, as Wells struggled with back problems in 2001 and pitched only {{frac|100|2|3}} innings, finishing the [[2001 Chicago White Sox season|2001 season]] with a 5–7 record and a 4.47 ERA.

===Second stint with the New York Yankees (2002–2003)===
After a short season with the White Sox, Wells returned to the Yankees, a deal that was again immersed in controversy as he had already reached an oral agreement to join the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-01-11/sports/18198564_1_toronto-for-roger-clemens-david-wells-yankees | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707202634/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-01-11/sports/18198564_1_toronto-for-roger-clemens-david-wells-yankees | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 7, 2012 | work=Daily News | first=Adam | last=Rubin | title=With Wells, Boss Beefs Up Rotation Deal Over Burgers | date=January 11, 2002}}</ref> Despite having lost some velocity from his [[fastball]], he retained his excellent [[curveball]] and his control, and posted an outstanding 19–7 record in 2002.

Wells was the subject of some controversy prior to the 2003 season, when his [[autobiography]] ''Perfect I'm Not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball'', was published. The book upset the Yankees' management, and Wells was fined $100,000 by the team for disparaging comments which appeared in it.<ref name="Curry">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/10/sports/baseball-yankees-and-wells-hope-fine-ends-story.html | work=The New York Times | first=Jack | last=Curry | title=BASEBALL; Yankees And Wells Hope Fine Ends Story | date=March 10, 2003}}</ref> One of them included himself having a hangover when he pitched his [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]].<ref name="Curry"/><ref name="Baxter">{{cite news| url=https://articles.latimes.com/2007/aug/31/sports/sp-dodgers31/2 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530171345/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/aug/31/sports/sp-dodgers31/2 | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 30, 2012 | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Kevin | last=Baxter | title=The Big Easy | date=August 31, 2007}}</ref> Among the other controversial statements were claims that he strengthened his pitching arm as a youth by throwing rocks at homeless people<ref name="Baxter"/> and that his minor league team, the [[Kinston Blue Jays]], had segregated stands in 1983 despite ample evidence to the contrary. Wells claimed to have been misquoted in the book, which was presumably penned by a [[ghost writer]]. The problems didn't carry over to the field, however. Wells posted a 15–7 record and the Yankees won another pennant.<ref name="B-Ref"/>

On September 28, 2003, the final day of the regular season, Wells earned the 200th win of his career in a game managed by Clemens, who had won his 300th game earlier in the season and was thought to be retiring from baseball (Clemens ended up delaying his retirement). Regular Yankees manager [[Joe Torre]] let Clemens manage the final game of the regular season, and Clemens pulled Wells from the game in the eighth inning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=20030929&id=XA0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BHUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5935,3943126|title=Wells gives Yanks 101st in|newspaper=The Hour|last=Fitzpatrick |first=Mike |date=September 29, 2003}}</ref>

Wells was criticized by some Yankees fans for not being able to pitch during Game 5 of the [[2003 World Series]]. He started the game, but left during the first inning because of a bad backache, which forced Torre to use his bullpen to finish the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pinstripealley.com/2009/11/6/1120007/david-wells-calls-joe-torre-a-tool|title=David Wells calls Joe Torre 'such a tool'|website=Pinstripe Alley |date=November 6, 2009}}</ref> The Yankees lost the game and the series to the [[Florida Marlins]] in six games.

===San Diego Padres (2004)===
On January 1, 2004, Wells was signed as a [[free agent]] by the [[San Diego Padres]] to a one-year contract. Wells posted a 12–8 record with a 3.73 ERA to start off his second stint in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]].

===Boston Red Sox (2005–2006)===
On December 11, 2004, Wells signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox and took the uniform number 3, in honor of [[Babe Ruth]]. He started the season poorly, and by the end of May, Wells and shortstop [[Édgar Rentería]] — another new Red Sox player who had gotten off to a slow start — switched uniform numbers, with Wells taking Rentería's 16 and Rentería taking Wells' 3, after Rentería paid Wells for the privilege.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marchand |first=Andrew |date=May 30, 2005 |title=RENTERIA'S THREE WASN'T FREE |url=https://nypost.com/2005/05/30/renterias-three-wasnt-free/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}</ref> After a stint on the DL, Wells became the same dominating pitcher he was in the past. He went on to post a 15–7 record, with a 4.45 ERA. 

After the 2005 season, Wells requested a trade back to the West Coast, but he eventually withdrew that request and resigned himself to one last year pitching for the Red Sox.

[[Image:David Wells pitches wp.jpg|300px|thumb|Wells pitching for the Red Sox in 2006]]
Wells began the 2006 season on the [[disabled list]], as he was still recovering from [[surgery]] performed on his right knee. After pitching one game on April 12, he was again placed on the 15-day disabled list. He announced that if his knee did not improve he would retire. Wells came off the disabled list on May 26, to make his second start of the year against the [[Tampa Bay Devil Rays]].

===Second stint with the San Diego Padres (2006–2007)===
On August 31, 2006, with the Red Sox postseason chances fading, Wells' wish of finishing his career playing for a West Coast team and a playoff contender was granted when he was traded back to the [[San Diego Padres|Padres]] for top catching prospect [[George Kottaras]].

Following the 2006 season, Wells filed for free agency. For players who are already planning on retiring, this is a customary move in case one changes his mind. Wells' agent had stated the pitcher will keep his options open but his physical condition will play a large part in making the final decision whether or not to return for another season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2647290|title=Wells keeps options open; will declare for free agency|date=November 2, 2006|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Eventually, Wells decided to stay with the Padres, agreeing in principle on a one-year deal worth $3 million in base salary with a possible $4 million more in incentives.

On March 18, 2007, the media revealed that Wells has been diagnosed with Type 2 [[diabetes]]. This form of diabetes is more closely associated with lifestyle factors, such as diet, but the condition of people with a genetic disposition for diabetes can be exacerbated with chronic high [[blood sugar]], as insulin resistance can be an adaptation of insulin in the wake of too-high blood sugar over time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2804147|title=Padres' Wells has diabetes but vows to 'beat it'|date=March 19, 2007|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

On August 8, the Padres announced they would cut ties with Wells when [[Chris Young (pitcher)|Chris Young]] was ready to come off the disabled list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2966580|title=Career over? 'Boomer' Wells, Pads set to cut ties|date=August 8, 2007|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

===Los Angeles Dodgers (2007)===
On August 23, 2007, Wells was signed by the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. His first start with the Dodgers was on August 26 against the [[New York Mets]]. He pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs. Wells also reached first base on a bunt single, scored a run, and earned the victory. He was the oldest pitcher to start a game for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On September 13, 2007, against his former team, the San Diego Padres, Wells had his first multi-hit game of his 21-year career at the age of 44. He hit a [[Single (baseball)|single]] and a [[double (baseball)|double]] off former teammate [[Greg Maddux]]. Wells finished the season with the Dodgers going 4–1 with a 5.12 ERA. Wells filed for free agency after the 2007 season.