1979 Atlanta Braves Pitching Stats and New Reports In 1979 the Braves had a disappointing 66-94 win and loss record and finished last in the 6-team NL Western Division Pitcher Bios Rick Mahler, Starting Pitcher Righthander. He was just starting his very fine major league career. A rookie in 1979 he was 0-0 in 15 relief games. Baseball Historian Biography | A well-regard pitching stalwart for the Atlanta Braves during the 1980s, Rick Mahler worked over 200 innings six times, including a career-high 266.3 in 1985. A well-liked person with great work ethics he pitched to the best of his abilities throughout his pitching career. A noted fielding pitcher, Rick Mahler was also one of the top hitting pitchers of this era. In 1985 he set a record for the most game-winning RBI for a pitcher with 3. Rick Mahler tossed a shutout for Atlanta on 1982 Opening Day and helped the Braves win the NL West Division, completed 5 of 33 starts, 2 shutouts in 205 innings of work. In the NL Championship Series he pitched 1 1/3 innings of hitless ball. He also pitched Opening Day shutouts in 1986 and 1987. In 1984 with the Braves he was 13-10, with a very fine 3.12 ERA and in 1985 he won a career best 17 games, going 17-15, 3.48 ERA in 266.3 innings. Signed with the Cincinnati Reds as a free agent after the 1988 season. Posted a 7-6 record, 134.3 innings for with the pennant winning Reds in 1990, and pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief work in for the World Series Champion Cincinnati Reds. Rick Mahler with the Braves in June 1975 and played in the minors in Kingsport, Greenwood, Savannah prior to joining the majors in 1979. baseballhistorian.com | ========================================================= Tommy Boggs had the talent to pitch in the majors for almost 9 seasons, 1976 thru 1983 and 1985. He pitched his first two years for Texas without much fanfare then at age 24 was traded to Atlanta in a huge four team, 11 player deal on December 8, 1977. After settling in with the Braves pitching staff Tommy Boggs had a career year in 1980, posting a 12-9 record with a 3.42 ERA in 26 starts and tossed 3 complete game shutouts. A breaking ball pitcher, in 1980 he walked just 46, had 84 strikeouts or Ks in 192.1 innings. Although he never approached those stats again, he did start 94 games, and appeared in 20 relief games had a 20-44 record while playing for some lousy major league teams, Atlanta and Texas. Adrian Devine, Reliever Righthander. Reports show he liked to throw first pitch strikes and keep his breaking ball low, moving from side to side depending if right handed or lefthander was in batters box. Born in Galveston, Texas USA on December 2, 1951. He was just 21 years old as a rookie for Atlanta in 1973 even so he was 2-3 with 4 saves in 24 games, including one start. He pitched in minors in 1974 and returned to Atlanta in 75. He was the Braves closer in 1976 and compiled a 5-6 record plus 9 saves in 48 games and had a career best 3.21 ERA. He was traded to Texas prior to 1977 and after one year there he was traded back to the Braves in that big 4 team deal. Adrian Devine pitched 217 games thru 1980. Gene Garber, Reliever Righthander. An aggressive mound master, Gene Garber pitched in the majors from 1969 at age 21 until 1988 at age 40. Delivering a changeup and a sinkerball with a sidearm delivery, he was hard to hit, had outstanding control and served up just 123 homers in 1510 innings, spanning 931 games. He came to the Atlanta Braves from Philadelphia in a trade for pitcher Dick Ruthven in June of 1978. The 5 ft 10 inch, 175 pound Garber pitched for 5 different major league teams starting with Pittsburgh in 1969. WE at baseballhistorian.com think there is a good case for Gene Garber to be given serious consideration by the veterans committee for a Hall of Fame slot. Eddie Solomon was in his seventh major league season in 1979 and although he managed to only muster a 7-14 record, remember the Braves that year had a lousy 66-94 record. Braves manager Bobby Cox used the righthander Eddie Solomon in his starting rotation all season long, 30 starts a career high 186 innings. He pitched in majors from 1973 thru 1982. Frank LaCorte, Pitcher Righthander. Born in San Jose CA USA on 10/13/1951. A serviceable journeyman pitcher, he was used as a starter and reliever during his 10 year major league career. He debuted with the Atlanta Braves in 1975 and on May 25, 1979 Atlanta traded Frank LaCorte to Houston, where he was one of their leading relievers for 5 seasons. His pitches had movement and Frank LaCorte notched 372 strike outs in 490 innings. For complete career stats, please see Players on the upper left of our Home Page. | Mickey Mahler |
| | Birthdate: | 7/30/1952 | | | | Height / Weight: | 6' 3" / 189 lbs. | Place of Birth: | Montgomery, AL, USA | | Bats / Throws: | B / L | | | Baseball Historian Biography | Pitched 8 seasons in the major leagues, Mickey Mahler, the older brother of Rick, debuted with the Atlanta Braves in 1977, collected 3 saves in 24 relief appearances, also started 5 games, was 0-2 in 63 innings. In 1978 Mickey Mahler posted a 4-11 record, 4.68 ERA in 134.3 innings spanning 21 starts plus 13 relief games. In 1979 he was 5-11 in 18 starts, 100 innings. Injuries plagued Mickey Mahler from then on, and he saw limited pitching time with 3 different teams after being traded from Atlanta in fall of 1979. | Pitching Averages Phil Niekro 21-20 with 3.39 ERA in 44 games … Tony Brizzolara 6-9 with 5.28 ERA in 20 g … Eddie Solomon 7-14 with 4.21 ERA in 31 g … Mickey Mahler 5-11 with 5.85 ERA in 26 g … Rick Mahler 0-0 with 6.14 ERA in 15 g Gene Garber 6-16 plus 25 saves with a 4.33 ERA in 68 g … Bo McLaughlin 1-1 with a 4.89 ERA in 37 g … Joey McLaughlin 5-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 37 g … Adrian Devine 1-2 with 3.24 ERA in 40 g … Tommy Boggs 0-2 with 6.39 ERA in 3 g Rick Matula 8-10 with 4.15 ERA in 28 g … Craig Skok 1-3 with 3.98 ERA in 44 g … Frank LaCorte 0-0 with 7.56 ERA in 6 g … Larry McWilliams 3-2 with 5.56 ERA in 13 g Larry Bradford 1-0 with 0.95 ERA in 21 g … Jamie Easterly 0-0 with 13.50 ERA in 4 g … Preston Hanna 1-1 with 2.96 ERA in 6 g Baseball Historian Book of Records Page 60 |
