Lary Sorensen – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Lary Sorensen spent 11 years on the mound in Major League Baseball, pitching as a right-hander from 1977 through 1988. Born in Detroit, Michigan, on October 4, 1955, he bounced around the league, suiting up for seven different teams: the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, and San Francisco Giants.

He finished his career with 93 wins and 103 losses across 346 games. Sorensen built a reputation as a reliable starter—he could eat innings and go toe-to-toe with the best hitters in the game.

His breakout came in 1978 with Milwaukee. That year, he went 18-12 with a 3.21 ERA and earned a spot on the American League All-Star team.

During that All-Star Game, Sorensen retired nine straight National League batters, including Hall of Famers Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and Steve Garvey. Not a bad day at the office.

Growing up in Michigan, Sorensen starred at the University of Michigan before making it to the big leagues. His journey took him through different roles and plenty of ups and downs—from early success in Milwaukee to bouncing between teams later on as both a starter and reliever.

After he retired at 32, Sorensen faced personal struggles that tested him in ways no major league lineup ever could.

Lary Sorensen’s Baseball Career Overview

Over 11 seasons from 1977 to 1988, Sorensen pitched for seven MLB teams and put together a 93-103 record with a 4.15 ERA. He started off strong with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he reached his peak, including an All-Star selection in 1978.

Major League Debut and Teams

Sorensen debuted in the majors on June 7, 1977, for the Milwaukee Brewers at just 21. Milwaukee had picked him in the 8th round of the 1976 draft after he pitched for Michigan in college.

He played for seven teams in all. After four years with Milwaukee (1977-1980), he moved to the St. Louis Cardinals (1981), Cleveland Indians (1982-1983), Oakland Athletics (1984), Chicago Cubs (1985), Montreal Expos (1987), and San Francisco Giants (1988).

He found the most success in Milwaukee. Sorensen went 52-46 with a 3.72 ERA in 129 games for the Brewers.

Career Timeline and Milestones

His big year arrived in 1978, when he went 18-12 with a 3.21 ERA for Milwaukee and made the All-Star team. That season really put him on the map as a reliable starter.

He threw 280.2 innings, completed 17 games, and tossed 3 shutouts that year. His WAR hit 5.0, the best of his career.

After Milwaukee, Sorensen struggled with consistency. In 1982 with Cleveland, he had a rough go, posting a 5.61 ERA and -1.1 WAR.

He shifted more into relief work later on, especially with the Cubs in 1985.

Key Career Stats

In 11 seasons, Sorensen appeared in 346 games and started 235 of them. He racked up 1,736.1 innings pitched with 569 strikeouts and 402 walks.

His career ERA landed at 4.15, and his WHIP was 1.360, which means he allowed about 1.36 baserunners per inning. Sorensen completed 69 games and notched 10 shutouts.

What really set him apart was his durability. Sorensen pitched over 200 innings in four seasons, keeping a steady presence even as he changed teams.

Statistical Highlights and Pitching Style

Lary Sorensen finished with a 93-103 record and a 4.15 ERA over 11 MLB seasons. He built his game on control and durability, earning a reputation as a steady starter during his prime.

Pitching Techniques and Strengths

Sorensen, a right-handed pitcher, stood 6’2″ and weighed 200 pounds. He never blew hitters away with velocity, but he made up for it with pinpoint control.

He rarely walked batters and always seemed to find the strike zone when it mattered. Changing speeds and hitting his spots were his bread and butter.

He worked both sides of the plate, keeping hitters guessing. Over his career, he collected 569 strikeouts—not a huge number, but he got outs with smarts and location.

Sorensen’s durability meant he could go deep into games and handle a heavy workload. He showed his best stuff early on with Milwaukee, but he kept a consistent level as a starter for years.

Year-by-Year Performance Breakdown

Sorensen started out with the [Milwaukee Brewers](https://www.baseballbiographies.com/stan-bahns

Oakland Athletics and Beyond

Sorensen’s later career took him through four different organizations, where he bounced between starting and relief roles. In 1984, Oakland leaned on him for both jobs whenever they needed.

The Athletics really appreciated his veteran presence in the clubhouse. Sorensen pitched in 19 games, starting 13 times, and finished with a 4.68 ERA.

His steady hand helped Oakland’s pitching staff get through a tricky transition. After that, he landed with Chicago, Montreal, and San Francisco between 1985 and 1988, showing just how adaptable he could be.

He took on smaller roles but never lost his professionalism. Over those final seasons, he got into 45 games.

The Cubs mostly asked him to spot start or eat up innings in relief back in 1985. Montreal brought him back in 1987 for depth, and San Francisco barely used him in his last season in 1988.

Sorensen’s work ethic and baseball smarts always made him a solid teammate, wherever he went. By the end, he racked up 93 wins and 569 strikeouts—definitely not flashy, but a steady presence for several teams.

