Danny Coombs
Encyclopedia
Daniel Bernard Coombs is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher who played from 1963 to 1971 for the Houston Colt .45s
, Houston Astros
and San Diego Padres
.
He was 6'5" tall, weighed 210 pounds and he attended Seton Hall University
. While he was at Seton Hall, he was a basketball star.
Signed as an amateur free-agent before the 1963 season, Coombs made his major league debut later that year. On September 27, 1963, against the New York Mets
, Coombs pitched one third of an inning, allowing three hits and one earned run. Against the first batter he faced, Al Moran
, he threw a passed ball. Moran then singled, and Al Jackson and Joe Christopher
quickly followed with singles. That was the only game he pitched in 1963.
In seven games in 1964, he struck out 14 batters in 18 innings, posting a 5.00 ERA. He won the first game of his career that year in the final game he pitched that season, earning a win on October 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
He appeared in 26 games in 1965, allowing 54 hits and 25 earned runs in 47 innings for a 4.79 ERA.
In 1966, he appeared in only two games, striking out three in 2 2/3 innings. He posted a 3.38 ERA. 1967 was also a short season for him - he appeared in only six games, going 3-0 with a 3.33 ERA.
To the untrained eye, 1968 would seem as if it was the best year of his career. He appeared in 40 games, going 4-3 with a what would seem respectable 3.28 ERA. He set many career highs (up to that point), however, 1968 was the Year of the Pitcher - that is, pitchers dominated the league that year. The average ERA for a pitcher that season was 2.96. Therefore, his 3.28 ERA wasn't that impressive after all.
He appeared in only eight games in 1969, posting a 6.75 ERA in eight innings of work. On October 22 of that year, he was purchased by the Padres.
1970 was the only season where Coombs was used almost entirely as a starter. He appeared in 35 games, starting 27 of them. He went 10-14 with a 3.30 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 188 1/3 innings of work. His 3.30 ERA was the best on the team among all pitchers with at least five appearances, and second best overall. Steve Arlin
posted a 2.84 ERA in two games, beating him out. Coombs' 3.30 ERA was also the ninth best ERA in the league that year.
He played his final season in 1971. In 19 games (six starts), he posted a 1-6 record with a 6.24 ERA. He played his final game on July 23, 1971.
Overall, Coombs played nine seasons in the majors. Of the 144 games he pitched in, he started 42 of them, completing five of his starts, shutting out one game and saving two games. He posted a 19-27 record in 393 innings of work, allowing 433 hits, 209 runs, 178 earned runs and 26 home runs. He walked 162 batters and struck out 249. His ERA was 4.08. He was a poor batter, collecting 14 hits in 100 at-bats for a .140 batting average. He walked five times and struck out 55 times. After leaving professional baseball, Danny Coombs later on in the 1980s became a baseball coach at G.C. Scarborough High School, in Houston, Texas.
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...
relief pitcher who played from 1963 to 1971 for the Houston Colt .45s
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
.
He was 6'5" tall, weighed 210 pounds and he attended Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
. While he was at Seton Hall, he was a basketball star.
Signed as an amateur free-agent before the 1963 season, Coombs made his major league debut later that year. On September 27, 1963, against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Coombs pitched one third of an inning, allowing three hits and one earned run. Against the first batter he faced, Al Moran
Al Moran
Richard Alan Moran is a former right-handed Major League Baseball shortstop who played from 1963 to 1964 for the New York Mets.Moran attended Detroit Catholic Central High School...
, he threw a passed ball. Moran then singled, and Al Jackson and Joe Christopher
Joe Christopher
Joseph O'Neal Christopher is a former outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from through . Listed at 5' 10", 175 lbs., he batted and threw right-handed....
quickly followed with singles. That was the only game he pitched in 1963.
In seven games in 1964, he struck out 14 batters in 18 innings, posting a 5.00 ERA. He won the first game of his career that year in the final game he pitched that season, earning a win on October 2 against 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...
.
He appeared in 26 games in 1965, allowing 54 hits and 25 earned runs in 47 innings for a 4.79 ERA.
In 1966, he appeared in only two games, striking out three in 2 2/3 innings. He posted a 3.38 ERA. 1967 was also a short season for him - he appeared in only six games, going 3-0 with a 3.33 ERA.
To the untrained eye, 1968 would seem as if it was the best year of his career. He appeared in 40 games, going 4-3 with a what would seem respectable 3.28 ERA. He set many career highs (up to that point), however, 1968 was the Year of the Pitcher - that is, pitchers dominated the league that year. The average ERA for a pitcher that season was 2.96. Therefore, his 3.28 ERA wasn't that impressive after all.
He appeared in only eight games in 1969, posting a 6.75 ERA in eight innings of work. On October 22 of that year, he was purchased by the Padres.
1970 was the only season where Coombs was used almost entirely as a starter. He appeared in 35 games, starting 27 of them. He went 10-14 with a 3.30 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 188 1/3 innings of work. His 3.30 ERA was the best on the team among all pitchers with at least five appearances, and second best overall. Steve Arlin
Steve Arlin
Steven Ralph Arlin is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. In six major league seasons, Arlin pitched for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians .-College Star:...
posted a 2.84 ERA in two games, beating him out. Coombs' 3.30 ERA was also the ninth best ERA in the league that year.
He played his final season in 1971. In 19 games (six starts), he posted a 1-6 record with a 6.24 ERA. He played his final game on July 23, 1971.
Overall, Coombs played nine seasons in the majors. Of the 144 games he pitched in, he started 42 of them, completing five of his starts, shutting out one game and saving two games. He posted a 19-27 record in 393 innings of work, allowing 433 hits, 209 runs, 178 earned runs and 26 home runs. He walked 162 batters and struck out 249. His ERA was 4.08. He was a poor batter, collecting 14 hits in 100 at-bats for a .140 batting average. He walked five times and struck out 55 times. After leaving professional baseball, Danny Coombs later on in the 1980s became a baseball coach at G.C. Scarborough High School, in Houston, Texas.