Jeff Ballard, baseball player, 1987-1994

Jeff Ballard

Born: 8/13/1963 in Billings, MT, USA

MLB Debut: 1987-05-09 | Final Game: 1994-07-08

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 195 lbs

Full name: Jeffrey Scott Ballard

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Biography

Jeff Ballard, born in 1963, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1987 to 1994. He made his mark in Major League Baseball during a competitive era characterized by the emergence of new offensive strategies and an evolving approach to pitching. Over the course of his career, Ballard posted a record of 41 wins and 53 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.71. He tallied a total of 244 strikeouts and recorded 2 saves, showcasing his ability to contribute both as a starter and in relief. Ballard played for several teams during his tenure in the majors, where he was known for his versatility on the mound. His pitching style combined a mix of speed and strategy, allowing him to navigate the challenges posed by hitters of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Although he may not have achieved the stardom of some of his contemporaries, Ballard's contributions to his teams and the insights he gained from playing during this dynamic period of baseball history remain a testament to his skill and dedication to the sport. After retiring in 1994, he left behind a legacy as a reliable pitcher who played an important role in the fabric of his teams during his active years.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
41 53 197 118 10 2 2 773.3 914 405 92 229 244 4.71 0

Career ERA 4.71 vs. league average 4.02 across their career seasons — 17.4% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1987 BAL AL 2 8 14 14 0 0 0 69.7 100 51 35 27 6.59 4.29 (-53%) -3725.2
1988 BAL AL 8 12 25 25 6 1 0 153.3 167 75 42 41 4.40 3.73 (-18%) -2813.2
1989 BAL AL 18 8 35 35 4 1 0 215.3 240 82 57 62 3.43 3.71 (+8%) -1644.2
1990 BAL AL 2 11 44 17 0 0 0 133.3 152 73 42 50 4.93 3.86 (-28%) -4638.9
1991 BAL AL 6 12 26 22 0 0 0 123.7 153 77 28 37 5.60 3.91 (-43%) -2396.2
1993 PIT NL 4 1 25 5 0 0 0 53.7 70 29 15 16 4.86 4.19 (-16%) 164.8
1994 PIT NL 1 1 28 0 0 0 2 24.3 32 18 10 11 6.66 4.51 (-48%) -1065.4

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
197 13 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0.385 0.385 0.462 0.846 0.0

Career AVG .385 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — +48.1% above league average.

Career OBP .385 vs. league average .327 across their career seasons — +17.8% above league average.

Career SLG .462 vs. league average .394 across their career seasons — +17.1% above league average.

Career OPS 0.846 vs. league average 0.721 across their career seasons — +17.4% above league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1987 BAL AL 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1988 BAL AL 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1989 BAL AL 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1990 BAL AL 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1991 BAL AL 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1993 PIT NL 25 11 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0.364 — — — — 0.0
1994 PIT NL 28 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.500 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 197 118 47 128 5 16

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1987 BAL P 14 14 5 10 0 1
1988 BAL P 25 25 9 13 0 3
1989 BAL P 35 35 13 55 2 6
1990 BAL P 44 17 11 20 1 0
1991 BAL P 26 22 4 15 1 3
1993 PIT P 25 5 4 12 1 3
1994 PIT P 28 0 1 3 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 197

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1989 Pitcher of the Month April

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1994 PIT NL $175,000
1991 BAL AL $465,000
1990 BAL AL $200,000
1989 BAL AL $97,000
Total Career Earnings $937,000

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Stanford University Palo Alto CA 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1989 Cy Young Award AL 6th 3.0 140 0