Dave Collins

David S. Collins

• Bats Both, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 175 lb.
• School Mesa Community College
• High School Stevens High School (Rapid City)
• Debut June 7, 1975
• Final Game October 3, 1990
• Born October 20, 1952 in Rapid City, SD USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Best known for his speed, outfielder Dave Collins played for eight teams during a 16-year big league career, stealing 395 bases.

A high school star in baseball, basketball, and track, Collins was drafted twice before being selected by the California Angels in the secondary phase of the 1972 amateur draft. He reached the majors with the club in 1975 and was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the 1976 expansion draft. Following the 1977 season, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Shane Rawley. He hit .318/.364/.402 for the Reds in 1979, and batted .303/.366/.370 while stealing 79 bases in 1980.

After the 1981 season, Collins became a free agent and signed a three-year, $2.75 million contract with the New York Yankees, desperately sought for his speed by George Steinbrenner. After just one year, he was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays in a typically harebrained Yankee deal of the time, moving with a minor league first baseman named Fred McGriff so the Yanks could obtain the immortal Dale Murray. With the Jays in 1984, he hit .308/.366/.444 and stole 60 bases while leading the American League with 15 triples. Dave saw action in six more seasons, then played for the Fort Myers Sun Sox of the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989.

After retiring as a player, Collins was a first base coach with the St. Louis Cardinals (1991-1992), Cincinnati Reds (1999-2000), Milwaukee Brewers (2002), and Colorado Rockies (2003-2006). He was also a scout and managed in the minors. In 2007, Collins was the manager of the Inland Empire 66ers, but resigned the next winter due to family problems. In 2010, he returned to coaching first base, with the Florida Marlins, for one season.

Notable Achievements

• AL Triples Leader (1984)
• 50 Stolen Bases Seasons: 2 (1980 & 1984)

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
2001	Salem Avalanche	Carolina League	70-68	4th	Colorado Rockies	League Champs
2007	Inland Empire 66ers	California League	72-67	6th	Los Angeles Dodgers