Dave Tobik
Encyclopedia
David Vance Tobik is a former right-handed relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. After attending Ohio University
, Tobik played eight season in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers
(1978–1982), Texas Rangers
(1983–1984), and Seattle Mariners
(1985).
where he was an All-Mid-American Conference
pitcher from 1971 to 1974. During the 1974 season, Tobik compiled a record of 6-3 with 78 strikeout
s and an earned run average
of 0.84. He was inducted into the Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame
in 1989.
(the Lakeland Flying Tigers) and Montgomery, Alabama
(the Montgomery Rebels
). He moved up to the Triple-A Evansville Triplets
in 1977 and played in Evansville for parts of the 1977 to 1980 seasons.
. The following year, he appeared in 37 games for the 1979 Detroit Tigers
. He spent most of the 1980 season in Evansville, but did appear in 17 games (all but one in relief) for the 1980 Tigers
. On August 22, 1980, Tobik struck out four batters in one inning while pitching for Evansville against Denver, as La Rue Washington
reached first base on a passed ball after being struck out by Tobik.
In 1981, Tobik compiled a record of 2-2 with a 2.69 earned run average (Adjusted ERA+
of 141) in 60-1/3 innings pitched.
In 1982, and after an injury sidelined Dave Rozema
, Tobik became the Tigers' closer. In June 1982, Sparky Anderson
credited Tobik's success to his development of a forkball
and called Tobik the "king" of a Detroit bullpen that also included Kevin Saucier
and Elias Sosa
. Anderson added: "I admit, I didn't see it coming. But I'm smart enough to pounce on something good when I see it. We don't have anybody throwing like Tobik. That forkball of his is unreal." In May 1982, Tobik and Jack Morris
combined for a two-hit shutout against the California Angels. In June 1982, Wade Boggs
hit his first career home run off Tobik -- an 11th inning walk-off home run that Boggs later recalled as a turning point in his early career. Tobik led the 1982 Tigers
with nine saves, and appeared in a career-high 51 games, but also compiled a disappointing record of 4-9.
for outfielder Johnny Grubb
. Prior to the trade, Sparky Anderson pointed to Tobik's nine losses during the 1982 season and noted, "Tell me what a relief pitcher is doing with nine losses. That's nine times he came in with a lead and couldn't hold it." Playing for the Rangers in 1983, Tobik converted all nine of his save opportunities for the Rangers. Tobik pitched two seasons for the Rangers, appearing in 51 games, all in relief. In July 1984, the Rangers sent Tobik to Oklahoma City. On being sent to Oklahoma City, Tobik told reporters, "I don't know what to think anymore. I don't think they have to have a reason all the time for doing things. I'm a major league pitcher. I don't deserve this but what can you do?"
in the Pacific Coast League
. He was the first player to sign with the newly-formed Calgary baseball team. He won a career-high 12 games for the Cannons in 1985 and also established the team record for wins in a season. Tobik also compiled a 1-0 record for the Seattle Mariners
in 1985. He appeared in his final game for the Mariners on October 5, 1985. At the end of the 1985 season, the Mariners asked for unconditional waivers on Tobik.
For his career, Tobik had a 14-23 record in 196 games. He had 28 saves and 116 games finished. His career ERA was 3.70 (Adjusted ERA+
110).
and she was a sports writer for the Evansville Press
. Their son, Dan Tobik, was a top baseball recruit for the University of Tennessee at Martin
. Tobik today lives in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri
.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
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...
. After attending Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, Tobik played eight season in the major leagues with 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...
(1978–1982), 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...
(1983–1984), and Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(1985).
Ohio University
Tobik played college baseball at Ohio UniversityOhio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
where he was an All-Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
pitcher from 1971 to 1974. During the 1974 season, Tobik compiled a record of 6-3 with 78 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 0.84. He was inducted into the Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame
Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame
The Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame is the shrine which all Ohio University Bobcats greats aspire to enter. Since 1965, inductees to the Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame are inducted during banquet ceremonies the evening prior to a designated home football game. Inductees are also...
in 1989.
Minor leagues
In January 1975, Tobik was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round (second overall selection) of the 1975 supplemental amateur draft. From 1975 to 1977, he played for the Tigers' farm teams in Lakeland, FloridaLakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
(the Lakeland Flying Tigers) and Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
(the Montgomery Rebels
Montgomery Rebels
The Montgomery Rebels was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise representing Montgomery, Alabama, that played in various leagues between and...
). He moved up to the Triple-A Evansville Triplets
Evansville Triplets
The Evansville Triplets were a minor league baseball team of the American Association from to . In its last season, Evansville was the Triple-A farm team for the Detroit Tigers...
in 1977 and played in Evansville for parts of the 1977 to 1980 seasons.
Detroit Tigers
Tobik made his Major League debut on August 26, 1978, giving up three earned runs in a 9-5 loss to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee 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...
