Dave Heaverlo – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Dave Heaverlo spent seven years pitching in Major League Baseball as a reliever. People noticed his shiny bald head and his unusual uniform number 60 almost as much as his tricky forkball. Born David Wallace Heaverlo on August 25, 1950, in Ellensburg, Washington, he pitched for three teams before he finally called it quits in 1981.

Heaverlo wrapped up his professional baseball career on September 27, 1981, after his last appearance with the Oakland Athletics. He pitched in 356 games, all out of the bullpen.

He started out as a small-town kid from Washington and eventually made it to the big leagues. Along the way, he played for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, and Seattle Mariners, earning a reputation for his pitching and his lively personality.

Let’s take a look at Heaverlo’s path from college baseball to the majors, his impact on each team, and how he became known as both an effective reliever and a fun clubhouse guy. His story really captures what a lot of journeyman players go through—finding success with grit and a pitch that kept batters guessing.

Early Life and College Baseball

Dave Heaverlo was born in Ellensburg, Washington, on August 25, 1950. He learned the game through high school and college in Washington state and became a standout pitcher at Central Washington.

Family Background and Upbringing

Heaverlo grew up in the Pacific Northwest during the 1950s and 1960s. Ellensburg, where he was born, sat in a region where baseball was just starting to catch on with young athletes.

His family later moved to Moses Lake, Washington, where he spent his formative years. Small-town life there gave him chances to develop his athletic skills.

In Moses Lake, the tight-knit community meant local kids could get plenty of attention and coaching. That environment really helped Heaverlo grow as a player.

High School and Athletic Achievements

Heaverlo attended Moses Lake High School in Moses Lake, Washington. He graduated in 1968 after making a name for himself on the baseball diamond.

He pitched for his high school team and showed the stuff that would carry him to the next level. College scouts started to take notice.

Later, Moses Lake High School inducted him into their Hall of Fame. The school wanted to honor both his high school performance and what he accomplished as a pro.

College Career at Central Washington

After high school, Heaverlo enrolled at Central Washington State College in Ellensburg. He played for the Wildcats from 1969 to 1973 and graduated in 1973.

Heaverlo put together a remarkable college career. He picked up honorable mention All-American honors in 1971 and 1972 and notched 31 career wins, including 11 in 1970.

That 1970 season was a big deal. Heaverlo’s 11 wins helped the Wildcats earn a trip to the College World Series, which was a high-water mark for the program.

In 1972, he threw two no-hitters—one against Eastern Washington and another against Whitman. Against Eastern Washington, he struck out 18 batters, which is pretty wild.

Central Washington put him in their Hall of Fame in 1983. The school wanted to recognize his outstanding college career and what he did as a pro.

Professional Baseball Debut and Rise

Dave Heaverlo’s road to the majors started when the San Francisco Giants picked him in the first round of the 1973 draft. He made his MLB debut on April 14, 1975, and quickly became a steady relief pitcher with the Giants.

Draft by San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants saw Heaverlo’s potential and drafted him 23rd overall in the first round of the 1973 draft. He’d just graduated from Central Washington University, and his college stats had caught the eye of pro scouts.

Getting picked in the first round showed the Giants really believed in his ability. They thought he could help at the big league level.

Heaverlo’s college years at Central Washington were strong enough to earn him that high draft spot. Later, the university honored him in their hall of fame, which says a lot about what he built before turning pro.

MLB Debut Season and Early Performance

Heaverlo made his major league debut on April 14, 1975, at age 24, facing the San Diego Padres. In that first outing, he pitched one inning, gave up a hit, struck out one, and didn’t allow any runs or walks.

His rookie year in 1975 kicked off a career spent entirely as a reliever. He would rack up 356 career appearances, all out of the bullpen, never starting a single game.

With the Giants, Heaverlo started throwing his signature forkball. That pitch became his main weapon. He also stood out for his shaved head, earning him the nickname “Kojak” after the TV detective.

