Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Andy Pettitte baseball career really began at Deer Park High School (Deer Park, Texas). As a high schooler, Pettitte’s fastball was regularly clocked in the high 80s and he also played on the school’s football team. After finishing his high school career, Pettitte was selected in the 22nd round of the 1990 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, but opted to play for San Jacinto College North Gators after being recruited by legendary college baseball coach Wayne Graham (today the head coach at Rice).

Due to signing with a junior college instead of a four-year school, the Yankees retained Pettitte’s rights and on May 25, 1991, he signed with New York receiving an $80,000 signing bonus. After a few seasons in the minors, Pettitte would make his major league debut on April 29, 1995. Pettitte would stay with the Yankees until 2003, helping the team to World Series victories in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. In 2004, Pettitte returned to Texas to play for the Houston Astros, staying with the team until 2006. Pettitte would finish with the Yankees playing from 2007-2010 and 2012-2013, winning another World Series in 2009.

One of the most phenomenal left-handed pitchers in MLB history, Pettitte would record 100 career pickoffs. Pettitte would finish his career as a three-time All-Star (1996, 2001, 2010), the 2001 ALCS MVP and the AL wins leader in 1996. The New York Yankees would retire Pettitte’s #46 on August 23, 2015, as Pettitte finished first in franchise history for strikeouts (2,020), third in wins (219) and tied for first in games started (438).

He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.