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Magna
The only Utahn ever to appear for the winning team in a World Series shared the stage with his younger brother Friday, when Scott and Willie Eyre were inducted into the Cyprus High Hall of Fame.
Cyprus baseball coach Bob Fratto labeled Scott Eyre "the best pitcher ever to come out of Utah," at least among players he's witnessed in his 28 years at the school. On an all-time basis, that distinction could be disputed only by fans of Bruce Hurst, who pitched for Dixie High in the 1970s and went on to a highly successful pro career.
Scott Eyre (Class of 1990) pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies when they won the 2008 championship. He also played in the World Series with San Francisco in 2002 and the Phillies in '09, during a career that covered 10-plus years of official service time and included 617 regular-season appearances on the mound.
Willie Eyre ('96) pitched for three teams in the majors over four seasons.
"They never forgot about Cyprus High. They never forgot about me," Fratto said during the 90-minute school assembly.
Fratto may have talked all day, if the school schedule allowed him. That's how much he appreciates the loyalty of the Eyres, who have provided equipment to the Cyprus program and hosted the Pirates when they played in tournaments in Arizona during spring training. In turn, Willie Eyre said of Fratto, "That guy has done so much for us. He'll tell you we already knew everything [about baseball]. I didn't know anything."
The brothers also emotionally spoke of Peggy Eyre's sacrifices as a single mother who moved her five children to Utah from California when Scott, the oldest, was 14. Addressing his coaches and older Cyprus players, Willie Eyre said, "These guys showed me how to be a Pirate. My mom showed me how to a person."
Cyprus already staged one set of inductions in the traditional time frame of September, but administrators honored a longtime commitment to Fratto. Whenever he could get the brothers to come from Florida, they told him, they would stage another ceremony.
Fratto has endorsed Scott Eyre for this honor for 12 years, ever since that 2002 World Series. Eyre always resisted, saying, "I haven't accomplished anything."
That reflects a humble nature that Fratto admires, although he told some stories that showed Eyre's confidence. One day, Eyre painted his baseball shoes metallic blue in advance of an American Legion game. Fratto told him, "You'd better back it up." After pitching a no-hitter against Hillcrest, Eyre asked, "Did I back it up?"
In the 1990 Legion state tournament, Eyre pitched three complete seven-inning games. In those 21 innings, by Fratto's account, the left-hander struck out 50 batters and allowed four hits.
In the major leagues, Eyre pitched almost exclusively as a reliever for five teams. In the 2008 World Series, he appeared in two games as a left-handed specialist against Tampa Bay and retired both batters — actually, facing Akinora Iwamura twice.
West High alumnus Fred Sanford was a valuable member of the world champion New York Yankees in 1948 and '49, but did not pitch in the World Series. Utah prep products who have played in the World Series for the losing team, in addition to Eyre in '02 and '09, include Ogden's Ken Hunt with Cincinnati in 1961, Skyline's George Theodore with the New York Mets in '73, Hurst with Boston in '86, Ben Lomond's Glenn Hubbard with Oakland in '88 and Viewmont's Kelly Downs with San Francisco in '89.
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