Dave Engle
Encyclopedia
Ralph David Engle is a former Major League Baseball
utility player
who played for the Minnesota Twins
, Detroit Tigers
and Milwaukee Brewers
all of the American League
and the Montreal Expos
of the National League
from 1981 to 1989.
, Engle was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 1978 amateur draft
by the California Angels
. On February 3, 1979, He was traded by the Angels along with Brad Havens
, Paul Hartzell
and Ken Landreaux
to the Minnesota Twins
for Rod Carew
. He played catcher
, first base, third base
, outfield
and designated hitter
.
In the minor leagues, Engle won the International League
batting title in 1980, beating out Wade Boggs
.307 to .306. Four years later, he was selected to the American League
All-Star
team in 1984.
During his sophomore season, Engle became the first player to hit a home run in Minneapolis's newly opened Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
. This occurred on opening day, April 6, 1982 and also marked the first hit, run scored, and R.B.I. in the stadium's history.
His notable versatility was diminished somewhat after he began struggling with making return throws to his pitcher whilst playing as a backstop (not unlike Mackey Sasser
). In Engle's case, this issue apparently stemmed from an incident in a batting practice session. A return throw from Engle glanced off off the top of the protective screen and broke his pitcher's nose. To prevent this from happening again, Engle began to make slower, lobbed throws with a pronounced arc. At one point, speedy infielder Alfredo Griffin
stole a base
off an Engle return throw. After 1984, Engle played only rarely at catcher.
Engle has family ties in baseball: he is the brother in-law of his former Twins team-mate, Tom Brunansky
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
who played for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
all of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
and the Montreal Expos
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
from 1981 to 1989.
Pro career
A graduate of the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, Engle was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 1978 amateur draft
1978 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
by the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. On February 3, 1979, He was traded by the Angels along with Brad Havens
Brad Havens
Bradley David Havens is a former Pitcher for the Minnesota Twins , Baltimore Orioles , Los Angeles Dodgers , Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers ....
, Paul Hartzell
Paul Hartzell
Paul Franklin Hartzell is a former professional baseball player who played six seasons for the California Angels, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball....
and Ken Landreaux
Ken Landreaux
Kenneth Francis Landreaux is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball.After graduating from Dominguez High School in Compton, California, Landreaux carried on his education at Arizona State University before joining the California Angels in...
to the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
for Rod Carew
Rod Carew
Rodney Cline "Rod" Carew is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, second baseman and coach. He played from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels and was elected to the All-Star game every season except his last. In 1991, Carew was inducted into the National...
. He played catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, first base, third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
.
In the minor leagues, Engle won the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
batting title in 1980, beating out Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs
Wade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
.307 to .306. Four years later, he was selected to the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team in 1984.
During his sophomore season, Engle became the first player to hit a home run in Minneapolis's newly opened Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...
. This occurred on opening day, April 6, 1982 and also marked the first hit, run scored, and R.B.I. in the stadium's history.
His notable versatility was diminished somewhat after he began struggling with making return throws to his pitcher whilst playing as a backstop (not unlike Mackey Sasser
Mackey Sasser
Mack Daniel Sasser is a former professional baseball catcher, who played from to for the New York Mets, the San Francisco Giants, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Seattle Mariners....
). In Engle's case, this issue apparently stemmed from an incident in a batting practice session. A return throw from Engle glanced off off the top of the protective screen and broke his pitcher's nose. To prevent this from happening again, Engle began to make slower, lobbed throws with a pronounced arc. At one point, speedy infielder Alfredo Griffin
Alfredo Griffin
Alfredo Claudino Griffin is a former Major League Baseball player, who played shortstop for four teams from 1976 to 1993. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Playing career:...
stole a base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
off an Engle return throw. After 1984, Engle played only rarely at catcher.
Engle has family ties in baseball: he is the brother in-law of his former Twins team-mate, Tom Brunansky
Tom Brunansky
Thomas Andrew Brunansky , nicknamed "Bruno", is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1981 to 1994 for the California Angels, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers....
.