Dave Von Ohlen Explained

Dave Von Ohlen
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Right
Throws:Left
Birth Date:25 October 1958
Birth Place:Flushing, New York, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:May 13
Debutyear:1983
Debutteam:St. Louis Cardinals
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:June 21
Finalyear:1987
Finalteam:Oakland Athletics
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:7–7
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:3.33
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:59
Teams:

David Von Ohlen (born October 25, 1958) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Von Ohlen pitched in all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball from 1983 through 1987. He appeared in 181 Major League games, all in relief.

Early career

Von Ohlen was selected by the New York Mets out of Flushing High School in the 17th round of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft. He spent six seasons in the Mets farm system without making it to the majors, and he was granted free agency after the 1982 season.

Major League career

Von Ohlen signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals in December 1982, and made his major league debut with the team on May 13, 1983, working 1 2/3 innings of perfect relief against the Montreal Expos.[1] [2] He pitched two seasons for St. Louis, appearing in 73 games with an ERA of 3.23. He was released by the Cardinals on November 9, 1984, and signed with the Cleveland Indians on January 9, 1985. In 1985, Von Ohlen put up an ERA of 2.91 in 26 appearances, but was released after the 1985 season.

Von Ohlen started the 1986 season with the Miami Marlins, an independent team in the Florida State League. He was purchased from them on June 1, 1986, by the Oakland Athletics, where he pitched in 28 games between 1986 and 1987 before again being released. On June 21, 1987, in his final major league appearance, Von Ohlen pitched the final three innings of Oakland's 13–3 loss to the Texas Rangers in the second game of a double header at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.[3]

Von Ohlen returned to the Marlins to start the 1988 season before being re-signed by Oakland (but did not appear in another major league game), finishing his professional career with the Tacoma Tigers in the A's organization.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dave Von Ohlen player page at Baseball-Reference.com .
  2. Web site: Dave Von Ohlen 1983 game log at Baseball-Reference.com .
  3. Web site: Dave Von Ohlen 1987 game log at Baseball-Reference.com .