They grew up here, the three of them close in age, closer in geographic proximity, and they grew into three of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball during the 1980s.
Thirteen All-Star Games, seven Gold Gloves, more than 400 wins and 255 saves.
All from three guys who grew up within 20 minutes of one another.
“I was always proud to say, ‘Yeah, we’re from San Jose,’” Dave Righetti said recently. “Nobody knew where that was. There was no Sharks. There was no Silicon Valley.”
Righetti is the most San Jose of them all. Born here, still lives here.
Mark Langston was born in San Diego, came here at age 5.
Dave Stieb, born in Santa Ana, arrived as a high school freshman.
Their story is more than 60 years in the making, This story, almost 30. Righetti pitched it to me in 1994. You’re seeing it now because tonight Stieb, the pride of Oak Grove High School, will be inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame where plaques of Righetti (Pioneer High) and Langston (Buchser High) already hang in the concourse of SAP Center.
Back in their day, there was no social media, no Max Preps, no travel ball teams. But Langston knew of Stieb and Righetti.
“Those guys were legends,” said Langston, 63. “I didn’t know them, but I knew all about them. They were guys I always looked up to.”
Because of the age difference — Stieb is 66, Righetti 65 this month — Langston never played against them. In fact, there is only one known meeting between any of them. It was in a CCS playoff game between Righetti’s Pioneer team and Stieb’s Oak Grove team.
Stieb’s team won 2-1.
“Stieb threw out my brother at the plate from centerfield,” Righetti said. “He threw a rocket.”
Stieb remembers. “I threw a bullet.”
The next year Righetti and Stieb were teammates at San Jose City College. Langston was headed there too until San Jose State offered him a scholarship. Imagine those three on the same pitching staff. It never would have happened, because Stieb and Righetti had moved on after one year. Langston was still in high school.
And, besides, one of them wasn’t a pitcher. Funny, but Stieb, the second-winningest pitcher of the 1980s — only Jack Morris won more games in the decade — didn’t throw a pitch in high school. Or in college until his third year.
Stieb was an outfielder. He was a college All-American his junior year, hitting .394 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI in 51 games for Southern Illinois University,
He still wonders what might have been had he not become a pitcher. He might have been like Shohei Ohtani, in the lineup every day, on the mound every fifth day. It’s a notion that Langston, who follows Ohtani closely as an Angels broadcaster, does not rush to dispel.
“I’ll always wonder,” Stieb said, wistfully. “But the way things turned out, I don’t really have any regrets. I can’t say I would have hit as I advanced up through the minors.”
Pitching found Stieb, not the other way around. Injuries had put the Southern Illinois staff in crisis. Stieb agreed to help out of the bullpen. He was pitching in relief one day against Eastern Illinois. Two Toronto Blue Jays scouts were in attendance, checking out the shortstop from the other team. They liked what they saw from Stieb the pitcher.
Stieb was drafted by the Blue Jays in 1978 and was in the majors within a year.
Righetti followed a month later, a September 1979 callup by the Yankees.
Langston arrived in 1984 and went 17-10 for a Seattle Mariners team that finished 14 games under .500. He also led the league in strikeouts, the first of three times. In a rookie class that included Roger Clemens and Kirby Puckett, Langston finished second. His teammate and roommate Alvin Davis won it with 27 homers and 116 RBI. (Oh, the aforementioned seven Gold Gloves; those all belong to Langston.)
Righetti won Rookie of the Year in 1981, led the league in saves once, and would have made many more All-Star teams under today’s rules. (Back then, there were no honorary selections. If you weren’t available to play in the game because of injury or otherwise, then you weren’t selected as an All-Star.)
Stieb won an ERA title, led the league in complete games and shutouts and twice led the league in innings pitched. (Fiery Dave also led the league in hit batsmen five times.)
By the end, they all had pitched no-hitters. That’s a sentence Langston does dispute.
“They had no-hitters,” he said, referring to Stieb and Righetti. “Mine was combined. You can’t put me in there with them. Those two were legit.”
