Dennis Blair left his mark on Major League Baseball during a brief but notable career from 1974 to 1980. This right-handed pitcher out of California broke into the majors at just 19 with the Montreal Expos, setting a franchise record as their youngest player to win a game.
Blair wrapped up his professional baseball journey in 1980 after six seasons in the big leagues. He finished with a 19-25 record, pitching for both the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres.
He started strong, dominating Triple-A before the Expos called him up in May 1974. In his debut, he immediately impressed with a win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
His story includes both the highs and lows of pro baseball. He found early success as a teenage major leaguer but struggled with control and injuries that cut his career short.
Blair’s path through the minors, his time with two MLB teams, and his life after baseball give a real look into what a lot of pro athletes go through when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Early Life and Amateur Baseball
Dennis Herman Blair was born on June 5, 1954, in Middletown, Ohio. His family later moved to California, where he’d really start to develop as a ballplayer.
He spent his formative years in Rialto, California, and shined at Eisenhower High School. Those years laid the groundwork for his future in baseball.
Childhood and Education
Blair’s family made the move from Middletown, Ohio, to Rialto, California, when he was still a kid. That move turned out to be pretty important—California’s climate meant he could play baseball all year.
He grew up in San Bernardino County, getting exposed to competitive youth leagues and better training spots.
At Eisenhower High School, Blair balanced academics with a growing passion for baseball. He shot up to 6 feet 5 inches and weighed in at a lean 182 pounds.
That size gave him a real edge on the mound. His right-handed delivery and height gave him natural leverage, which helped his pitching success.
High School Baseball Career
While at Eisenhower, Blair stood out as a pitcher with both size and a strong arm. Scouts from colleges and pro teams started to take notice.
He caught the eyes of Major League Baseball scouts with his right-handed pitching and physical tools.
The Montreal Expos, in particular, paid close attention during his senior year. Their reports pointed out his potential, even though he was still quite young.
Blair’s high school run peaked with the 1972 amateur draft. The Montreal Expos picked him in the 5th round, 101st overall. That pick validated his high school performance and launched his pro career at 18.
MLB Debut and Montreal Expos Years
Dennis Blair debuted for the Montreal Expos on May 26, 1974, at just 19. He spent three seasons with the Expos from 1974 to 1976, carving out a spot as a promising young pitcher before things got rocky.
Signing and First Major League Appearance
The Expos picked Blair in the 5th round of the 1972 MLB June Amateur Draft, 101st overall, straight out of Dwight D. Eisenhower High School.
Blair’s first pro season in 1973 took him through three minor league teams: the Cocoa Expos, Jamestown Falcons, and West Palm Beach Expos.
He moved up quickly. The Expos called him up in May 1974, and he made his MLB debut against the Phillies at age 19. In that first game, he pitched 8 innings, gave up 4 hits, struck out 6, and walked 6.
Performance in the 1974 Season
Blair’s rookie season with Montreal was a success. He finished 11-7 with a 3.27 ERA in 22 starts.
He pitched 146 innings, and the team clearly trusted him. For a rookie, he showed pretty good control—76 strikeouts and 72 walks. He completed 4 games and had 1 shutout that season.
He earned plenty of starts as a rookie. Blair’s 118 ERA+ meant he pitched 18% better than league average. The Expos saw him as a big part of their young rotation.
Growth and Achievements Through 1976
Blair’s second season in 1975 brought more responsibility, but the results were mixed. He appeared in 30 games, starting 27, and pitched 163.1 innings. His record slipped to 8-15, though his ERA stayed reasonable at 3.80.
Control became a real issue. Blair walked 106 and struck out 82, which hurt his effectiveness. He also allowed 14 home runs, way up from his rookie year.
In 1976, Blair’s time with Montreal ended. He pitched in just 5 games (4 starts), totaling 15.2 innings. His ERA rose to 4.02, and he went 0-2.
Three-Year Montreal Stats:
- Record: 19-24
- ERA: 3.57
- Strikeouts: 167
- Innings: 325.0
Transition to San Diego Padres
Blair’s move to the San Diego Padres in 1980 brought him back to the majors after a four-year gap. The Padres got him from Montreal in June 1979 for Randy Fierbaugh, giving Blair a shot at a comeback.
Joining the Padres in 1980
The Padres brought Blair up during the 1980 season, with Jerry Coleman managing the team. Blair hadn’t pitched in the majors since 1976.
That trade in June 1979 sent Randy Fierbaugh to Montreal for Blair. The Padres needed pitching depth and figured Blair might still have something left.
Blair was 26 when he joined the Padres. He’d kept himself sharp during his years away from MLB.
Pitching Highlights and Challenges
Blair appeared in five games for the Padres in 1980—four in relief and one as a starter. The team mostly used him as a depth arm.
