Gotta give some love to my man Barry Zito. Barry Zito was an American left-handed pitcher best known for his big curveball and eccentric personality. Born May 13, 1978, in Las Vegas, he played college baseball at UC Santa Barbara, Pierce College, and USC before being drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 1999. Zito debuted in MLB in 2000, quickly becoming a cornerstone of Oakland’s rotation. He won the 2002 AL Cy Young Award with a 23–5 record and a signature looping curve. In 2007, he signed a then-record $126 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, where his performance was inconsistent, but he redeemed himself in 2012 by helping the team win the World Series with clutch postseason starts. Known for his offbeat interests, music career, and philanthropy, Zito retired in 2015 and later wrote a memoir about baseball, life, and personal growth.