Karl Best – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Karl Best ended his Major League Baseball career on June 20, 1988, after five seasons as a relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins. He grew up in Aberdeen, Washington, and made his last appearance against the California Angels, closing out a journey that began when Seattle drafted him straight out of high school in 1977.

Best put together a 5-6 record with a 4.04 ERA and 73 strikeouts across 61 games during his MLB run from 1983 to 1988. Teams traded him a few times in his later years, including a stop with the Detroit Tigers organization before he landed in Minnesota for his final season.

His story gives a real look at the ups and downs relief pitchers faced during the 1980s.

From his early days in the Pacific Northwest to that last pitch in the majors, Best’s career paints a picture of baseball’s developmental system and the grit it takes to reach the top. He worked his way through the minors, broke into the big leagues, and eventually retired, following a path that feels pretty familiar for journeyman pitchers from that era.

Karl Best’s Baseball Career Highlights

Karl Best spent five seasons in the MLB, from 1983 to 1988. He debuted with the Seattle Mariners at age 24 and finished up with the Minnesota Twins.

His career involved a couple of notable trades and a strong 1985 season where he really showed what he could do as a reliever.

Major League Debut and Early Years

Karl Best made his MLB debut on August 19, 1983, with the Seattle Mariners. He was 24 years old at the time.

The Mariners had picked him in the 12th round of the 1977 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Kent-Meridian High School.

His first season didn’t go smoothly. Best pitched in just 4 games, racking up a 13.50 ERA and an 0-1 record.

He bounced back a bit in 1984. Over 5 appearances, he managed a 3.00 ERA and went 1-1.

In 1985, things clicked. Best took the mound in 15 games and notched 4 saves with a 1.95 ERA. He struck out 32 hitters in 32.1 innings, showing he could handle relief work.

Teams Played For: Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins

Best spent most of his career with the Seattle Mariners from 1983 to 1986. Over those four seasons, he put up a 5-6 record and a 3.74 ERA in 50 games.

The Mariners used him only as a reliever. He never started a game but finished 24 of them.

He wrapped up his MLB days with the Minnesota Twins in 1988. Best pitched in 11 games for Minnesota and posted a 6.00 ERA over 12 innings.

Career Statistics by Team:

• Seattle Mariners (1983-1986): 5-6 record, 3.74 ERA, 64 strikeouts
• Minnesota Twins (1988): 0-0 record, 6.00 ERA, 9 strikeouts

Key Trades and Transitions

Best’s move to Minnesota came through two trades. In June 1987, while he wasn’t active, the Mariners sent him to the Detroit Tigers for Bryan Kelly.

The Tigers then shipped him off to the Minnesota Twins just before the 1988 season. The Twins picked him up in exchange for Don Schulze.

Teams often shuffled relief pitchers around to fill roster needs, and Best’s 1985 performance probably made him a pretty appealing trade target, even though he struggled in 1986.

There’s a gap between his 1986 Mariners season and his 1988 time with the Twins, so he likely spent that period in the minors.

Retirement and Final MLB Appearance

Best’s last MLB season was in 1988 with the Minnesota Twins. He pitched in 11 games, gave up 15 hits and 9 runs in 12 innings.

He made his final big league appearance that year, capping off a five-year career. Best finished with 5 wins, 6 losses, and 73 strikeouts.

Final Career Numbers:

• Games: 61
• Innings Pitched: 91.1
• Strikeouts: 73
• ERA: 4.04
• Saves: 5

He retired at 29, after struggling to recapture the form he’d shown in his standout 1985 season with Seattle.

Pitching Performance and Statistical Overview

Karl Best ended up with a 4.04 ERA over five MLB seasons and a 5-6 win-loss record. He mostly worked as a relief pitcher for the Mariners and Twins.

His best season by far was 1985, when he put up a 1.95 ERA and four saves for Seattle.

Career ERA and MLB Stats

Best’s career 4.04 ERA really highlights the tough life of a middle reliever in the 1980s. His top season came in 1985, when he posted a remarkable 1.95 ERA over 32.1 innings.

That year, he pitched in 15 games for Seattle. He allowed just seven earned runs and struck out 32 batters. His WHIP was a sharp 0.959.

He had a rough rookie year in 1983, though. Best put up a 13.50 ERA in four outings, giving up 14 hits in just 5.1 innings. Control was an issue—he walked five and struck out only three.

Over five years, Best totaled 73 strikeouts in 91.1 innings. His career WHIP of 1.478 means he allowed about 1.5 baserunners per inning.

Win-Loss Record and Notable Games

Best wrapped up his MLB run with a 5-6 record, picking up most of those wins while he was with Seattle. A .455 winning percentage isn’t exactly eye-popping, but it fits his role as a situational reliever.

He collected five saves in his career, with four in that big 1985 season. His best stretch came between 1984 and 1985, going 3-1 with a 2.29 combined ERA.

His last season, 1988 with Minnesota, was a struggle. He pitched in 11 games but didn’t get a win or a save. That year’s 6.00 ERA included 15 hits allowed in 12 innings.

His last MLB outing happened on June 20, 1988, against the California Angels. Best tossed 1.1 innings, gave up one hit, and walked one without letting in a run.

Pitching Style and Role as a Relief Pitcher

Best worked almost exclusively as a middle reliever, making 61 appearances and never starting a game. At 6-foot-4 with a right-handed delivery, he could be tough on right-handed hitters.

