Braden Looper
Born: 10/28/1974 in Weatherford, OK, USA
MLB Debut: 1998-03-31 | Final Game: 2009-10-02
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 210 lbs
Full name: Braden LaVern Looper
Biography
Braden Looper was a professional baseball pitcher known for his versatility and effectiveness on the mound during his career, which spanned from 1998 to 2009. Born in 1974, Looper made his mark in Major League Baseball as both a starter and a reliever, showcasing his adaptability in a variety of roles. He finished his career with a record of 72-65 and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.15, striking out 669 batters and securing 103 saves. His ability to transition between starting and closing duties made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for.
Looper's career took him through several franchises, including the New York Mets, Florida Marlins, and St. Louis Cardinals. He was particularly noted for his contributions as a closer, where he excelled in high-pressure situations. Looper's playing style was characterized by a strong fastball and a reliable breaking ball, which helped him maintain his effectiveness throughout his career. As a member of the Cardinals, he played a significant role in the team's bullpen during a competitive era of baseball, contributing to their success in the late 2000s. His legacy is remembered not only for his statistics but also for his resilience and adaptability in a rapidly evolving game.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 65 | 670 | 97 | 1 | 1 | 103 | 1176.0 | 1242 | 542 | 132 | 373 | 669 | 4.15 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | STL | NL | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5.40 | - |
| 1999 | MIA | NL | 3 | 3 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83.0 | 96 | 35 | 31 | 50 | 3.80 | - |
| 2000 | MIA | NL | 5 | 1 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 67.3 | 71 | 33 | 36 | 29 | 4.41 | - |
| 2001 | MIA | NL | 3 | 3 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 71.0 | 63 | 28 | 30 | 52 | 3.55 | - |
| 2002 | MIA | NL | 2 | 5 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 86.0 | 73 | 30 | 28 | 55 | 3.14 | - |
| 2003 | MIA | NL | 6 | 4 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 80.7 | 82 | 33 | 29 | 56 | 3.68 | - |
| 2004 | NYN | NL | 2 | 5 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 83.3 | 86 | 25 | 16 | 60 | 2.70 | 2948.5 |
| 2005 | NYN | NL | 4 | 7 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 59.3 | 65 | 26 | 22 | 27 | 3.94 | -1077.8 |
| 2006 | STL | NL | 9 | 3 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73.3 | 76 | 29 | 20 | 41 | 3.56 | - |
| 2007 | STL | NL | 12 | 12 | 31 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 175.0 | 183 | 96 | 51 | 87 | 4.94 | - |
| 2008 | STL | NL | 12 | 14 | 33 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 199.0 | 216 | 92 | 45 | 108 | 4.16 | - |
| 2009 | MIL | NL | 14 | 7 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 194.7 | 226 | 113 | 64 | 100 | 5.22 | -7165.9 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 679 | 186 | 15 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 10 | 63 | 0.215 | 0.259 | 0.258 | 0.517 | -950.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | STL | NL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1999 | MIA | NL | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2000 | MIA | NL | 73 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2001 | MIA | NL | 71 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2002 | MIA | NL | 78 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2003 | MIA | NL | 74 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 |
| 2004 | NYN | NL | 71 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2005 | NYN | NL | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 2006 | STL | NL | 69 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.0 |
| 2007 | STL | NL | 31 | 53 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 0.189 | -326.4 |
| 2008 | STL | NL | 42 | 63 | 5 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 0.254 | -178.8 |
| 2009 | MIL | NL | 34 | 60 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 0.200 | -445.1 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | NLCS | SLN | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2006 | NLDS2 | SLN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2006 | WS | SLN | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2003 | NLCS | FLO | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2003 | WS | FLO | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2003 | NLDS1 | FLO | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 15.7 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 4.60 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | NLCS | SLN | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4.7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5.79 |
| 2006 | NLDS2 | SLN | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 2006 | WS | SLN | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2.3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3.86 |
| 2003 | NLCS | FLO | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1.7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 |
| 2003 | NLDS1 | FLO | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 2003 | WS | FLO | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3.7 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 9.82 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 670 | 97 | 72 | 144 | 4 | 9 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | SLN | P | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | FLO | P | 72 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | FLO | P | 73 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | FLO | P | 71 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | FLO | P | 78 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 2003 | FLO | P | 74 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | NYN | P | 71 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | NYN | P | 60 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | SLN | P | 69 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| 2007 | SLN | P | 31 | 30 | 11 | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 | SLN | P | 33 | 33 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | MIL | P | 34 | 34 | 13 | 31 | 2 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 670 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | MIL | NL | $4,750,000 |
| 2008 | SLN | NL | $5,500,000 |
| 2007 | SLN | NL | $4,500,000 |
| 2006 | SLN | NL | $3,500,000 |
| 2005 | NYN | NL | $800,000 |
| 2004 | NYN | NL | $2,000,000 |
| 2003 | FLO | NL | $1,600,000 |
| 2002 | FLO | NL | $800,000 |
| 2001 | FLO | NL | $400,000 |
| 2000 | FLO | NL | $255,000 |
| 1999 | FLO | NL | $201,000 |
| 1998 | SLN | NL | $170,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $24,476,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita State University | Wichita | KS | 1994, 1995, 1996 |