Retirement and Post-Baseball Life

Lary Sorensen wrapped up his 11-year Major League career in 1988 with the San Francisco Giants, finishing at 93-103 with a 4.15 ERA. After baseball, he moved into a broadcasting career, but personal struggles with alcohol brought some tough times in the years that followed.

Final MLB Season in 1988

Sorensen played his last big league season with the Giants in 1988. That closed out a journey that began back with the Brewers in 1977.

By then, he’d already worn six different uniforms. His best season? Easily 1978, when he went 18-12 for Milwaukee and got his only All-Star nod.

He finished his career with 93 wins, 103 losses, and 569 strikeouts. He also walked 402 batters over 1,736.1 innings in 346 games.

Sorensen completed 69 games and threw 10 shutouts during his time in the majors. Even while he played, he worked at a Milwaukee radio and TV station during the off-seasons, getting ready for life after baseball.

Transition from Professional Baseball

Once he retired, Sorensen jumped right into broadcasting. He became a college baseball analyst for ESPN, using his communications degree from the University of Michigan.

In 1994, he joined WDFN-AM in Detroit as the morning host when 24-hour sports radio first hit the city. The station ran out of a converted garage, and Sorensen’s big league background gave them instant credibility.

His broadcasting career took off in 1995 when he became the color commentator for Detroit Tigers games on WJR-AM. He teamed up with play-by-play guy Frank Beckmann for about three and a half seasons.

Beckmann often mentioned how much he learned from Sorensen about the finer points of baseball. Still, the travel and late nights of broadcasting made things tough, especially with Sorensen already struggling with alcohol.

Life After Retirement

Life after baseball got rough for Sorensen because of serious alcohol problems. He picked up his first drunk driving conviction in 1992, then five more between 1999 and 2004.

Drinking cost him his broadcasting job with the Tigers. It also ended his marriage and led to multiple prison sentences for DUIs.

In 2008, police found him with a blood alcohol level of 0.48, six times the legal limit. That sent him back to prison for violating his probation.

After getting out in 2009, Sorensen kept drinking heavily while living in Grand Rapids, then Winston-Salem, North Carolina. A local mail carrier named Rick Gfeller kept inviting him to church for more than a year.

Eventually, Sorensen went to an Easter pageant in 2013, and that became a turning point. He met Elaine Layland, a nurse in the church choir who helped him through his last drinking episode.

Since getting sober, Sorensen has managed to rebuild his broadcasting career. Now he calls Wake Forest University baseball and football games and lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife.

Legacy and Impact on Baseball

Lary Sorensen left his mark on baseball by staying consistent as a starter and helping Milwaukee go from losing to contending. He built strong relationships and set a good example for teammates and younger pitchers who watched his work ethic and competitive fire.

Assessment by Peers and Analysts

People around baseball respected Sorensen for his durability and his knack for throwing strikes. That 1978 All-Star selection really showed he belonged with the best pitchers that year.

Former teammates often talked up his competitive streak. “I was ultracompetitive. I was willing to tackle someone rounding third to prevent him from scoring,” Sorensen once said. That kind of intensity really defined how he played.

He put up a 3.72 ERA over four seasons in Milwaukee, which shows he was steady. Sorensen averaged 213 innings per year with the Brewers, proving he could handle a heavy workload.

Baseball analysts liked his ability to throw strikes more than anything else. He leaned on a good sinker, fastball, and curveball, instead of just trying to overpower hitters.

Contributions to Team Dynamics

Sorensen played a big part in changing Milwaukee’s clubhouse culture under manager George Bamberger. The Brewers went from losing 94 games in 1977 to winning 93 in 1978.

He delivered 52 wins over four years in Milwaukee, giving the young rotation some much-needed stability. The team drew 1,601,406 fans in 1978, which was a franchise record at the time.

Sorensen really fit in with the “young, happy-go-lucky” vibe Bamberger encouraged. That positive energy helped Milwaukee become a true contender.

He also brought a complete-game mentality that matched what teams expected from starters back then. Sorensen finished 17 games in 1978 and nine in his rookie year, showing the stamina managers counted on.

Influence on Future Pitchers

Sorensen really leaned into command more than velocity, which is something developing pitchers can take to heart. He managed to find success even though he didn’t have that overpowering fastball, and honestly, it’s proof that location and sheer competitiveness can do a lot if you don’t have the physical gifts.

He finished his career with a 4.15 ERA over 11 seasons. That kind of consistency and durability still matters, even as baseball keeps changing.

Those 69 complete games? They say a lot about what teams expected from starters back then. It almost feels like a different world compared to now.

Young pitchers watched how seriously he prepared and how he attacked the strike zone. He bounced around to a few teams, showing a kind of adaptability that, let’s face it, is only getting more important as players switch teams more often.

After he retired, Sorensen threw himself into work with the Baseball Assistance Team. He didn’t just walk away—he kept giving back, and that’s a great example for other former players who want to stay connected to the game.