His role with Seattle changed over time. He went from sporadic appearances in 1983-1984 to a more regular relief role by 1985.

Best could handle multiple innings, which made him useful for longer relief spots.

He struck out 7.2 batters per nine innings, which was solid for the time. On the downside, he walked 3.8 per nine, and that limited his reliability in tight spots.

His versatility let him pitch in all sorts of situations. He finished 32 games, so managers trusted him to close things out when needed.

Breakdown of 1988 MLB Season

In his final MLB season with the Minnesota Twins, Karl Best pitched in 11 games, posting a 6.00 ERA across 12 innings. He split his work between home and road games, but most of his action came at the Twins’ home park.

Performance with the Minnesota Twins

Best got into 11 games for the Twins in 1988, always as a relief pitcher. He threw 12 innings, allowed 15 hits, and gave up 8 earned runs for a 6.00 ERA.

His outings at home were rough. He pitched 8 games there, totaling 8 innings with a 5.62 ERA. He surrendered 11 hits and 5 earned runs.

On the road, he made 3 appearances and pitched 4 innings. His ERA away from home was 6.75, with 4 hits and 3 earned runs allowed. He issued 3 walks on the road, including one intentional.

Key 1988 Statistics:

• Games: 11
• Innings Pitched: 12
• ERA: 6.00
• Hits Allowed: 15
• Walks: 7
• Home Runs Allowed: 1

Control was a problem all year. Best walked 7 batters and committed one balk at home, but he didn’t throw any wild pitches.

Significant Games and Season Milestones

The 1988 season marked the end of Best’s MLB journey after 11 years in pro baseball. That final season happened to line up with a memorable year in baseball, with the Dodgers beating the A’s in the World Series.

In those 11 games, Best tried to help out the Twins’ bullpen during what would be his last campaign. He didn’t make any starts that year, sticking to middle relief.

He had one defensive slip—a balk at home—but managed not to hit any batters, which is something. Still, his walk numbers were high.

His 6.00 ERA was well above league average for relievers in 1988, showing the toll the years had taken.

Season Breakdown:

• Home Games: 8 (5.62 ERA)
• Road Games: 3 (6.75 ERA)
• Total Appearances: 11
• Career Finale: Last of 11 professional seasons

Best hung up his cleats after the 1988 season, closing out a career that stretched from 1978 to 1988 with the Mariners and Twins.

Early Life and Entry into Professional Baseball

Karl Jon Best was born March 6, 1959, in Aberdeen, Washington. He eventually made his mark as a relief pitcher in the majors.

His path to pro ball started in high school in Kent, Washington, where he honed the skills that caught scouts’ eyes and led to his selection in the 1977 draft.

Background and High School Years

Karl Best grew up in Aberdeen before moving to Kent for high school. He went to Kent-Meridian High School, where he played baseball and started to develop as a pitcher.

During his time at Kent-Meridian, Best stood out as a right-handed pitcher with promise. His high school performances got him noticed by pro scouts.

Physically, Best fit the mold. At 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, he had the size teams like in a pitcher. His right-handed arm and solid build set the foundation for his future career.

Those early years in Washington state played a big role in shaping his baseball journey.

Draft into MLB and Minor League Development

The Seattle Mariners picked Karl Best in the 12th round of the 1977 MLB June Amateur Draft. He was the 312

Life After Professional Baseball

After Karl Best retired from MLB in 1988, he quietly left the professional spotlight. Instead of jumping into coaching or broadcasting like a lot of former players do, Best decided to keep things private once his five-year major league tenure ended.

He played from 1983 to 1988, appearing in 61 games as a relief pitcher. During that time, Best put together a 5-6 record, a 4.04 ERA, and racked up 73 strikeouts with the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins.

Best grew up in Aberdeen, Washington. After baseball, he mostly kept out of the public eye.

Honestly, that’s not unusual for players from his era. A lot of them made the shift to regular jobs and didn’t keep big connections to the sport.

Legacy in MLB and Community Impact

People remember Best in MLB for his role as a reliable relief pitcher during the mid-1980s. His 4.04 ERA and 7.19 strikeouts per nine innings show he handled middle relief pretty well for the Mariners and Twins.

He went from Kent-Meridian High School in Kent, Washington all the way to the big leagues. Seattle picked him in the 12th round of the 1977 MLB draft, which says a lot about how they valued local talent.

Best never put up superstar numbers, but his career really shows the dedication required to make it to the majors and stick around. Five seasons in MLB is no small thing—only a tiny percentage of drafted players ever manage to do that.

Complete MLB Career Statistics and Records

Karl Best pitched in Major League Baseball for five seasons, from 1983 to 1988. He took the mound for the Seattle Mariners and the Minnesota Twins.

Career Totals:

• Games: 61
• Wins: 5
• Losses: 6
• ERA: 4.04
• Strikeouts: 73
• Saves: 5

Honestly, you could say Best put together his best season in 1985 with Seattle. He managed a 1.95 ERA in 15 appearances and picked up 4 saves that year.

Throughout his MLB career, Best threw 91.1 innings. He carried a 1.478 WHIP and struck out about 7.2 batters per nine innings.

He spent four seasons with the Seattle Mariners. In 1988, he wrapped up his career with the Minnesota Twins.

Best always worked out of the bullpen as a relief pitcher. That was his thing, and he stuck with it.

His career fielding percentage sat at .889. He made 8 putouts, 7 assists, and allowed 8 stolen bases, catching just 1 runner trying to steal.