Jim Maler
Encyclopedia
James Michael Maler is a former first baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Seattle Mariners
from to .
He was 6'4" tall and he weighed 230 pounds.
"Athlete Of The Year" in 1977 while playing baseball and football at UM. His freshman hitting streak
record lasted 30 years until it was broken in 2007. Maler was taken in the first round, fifth overall, in the January Regular Phase draft by the Mariners out of Miami-Dade College (University of Miami).
Maler suffered a severe knee injury his first year in the minor leagues with Seattle, which slowed his career.
A power hitter in the minors, he hit as high as .310, hit as many as 24 home runs and drove in as many as 100 runs. Maler hit 97 home runs, 170 doubles, 27 triples and over 500 RBIs in his minor league career.
, with his first at-bat turning into a double off the "Green Monster" at Fenway Park
against pitcher Tom Burgmeier
. His debut game ended up being a 19-inning ordeal, with the Mariners beating the Red Sox 8-7. This was a rather interesting game, as it set the Fenway Park longest game record in terms of innings played.
He played 12 games in the majors in 1981, hitting .348 in 23 at bats.
In , he appeared in 64 games, batting .226 in 221 at bats. One of the highlights of his 1982 season was a grand slam
he hit on May 22 off of Randy Lerch
of the Milwaukee Brewers
. Perhaps the best game of his career came on April 6 - his first game of the year. Maler went 3 for 4 with a home run and five RBI in a 11-7 win over the Minnesota Twins
. Maler had the first single ever hit in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
.
In 1983 in 66 at bats, he hit .182. In January 1984, he was traded to the New York Mets
for minor leaguer John Semprini.
It seems that, just as quickly as Maler's promising young career began, it was over. He played his final big league game on July 24, . His big league career was over before his 25th birthday as he suffered another devastating knee injury in 1984 that ended his Major League career.
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
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...
who played 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...
from to .
He was 6'4" tall and he weighed 230 pounds.
The draft and minor league career
Jim Maler was the "Miami Herald Athlete Of The Year" in 1976 while playing baseball, football and basketball at Coral Gables High School. He was the University of MiamiUniversity of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
"Athlete Of The Year" in 1977 while playing baseball and football at UM. His freshman hitting streak
Hitting streak
In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the number of consecutive official games in which a player gets at least one base hit.According to the Official Baseball Rules, such a streak is ended when a player has at least 1 plate appearance and no hits...
record lasted 30 years until it was broken in 2007. Maler was taken in the first round, fifth overall, in the January Regular Phase draft by the Mariners out of Miami-Dade College (University of Miami).
Maler suffered a severe knee injury his first year in the minor leagues with Seattle, which slowed his career.
A power hitter in the minors, he hit as high as .310, hit as many as 24 home runs and drove in as many as 100 runs. Maler hit 97 home runs, 170 doubles, 27 triples and over 500 RBIs in his minor league career.
Major league career
On September 3, , at the age of 22, Maler made his big league debut, collecting 2 hits in 4 at bats against the Boston Red SoxBoston 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"...
, with his first at-bat turning into a double off the "Green Monster" at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
against pitcher Tom Burgmeier
Tom Burgmeier
Thomas Henry Burgmeier is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the California Angels, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox and Oakland A's from 1968 to 1984...
. His debut game ended up being a 19-inning ordeal, with the Mariners beating the Red Sox 8-7. This was a rather interesting game, as it set the Fenway Park longest game record in terms of innings played.
He played 12 games in the majors in 1981, hitting .348 in 23 at bats.
In , he appeared in 64 games, batting .226 in 221 at bats. One of the highlights of his 1982 season was a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
he hit on May 22 off of Randy Lerch
Randy Lerch
Randy Louis Lerch , is a former professional baseball pitcher who played in the major leagues for the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos, and San Francisco Giants from 1975 to 1986....
of the 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...
. Perhaps the best game of his career came on April 6 - his first game of the year. Maler went 3 for 4 with a home run and five RBI in a 11-7 win over 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...
. Maler had the first single ever hit in the 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...
.
In 1983 in 66 at bats, he hit .182. In January 1984, he was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
for minor leaguer John Semprini.
It seems that, just as quickly as Maler's promising young career began, it was over. He played his final big league game on July 24, . His big league career was over before his 25th birthday as he suffered another devastating knee injury in 1984 that ended his Major League career.
Career statistics
Maler hit .226 in 102 major league games. In 310 at bats, he collected 70 hits (including five home runs), drove in 31 runs, scored 24 runs, walked 19 times and struck out 47 times. He was a very solid fielder though, posting a .994 career fielding percentage.Other information
- The numbers Maler wore were 11 (1981) and 33 (1982 and 1983)
- Maler is one of two first basemen who hold the American LeagueAmerican LeagueThe 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...
record for most assistsAssist (baseball)In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
in an inning, with three. Dick StuartDick StuartRichard Lee Stuart was a Major League Baseball first baseman from 1958 to 1966 and 1969. In 1967 and 1968, he played in Japan for the Taiyo Whales. Throughout his baseball career, Stuart was known as a fine hitter, but a subpar fielder, garnering the unique nickname of "Dr. Strangeglove" for his...
is the only other AL first baseman to have had three assists in an inning. - At last check, Maler lived in North Miami Beach, FloridaNorth Miami Beach, FloridaNorth Miami Beach is a Miami suburban city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Originally named Fulford in 1926 after Captain William H. Fulford of the United States Coast Guard, the city was incorporated in 1927 as Fulford, but was renamed North Miami Beach in 1931. The population was...
.