Dave Meier
Encyclopedia
David Keith Meier is a former Major League Baseball
left fielder
, who also played a few games at third base and as a designated hitter
.
and then went on to attend Stanford University
and Fresno City College
. While at Stanford, Meier played for head coach Mark Marquess
, who went on to lead the United States to the Olympic gold medal. "He was tough, a real disciplinarian," Meier told the Chicago Tribune in 1988. "At that age we probably needed it. I went back to visit a few years later, and he was real nice. I thought, 'Is this the same guy?'"
in the third round, 61st overall, of the 1978 draft
, but he opted not to sign. In 1981, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
in the 5th round, 113th overall, and at that point, decided to sign.
An overall good contact hitter in the minors who showed some pop, Meier had his best season in 1983 with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens
, when he hit .336 with 8 home runs and 21 doubles in 126 games. He started the 1984 season on the Opening Day roster, making his big league debut as a pinch hitter on April 3. He went 0 for 1 in his debut.
Meier spent the majority of his major league career as a back-up/pinch hitter, with his best season being 1985, when he hit .260 with 1 home run and 8 RBI in 104 at-bats (74 games). He finished his career hitting .253, with 1 home run, 15 doubles, 1 triple, 22 RBI and 37 runs scored in 145 games. He committed four errors in his career for a fielding percentage
of .978.
to the Chicago Cubs
for Ray Hayward
. In September 1988, the Cubs promoted Meier to the major league team from its AAA Iowa Cubs
minor league team after Iowa's season was over. The Cubs found Meier while he was enjoying a postseason vacation in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. "I was in Tahoe," he told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I don't know how they found me, but when they did, I said, 'Who, me? I haven't played in eight days.' But I was thrilled. I got here as fast as I could."
Meier played his final major league game on September 29, 1988 for the Cubs at the age of 29. He went 1-1 as a pinch hitter in his final game.
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...
left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, who also played a few games at third base and as a 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...
.
Early life and education
Meier attended Bullard High School in Fresno, CaliforniaFresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
and then went on to attend Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and Fresno City College
Fresno City College
Fresno City College is a community college in Fresno, California. Established in 1910, it was the first community college in California and the second in the nation...
. While at Stanford, Meier played for head coach Mark Marquess
Mark Marquess
Mark Marquess is the head coach of the Stanford Cardinal baseball team.In his 34 years at Stanford , he has compiled a record of 1,387–619–7 . His teams have made the postseason 23 times, and have had a record of 109–50 there. In the NCAA Regionals, his teams have a 65–25 record...
, who went on to lead the United States to the Olympic gold medal. "He was tough, a real disciplinarian," Meier told the Chicago Tribune in 1988. "At that age we probably needed it. I went back to visit a few years later, and he was real nice. I thought, 'Is this the same guy?'"
Early baseball career
Standing at 6'0" and 185 pounds, Meier, a right-hander, was originally drafted by the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in the third round, 61st overall, of the 1978 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...
, but he opted not to sign. In 1981, he was drafted by 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...
in the 5th round, 113th overall, and at that point, decided to sign.
An overall good contact hitter in the minors who showed some pop, Meier had his best season in 1983 with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
, when he hit .336 with 8 home runs and 21 doubles in 126 games. He started the 1984 season on the Opening Day roster, making his big league debut as a pinch hitter on April 3. He went 0 for 1 in his debut.
Meier spent the majority of his major league career as a back-up/pinch hitter, with his best season being 1985, when he hit .260 with 1 home run and 8 RBI in 104 at-bats (74 games). He finished his career hitting .253, with 1 home run, 15 doubles, 1 triple, 22 RBI and 37 runs scored in 145 games. He committed four errors in his career for a fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of .978.
Stint with the Chicago Cubs
On March 17, 1988, the Rangers traded Meier and Greg TaborGreg Tabor
Gregory Steven Tabor is a former right-handed Major League Baseball second baseman and pinch runner who played for the Texas Rangers in 1987.-Baseball career and statistics:...
to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for Ray Hayward
Ray Hayward
Raymond Alton Hayward is a former left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played from 1986 to 1988 for the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers. He was 6'1" tall and he weighed 190 pounds.-College career:...
. In September 1988, the Cubs promoted Meier to the major league team from its AAA Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
minor league team after Iowa's season was over. The Cubs found Meier while he was enjoying a postseason vacation in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. "I was in Tahoe," he told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I don't know how they found me, but when they did, I said, 'Who, me? I haven't played in eight days.' But I was thrilled. I got here as fast as I could."
Meier played his final major league game on September 29, 1988 for the Cubs at the age of 29. He went 1-1 as a pinch hitter in his final game.