Win–loss record 75–89 Name Dan Spillner Saves 50 | Strikeouts 878 Earned run average 4.21 Role Baseball player | |
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Daniel Ray Spillner (born November 27, 1951) is an American former professional baseball player. He was pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1985. He played for the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. He led the Padres pitching staff in strikeouts in 1975.
Biography
Spillner attended Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington. He played for the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox. His first career win was a 5–4 victory over Cincinnati on May 23, 1974. He threw a three-hit, ten-strikeout complete game shutout against Houston on September 11, 1974. He led the Padres in strikeouts in 1975 (104).
After suffering through three losing seasons as a Padre starter, he was part of the major leagues' busiest bullpen in 1977: He and Dave Tomlin each had 76 appearances; Rollie Fingers, 78. A Cleveland starter in 1980, Spillner was 16–11 despite a 5.29 ERA. He had one fine year as an Indians reliever, going 12–10 (2.49) with 21 saves in 1982.
For his career, he compiled a 75–89 record, with a 4.21 ERA, 878 strikeouts and 50 saves in 556 appearances. Spillner, who relied mostly on a fastball, was prone to giving up home runs.
Baseball author Bill James wrote that Spillner was the worst hitting pitcher of the 1970s.