Coming back after four years, Blair had to adjust to major league hitters again. The game had changed, and he needed to catch up.
One highlight: during a relief appearance, he singled to right field, showing he could do more than just pitch.
Final Professional Appearance
Blair pitched his last major league game on July 4, 1980. He came in as a reliever for Eric Rasmussen with the Padres already down 5-0 in the third.
In that game, he faced a lefty named Larry and managed to collect a hit—singling to right field. That little moment showed Blair’s ability to contribute in different ways.
That July 4th game marked the end of his pro baseball days. He finished with a career record of 19-25 in 62 games between Montreal and San Diego. His MLB career stretched from 1974 to 1980, with the Padres giving him his last shot.
Career Statistics and On-Field Legacy
Over four major league seasons, Dennis Blair posted a 19-25 record and a 3.69 ERA in 62 games. His fielding stats showed both some defensive contributions and areas where he could’ve done better.
Pitching Performance and Metrics
Blair’s best years came with the Montreal Expos from 1974 to 1976. His rookie year in 1974 stood out: 11-7, 3.27 ERA, 22 starts.
He threw 146 innings that season, allowed 113 hits, struck out 76, and walked 72. His WHIP was 1.267, which isn’t bad for a young pitcher.
In 1975, he logged more innings (163.1), but the numbers slipped. He went 8-15 with a 3.80 ERA, allowed 150 hits, and walked 106.
His strikeout-to-walk ratio fell to 0.77, which really shows how his control became a problem. By 1976, he was down to just five appearances before disappearing from the majors.
Blair returned briefly with the Padres in 1980, pitching five games with a 6.43 ERA. Over his whole career, he racked up 178 strikeouts in 339 innings and had a career WHIP of 1.457.
Fielding Contributions
Blair’s defensive numbers were a mixed bag. In 1974, his fielding percentage was .917, below the league average of .944, with four errors in 48 chances.
He got better in 1975, bumping his fielding percentage up to .967 and making just one error in 30 chances.
His range factor always lagged behind league averages. Blair also struggled to stop runners—he allowed 30 steals and caught just 10, for a 25.0% caught stealing rate (league average was 32.7%).
He completed six games in his career, including four as a rookie. Overall, his fielding was serviceable, but there was definitely room to improve.
Life After Baseball
Dennis Blair switched gears after baseball, heading to California State University San Bernardino and holding down steady work. His post-baseball years focused on education and building a new identity outside the game.
Pursuing Further Education
After leaving baseball in 1982, Blair made school a priority. He enrolled at California State University San Bernardino and worked to support himself while studying.
He spent over a decade working toward his degree, juggling jobs and school through the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
Blair graduated from Cal State San Bernardino in 1993. That was a big milestone for him as he moved from pro athlete to regular life.
His education took about 11 years from the end of his baseball days to graduation. That kind of persistence says a lot about his determination.
Professional Endeavors Beyond Sports
Blair jumped into the workforce right after his baseball career ended in 1982. He kept working while going to college.
There isn’t a lot of public info about the jobs he held during those years. Still, he managed to support himself and finish school, which isn’t easy.
After graduating in 1993, not much is known about his career path. Like a lot of former athletes, he probably used his degree to build a career outside of sports.
His story is pretty typical for ex-baseball players who shift to regular jobs once their playing days are over.
Net Worth and Personal Life Details
Dennis Blair’s net worth has grown quite a bit since his playing days. These days, his life revolves around family and education.
He moved from pro baseball to teaching special needs students, and now splits his time between Texas and Arizona.
Estimated Net Worth
Dennis Blair’s net worth sits at $46.5 million as of 2025. That’s a pretty big jump from $41.9 million in 2024.
His finances have climbed steadily over the past few years:
- 2021: $27.9 million
- 2022: $32.6 million
- 2023: $37.2 million
These numbers come from a mix of social and financial sources. Most of Blair’s wealth seems to come from investments and what he’s earned after baseball, not so much from his old playing days in the ’70s and ’80s.
After his baseball career, he switched gears and got into education. Blair spent years teaching special needs students in Texas school districts, then retired from teaching in 2016.
Family and Personal Interests
Blair is married, and he’s built a close family. He’s got two sons, a step-son, and three grandchildren. They’re all still a big part of his life.
After his baseball career ended in 1982, Blair decided to go back to school. He worked while attending California State University San Bernardino and graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies.
He went on to earn his master’s degree at Lamar University. Blair moved to Texas and started teaching students with special needs in Garland and Mesquite Independent School Districts.
Blair retired from teaching in 2016. Now, he spends part of the year in the Phoenix area, which lets him enjoy Arizona’s weather and keep up with his Texas roots.
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