Eric King
Born: 4/10/1964 in Oxnard, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1986-05-15 | Final Game: 1992-10-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Eric Steven King
Biography
Eric King, born in 1964, was a professional baseball pitcher who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 1992. Known for his competitive spirit and versatility on the mound, King finished his career with a record of 52-45 and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.97. Over the course of his tenure, he recorded 459 strikeouts and achieved 16 saves, showcasing his ability to both start games and come in for critical relief situations.
King played during a transformative period in baseball, characterized by the transition from the late 1980s into the early 1990s, an era marked by evolving pitching strategies and offensive approaches. His contributions to the teams he played for were crucial, as he not only provided stability in the rotation but also demonstrated the resilience necessary to compete in a league that was becoming increasingly competitive. Although his career was relatively brief, King left a lasting impression through his performances and his dedication to the game, solidifying his legacy as a reliable pitcher in MLB history.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | 45 | 203 | 113 | 8 | 5 | 16 | 863.3 | 814 | 381 | 73 | 333 | 459 | 3.97 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | DET | AL | 11 | 4 | 33 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 138.3 | 108 | 54 | 63 | 79 | 3.51 | -817.5 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | 6 | 9 | 55 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 116.0 | 111 | 63 | 60 | 89 | 4.89 | -1126.1 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | 4 | 1 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 68.7 | 60 | 26 | 34 | 45 | 3.41 | -653.1 |
| 1989 | CHW | AL | 9 | 10 | 25 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 159.3 | 144 | 60 | 64 | 72 | 3.39 | - |
| 1990 | CHW | AL | 12 | 4 | 25 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 151.0 | 135 | 55 | 40 | 70 | 3.28 | - |
| 1991 | CLE | AL | 6 | 11 | 25 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 150.7 | 166 | 77 | 44 | 59 | 4.60 | 1160.6 |
| 1992 | DET | AL | 4 | 6 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 79.3 | 90 | 46 | 28 | 45 | 5.22 | -1947.7 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 203 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | DET | AL | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1989 | CHW | AL | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1990 | CHW | AL | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1991 | CLE | AL | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1992 | DET | AL | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | ALCS | DET | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1.69 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | ALCS | DET | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1.69 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 203 | 113 | 75 | 99 | 10 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | DET | P | 33 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | DET | P | 55 | 4 | 15 | 22 | 1 | 3 |
| 1988 | DET | P | 23 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | CHA | P | 25 | 25 | 15 | 20 | 3 | 2 |
| 1990 | CHA | P | 25 | 25 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | CLE | P | 25 | 24 | 9 | 14 | 2 | 2 |
| 1992 | DET | P | 17 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 203 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | DET | AL | $1,200,000 |
| 1991 | CLE | AL | $1,450,000 |
| 1990 | CHA | AL | $415,000 |
| 1989 | CHA | AL | $165,000 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | $125,000 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | $100,000 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | $60,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $3,515,000 | ||