Dave Stapleton (pitcher)
Encyclopedia
David Earl "Dave" Stapleton (born October 16, 1961 in Miami, Arizona
) is a retired professional baseball
pitcher
whose career spanned six seasons, two of which were spent in Major League Baseball
(MLB) with the Milwaukee Brewers
(1987–88). The majority of Stapleton's career was spent in the minor leagues
. His career began in 1984 with the Class-A Beloit Brewers of the Midwest League
. During his minor league career, Stapleton compiled a 30–26 record with a 3.43 earned run average
(ERA) in 444 innings pitched
. Over his two years in the majors, he compiled a 2–0 record with a 3.81 ERA and 20 strikeout
s in 28 innings pitched. Stapleton batted and threw left-handed. During his professional career, he was listed at a height of 6 in 1 in (185.42 cm) and a weight of 185 pounds (83.9 kg).
on October 16, 1961. He attended Grand Canyon University
from 1982–83. He posted a 16–5 record with a 3.28 earned run average
(ERA) in his two years on the school's baseball team, who won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Championship in 1982. As a member of the school's 1982 baseball team, Stapleton is enshrined in Grand Canyon University's athletic hall of fame.
as an amateur free agent
. He began his professional
career in 1984 in Milwaukee's minor league
organization. With the Class-A Beloit Brewers that season, he went 9–6 with a 2.33 ERA in 48 games, all in relief
. Milwaukee assigned Stapleton to the Stockton Ports
of the Class-A California League
in 1985. With the Ports, he compiled a 2–9 record with a 2.54 ERA in 52 relief appearances. Stapleton was promoted to the Double-A level in 1986. With the El Paso Diablos
of the Texas League
that year, he compiled a 6–2 record with a 3.15 ERA in 38 relief appearances.
Stapleton started the 1987 season with the Double-A El Paso Diablos, where in four games he compiled a 1.74 ERA. He was soon promoted to the Triple-A Denver Bears. Stapleton went 11–3 with a 4.05 ERA, five saves and 74 strikeout
s in 44 games, nine of which were starts
. Of his nine starts, Stapleton went for a complete game
in four and pitched a shutout
in one. During the month of August with the Bears, Stapleton went a perfect 6–0. He was called-up to the Milwaukee Brewers
on September 14, 1987. He made his Major League Baseball
debut that day, earning a win
in 3 innings pitched
against the New York Yankees
. Stapleton finished the 1987 season with Milwaukee going 2–0 with a 1.84 ERA and 14 strikeouts in four games, all in relief.
In January 1988, Stapleton re-signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. That year, he started the season in the major leagues. He made his season debut that year against the Boston Red Sox
, pitching 1 innings, giving-up no runs
on two hits
. After just six games with the Brewers, Stapleton suffered a shoulder
injury, which ended his season. In those games, he compiled no wins or losses with a 5.93 ERA and six strikeouts. Stapleton was removed from the Brewers 40-man roster after undergoing surgery on his injured shoulder. After the season, the Houston Astros
selected him in the Rule 5 draft
.
In 1989, Stapleton played with the Houston Astros during spring training
. Before the start of the regular season, the Astros returned Stapleton to the Milwaukee Brewers. After pitching in extended spring training, the Brewers assigned Stapleton to the Triple-A Denver Bears. He spent the entire season with Denver, going 2–6 with a 5.10 ERA, one save and 46 strikeouts in 34 games, 10 of which were starts.
complex, Stapleton-Pierson Stadium, is partially named after Dave Stapleton. On March 10, 2011, Stapleton was dismissed as the head coach of the school's baseball team.
with his wife, Patti and their children; Kadi and Dakota.
Miami, Arizona
Miami is a town in Gila County, Arizona, United States. Miami is a classic Western copper boomtown, though the copper mines are largely dormant now...
) is a retired professional baseball
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....
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...
whose career spanned six seasons, two of which were spent 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...
(MLB) with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1987–88). The majority of Stapleton's career was spent 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...
