Steve Sparks Steven William "Steve" Sparks (born July 2, 1965 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a knuckleball-throwing right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher whom graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1987. Sparks started his major league career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1995. He signed as a free agent for the Anaheim Angels in 1998 and was a free agent again in 2000. He signed briefly with the Philadelphia Phillies and was released in spring training. Sparks started the 2000 season with the Detroit Tigers and had a career-high 14 wins for them in 2001. After starting the 2003 season with the Tigers, he briefly played for the Oakland Athletics and ended the season with the Toronto Blue Jays, before moving to the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2004 season. He was signed by the San Diego Padres to a minor-league contract before the 2005 season. After the 2005 season, He was signed by the Houston Astros to a minor league contract.
