#398) RICH SAUVEUR

Rich Sauveur signed with the New York Mets as a free agent on January 22, 1991. It had been two years since he pitched in four games at the major league level with the Montreal Expos. The case was the same for Rich in the Mets organization when he began his season at Triple-A Tidewater. When New York lost John Franco to injury they promoted Sauveur who made his Mets' debut on June 5, 1991. The left-handed reliever appeared in six games, but only logged a total of 3-1/3 innings of work. His off-speed repertoire did not serve him near as effectively as it had in the minor leagues. So his outing on June 19th, surrendering three hits in a third of an inning at Shea Stadium, was his last as a Met. Rich finished the season with the Tides and was granted free agency on January 23, 1992.

Sauveur was a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization when he played in Indianapolis. The Triple-A Indians captured the American Association Championship in 1994. Rich was perhaps that club's best option from the bullpen during the run. Whenever he was not on the mound showcasing his fine curveball he could often be found in the local baseball card shops building his collection. "Baseball has been everything that I thought it would be." Rich was quoted in 1998, while still a member of the Indians, "I mean, I can't say I stayed up there. But I have been up there. And they can't take that away".

After his playing career Rich became a pitching coach in 2002. Beginning as a player/coach with the Brockton Rox of the Independent Can-Am League. He worked his way to the Triple-A minor league level with the Pawtucket Red Sox. He has been able to use his vast experience with various organizations to his advantage. "Most of all, I try to be a teacher." Sauveur noted, "I've tried to take the best of coaching from everyone that I have worked with."

Rich Sauveur signed his card in the set for me before the game on May 29, 2009. When the Pawtucket Red Sox faced the Indianapolis Indians at Victory Field.