Dave Rucker
Born: 9/1/1957 in San Bernardino, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1981-04-12 | Final Game: 1988-10-02
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: David Michael Rucker
Biography
Dave Rucker, born in 1957, was a professional baseball pitcher who had a career spanning from 1981 to 1988. He played during a transitional period in Major League Baseball, moving away from the dominant pitching styles of the late 1970s into an era that increasingly favored offensive play. Rucker was known for his solid left-handed pitching, showcasing a competitive spirit on the mound that earned him recognition among his peers.
Over the course of his career, Rucker compiled a win-loss record of 16-20 and maintained an earned run average (ERA) of 3.94. His ability to strike out batters was evident in his total of 170 strikeouts, although he recorded only 1 save throughout his time in the majors. Rucker's contributions to his teams were often highlighted by his resilience and ability to compete in high-pressure situations, marking him as a reliable option in the pitching rotation during his tenure. After retiring in 1988, Rucker left a legacy as a dedicated athlete who played through a dynamic and evolving landscape in baseball.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 20 | 206 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 319.7 | 337 | 140 | 19 | 147 | 170 | 3.94 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | DET | AL | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6.75 | 0.0 |
| 1982 | DET | AL | 5 | 6 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 64.0 | 62 | 24 | 23 | 31 | 3.38 | 211.9 |
| 1983 | DET | AL | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.0 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 17.00 | 0.0 |
| 1983 | STL | NL | 5 | 3 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37.0 | 36 | 10 | 18 | 22 | 2.43 | - |
| 1984 | STL | NL | 2 | 3 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73.0 | 62 | 17 | 34 | 38 | 2.10 | - |
| 1985 | PHI | NL | 3 | 2 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 79.3 | 83 | 38 | 40 | 41 | 4.31 | -662.5 |
| 1986 | PHI | NL | 0 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.0 | 34 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 5.76 | -903.7 |
| 1988 | PIT | NL | 0 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28.3 | 39 | 15 | 9 | 16 | 4.76 | 159.2 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 208 | 26 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0.192 | 0.222 | 0.231 | 0.453 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | DET | AL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1982 | DET | AL | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1983 | DET | AL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1983 | STL | NL | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1984 | STL | NL | 50 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
| 1985 | PHI | NL | 41 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1986 | PHI | NL | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1988 | PIT | NL | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 206 | 10 | 22 | 51 | 10 | 6 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | DET | P | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | DET | P | 27 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| 1983 | DET | P | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | SLN | P | 34 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 | SLN | P | 50 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| 1985 | PHI | P | 39 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | PHI | P | 19 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1988 | PIT | P | 31 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 206 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | PHI | NL | $220,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $220,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of La Verne | La Verne | CA | 1978 |
| University of California - Los Angeles | Los Angeles | CA | 1976, 1977 |