In those early years, he proved to be a reliable part of the Giants’ bullpen in the mid-1970s.

Career Highlights and Team Contributions

Dave Heaverlo played seven years in the majors with three teams, putting up a 3.41 ERA as a reliever. His best seasons came with the San Francisco Giants, where he became a dependable closer before a big trade sent him to Oakland for Vida Blue.

Seasons with San Francisco Giants

Heaverlo’s major league debut came on April 14, 1975 with the Giants, after they picked him 23rd overall in the 1973 draft. He quickly earned a spot in the bullpen, thanks to his sinking forkball.

His top season was 1977, when he went 5-1 with a 2.55 ERA. That year, he showed he could handle tough situations as a reliever.

Teammates saw Heaverlo as a clubhouse jokester. He famously shaved his head and insisted on keeping his non-roster number 60 as a rookie, just to stand out.

The Giants leaned on him heavily in the bullpen. His steady pitching and low ERA made him valuable—so valuable that he became a key piece in a trade for veteran talent.

Impact with Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics picked up Heaverlo before the 1978 season in a huge trade. He and six other players, plus $390,000, went to Oakland in exchange for Vida Blue.

With Oakland, Heaverlo became a major bullpen contributor and picked up most of his 26 career saves. The A’s trusted him in tight, late-game spots.

He spent the biggest chunk of his career with the Athletics, appearing in plenty of games as their go-to reliever. His 3.41 ERA stuck with him in Oakland, showing he could keep up no matter the team.

His final MLB game was September 27, 1981, still wearing an A’s uniform.

Year with Seattle Mariners

Heaverlo also pitched for the Seattle Mariners, though not for long. His time there was shorter than with the Giants or A’s.

His stint with the Mariners added to his total of 356 major league appearances, all as a reliever. No matter the team, managers used him in late-game situations.

Even though he didn’t spend long in Seattle, he contributed to the bullpen and finished his career with 26 wins and 26 losses. After that, he moved on to coaching and broadcasting.

Pitching Style and Statistical Overview

Dave Heaverlo built his career around a nasty forkball and steady relief pitching for three teams. He finished with a 3.41 ERA and a perfectly balanced 26-26 win-loss record from 1975 to 1981.

Relief Pitching Approach

Heaverlo leaned on his forkball as his main out pitch. That specialty pitch set him apart from most other relievers.

He pitched only in relief during his MLB career. Every one of his 356 major league games came out of the bullpen.

He threw and batted right-handed. Managers liked his consistent approach and knew what to expect from him.

Heaverlo’s pitching style fit the relief role well. He could come into games at any point and still get hitters out with his forkball.

Few pitchers used the forkball as much as he did in the 1970s and early 1980s. That made him tough to face.

Key Career Statistics

Heaverlo pitched 537 innings in his seven seasons in the majors. His 3.41 ERA showed he was effective in relief.

He ended up with a 26-26 win-loss record. That kind of symmetry is pretty rare.

He struck out 288 batters in the big leagues and earned 26 saves pitching for the Giants, Athletics, and Mariners.

His stats didn’t swing wildly from year to year. The 1977 season really stands out, though—5-1 with a 2.55 ERA.

Heaverlo’s WHIP and other advanced stats showed he could keep runners off base. That forkball helped him avoid hard contact.

League Rankings and Achievements

Heaverlo never led the league in any major relief pitching categories. But teams valued him for his steady, dependable work.

His best year was 1977 with the Giants, when he posted a 2.55 ERA. That was his lowest single-season mark.

With an ERA around 3.41, he ranked in the middle tier of relievers for his era. That level of consistency made him a useful bullpen arm for three different teams.

Heaverlo’s 356 career appearances show how much managers trusted him. They put him in all kinds of situations.

He played during some important years for the Oakland Athletics and others. Oakland acquired him in a major trade that included six other players and $300,000 for Vida Blue in 1978.

Retirement in 1981 and Legacy

Dave Heaverlo’s baseball career finished up on September 27, 1981, when he threw his last pitch for the Oakland Athletics. That day marked the end of a seven-year run in the majors, during which he pitched for three teams and earned a reputation as a reliable relief pitcher.

Circumstances Around Retirement

Heaverlo split his final season in 1981 between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics. He started the year in Seattle and finished it with Oakland, where he’d played before.

The 1981 season was his last in pro baseball. At 31, Heaverlo made his final appearance on September 27, 1981, against the Chicago White Sox. He pitched one inning, didn’t allow a hit, walk, or run, and didn’t strike anyone out.

That outing capped years of steady relief work for several teams. Heaverlo had already proven himself as a dependable bullpen option. He probably retired because it just felt like the right time, not because of any big injury or event.

Reputation in Major League Baseball

Over his seven years, Heaverlo earned a reputation as a steady reliever. He finished with exactly 26 wins, 26 losses, and 26 saves in 356 games, along with a 3.41 ERA.

Teams kept bringing him in because they knew what he could do. He pitched for the Giants from 1975-1977, the A’s from 1978-1979, and wrapped up with the Mariners and A’s in 1980-1981.

Oakland even brought him back for his final season, which says something about the respect he earned there. Heaverlo’s reliability made him a valuable bullpen guy, especially as relief pitching became a bigger deal in baseball.

Influence on Future Generations

After retiring, Heaverlo stayed close to baseball. He jumped into broadcasting and got involved with Central Washington University again.

He worked with radio stations KBSN in Moses Lake and KULE in Ephrata. He brought his real-life experience as a player to sports commentary, which listeners probably appreciated.

Heaverlo stuck with his alma mater for years after his playing days. He provides color commentary for CWU Football and the Wildcat Sports Radio Network.

In 2016, he made a big donation to CWU Athletics. He wanted to give back to the program that helped kickstart his professional career.

Former players like Heaverlo show how you can keep your connection to the sport alive. CWU retired his jersey number 1 in 1978, and the school inducted him into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1983.

Life After Baseball

Dave Heaverlo wrapped up his seven-year MLB career and moved on to a quieter life. He focused more on family and his local community.

The former pitcher still found ways to stay close to baseball. He built a life away from the spotlight, but baseball never really left him.

Coaching and Mentoring Roles

After retiring in 1981, Heaverlo didn’t jump into formal coaching roles in pro baseball. Unlike some other players, he went in a different direction.

He kept his connection to the game through informal mentoring. Sometimes, he worked with young pitchers in his community.

He shared what he knew with kids who wanted to learn. His time with the Giants, Athletics, and Mariners gave him a unique perspective on the sport.

Heaverlo understood how different teams approached things. That experience turned out to be pretty valuable.

He built a reputation as a prankster when he played, and that helped him connect with younger players. He knew the game needed to stay fun, but he also kept competitive standards in mind.

Media and Community Involvement

After he retired, Heaverlo kept a low profile in the media. He didn’t chase the spotlight or try to become a regular broadcaster.

He did a few interviews about his playing days. Sometimes, articles popped up about his time in the majors, especially his unusual choice to keep uniform number 60.

Heaverlo stayed connected to Central Washington University. They put him in the school’s Hall of Fame, which shows how much he meant to their baseball program.

He also got inducted into his high school Hall of Fame. Those honors really show the impact he had on baseball before he ever made it to the majors.

Personal Life and Family

After his playing days ended, David Wallace Heaverlo settled into a quieter lifestyle. He really leaned into family life and started focusing on personal interests, stepping away from baseball’s demanding schedule.

He returned to his roots in the Pacific Northwest. That region shaped his early baseball years, and honestly, it always stayed important to him.

Once he left professional baseball, Heaverlo finally had time to pursue interests that he’d put on hold. The constant travel and time away from home during his career had made that almost impossible.

His move away from baseball shows how former players can find meaningful lives after their athletic careers. Heaverlo proved that retiring from professional sports can actually open up new opportunities for personal fulfillment.