Dana Allison
Encyclopedia
Dana Eric Allison is a retired professional baseball
player whose playing career spanned six seasons, including a part of one in Major League Baseball
with the Oakland Athletics
(1991). Allison was a pitcher
over his career. During his time in the majors, Allison went 1–1 with a 7.39 earned run average
(ERA) and four strikeout
s in 11 games, all in relief
. He also played in the minor leagues
with the Class-A Short Season Southern Oregon A's (1989), the Class-A Madison Muskies
(1989), the Class-A Advanced Modesto A's (1990), the Double-A Huntsville Stars
(1990, 1992–1993) and the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers (1990–1994). Before playing professionally, Allison was a member of the James Madison Dukes
baseball team while attending James Madison University
.
. After high school, Allison enrolled at James Madison University
where he played baseball with the school's team
. Allison attended James Madison from 1986 to 1989. During the 14 round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft
, the Los Angeles Dodgers
selected Allison, but he was not signed by the club and instead returned to school. In the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft
, Allison was selected by the Oakland Athletics
in the 21 round and later signed a professional contract with them.
During his time at James Madison, Allison was named the Colonial Athletic Association
(CCA) Player of the Year and All-American in 1988; was a two-time All-CCA selection; and is in the top-five for career wins
(25), complete game
s (23) and strikeout
s in James Madison Dukes history. As a part of the 25 anniversary of the CCA, they released a "Silver Anniversary Team" for baseball featuring Allison and other players who have had a significant contribution to CCA baseball over its history. In 1991, after making his major league debut, Allison became the second attendee of James Madison University to do so (behind Billy Sample
in 1978).
in the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft
, Allison was assigned to the Class-A Short Season Southern Oregon A's. With Southern Oregon, Allison pitched in 11 games and went 0–2 with a 1.84 earned run average
(ERA). Later during the 1989 season, Allison was called-up to the Class-A Madison Muskies
where he went 2–3 with a 1.12 ERA in 13 games, all in relief
. In 1990, Allison played for their team; the Class-A Advanced Modesto A's, the Double-A Huntsville Stars
and the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers. With Modesto, Allison went without a decision
while compiling a 2.33 ERA and four saves in 10 games, all in relief. Allison played 35 games at the Double-A level that season and went 7–1 with a 2.39 ERA and two saves. Finally, at the Triple-A level that season, Allison pitched in two games giving-up no runs
.
Before the 1990 season, Allison re-signed a minor league
contract with the Athletics. He attended spring training
with the Athletics that season. Allison's contract was purchased by the Athletics on April 9, meaning he had been called-up to play in Major League Baseball
. He made his major league debut on April 12, against the Seattle Mariners
, pitching of an inning
, walking
one and giving-up no runs. Allison's first win came on April 14 against the Mariners, pitching one inning, giving-up no runs. In the majors that season, Allison went 1–1 with a 7.36 ERA and four strikeouts in 11 games, all in relief. On May 28, Allison was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma after the Athletics activated pitcher Dave Stewart. Allison spent the rest of the 1991 season with Tacoma, going 3–1 with a 4.37 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 18 games, all in relief.
Allison spent the 1992 season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars and the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers. With the Stars, he went 4–1 with a 2.93 ERA, one save and 40 strikeouts in 22 games, six starts
. During his time in Tacoma that season, Allison went 2–3 with a 4.84 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 19 games, four starts. Allison spent his final season as a player in professional baseball in 1994. He played with the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers that season, going 10–8 with a 5.78 ERA, two complete game
s, two shutout
s and 60 strikeouts in 33 games, 21 starts. Allison led all Tacoma pitchers in wins.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player whose playing career spanned six seasons, including a part of one in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1991). Allison was a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
over his career. During his time in the majors, Allison went 1–1 with a 7.39 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(ERA) and four strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 11 games, all in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He also played in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Class-A Short Season Southern Oregon A's (1989), the Class-A Madison Muskies
Madison Muskies
The Madison Muskies were a Class A minor league baseball team that played in the Midwest League from 1982 to 1993 in Madison, Wisconsin. They were an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics...
