Dave Dravecky
Dave Dravecky | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | February 14, 1956|
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
MLB debut | |
June 15, 1982, for the San Diego Padres | |
Last MLB appearance | |
August 15, 1989, for the San Francisco Giants | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 64–57 |
Earned run average | 3.13 |
Strikeouts | 558 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
David Francis Dravecky (born February 14, 1956) is an American former professional baseball player, a motivational speaker, and an author. A left-handed pitcher, Dravecky played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres (1982–87) and the San Francisco Giants (1987–89). He was named an All-Star with the Padres in 1983 and played in the 1984 World Series.
In September 1988, Dravecky was diagnosed with a
Following his baseball career, Dravecky became a motivational speaker and an author. He has written three books.
Early life
Dravecky was born on February 14, 1956, in Youngstown, Ohio.[1] He has four brothers.[2] Dravecky graduated from Boardman High School in Youngstown[3] and from Youngstown State University,[4] where he played baseball and basketball.[5]
Professional baseball career
Dravecky was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1978.[6] The Pirates traded him to the San Diego Padres in 1981.[5][7]
San Diego Padres (1982–1987)
Dravecky made his Major League debut on June 15, 1982, for the Padres.[8] Pitching as a starter and as a reliever, he amassed a 5-3 record and a 2.57 earned run average.[1]
Dravecky represented the Padres at the 1983 All-Star Game, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out George Brett.[8] He started 28 games in 1983, finishing the season with a 14-10 record and an earned run average of 3.58.[1]
Dravecky became friends with two other Padres pitchers,
In 1984, the Padres won their first National League pennant. The Padres won a come-from-behind victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game Five of the National League Championship Series, with Dravecky and three other relievers shutting out the Cubs over a combined seven and two-thirds innings of work.[13] Used as a starter and as a reliever, Dravecky finished the season with a 9-8 record, an earned run average of 2.93, and eight saves. In the 1984 postseason, Dravecky appeared out of the bullpen in five games without giving up an earned run.[1] The Padres lost the World Series to the Detroit Tigers, four games to one.[14]
Dravecky won a total of 22 games for the Padres over the 1985 and 1986 seasons.[1]
In 1987, the Associated Press wrote that Dravecky was better known for his association with the John Birch Society than he was for his pitching.[15]
San Francisco Giants (1987–1989)
On July 4, 1987, the
While with the Giants, Dravecky and teammates Scott Garrelts, Atlee Hammaker, and Jeff Brantley became known as the "God Squad" because of their strong Christian faith. Foregoing the hard-partying lifestyle of many of their teammates, they preferred to hold Bible studies in their hotel rooms while on the road.[17]
Dravecky was the Giants' opening day starter in 1988, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1.[18] Shortly thereafter, he noticed stiffness in his pitching arm and was placed on the disabled list.[8]
Cancer, comeback, and retirement
In September of 1988, Dravecky was diagnosed with a
Doctors advised Dravecky to wait until 1990 to pitch again, but Dravecky was determined to pitch in 1989.
The Giants won the National League pennant in 1989, defeating the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS in five games. On October 9, 1989,[30] Dravecky's left arm was broken a second time when he was running out to the mound to celebrate[31] the Giants' 3-2 victory in Game Five.[32] The Giants went on to lose the World Series to the Oakland Athletics, four games to none.[33] After a doctor found a lump in Dravecky's left arm, he opted to retire from baseball on November 13, 1989 to avoid risking further injury.[30][34]
Dravecky ended his career with a 64–57 record with 558 strikeouts and a 3.13 earned run average in 1,062+2⁄3 innings.[1] He won the 1989 Willie Mac Award honoring his spirit and leadership.[35] Dravecky also won the 1989 Hutch Award.[36]
Life and career after baseball
Dravecky underwent arm surgeries in January 1990 and May 1990. His cancer was found to have returned.
Dravecky wrote two books about his battles with cancer and his comeback attempt: Comeback (1990), written with Tim Stafford,[39] and When You Can't Come Back (1992), co-authored with wife Jan and with Ken Gire. Comeback was republished as a self-titled autobiography for children in 1992. Dravecky has also written a Christian motivational book, Called Up, published in 2004 by Zondervan.[8]
In 2021, indie-folk artist Cousin Wolf released a song entitled "Dave Dravecky" as part of an album called "Nine Innings."[40]
Dravecky and his wife, Janice, have two children.[41] Dravecky is a Christian.[42][43][44]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Dave Dravecky Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ Friend, Tom (June 15, 1986). "My Hometown . . . : Though Philosophies Away From Boardman, When Davey Comes Marching Home There's Celebration in the Dravecky Household". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Flo Hosa Dougherty's Art At The Butler, July 10-Aug. 28". boardmannews.net. June 16, 2016.
- ^ Dias, Roberto (March 14, 1987). "Larry Bowa has enough problems adapting to new managerial..." UPI.
- ^ a b "Dave Dravecky - YSU Athletics Hall of Fame". Youngstown State.