In 1990, in his first game with the Angels — against his old team, the Seattle Mariners — Langston pitched seven hitless innings. Because spring training had been reduced to three weeks as a result of a labor lockout, Langston hadn’t gone more than four innings in a game. The decision to come out after seven innings was left to him.
“I had nothing left,” he said. “I couldn’t have gone another two innings.”
Righetti got his no-hitter on July 4, 1983, a Yankee doodle dandy on a 94-degree day in the Bronx against the hated Red Sox, no less. He struck out Wade Boggs to end it. Boggs struck out 36 times that year in 685 trips to the plate.
Stieb got his in 1990, finally. Four times he had gone into the ninth inning with a no-hitter. The fourth time was the charm.
Of the 13 All-Star Game appearances among the three of them, Stieb had seven. Langston four. Righetti’s two came back to back, 1986 and 1987. The latter was in Oakland, so close to home, and Righetti wanted all three of them to make it. Stieb, an All-Star in three of the four previous seasons, was the one who didn’t.
“I was coming off my worst season,” he said.
None of them remember pitching against the other in the majors, which makes sense in one case. Righetti became a reliever in 1984, the year Langston reached the majors.
Langston pitched 16 years, almost exclusively in the American League. Ten of those seasons overlapped with Stieb’s career, but never a day that either can recall.
There was a night, though. After a game in Seattle, Langston invited Stieb to his home.
“He was a guitar guy,” Langston said. “We played guitars.”
“He had a nice little studio, lots of guitars,” Stieb recalled.
Langston remembers a night out with Righetti in the Bay Area. Righetti remembers a night out with Stieb in college; they went to see Andre the Giant at the Cow Palace.
But the three of them together? Never happened.
It won’t happen tonight either. Langston spends his offseasons in Tennessee. Righetti has a previous commitment.
But it’s OK. The three boys who grew up here, grew up to dominate major league pitching in the 1980s, will be hanging together on the concourse walls at SAP Center for the rest of time.
“Anything that happens in your hometown is so special,” Langston said, who was enshrined in 2018. “That night was very, very special for me. I’m sure it will be for Dave too.”
EVENT IS SOLD OUT
No tickets remain for the induction of the greatest class in the Hall’s 26-year history. In addition to Stieb, Patrick Marleau, Chris Wondolowski and Lorrie Fair are being inducted. The selection committee waived its five-year waiting period for Wondolowski and Marleau following their retirement as players in 2021 and 2022, respectively, because of their deep roots in the area.
When San Jose’s aces ruled Major League Baseball
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Arsenal highlighted for spending 26 seconds taking corner v Everton – Sky Sports’ tweet backfires
on Inside Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager’s ‘amazing’ luxury spring break vacations with their families
on Inside Floyd Mayweather’s Lavish Lifestyle: A Look at His Stunning Car Collection and Private Jet
on In
on If Tom Cruise Ever Gets A Theme Park, Here’s What Movies Should Get Their Own Rides And Attractions
on ‘I Will Immediately Retire From Boxing and Fight Jorge Masvidal…’: Jake Paul Starts 2023 With a Bang
on How The Other Half Fly: VistaJet Goes To Enviable Lengths To Make Air Travel Better For Your Body
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Growing number of sports bras, athletic wear found with high levels of toxic chemical, watchdog says
on GM Cruise Setbacks And EV Profitability Concerns: Analyst Lowers Expectations for Future Investments
on Fresno State at Nevada live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Following Exchange With Caitlin Clark At News Conference, Columnist Won’t Cover Indiana Fever Games
on Florida lawmakers introduce bills that would criminalize storming fields, courts at sporting events
on FIU vs. Jacksonville State live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Erdogan to attend Turkey-Netherlands Euro 2024 quarterfinal amid diplomatic row with host Germany
on East Carolina vs. Tulane basketball game postponed following death of Pirates announcer Jeff Charles
on EA Sports College Football 25, among most anticipated sports video games in history, hits the market
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Donovan Mitchell will be extra motivated to carry the Cavaliers, plus other best bets for Tuesday
on Disney Cruise Line Announces New Fireworks Show and More Details About ‘Silver Anniversary at Sea’
