Welch was the third starting pitcher in the rotation for the 1989 World Series champion Oakland A 's , compiling a regular-season record of 17-8 and recording a win in his only start in the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays . In an odd twist of fate , however , Welch did not throw a single pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the World Series itself . Just minutes before Welch was to take the mound in Game 3 , Candlestick Park and the Bay Area were struck by the Loma Prieta earthquake , which caused extensive damage in the region and forced the postponement of the game . When the Series was resumed 11 days later , A 's manager Tony La Russa opted to re-use his Game 1 starter , Dave Stewart , for Game 3 in place of Welch , and his Game 2 starter , Mike Moore , for Game 4 in place of originally scheduled starter Storm Davis . The strategy worked , as the A 's swept the Series in four games giving him his second World Series
Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Bob Welch (baseball)