Dan Schatzeder

Daniel Ernest Schatzeder

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
• School University of Denver
• High School Willowbrook High School
• Debut September 4, 1977
• Final Game May 25, 1991
• Born December 1, 1954 in Elmhurst, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Dan Schatzeder is the top major league player to come out of the University of Denver. Schatzeder was selected by the Montreal Expos in the third round of the 1976 amateur draft. He debuted with the Expos in September of 1977. He pitched a complete game shutout in what was only is second career start, against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 22nd. In 1979 he excelled as Montreal’s fifth starter and swingman, going 10-5 with a 2.83 ERA and helping the Expos to a 95-win season. However, he got himself into manager Dick Williams' bad books on August 25th, when, with the Expos holding a lead over the Atlanta Braves in the 5th inning and rain pouring at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, he told the umpires that he couldn't continue pitching in such bad conditions. The game was interrupted and called before it had become official, and was never replayed.

Montreal traded Schatzeder to the Detroit Tigers for Ron LeFlore in December 1979. Schatzeder’s numbers steadily declined in his two seasons with Detroit and in 1982 with the San Francisco Giants. The Expos purchased his contract from the Giants in June of that season. He was at first used only in situations when the game was already decided, but gradually regained his confidence.

Schatzeder had his greatest personal success in Montreal, where he pitched 8 of his 15 seasons in the big leagues (1977-79, 1982-86). The best start of his career was for the Expos on August 9, 1984 when he tossed a 10-inning shutout against the pennant-winning Chicago Cubs. That start had a Game Score of 94, which is the second best figure in Montreal Expos history. Schatzeder had a 3.09 ERA (116 ERA+) in 75 starts and 166 relief appearances with the Expos.

For a pitcher, he actually knew how to hit, finishing his career with a .240 average and 29 RBI. He had a 79 OPS+. In 1986, he was used regularly as a pinch-hitter by the Expos and Philadelphia Phillies, one of the few relief pitchers to have had this experience. The following season, in 1987 he was a member of the Minnesota Twins' bullpen when they won the World Series and was credited with the 11-5 win over the Cardinals in Game 6 on October 24th.

Schatzeder finished his career with a 69-68 record and a 3.74 ERA.

Notable Achievements

• Won a World Series with the Minnesota Twins in 1987

Further reading

• Gary Belleville: "August 9, 1984: Expos’ Dan Schatzeder tames Cubs, hurls 10-inning shutout," SABR Baseball Games Project.