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Death toll from Ian, storm-caused flooding crosses 50 people; remnants to dissipate over Virginia
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on Dallas Cowboys Will “Bring You Nothing But Bad Luck”, Sports Media Vet Warns Luka Doncic’s Mavericks
on Cruise worker accused of stabbing woman and 2 security guards with scissors on ship headed to Alaska
on Cruise guest gets stuck on ‘claustrophobic’ water slide suspended over ocean: ‘That is super scary’
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Tormented”: How Tom Cruise Was Almost Cast In The Shawshank Redemption (& Why He Wasn’t)
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on Comparing the Humongous Combined Wealth of Latest Business Partners Lewis Hamilton and Rory McIlroy
on Colorado State vs. New Mexico live stream, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on College basketball rankings: Virginia joins preseason Top 25 And 1, ready to contend for ACC title
on College basketball rankings: Kansas helps Big 12 lead conference race for most Top 100 And 1 players
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Can Tom Cruise Save The Box Office Again With Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning? An Investigation
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on “Bro Is Jogging”: Resurfaced Video of Usain Bolt’s 9.84 Seconds Run, Leaves Sports World in Denial
on Braun Strowman Reportedly Set for WWE Return Abroad on Promotional Tour After 6 Months Out Injured
on Brad Keselowski Feels NASCAR Could Welcome New Manufacturer Soon Amid Martin Truex Jr’s Engine Tests
on Boise State vs. Nevada live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Big Tech companies will cover travel expenses for employees’ medical procedures, including abortion
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on Best places to travel in 2023: National Geographic unveils list of top 25 destinations for next year
on Ask Amy: Should I keep my RSVP simple and just gracefully decline or say I can’t afford the trip?
on As more abortion bans occur, many patients must travel hundreds of miles for care – or be stranded
on Air Force vs. Utah State live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer
on A missile fired by Houthis strikes a US-owned vessel off Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, raising tensions
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on $12M Worth Dawn Staley Sports Pricey Jordans While Witnessing Joel Embiid’s Suffering Against Knicks
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on College basketball rankings: Kansas helps Big 12 lead conference race for most Top 100 And 1 players
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer
on Lamar Jackson: NFC side tipped to be ‘overwhelming’ Super Bowl favourites if they signed Ravens QB
on ICC T20 World Cup 2022: “Love Cricket At All Levels, I’ll Watch Any Cricket, And Love Going There”
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on Following Exchange With Caitlin Clark At News Conference, Columnist Won’t Cover Indiana Fever Games
on Inside Out Mini Jawbreaker Puzzle Game from Disney Cruise Line Now Available at Walt Disney World
on Katherine Paprocka allegedly embezzled nearly $600k from school for family vacations, IVF treatment
on Johnny Knoxville Talks Jackass Stunts And How They Compare To Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible Work
on Napoli owner admits he ‘knew’ Victor Osimhen would end up at ‘Real Madrid, PSG or one English club’
on Camilla Parker Bowles Revealed the ‘Nicest Thing’ She and Prince Charles Do When They Travel Is Free
on Russian cruise and ballistic missiles kill 4 in Ukraine and Ukrainian rockets kill 2 in Russian city
on Can Tom Cruise Save The Box Office Again With Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning? An Investigation
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on College basketball rankings: Kansas helps Big 12 lead conference race for most Top 100 And 1 players
on Inside Floyd Mayweather’s Lavish Lifestyle: A Look at His Stunning Car Collection and Private Jet
on Cruise guest gets stuck on ‘claustrophobic’ water slide suspended over ocean: ‘That is super scary’
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Big Tech companies will cover travel expenses for employees’ medical procedures, including abortion
on Russian cruise and ballistic missiles kill 4 in Ukraine and Ukrainian rockets kill 2 in Russian city
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer
on GameFly Sale Offering Nintendo Switch Sports at a Mind-Blowing Price, Don’t Miss the Opportunity!
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer