Dan Briggs – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Dan Briggs put together a seven-year career in Major League Baseball, moving through five different teams before calling it quits after the 1982 season. He was born on November 18, 1952, in Scotia, California. As a left-handed first baseman and outfielder, Briggs spent his entire MLB run bouncing between the California Angels, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos, and Chicago Cubs from 1975 to 1982.

Briggs finished his career with a .195 batting average, 12 home runs, and 53 RBIs in 325 games, which really sums up the journeyman experience so many players had during baseball’s expansion era in the 1970s and early 1980s. His stats might not wow anyone, but you have to give him credit for sticking with it. After his big league days, he even played two seasons in Japan.

Briggs’ baseball journey shows how a player can squeeze every drop out of his opportunities, even when the bat goes cold. After his playing days, he shifted into coaching and baseball instruction. His story gives a real look at the ups and downs faced by pro athletes who make it to the top, even if they never become household names.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Dan Lee Briggs was born on November 18, 1952, in Scotia, California. He grew into one of the Bay Area’s most promising young players during high school, getting noticed as both a pitcher and first baseman.

The California Angels picked him in the 1970 amateur draft.

Childhood and Family Background

Dan Lee Briggs arrived in Scotia, California—a small lumber town in Humboldt County—on November 18, 1952. That northern California backdrop shaped his early years as a ballplayer.

Briggs got into baseball young. Growing up in a tight-knit place like Scotia, he had plenty of chances to hone his skills.

His family really encouraged his athletic interests. He showed promise in more than one spot on the field. Briggs was talented both as a pitcher and as a position player, which definitely made him stand out to scouts.

Sonoma Valley High School Achievements

Briggs attended Sonoma Valley High School in Sonoma, California. There, he quickly became one of the top baseball talents in the region.

His senior year in 1970 was a breakout, and he earned recognition all over the Bay Area.

Key Accomplishments:

• Named Player of the Year for the San Francisco Bay Area in 1970
• Selected to the Topps High School All-American Team
• Excelled as both a pitcher and first baseman

He impressed people with his ability to pitch and hit for power at first base.

The attention he got reflected just how highly scouts rated him. His high school achievements put him on the radar for major league teams everywhere.

Draft and Entry to Professional Baseball

The California Angels picked Dan Briggs in the 2nd round of the 1970 MLB June Amateur Draft, making him the 34th overall pick. That’s a pretty high slot, showing the Angels really believed in his potential as a two-way player.

They drafted him specifically as a pitcher/first baseman because of his versatility. Having a guy who could do both made him a valuable prospect.

At just 17, Briggs had to decide whether to jump straight into pro baseball. The Angels’ investment gave him a chance to start his pro career right away.

With that draft spot, he joined the ranks of the top prospects that year. It was the first step on his long path through the minors and, eventually, his big league debut in 1975.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Dan Briggs played seven seasons in the majors from 1975 to 1982, getting time at both first base and in the outfield. He started out with the California Angels and moved through four other teams. Hitting wasn’t his strong suit, but he kept finding ways to stick around.

California Angels Years

Briggs made his MLB debut on September 10, 1975, with the California Angels. He was 22 at the time.

He played his first game against the Chicago White Sox, but didn’t get an at-bat that day.

The Angels had picked him in the second round back in 1970, and he spent a few years working his way through their minor league system before finally getting the call.

His first major league home run came just four days later, on September 14, 1975. He hit a two-run shot off Kansas City Royals pitcher Steve Busby.

Briggs stuck with California for three seasons, from 1975 to 1977. He mostly played as a first baseman and outfielder during that stretch.

He crossed the rookie threshold in 1976, and the Angels gave him plenty of playing time to see if he’d become a regular.

Cleveland Indians Tenure

The Cleveland Indians brought Briggs in for the 1978 season. This move gave him another shot to carve out a role in the majors.

Briggs continued to play first base and various outfield positions for Cleveland. The team tried him in different spots, hoping he’d spark some offense.

His batting average stayed low, though, and the Indians decided not to keep him after the season.

That short stint in Cleveland was the second stop on what turned into a winding road through the big leagues. Briggs was still chasing steady playing time and a hot streak at the plate.

San Diego Padres Period

Briggs landed with the San Diego Padres for the 1979 season. Switching to the National League gave him a new environment and maybe a little hope for a turnaround.

The Padres played him at both first base and in the outfield. San Diego was trying to build something and needed guys who could fill multiple roles.

Offense continued to be an issue, though. Briggs managed to hang on in the majors but never quite became the hitter teams hoped for.

He spent just one season with the Padres in 1979. After that, San Diego moved on as they kept reworking their roster.

Final MLB Seasons and Retirement

Dan Briggs wrapped up his MLB career with short runs on the Montreal Expos in 1981 and the Chicago Cubs in 1982. In those last two years, he mostly filled in off the bench before stepping away from pro baseball for good.

Montreal Expos Experience

Briggs joined the Montreal Expos in 1981, but it turned out to be one of his shortest stays in the big leagues. He played just 9 games and got only 11 at-bats that season.

He struggled at the plate, picking up just 1 hit in those 11 at-bats for a .091 average. Both his on-base and slugging percentages sat at .091, which tells the story.

The 1981 season was a weird one because of the players’ strike that split the year in two. That work stoppage probably cut into opportunities for guys like Briggs, who were already fighting for playing time.

During his quick time in Montreal, Briggs played several spots—first base, third base, and the outfield. Even as his bat cooled off, his ability to move around the diamond still mattered.

Chicago Cubs and Last MLB Games

Briggs headed to the Chicago Cubs in 1982 for his last season in the majors. He played in 48 games, which was the most action he’d seen since 1979 with San Diego.

His numbers with the Cubs showed the same struggles—he picked up 6 hits in 48 at-bats, batting .125. He didn’t hit any home runs and drove in just 1 run all year.

The Cubs used him mostly as a utility player. He saw time at first base, third base, and in the outfield, showing off some defensive flexibility that probably helped him hold onto a roster spot.

He played his final games in 1982 at age 29. The Cubs had a tough season, and Briggs’ limited production didn’t help their cause.

Retirement from Major League Baseball

After the 1982 season, Briggs stepped away from Major League Baseball. He had played seven seasons, from 1975 to 1982, and suited up for five different teams.

He wrapped up his MLB career with a .195 average in 325 games. Over those seven years, he collected 134 hits, 12 home runs, and 53 RBIs. His numbers reflect just how tough the jump from amateur ball to the majors can be.

The California Angels had drafted him back in the second round of the 1970 amateur draft. His journey through five organizations says a lot about his perseverance—and just how competitive pro baseball gets.

He retired at 29, which was pretty common for utility players in that era who struggled to hit. A lot of guys from the ‘70s and early ‘80s had similar runs when their bats cooled off.

Career Statistics and Notable Performances

Dan Briggs ended his MLB days with a .195 batting average, 134 hits, 12 home runs, and 53 RBIs over seven seasons from 1975 to 1982. He played all over the field, but hitting consistently at the major league level was always a challenge.

Batting Records and Offensive Contributions

Briggs racked up 202 total bases during his career. His best year at the plate came in 1979 with the San Diego Padres, when he batted .207 with 8 home runs and 30 RBIs in 104 games.

He hit 20 doubles in his career, showing some pop here and there. In 1976, he tallied 13 doubles for the Angels, which was his best single-season mark.

Briggs scored 67 runs in the majors, and 34 of those came in 1979 with San Diego. That single season accounted for more than half of his career runs, which says a lot about how important that year was for him.

His 134 career hits came while playing for five different teams. The Angels got 72 of those hits during his three years in California, making that his longest run with any club.

Positional Versatility and Defensive Impact

Briggs moved around the field quite a bit, playing both first base and the outfield. First base was his main spot, and in 1976, he started 29 games there.

He also played left, right, and center field. In his rookie season with the Angels in 1975, he split time between first base and the outfield and didn’t make an error in the outfield all year.

The defensive stats show he handled 688 total chances during his career. His range factor and fielding percentage bounced around depending on where he played and the season, which isn’t surprising when you’re covering lots of ground.

Isolated Power and Advanced Metrics

Briggs’ isolated power numbers were pretty modest. He hit 12 career home runs, with 8 of those coming in that solid 1979 season with San Diego.

His OPS (on-base plus slugging) peaked at .634 in 1979, which was about as good as it got for him offensively. His career OPS+ was 57, so he was below league average at the plate during his era.

For those who care about WAR (Wins Above Replacement), he finished with a career total of -3.5. His best single-season WAR was just 0.1, and that came in 1979 with the Padres.

Minor League Journey and International Play

Dan Briggs spent a lot of time working on his game in the minor leagues before heading overseas for a shot at international baseball. He played for several minor league teams and had a memorable stint playing pro ball in Japan in the early ‘80s.

Denver Bears and Minor League Highlights

Briggs started out in the California Angels farm system after the team drafted him in the second round of the 1970 MLB June Amateur Draft.

He spent a few seasons grinding away in the minors before finally making his big league debut in September 1975.

Those years in the minors really prepared him for what would become a seven-season MLB career.

He picked up the kind of versatility that later made him a useful piece for several major league organizations.

Briggs put together a .195 career batting average, hit 12 home runs, and drove in 53 runs during his professional career.

He learned to play all over the field, covering first base and several outfield positions.

American Association Achievements

After his MLB days ended in 1982, Briggs kept playing in the minors with the Columbus Clippers, part of the Yankees organization.

He spent two seasons with Columbus between 1983 and 1985.

Even though he performed well for the Clippers, the Yankees never called him up to the major league roster.

The Yankees still gave him a chance to keep his career going a little longer.

Briggs made his last push for the majors while playing in the American Association.

He retired after the 1985 season and wrapped up his professional baseball journey.

Baseball Experience in Japan

Briggs took his talents to Japan for two seasons between 1982 and 1983, right after wrapping up his final MLB season with the Chicago Cubs.

Playing in Japan gave him a whole new set of experiences, both on and off the field.

Back then, a lot of American players found new opportunities and longer careers in Japan’s professional leagues.

His time in Japan helped him transition from the majors back to the American minor leagues.

Briggs came back to the U.S. and played for the Columbus Clippers before hanging up his cleats in 1985.

Life After Professional Baseball

Dan Briggs didn’t just walk away from the game—he shifted gears and moved into coaching and teaching baseball.

He spent about a decade working as a college baseball coach, then started his own baseball training business.

Coaching Career at Denison University

After retiring in 1985, Dan Briggs discovered a passion for coaching at the college level.

He took over as head baseball coach at Denison University in Ohio and stuck around for ten years, from 1989 to 1999.

Briggs brought his professional experience to the college dugout.

All those years with different Major League teams gave him plenty of stories and advice to pass on to young players.

Coaching let him stay close to the game while helping college athletes chase their own baseball dreams.

He worked with students who wanted to push themselves and maybe even make it to the next level.

Briggs spent a full decade at Denison, showing just how much he cared about baseball education.

That job finally gave him some stability after years of bouncing between pro teams and organizations.

Big League Baseball School and Later Activities

After his coaching career at Denison University, Dan Briggs decided to jump into private baseball instruction. He teamed up with former big leaguer John Pacella and together, they started Big League Baseball School.

They set up shop in Worthington, Ohio. Briggs draws on his years in Major League Baseball to help train young players who want to up their game.

Briggs and Pacella both bring real pro experience to the table. Their partnership lets them teach from a place of genuine knowledge, not just theory.

Big League Baseball School keeps Briggs right in the thick of baseball development. He gets to share what he’s learned over the years and stay close to the sport that’s always been a huge part of his life.