. His career began in 1984 with the Class-A Beloit Brewers of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. During his minor league career, Stapleton compiled a 30–26 record with a 3.43 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) in 444 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. Over his two years in the majors, he compiled a 2–0 record with a 3.81 ERA and 20 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 28 innings pitched. Stapleton batted and threw left-handed. During his professional career, he was listed at a height of 6 in 1 in (185.42 cm) and a weight of 185 pounds (83.9 kg).
Early life
Stapleton was born in Miami, ArizonaMiami, Arizona
Miami is a town in Gila County, Arizona, United States. Miami is a classic Western copper boomtown, though the copper mines are largely dormant now...
on October 16, 1961. He attended Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is a for-profit Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is owned by Grand Canyon Education . GCU was founded in 1949 as a non-profit liberal arts college. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. purchased Grand Canyon University in February 2004...
from 1982–83. He posted a 16–5 record with a 3.28 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) in his two years on the school's baseball team, who won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
Championship in 1982. As a member of the school's 1982 baseball team, Stapleton is enshrined in Grand Canyon University's athletic hall of fame.
Playing career
In 1983, Stapleton was signed by the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He began his professional
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....
career in 1984 in Milwaukee's 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...
organization. With the Class-A Beloit Brewers that season, he went 9–6 with a 2.33 ERA in 48 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...
. Milwaukee assigned Stapleton to the Stockton Ports
Stockton Ports
The Stockton Ports are a baseball team in Stockton, California. The Ports play in the Northern Division of the Class A – Advanced California League and are a Minor League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Their home field is Banner Island Ballpark which seats over 5,000 people and opened in...
of the Class-A California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
in 1985. With the Ports, he compiled a 2–9 record with a 2.54 ERA in 52 relief appearances. Stapleton was promoted to the Double-A level in 1986. With the El Paso Diablos
El Paso Diablos
The El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
that year, he compiled a 6–2 record with a 3.15 ERA in 38 relief appearances.
Stapleton started the 1987 season with the Double-A El Paso Diablos, where in four games he compiled a 1.74 ERA. He was soon promoted to the Triple-A Denver Bears. Stapleton went 11–3 with a 4.05 ERA, five saves and 74 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 44 games, nine of which were 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....
. Of his nine starts, Stapleton went for a 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...
in four and pitched a 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....
in one. During the month of August with the Bears, Stapleton went a perfect 6–0. He was called-up to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on September 14, 1987. He made his 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...
debut that day, earning a win
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...
in 3 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. Stapleton finished the 1987 season with Milwaukee going 2–0 with a 1.84 ERA and 14 strikeouts in four games, all in relief.
In January 1988, Stapleton re-signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. That year, he started the season in the major leagues. He made his season debut that year against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, pitching 1 innings, 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...
on two hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. After just six games with the Brewers, Stapleton suffered a shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
injury, which ended his season. In those games, he compiled no wins or losses with a 5.93 ERA and six strikeouts. Stapleton was removed from the Brewers 40-man roster after undergoing surgery on his injured shoulder. After the season, the 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...
selected him in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
In 1989, Stapleton played with the Houston Astros during 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...
. Before the start of the regular season, the Astros returned Stapleton to the Milwaukee Brewers. After pitching in extended spring training, the Brewers assigned Stapleton to the Triple-A Denver Bears. He spent the entire season with Denver, going 2–6 with a 5.10 ERA, one save and 46 strikeouts in 34 games, 10 of which were starts.
Coaching career
In 2001, Stapleton was hired as the head baseball coach of his alma mater, Grand Canyon University. In 2002, he led the team to a 38–21 record. The school's baseball/softballSoftball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
complex, Stapleton-Pierson Stadium, is partially named after Dave Stapleton. On March 10, 2011, Stapleton was dismissed as the head coach of the school's baseball team.
Personal
Stapleton resides in Chandler, ArizonaChandler, Arizona
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2010, there were 236,123 people, 86,924 households, and 60,212 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 8.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 8.3%...
with his wife, Patti and their children; Kadi and Dakota.