- ^ Simon, Andrew (June 8, 2016). "These are the best late-round picks in Draft history". MLB.com.
- ^ Dreker, John (November 24, 2020). "Pittsburgh Pirates Trade History: The San Diego Padres Edition". History.PittsburghBaseball.com.
- ^ a b c d e Spence, Blaine. "Outreach of Hope: The Dave Dravecky Story". Bleacher Report.
- ^ "The tortured life of Eric Show", September 11, 2010, by Tom Friend, ESPN. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "All's Right With His World", by Franz Lidz, Sports Illustrated, August 6, 1984. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ^ "Making a pitch for the Birchers", Dan Donovan, The Pittsburgh Press, July 9, 1984. Retrieved from Google News May 23, 2013.
- Youngstown Vindicator, July 10, 1984. Retrieved from Google NewsMay 23, 2013.
- ^ Boswell, Thomas (October 8, 1984). "Cubs Slip, Padres Slide Into World Series". Washington Post.
- ^ "1984 World Series recap". MLB.com. September 8, 2022.
- Eugene Register-Guard, October 13, 1987. Also published as "Dravecky Has Made Impact", Associated Press, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, October 13, 1987. Both retrieved from Google NewsMay 23, 2013.
- ^ Figueiredo, Jason (July 24, 2009). "San Francisco Giants: Top Five Trade Deadline Acquisitions". Bleacher Report.
- ISBN 031087159X.
- ^ Koppett, Leonard (April 5, 1988). "Opening to Cheers And Echoes of Past". The New York Times.
- ^ Roark, Anne C. (August 17, 1989). "ANATOMY OF A BAD BREAK : Bone in Dravecky's Left Arm Was Weakened by Operation". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "For Dravecky, a Triumph Over the Reds and Cancer". The New York Times. August 11, 1989.
- ^ Unruh, Jacob (February 28, 2015). "Collected Wisdom: Former Major League Baseball pitcher Dave Dravecky". The Oklahoman.
- ^ "Dravecky's Surgery: Arm Is Amputated : Baseball: Former teammate Hammaker confirms result of operation. Statement expected today". Los Angeles Times. June 19, 1991.
- ^ a b Thomas, Robert (August 9, 1989). "Dravecky is Back on Center Stage". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Thomas, Robert (August 17, 1989). "Dravecky Was Told He Risked Fracture". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ "DRAVECKY WILL UNDERGO SURGERY TO REMOVE A 2ND TUMOR IN ARM". Deseret News. December 6, 1989.
- ^ "Sports People: Baseball – Dravecky's Left Arm Amputated, Giants Say". The New York Times. June 19, 1991. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ Romano, Jason (August 15, 2017). "Former MLB pitcher Dave Dravecky recalls devastating final pitch from 28 years ago". SportsSpectrum.com.
- ^ Stowe, Rich (June 5, 2011). "Buster Posey and 17 Other Horrific MLB Injuries". Bleacher Report.
- ^ "Former MLB pitcher Dave Dravecky to speak at Cancer Survivors Day celebration". www.uchicagomedicine.org. June 2, 2008.
- ^ a b "DRAVECKY HAS NEW LUMP IN PITCHING ARM, QUITS BASEBALL". WashingtonPost.com. November 13, 1989.
- ^ "Dravecky Hurt Again". The New York Times. October 10, 1989. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
- ^ Shea, John (August 9, 2019). "Giants' 1989 flashback: Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell a dynamic 1-2 punch". SFChronicle.com.
- ^ "1989 World Series recap". MLB.com. September 28, 2022.
- ^ "DAVE DRAVECKY TIMELINE". The Oklahoman. September 19, 2003.
- ^ "Willie Mac Award - Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com.
- ^ "Sports News Briefs; Dravecky Wins Hutch Award". The New York Times. December 19, 1989.
- ^ "Dravecky might lose left arm to cancer". Tampa Bay Times. June 28, 1990.
- ^ Nack, William (July 22, 1991). "'Let's Make the Best of It'". Sports Illustrated Vault.
- ^ Bisheff, Steve (April 17, 1990). "NO MORE COMEBACKS, NO NEED TO TRY". Washington Post.
- ^ Zimmer, Matt (February 16, 2021). "Augustana baseball alumnus 'Cousin Wolf' cutting baseball-themed album 'Nine Innings'". The Argus Leader.
- ^ "DRAVECKY TALKS ABOUT ADVERSITY". Deseret News. July 16, 1991.
- ^ Giuliani, Jeffrey (September 15, 2016). "Former MLB pitcher Dave Dravecky shares his story". Williston Herald.
- ^ Weeks, Lee (April 1, 2020). "Dave Dravecky's Fateful Pitch Glorifies Christ—30 Years Later". Decision Magazine.
- ^ Dawson, Will (December 10, 2022). "Dave Dravecky's Last Pitch". CBN.
External links
- Official website
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference
- Endurance.org