Dave Heaverlo

Dave Heaverlo
Relief pitcher
Born: (1950-08-25) August 25, 1950 (age 74)
Ellensburg, Washington, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 14, 1975, for the San Francisco Giants
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1981, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Win–loss record26–26
Earned run average3.41
Strikeouts288
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

David Wallace Heaverlo (/ˈhævərloʊ/ HAV-er-loh;[1] born August 25, 1950) is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher. His out pitch was a forkball. He is noted for shaving his head at a time when it wasn't popular and wearing a uniform number usually assigned to players not expected to make the major leagues coming out of spring training.[2]

He attended Moses Lake High School in Moses Lake, Washington, graduating in 1968. He then went on to Central Washington University, in Ellensburg, Washington, where he graduated in 1973. For his baseball contributions, he is a member of the school hall of fame at both his high school[3] and university.

Heaverlo pitched for the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland Athletics, and the Seattle Mariners. He made his major league debut on April 14, 1975, for the Giants and pitched his last game on September 27, 1981, for the Athletics. He earned a reputation as a jokester. He shaved his head because he couldn't stand the Arizona heat in spring training and insisted on keeping his non-roster uniform number 60 so he didn't have to change it on his glove or cleats.[2] His bald head earned him the nickname Kojak after the television detective played by Telly Savalas.[1]

After going 5–1 with a 2.55 ERA in 1977, he along with Gary Thomasson, Gary Alexander, John Henry Johnson, Phil Huffman, Alan Wirth and $300,000 was traded from the Giants to the Athletics for Vida Blue on March 15, 1978.[4] Mario Guerrero was sent to the Athletics just over three weeks later on April 7 to complete the transaction.

In his career, he made 356 major league appearances, all as a relief pitcher.[5] He pitched 537 career innings and earned 26 saves. His ERA was a respectable 3.41.

Heaverlo now works as the pitching coach for the Big Bend Vikings in Moses Lake, Washington. He also hosts a radio talk show.[6]

He is the father of Jeff Heaverlo, a minor league pitcher who played in the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organizations.

References

  1. ^ a b Markusen, Bruce. "#CardCorner: 1978 Topps Dave Heaverlo," National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved August 2, 2021
  2. ^ a b Olson, Luke. "Dave Heaverlo enjoying life after baseball," Daily Record (Ellensburg, WA), Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2021
  3. ^ Moses Lake High School Chief Pride
  4. ^ "Seven Players Traded to A's," United Press International (UPI), Thursday, March 16, 1978. Retrieved October 22, 2020
  5. ^ Dave Heaverlo
  6. ^ Tri-Cities Sports Hall of Fame