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William Thomas Pulsipher (born October 9, 1973) is an American former professional baseball player. Pulsipher, a left-handed pitcher, played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals over six seasons from to . Once considered a top prospect and a member of the Mets' heralded "Generation K", his career was derailed by injuries, including a torn ulnar collateral ligament requiring Tommy John surgery, major depression and anxiety.
Pulsipher, along with fellow Mets minor league pitchers Jason Isringhausen and Paul Wilson, were dubbed "Generation K" by sportswriters and fans.
Towards the end of spring training in 1996, Pulsipher was still experiencing elbow pain when an MRI showed torn ligaments; subsequent Tommy John surgery wiped out his entire season. In 1997, Pulsipher started the season with Norfolk, but walked 38 batters in only innings. He was sent down to the A-level St. Lucie Mets, but continued walking nearly a batter per inning. Pulsipher later recounted that he was diagnosed with depression around that time. He was prescribed Prozac and his pitching improved, including a 1.42 ERA out of the bullpen at AA Binghamton.
After beginning 1998 in Norfolk, Pulsipher was called back up to the majors for the first time in seasons. Although his control problems did not resurface, he pitched poorly for New York, mostly in relief pitcher. At the July 31 trading deadline, Pulsipher was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Mike Kinkade.
Pulsipher started for the Brewers for the rest of 1998, but needed back surgery after the season. He started 1999 in the majors, but was soon on the disabled list when back problems recurred. After spending the second half in the majors and finishing with a 5.98 ERA, the Brewers traded him back to the Mets for infielder Luis López.
Pulsipher pitched poorly for Norfolk and New York in 2000 before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Lenny Harris. He spent the rest of the season in the minors, mostly with the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed him for 2001, but sent him to the minors during spring training and released him soon after. He was signed by the Boston Red Sox, pitched well for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox, and was brought up to the majors in late June. After pitching very well in relief for a month, Pulsipher was awful through August with an ERA near 10.00 and was placed on waivers. The Chicago White Sox claimed him off waivers but he rejected an assignment to the minors after posting a 7.88 ERA and became a free agent.
While tending to the minor league complex's field in Florida, Pulsipher continued to stay in shape. In December 2002, he was signed by the Baltimore Orioles. While with the AAA Ottawa Lynx in 2003, he again experienced bouts of depression and anxiety and was prescribed Paxil, which he says improved his life.
In 2004, Pulsipher did not pursue a major league contract and instead signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. For the first time since 2000, Pulsipher was starting games, and he pitched well enough to be named an Atlantic League All-Star. He led Long Island to its first league championship, winning the clinching game.
Pulsipher was signed by the Seattle Mariners in August 2004, but was injured after two decent minor league starts and released in September. He recovered to pitch well for Indios de Mayagüez in the Caribbean Series. He was signed to play for a Tijuana team in the Mexican League when his former teammate Jason Isringhausen convinced the St. Louis Cardinals to invite him to 2005 spring training. Pulsipher did not allow a run for the entire spring training, but he injured his hamstring and had his toe broken by a line drive before the season started. Regardless, he made the team out of spring training and pitched in the majors for the first time since 2001. The hamstring injury recurred in mid-April, landing him on the disabled list. He returned a few weeks later, but was sent to the minors after two games. He was mostly a starter in the minor leagues before being released in early September.
Pulsipher finished 2005 with the Long Island Ducks, which made the playoffs for the second consecutive season. He spent the entire 2006 season with the Ducks, which again made the postseason. Pulsipher was the losing pitcher in the season-ending game. Pulsipher also played for the Ducks in 2007.
Pulsipher played a few winters for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean league while continuing to play in the independent leagues as well as the Mexican League. He started the 2010 season the pitcher/pitching coach for the GBL's Yuma Scorpions. Pulsipher returned to playing midseason, rejoining the Atlantic League pitching for the Somerset Patriots and re-signed with the Patriots for the 2011 season.
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