Dave Valle
| Dave Valle | |
|---|---|
| Catcher | |
| Born: October 30, 1960 Bayside, New York |
|
| Batted: 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 (
/ˈvæli/; born October 30, 1960 in Bayside, New York) is an American former professional baseball player and current television and radio sports commentator.[1] He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers from 1984 to 1996.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Major League career
Valle was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the second round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft.[2] He played in the minor leagues for seven seasons before making his major league debut with the Mariners on September 7, 1984 at the age of 23.[1][3] For the next two seasons, Valle split his playing time with the Mariners and the Calgary Cannons of the Pacific Coast League, producing a .312 batting average with 21 home runs and 71 runs batted in with Calgary during the 1986 season.[3]
From 1987 to 1990, he played for the Mariners 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]
[edit] 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]
[edit] 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 returned to the Mariners radio network to call games on a part-time basis.
[edit] 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.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Dave Valle at Baseball Reference". Baseball-reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/valleda01.shtml. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ "1978 Major League Baseball Draft". thebaseballcube.com. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/1978/June-Reg/2.shtml. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Dave Valle minor league statistics". Baseball-reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=valle-001dav. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ 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
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
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- 1960 births
- Living people
- Baseball players from New York
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Boston Red Sox players
- Milwaukee Brewers players
- Seattle Mariners players
- Texas Rangers players
- Alexandria Mariners players
- Bellingham Mariners players
- Calgary Cannons players
- Chattanooga Lookouts players
- Lynn Sailors players
- Richmond Braves players
- Salt Lake City Gulls players
- San Jose Missions players
- Seattle Mariners broadcasters
- Major League Baseball announcers
- MLB Network personalities
- Sportspeople from Queens
