Sawyer appeared in the first game of his somewhat brief four-year career, throwing 1.2 innings on April 28th of 1974 and giving up three earned runs on two hits and a walk.
He’d appear in only four games the following season, not factoring in a decision over six innings pitched, before finding himself as a member of the San Diego Padres after a trade for Gene Locklear in June of 1976.
He performed very well, going 5-3 with a 2.53 earned run average the rest of the way over 81.2 innings pitched, with two shutouts and four complete games over 13 appearances.
He would play his only “full” season in 1977, appearing in 56 games for San Diego, posting a record of 7-6 over 111 innings of work, but sported a bloated 5.84 ERA, which would turn out to be the last MLB action he’d see.
After spending the entire 1978 season in the Minor Leagues with the Cleveland Indians organization, he’d retire, finishing up with a record of 12-9, with an ERA at 4.49 over 74 appearances and 200.1 innings pitched.