(1989), the Class-A Advanced Modesto A's (1990), the Double-A Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
(1990, 1992–1993) and the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers (1990–1994). Before playing professionally, Allison was a member of the James Madison Dukes
James Madison Dukes
The James Madison University Dukes is the name given the athletics teams of James Madison University. The name "Dukes" is derived from Samuel Page Duke, the university's second president. JMU is a charter member of the Colonial Athletic Association, which sponsors sports at the NCAA Division I level...
baseball team while attending James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
.
Amateur career
Allison attended Warren County High School in Front Royal, VirginiaFront Royal, Virginia
Front Royal is a town in Warren County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,589 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Warren County.-Geography:Front Royal is roughly west of Washington, D.C....
. After high school, Allison enrolled at James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
where he played baseball with the school's team
James Madison Dukes
The James Madison University Dukes is the name given the athletics teams of James Madison University. The name "Dukes" is derived from Samuel Page Duke, the university's second president. JMU is a charter member of the Colonial Athletic Association, which sponsors sports at the NCAA Division I level...
. Allison attended James Madison from 1986 to 1989. During the 14 round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft
1988 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
, the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
selected Allison, but he was not signed by the club and instead returned to school. In the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft
1989 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1989 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental first round selections:-External links:*...
, Allison was selected by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in the 21 round and later signed a professional contract with them.
During his time at James Madison, Allison was named the Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
(CCA) Player of the Year and All-American in 1988; was a two-time All-CCA selection; and is in the top-five for career wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
(25), complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s (23) and strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in James Madison Dukes history. As a part of the 25 anniversary of the CCA, they released a "Silver Anniversary Team" for baseball featuring Allison and other players who have had a significant contribution to CCA baseball over its history. In 1991, after making his major league debut, Allison became the second attendee of James Madison University to do so (behind Billy Sample
Billy Sample
William Amos Sample , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1978-1986. Sample played for the Texas Rangers , New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves ....
in 1978).
Professional career
After being selected by the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in the 1989 Major League Baseball Draft
1989 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1989 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental first round selections:-External links:*...
, Allison was assigned to the Class-A Short Season Southern Oregon A's. With Southern Oregon, Allison pitched in 11 games and went 0–2 with a 1.84 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(ERA). Later during the 1989 season, Allison was called-up to the Class-A Madison Muskies
Madison Muskies
The Madison Muskies were a Class A minor league baseball team that played in the Midwest League from 1982 to 1993 in Madison, Wisconsin. They were an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics...
where he went 2–3 with a 1.12 ERA in 13 games, all in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. In 1990, Allison played for their team; the Class-A Advanced Modesto A's, the Double-A Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
and the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers. With Modesto, Allison went without a decision
Decision (baseball)
A decision is a statistical credit given to a baseball pitcher.There are two types of decisions: win and loss.In order to receive a win, the starting pitcher must complete at least five innings and leave with the lead. If the pitcher's lead is preserved by the bullpen, he is credited with a win...
while compiling a 2.33 ERA and four saves in 10 games, all in relief. Allison played 35 games at the Double-A level that season and went 7–1 with a 2.39 ERA and two saves. Finally, at the Triple-A level that season, Allison pitched in two games giving-up no runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
.
Before the 1990 season, Allison re-signed a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
contract with the Athletics. He attended spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
with the Athletics that season. Allison's contract was purchased by the Athletics on April 9, meaning he had been called-up to play in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He made his major league debut on April 12, against the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, pitching of an inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
, walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
one and giving-up no runs. Allison's first win came on April 14 against the Mariners, pitching one inning, giving-up no runs. In the majors that season, Allison went 1–1 with a 7.36 ERA and four strikeouts in 11 games, all in relief. On May 28, Allison was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma after the Athletics activated pitcher Dave Stewart. Allison spent the rest of the 1991 season with Tacoma, going 3–1 with a 4.37 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 18 games, all in relief.
Allison spent the 1992 season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars and the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers. With the Stars, he went 4–1 with a 2.93 ERA, one save and 40 strikeouts in 22 games, six starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. During his time in Tacoma that season, Allison went 2–3 with a 4.84 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 19 games, four starts. Allison spent his final season as a player in professional baseball in 1994. He played with the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers that season, going 10–8 with a 5.78 ERA, two complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, two shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s and 60 strikeouts in 33 games, 21 starts. Allison led all Tacoma pitchers in wins.