Erv Palica

Born: 2/9/1928 in Lomita, CA, USA

Died: 5/29/1982 in Huntington Beach, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1945-04-21 | Final Game: 1956-09-24

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: Ervin Martin Palica

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Biography

Erv Palica was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1945 to 1956. Born in 1928, Palica made his mark in Major League Baseball during a time when the sport was evolving, transitioning from the post-war era into a period of greater offensive prowess. Throughout his career, he played for several teams, showcasing his skills on the mound with a career record of 41 wins and 55 losses, complemented by an earned run average (ERA) of 4.22. Notably, he recorded 423 strikeouts and secured 10 saves, reflecting his capability as both a starter and a reliever. Palica's playing style was characterized by his ability to manage games effectively, often relying on a mix of pitches that challenged hitters during a time when the game was seeing an increase in power hitting. Although his career statistics may not have placed him among the elite pitchers of his time, his contributions to his teams and the game at large were significant, providing valuable innings and experience during a transformative era in baseball history. Following his retirement, Palica remained a respected figure in the baseball community, remembered for his dedication and the role he played in the ever-evolving landscape of Major League Baseball.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
41	55	246	80	20	3	10	839.3	806	394	72	399	423	4.22	0

Career ERA 4.22 vs. league average 4.06 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
1947	BRO	NL	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	3.0	2	1	2	1	3.00	—	0.0
1948	BRO	NL	6	6	41	10	3	0	3	125.3	111	62	58	74	4.45	4.10 (-9%)	-958.9
1949	BRO	NL	8	9	49	1	0	0	6	97.0	93	39	49	44	3.62	4.12 (+12%)	405.1
1950	BRO	NL	13	8	43	19	10	2	1	201.3	176	80	98	131	3.58	4.36 (+18%)	3921.4
1951	BRO	NL	2	6	19	8	0	0	0	53.0	55	28	20	15	4.75	4.04 (-18%)	-1954.4
1953	BRO	NL	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	6.0	10	8	8	3	12.00	—	0.0
1954	BRO	NL	3	3	25	3	0	0	0	67.7	77	40	31	25	5.32	3.90 (-37%)	-1561.3
1955	BAL	AL	5	11	33	25	5	1	0	169.7	165	78	83	68	4.14	4.00 (-3%)	716.0
1956	BAL	AL	4	11	29	14	2	0	0	116.3	117	58	50	62	4.49	3.96 (-13%)	681.0

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
262	243	22	48	8	1	1	17	2	13	63	0.198	0.238	0.251	0.489	-586.8

Career AVG .198 vs. league average .262 across their career seasons — 24.6% below league average.

Career OBP .238 vs. league average .336 across their career seasons — 29.2% below league average.

Career SLG .251 vs. league average .385 across their career seasons — 34.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.489 vs. league average 0.722 across their career seasons — 32.2% 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
1945	BRO	NL	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1947	BRO	NL	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1948	BRO	NL	45	39	6	5	1	1	0	3	0	4	12	0.128	—	—	—	—	0.0
1949	BRO	NL	49	19	2	3	1	0	0	2	0	2	6	0.158	—	—	—	—	0.0
1950	BRO	NL	48	68	4	15	4	0	1	8	2	0	8	0.221	.265 (-17%)	.346 (-36%)	.401 (-19%)	.747 (-27%)	-360.0
1951	BRO	NL	20	13	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	0.154	—	—	—	—	0.0
1953	BRO	NL	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1954	BRO	NL	28	16	2	4	1	0	0	1	0	1	4	0.250	—	—	—	—	0.0
1955	BAL	AL	33	55	3	13	1	0	0	3	0	4	18	0.236	.258 (-9%)	.332 (-13%)	.393 (-35%)	.726 (-25%)	-226.8
1956	BAL	AL	30	32	4	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0.156	—	—	—	—	0.0