Mickey Mahler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mickey Mahler | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: July 30, 1952 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 13, 1977, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 2, 1986, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 14–32 |
| Earned run average | 4.68 |
| Strikeouts | 262 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Michael James Mahler (born July 30, 1952) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during eight seasons at the major league level for the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, California Angels, Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays. A graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, he was drafted by the Braves in the 10th round of the 1974 amateur draft. Mahler played his first professional season with their Double-A Savannah Braves in 1974, and his last with the St. Louis Cardinals' Triple-A Louisville Redbirds in 1987. He is the brother of the late pitcher Rick Mahler. The brothers were teammates playing for the Triple-A Richmond Braves before each was called up to Atlanta.
Mahler threw hard and had a big slow 12-6 curveball. He was involved in a number of historic moments during his short career.
On September 25, 1979, Mahler and his brother, Rick Mahler, appeared in a major league game together as Braves teammates, in a game against the Houston Astros at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium. Mickey Mahler gave up two runs in two innings, while his brother, Rick, pitched one scoreless inning.
One-hit shutout in 1985
On June 5, 1985, Mahler pitched the best game of his major league career, a one-hitter for the Expos in his first big league shutout in a 6–0 victory over the Giants at Candlestick Park. Mahler yielded his lone hit to Dan Gladden. It also was Mahler's first complete game since 1979. "So much of the game is luck," Mahler told reporters after the game. "I didn't feel I pitched that well--not that I pitched that badly--but the wind here can help a pitcher. It held up a lot of balls that might have been hit out or gone through the gaps in the outfield. I owe a lot of appreciation to the people in the Montreal organization who gave me the opportunity to pitch in the majors again. I felt like I had a lot to prove to people with other clubs that didn't keep me. No matter what I do from now on, they can't take away that game I just pitched."
Mahler pitched two no-hitters while in the minor leagues. On June 1, 1977, Mahler threw a no-hitter for the Richmond Braves AAA team against the Toledo Mud Hens. In 1974 he no-hit the Birmingham Barons (Double A team for the Oakland A's) of the Southern League.
