David Palmer
Born: 10/19/1957 in Glens Falls, NY, USA
MLB Debut: 1978-09-09 | Final Game: 1989-06-30
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: David William Palmer
Biography
David Palmer was a professional baseball pitcher, born in 1957, who played in Major League Baseball from 1978 until his retirement in 1989. Known for his competitive spirit and strong pitching mechanics, Palmer became a reliable presence on the mound over his 11-year career. He achieved a win-loss record of 64-59 and maintained a respectable earned run average (ERA) of 3.78, showcasing his ability to keep runs to a minimum during an era characterized by significant offensive production in the league.
Throughout his career, Palmer accumulated a total of 748 strikeouts, demonstrating his skill in overpowering batters with his fastball and breaking pitches. Though he secured only 2 saves, his contributions were often pivotal in games, reflecting his role as a starting pitcher rather than a closer. Palmer's playing style and effectiveness made him a respected figure among his peers during the late 1970s and 1980s, an era that saw the transition away from the traditional deadball approach towards a more power-hitting game. His legacy remains a testament to the artistry of pitching in a time when the game was evolving rapidly.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | 59 | 212 | 176 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1085.0 | 1036 | 456 | 78 | 434 | 748 | 3.78 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | WSN | NL | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.7 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2.79 | - |
| 1979 | WSN | NL | 10 | 2 | 36 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 122.7 | 110 | 36 | 30 | 72 | 2.64 | - |
| 1980 | WSN | NL | 8 | 6 | 24 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 129.7 | 124 | 43 | 30 | 73 | 2.98 | - |
| 1982 | WSN | NL | 6 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 73.7 | 60 | 26 | 36 | 46 | 3.18 | - |
| 1984 | WSN | NL | 7 | 3 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 105.3 | 101 | 45 | 44 | 66 | 3.84 | - |
| 1985 | WSN | NL | 7 | 10 | 24 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 135.7 | 128 | 56 | 67 | 106 | 3.71 | - |
| 1986 | ATL | NL | 11 | 10 | 35 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 209.7 | 181 | 85 | 102 | 170 | 3.65 | 1301.6 |
| 1987 | ATL | NL | 8 | 11 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 152.3 | 169 | 83 | 64 | 111 | 4.90 | 120.9 |
| 1988 | PHI | NL | 7 | 9 | 22 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 129.0 | 129 | 64 | 48 | 85 | 4.47 | 1191.8 |
| 1989 | DET | AL | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17.3 | 25 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 7.79 | -139.9 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 213 | 323 | 22 | 48 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 0 | 5 | 95 | 0.149 | 0.162 | 0.232 | 0.394 | -407.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | WSN | NL | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1979 | WSN | NL | 36 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0.032 | 0.0 |
| 1980 | WSN | NL | 25 | 45 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1982 | WSN | NL | 13 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.042 | 0.0 |
| 1984 | WSN | NL | 20 | 33 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0.152 | 0.0 |
| 1985 | WSN | NL | 24 | 36 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.111 | 0.0 |
| 1986 | ATL | NL | 35 | 66 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 0.182 | -407.1 |
| 1987 | ATL | NL | 28 | 48 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
| 1988 | PHI | NL | 22 | 39 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.256 | 0.0 |
| 1989 | DET | AL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 212 | 176 | 103 | 163 | 10 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | MON | P | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | MON | P | 36 | 11 | 7 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | MON | P | 24 | 19 | 9 | 26 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | MON | P | 13 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 | MON | P | 20 | 19 | 20 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 1985 | MON | P | 24 | 23 | 17 | 21 | 1 | 3 |
| 1986 | ATL | P | 35 | 35 | 18 | 33 | 0 | 3 |
| 1987 | ATL | P | 28 | 28 | 9 | 25 | 1 | 2 |
| 1988 | PHI | P | 22 | 22 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| 1989 | DET | P | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 212 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | PHI | NL | $675,000 |
| 1987 | ATL | NL | $725,000 |
| 1986 | ATL | NL | $390,000 |
| 1985 | MON | NL | $375,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $2,165,000 | ||