- Dave Valle
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Dave Valle Catcher Born: October 30, 1960
Bayside, New YorkBatted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut September 7, 1984 for the Seattle Mariners Last MLB appearance September 29, 1996 for the Texas Rangers Career statistics Batting average .237 Home runs 77 Runs batted in 350 Teams David Valle (pronounced /ˈvæli/ "valley"; born October 30, 1960 in Bayside, New York) is a former professional baseball player who was a catcher in the Major Leagues from 1984 to 1996.[1] He played for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers, all of the American League.[1] He also played as a first baseman, and as a designated hitter.[1]
Contents
Major League career
Valle was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the second round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft, and made his major league debut with the Mariners in 1984.[2][3] From 1987 to 1990, he was used in a platoon system alongside left-handed hitting catcher, Scott Bradley.[1] Valle led American League catchers in 1990 with a .997 fielding percentage, committing only two errors in 102 games.[4]
During the 1991, Valle played over 130 games and hovered around a .190 batting average. As the season matured, several television and radio media personnel loosely joked about this as the "Dave Valle Line", a reference to the Mendoza Line (a batting average of .200) as a measuring stick of batting futility for a non-pitcher. Several bars in the Seattle area began running promotions of selling beers for $1.90 each in honor of Valle's dubious achievement.[citation needed] However, Valle finished the 1991 season with a .194 batting average.[1]
From 1991 to 1993, he was the Mariners' starting catcher.[1] He had his best season in 1993, hitting for a .258 batting average with 13 home runs and 63 runs batted in.[1] He also led American League catchers in 1993 with 881 putouts, 57 baserunners caught stealing, a 7.05 range factor, finished second to Mike Stanley with a .995 fielding percentage, and finished third in assists behind Pat Borders and Iván Rodríguez.[5] Valle also caught a no-hitter pitched by Chris Bosio on April 22, 1993.[6]
Valle became a free agent after the 1993 season and signed a contract to play for the Boston Red Sox, who traded him later that same year to the Milwaukee Brewers.[7] He then signed with the Texas Rangers in 1995, serving as a reserve catcher to Iván Rodríguez, before retiring after the 1996 season.[1][7]
Career statistics
In a 13 year career, Valle played in 970 games, accumulating 658 hits in 2775 at bats for a .237 career batting average along with 77 home runs and 350 runs batted in.[1] While he was a light-hitting player, Valle was a good defensive catcher, ending his career with a .992 fielding percentage.[1]
Broadcasting career
Valle was a color commentator for Seattle Mariners television and radio broadcasts from 1997 through 2006. Since 2007, he has co-hosted the postgame show on the Mariners' radio network. In 2009, he became one of the analysts on the MLB Network's MLB tonight show. In 2011, he will return to Mariners radio to call games on a part-time basis.
Esperanza
Esperanza was founded in 1995 by Valle and his wife Victoria.[8] It is a Christian integral development organization focused on serving the most impoverished families in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dave Valle at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1978 Major League Baseball Draft at www.thebaseballcube.com
- ^ 1984 Seattle Mariners season at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1990 American League Fielding Leaders at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1993 American League Fielding Leaders at Baseball Reference
- ^ April 22, 1993 Red Sox-Mariners box score at Baseball Reference
- ^ a b Dave Valle Trades and Transactions at Baseball Almanac
- ^ www.hopetech-hosting.com
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
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