In five seasons pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chuck Crim enjoyed few nights off.

But it wasn’t until he saw his numbers etched in a bronze plaque among the first wave of players enshrined on the Brewers’  Wall of Honor this month that the former University of Hawaii star realized just how rare they really were.

His 332 appearances in five years (1987-91), the plaque at Miller Park notes, were the most by a major league pitcher in that period.

"I knew I had a lot, but I really didn’t know that," Crim said. "Between warming up for games I got in, games I didn’t get in and the ones I was a decoy, you could probably count on two hands the numbers of nights off I had in some seasons," Crim said.  

He appeared in as many as 76 games in a single season, 1989, when he had a 2.83 earned-run average and was named The Sporting News’ top setup man. 

Crim and closer Dan Plesac formed one of the best one-two relief tandems in the game in that period and were honored along with former ‘Iolani pitcher Mike Fetters as part of the Brewers’ 45th anniversary celebration.

Crim excelled out of the bullpen because he thrived on competition on a nightly basis and came back for more. "I enjoyed trying to find ways to get guys out and being able to compete," Crim said. "I guess I was a pretty good soldier because I never wanted to say, ‘No.’ "

In retrospect, it undoubtedly took years off his career, but Crim says, "When they call you in to pitch, you just go out there and do your job. That’s how you make your money. You don’t leave anything in the back pocket."

Crim found his calling in the Brewers bullpen after starring for the Rainbows in a strictly starting role. His 15-0 freshman record in the College World Series season of 1980 remains the best year, percentage-wise, by a UH pitcher. Overall, Crim won 34 games for UH and ranks second to Derek Tatsuno in several categories.

When Crim left UH, a 17th-round draft pick of the Brewers in 1982, "I never imagined anything like this," he said. "I mean I had my dreams and goals and hopes and everything, but my expectations weren’t of something like this."

Overall, Crim spent eight seasons in the majors with the Brewers, Angels and Cubs, going 47-43 with a 3.83 ERA and 45 saves in 449 games until his retirement in the strike-shortened 1994 season. 

Then he spent seven years on the B.A.S.S. Bassmasters Tour pursuing his other passion, fishing, and doing some coaching on the side at the SHO-Me Baseball Camp in Missouri. 

Later he would coach two seasons at Canyon High in Santa Clarita, Calif., before finding his way back to the pros as a scout and minor league pitching coach for the Dodgers. 

The past two seasons have been spent back where his MLB career began, in the bullpen, this time as the Dodgers’ assistant pitching coach. It is where the 52-year-old imparts knowledge. And, sometimes, has to shake his head at his pupils’ incredulity over his numbers.

Crim said, "It is kind of funny, some kids today don’t understand that you don’t lead the league in appearances because you are doing bad. 

"You’re out there (so often) because you are  getting the job done."

And getting the job done was what it was always about for Crim.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.