Dave Van Gorder

David Thomas Van Gorder

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.
• School University of Southern California
• High School Chandler (AZ) High School
• Debut June 15, 1982
• Final Game July 11, 1987
• Born March 27, 1957 in Los Angeles, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Dave Van Gorder was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 1978 amateur draft on June 6, 1978. Dave spent his first season in pro baseball with the Nashville Sounds where he appeared in 73 games and hit .263. He then spent the next four years in the minors with Nashville and the Indianapolis Indians before getting a chance at the majors.

Van Gorder was the catcher in 51 games for the Reds in 1982. He managed 137 at bats but only 25 base hits for a .182 average. He then was with the Indianapolis team again for 54 games with 174 at bats with 46 hits and a .264 batting average. Dave spent the entire 1983 season with the AAA Indians, appearing in 117 games with 380 at bats, 86 base hits but only a .226 batting average.

In 1984 he caught 67 games for the AAA Wichita Aeros and hit for a .263 average. The Reds gave him another look and this time he appeared in 38 games with 101 at bats and hit .228. The 1985 season saw Dave with the big Reds for the entire season and he appeared in a career-high 73 games with 151 at bats with 36 base hits and 24 RBI, hitting .238.

In 1986 he spent 9 games with the Reds, did not hit a lick, and they sent him to the AAA Denver Zephyrs, where he caught 66 games but hit only .228. The Reds released him on November 11th and he signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles. They used Dave for 12 games and 21 at bats with 5 hits for a .238 average in 1987 and sent him to the International League's Rochester Red Wings where he appeared in 22 games but hit only .136. It was all over. He was granted free agency on October 15th but there were no takers.

The good thing about Van Gorder is he was an excellent receiver, his career fielding percentage came to an excellent .990. Dave spent 10 seasons in professional baseball from 1978 through 1987.

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com
SABR MILB Database:page