. The following year, he appeared in 37 games for the 1979 Detroit Tigers
1979 Detroit Tigers season
The 1979 Detroit Tigers finished in fifth place in the American League East with a record of 85-76, 18 games behind the Orioles. They outscored their opponents 770 to 738. The Tigers drew 1,630,929 fans to Tiger Stadium in 1979, ranking 7th of the 14 teams in the American League. The season is...
. He spent most of the 1980 season in Evansville, but did appear in 17 games (all but one in relief) for the 1980 Tigers
1980 Detroit Tigers season
The 1980 Detroit Tigers finished in fourth place in the American League East with a record of 84-78, 19 games behind the Yankees. They outscored their opponents 830 to 757...
. On August 22, 1980, Tobik struck out four batters in one inning while pitching for Evansville against Denver, as La Rue Washington
La Rue Washington
La Rue Washington is a former Major League Baseball player. Washington played for the Texas Rangers in and . He batted and threw right-handed....
reached first base on a passed ball after being struck out by Tobik.
In 1981, Tobik compiled a record of 2-2 with a 2.69 earned run average (Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
of 141) in 60-1/3 innings pitched.
In 1982, and after an injury sidelined Dave Rozema
Dave Rozema
David Scott Rozema , nicknamed "Rosey", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-Early years and 1977 rookie season:...
, Tobik became the Tigers' closer. In June 1982, Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
credited Tobik's success to his development of a forkball
Forkball
The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist....
and called Tobik the "king" of a Detroit bullpen that also included Kevin Saucier
Kevin Saucier
Kevin Andrew Saucier was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1978 to 1982 for the Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers. Nicknamed "Hot Sauce", Saucier , was an energetic pitcher who would often display his emotions while on the mound...
and Elias Sosa
Elias Sosa
Elías Sosa Martínez , is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent on March 4, 1968. He played for the Giants , St...
. Anderson added: "I admit, I didn't see it coming. But I'm smart enough to pounce on something good when I see it. We don't have anybody throwing like Tobik. That forkball of his is unreal." In May 1982, Tobik and Jack Morris
Jack Morris
John Scott "Jack" Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in 18 big league seasons between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers, and won 254 games throughout his career...
combined for a two-hit shutout against the California Angels. In June 1982, 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...
hit his first career home run off Tobik -- an 11th inning walk-off home run that Boggs later recalled as a turning point in his early career. Tobik led the 1982 Tigers
1982 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers finished in fourth place in the American League East with a record of 83-79 , 12 games behind the Brewers. The Tigers outscored their opponents 729 to 685...
with nine saves, and appeared in a career-high 51 games, but also compiled a disappointing record of 4-9.
Texas Rangers
During spring training in 1983, Tobik was traded to the Texas RangersTexas 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...
for outfielder Johnny Grubb
Johnny Grubb
John Maywood Grubb, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter, who also occasionally played at first base...
. Prior to the trade, Sparky Anderson pointed to Tobik's nine losses during the 1982 season and noted, "Tell me what a relief pitcher is doing with nine losses. That's nine times he came in with a lead and couldn't hold it." Playing for the Rangers in 1983, Tobik converted all nine of his save opportunities for the Rangers. Tobik pitched two seasons for the Rangers, appearing in 51 games, all in relief. In July 1984, the Rangers sent Tobik to Oklahoma City. On being sent to Oklahoma City, Tobik told reporters, "I don't know what to think anymore. I don't think they have to have a reason all the time for doing things. I'm a major league pitcher. I don't deserve this but what can you do?"
Calgary and Seattle
In January 1985, Tobik signed with the Calgary CannonsCalgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He was the first player to sign with the newly-formed Calgary baseball team. He won a career-high 12 games for the Cannons in 1985 and also established the team record for wins in a season. Tobik also compiled a 1-0 record for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in 1985. He appeared in his final game for the Mariners on October 5, 1985. At the end of the 1985 season, the Mariners asked for unconditional waivers on Tobik.
For his career, Tobik had a 14-23 record in 196 games. He had 28 saves and 116 games finished. His career ERA was 3.70 (Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
110).
Family
Tobik married Anne Harter, who he met while he played for the Evansville TripletsEvansville Triplets
The Evansville Triplets were a minor league baseball team of the American Association from to . In its last season, Evansville was the Triple-A farm team for the Detroit Tigers...
and she was a sports writer for the Evansville Press
Evansville Courier & Press
The Evansville Courier & Press is a local newspaper in Evansville, Indiana. The Evansville Courier & Press serves 58,098 daily and 86,201 Sunday readers in 30 counties in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. In 2002 and 2004, the newspaper was named the state's "Blue Ribbon Daily" by the Hoosier State...
. Their son, Dan Tobik, was a top baseball recruit for the University of Tennessee at Martin
University of Tennessee at Martin
The University of Tennessee at Martin is a campus in the University of Tennessee system. Other campuses include the flagship campus in Knoxville, the Chattanooga campus, the Center for the Health Sciences in Memphis, and the Space Institute in Tullahoma...
. Tobik today lives in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.