Dennis Higgins, baseball player, 1966-1972

Dennis Higgins

Born: 8/4/1939 in Jefferson City, MO, USA

Died: 11/3/2023 in Jefferson City, MO, USA

MLB Debut: 1966-04-12 | Final Game: 1972-08-26

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: Dennis Dean Higgins

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Biography

Dennis Higgins, born in 1939, was a talented pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1966 until his retirement on August 26, 1972. Known for his competitive spirit and effective pitching style, Higgins made a significant impact during his career in an era that was transitioning from the dominant pitching of the 1960s to the more offensive-minded approach of the 1970s. He finished his career with a record of 22-23 and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.42, showcasing his ability to keep runs to a minimum while providing valuable innings for his teams. Over the course of his career, Higgins recorded 339 strikeouts and notched 46 saves, highlighting his versatility as both a starting pitcher and a reliable reliever. His contributions on the mound were crucial for the teams he played for, as he emerged as a dependable option in high-leverage situations. Higgins' performances during this era of baseball reflected the evolving strategies of the game, as managers increasingly relied on specialized roles for pitchers. His legacy endures as part of the rich tapestry of baseball history, and he remains a respected figure among those who appreciate the nuances of the game.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
22 23 241 2 0 0 46 410.3 346 156 32 223 339 3.42 0

Career ERA 3.42 vs. league average 3.45 across their career seasons — near 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
1966 CHW AL 1 0 42 1 0 0 5 93.0 66 26 33 86 2.52 3.52 (+29%) -
1967 CHW AL 1 2 9 0 0 0 0 12.3 13 8 10 8 5.84 3.30 (-77%) -
1968 WS2 AL 4 4 59 0 0 0 13 99.7 81 36 46 66 3.25 2.98 (-9%) -1518.1
1969 WS2 AL 10 9 55 0 0 0 16 85.3 79 33 56 71 3.48 3.61 (+4%) -808.2
1970 CLE AL 4 6 58 0 0 0 11 90.3 82 40 54 82 3.99 3.89 (-3%) 119.4
1971 STL NL 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 7.0 6 3 2 6 3.86 — -
1972 STL NL 1 2 15 1 0 0 1 22.7 19 10 22 20 3.97 3.26 (-22%) -

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
241 58 3 9 0 0 0 3 0 4 17 0.155 0.210 0.155 0.365 0.0

Career AVG .155 vs. league average .246 across their career seasons — 37.0% below league average.

Career OBP .210 vs. league average .313 across their career seasons — 33.1% below league average.

Career SLG .155 vs. league average .365 across their career seasons — 57.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.365 vs. league average 0.678 across their career seasons — 46.2% below 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
1966 CHW AL 42 17 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 0.176 — — — — 0.0
1967 CHW AL 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1968 WS2 AL 59 15 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0.133 — — — — 0.0
1969 WS2 AL 55 11 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 0.091 — — — — 0.0
1970 CLE AL 58 12 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 0.250 — — — — 0.0
1971 STL NL 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1972 STL NL 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 241 2 22 51 1 2

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1966 CHA P 42 1 4 15 0 2
1967 CHA P 9 0 2 2 0 0
1968 WS2 P 59 0 2 11 0 0
1969 WS2 P 55 0 4 7 0 0
1970 CLE P 58 0 7 14 1 0
1971 SLN P 3 0 1 1 0 0
1972 SLN P 15 1 2 1 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 241