Dave Oliver
Encyclopedia
David Jacob Oliver is a former infielder
and coach
in Major League Baseball
. Primarily a second baseman
as a professional player, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed, stood 5'11" (80 cm) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg). He attended California Polytechnic University
.
Oliver originally signed with the Cleveland Indians
in 1973 after being selected in the third round of the June draft, and his only trial in the major leagues consisted of seven games with the 1977
Indians. He batted
22 times, collecting seven hits
, including a triple
, three runs batted in, and four bases on balls. His batting average
was .318. He returned to the Cleveland farm system and played through 1980, then became manager
of the Indians' Batavia
farm club in the Short Season Class A New York-Penn League in 1981-82. The following year, he switched to the Texas Rangers
organization, as manager of their Tri-Cities
affiliate in the Short Season-A Northwest League
. Then, in 1984, he became the Rangers' roving minor league infield instructor. In 1985-86, he returned to managing, this time at the AAA level, as pilot of Texas' top affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers
of the American Association
, leading them to a first place finish in the Association's Western Division in 1985.
He was then promoted to the major leagues as a coach for Texas (1987-94) and the Boston Red Sox
(1995-96), working as a third-base coach after 1987 under managers Bobby Valentine
, Toby Harrah
and Kevin Kennedy
.
Oliver returned to professional baseball in , spending the season as manager of the Stockton, California
-based Mudville Nine, a Class A California League
farm team of the Cincinnati Reds
.
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in Major League Baseball
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...
. Primarily a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
as a professional player, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed, stood 5'11" (80 cm) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg). He attended California Polytechnic University
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
.
Oliver originally signed with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in 1973 after being selected in the third round of the June draft, and his only trial in the major leagues consisted of seven games with the 1977
1977 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Reggie Jackson, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: None*National League Championship Series MVP: Dusty Baker...
Indians. He batted
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
22 times, collecting seven hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, including a triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, three runs batted in, and four bases on balls. His batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
was .318. He returned to the Cleveland farm system and played through 1980, then became manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Indians' Batavia
Batavia Muckdogs
The Batavia Muckdogs are a minor league baseball team based in Batavia, a city in Genesee County, New York, United States. The Muckdogs are the current Short-Season A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals...
farm club in the Short Season Class A New York-Penn League in 1981-82. The following year, he switched to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
organization, as manager of their Tri-Cities
Tri-City Dust Devils
The Tri-City Dust Devils are a minor league baseball team in Pasco, Washington, United States. The Dust Devils are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since their inception in 2001. The Devils play home games at Gesa...
affiliate in the Short Season-A Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
. Then, in 1984, he became the Rangers' roving minor league infield instructor. In 1985-86, he returned to managing, this time at the AAA level, as pilot of Texas' top affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, leading them to a first place finish in the Association's Western Division in 1985.
He was then promoted to the major leagues as a coach for Texas (1987-94) and the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1995-96), working as a third-base coach after 1987 under managers Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine
Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
, Toby Harrah
Toby Harrah
Colbert Dale Harrah is a former professional baseball player who played with the Texas Rangers both before and after their 1971 franchise shift before later being traded to the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees...
and Kevin Kennedy
Kevin Kennedy (baseball)
Kevin Curtis Kennedy is a former manager in American Major League Baseball and a former television host for Fox Sports' baseball coverage. He was given the nickname "The Skipper" by Fox Sports due to his prior managerial career...
.
Oliver returned to professional baseball in , spending the season as manager of the Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
-based Mudville Nine, a Class A California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
farm team of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.