Doug Capilla – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Doug Capilla wrapped up his six-year Major League Baseball career in 1981. That journey took the lefty from the Hawaiian islands all the way to some of the sport’s most iconic stadiums. Born in Honolulu on January 7, 1952, Capilla managed to carve out a solid career as a reliever and sometimes a starter for three National League teams in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He finished with a 12-18 record and a 4.34 ERA over 136 games, pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago Cubs before calling it quits at 29. His road to the majors wasn’t exactly a straight line. The San Francisco Giants picked him in the 25th round of the 1970 amateur draft, but three years later, the Cardinals snagged him in the Rule 5 draft.

Capilla’s story is really one of perseverance and adaptability. He showed how a guy from Hawaii could navigate the complicated world of trades, the grind of minor league development, and the tough demands of big league pitching.

From his days at Westmont High School in California to his last game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in September 1981, Capilla’s baseball life gives us a peek into what it’s like to be a journeyman pitcher during a changing time in baseball.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Douglas Edmund Capilla was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on January 7, 1952. He later moved to California, where he sharpened his baseball skills at Westmont High School in Campbell.

He kept playing at West Valley College before jumping into the 1970 MLB Amateur Draft as a left-handed pitcher.

Birth and Family Background

Douglas Edmund Capilla arrived on January 7, 1952, in Honolulu, Hawaii, back when Hawaii was still a U.S. territory. Growing up in the Pacific, he became one of the few Major League Baseball players to come from the Hawaiian Islands.

The Capillas eventually made the move to California. That change really mattered for Doug’s baseball development, since California had more competitive high school baseball and better visibility for scouts.

There’s not much info out there about his parents or siblings. Still, the family’s decision to settle in the San Francisco Bay Area put Doug in one of the country’s best baseball regions.

High School Years at Westmont

Doug went to Westmont High School in Campbell, California, right near San Jose in Silicon Valley. The school’s baseball program gave him his first shot at organized, competitive pitching.

At Westmont, Capilla started to make a name for himself as a lefty pitcher. Scouts noticed him, but he was still pretty raw as a prospect.

The Bay Area’s mild weather let Capilla play and practice almost year-round. That kind of environment really helped him work on his mechanics and lay the groundwork for his future in baseball.

West Valley College Achievements

After high school, Doug took his game to West Valley College in Saratoga, California. Community colleges in California have launched a lot of pro baseball careers.

Playing at West Valley gave him more chances to grow. California’s junior college baseball scene is known for its tough competition and solid coaching.

That college experience helped Capilla mature, both as a player and as a person. The extra time paid off when he entered the pro draft.

Entry into the 1970 Amateur Draft

The San Francisco Giants picked Doug Capilla in the 25th round of the 1970 Amateur Draft. Getting drafted that late meant teams saw him as a project, not someone ready for the big leagues.

Key Draft Details:

• Team: San Francisco Giants
• Round: 25th
• Year: 1970
• Position: Pitcher (Left-handed)

The Giants’ scouts liked his potential, even if his skills were still rough. Both Capilla and the organization saw it as a chance to grow together in the minors.

Since the Giants were his local team, Capilla didn’t have to go far to start his professional career. That probably made the transition a bit easier.

Minor League Development

Doug Capilla spent six years working his way through the minors before he finally made it to the big leagues. His time with the San Francisco Giants’ farm teams from 1970 to 1973 showed flashes of talent but also plenty of struggles with control.

San Francisco Giants Farm System

The Giants drafted Capilla in the 25th round in 1970, right out of Westmont High. He signed with them on June 18, 1970, and kicked off his pro career at just 18.

Capilla pitched for the Giants’ minor league teams in 1970, then again from 1972 to 1973. This lefty stood 5’11” and weighed 160 pounds, using his southpaw delivery to keep hitters off balance.

During those years, Capilla tried to fine-tune his pitching and get his wildness under control. The Giants’ coaches saw he had potential, but they also noticed he struggled with his command.

Performance and Progression

Capilla sometimes showed what he could do, but he couldn’t always put it together. His left-handed arm made him interesting to teams, but those control problems just kept popping up.

He managed to stick around in pro ball for several seasons, showing enough to keep getting chances. Still, he couldn’t quite throw strikes consistently, and that held him back.

Scouts liked his arm strength and the fact that he threw left-handed. Those qualities kept him on rosters, even when his command let him down.

Rule 5 Draft Selection

After the 1973 season, the St. Louis Cardinals picked up Capilla in the Rule 5 draft. That draft lets teams grab players not protected on a 40-man roster.

The Cardinals thought they could help Capilla get past his control issues and turn him into a major league pitcher. The Rule 5 pick gave him a shot with new coaches and a fresh start.

This move marked a big turning point in Capilla’s career. He left the Giants, where he’d spent his entire pro career so far.

Transition to the St. Louis Cardinals

Capilla stayed in the minors for another three years after joining the Cardinals. From 1974 to 1976, their coaches worked with him to improve his pitching.

The Cardinals’ farm system gave Capilla new ideas and techniques. That change of scenery helped him slowly get better with his control and overall effectiveness.

By 1976, Capilla had improved enough to get a look from the big club. Six years in the minors had prepared him for the next step, and he made his MLB debut on September 12, 1976.

Major League Baseball Debut and Career Highlights

Doug Capilla made his big league debut on September 12, 1976, with the St. Louis Cardinals at age 24. Over six years, he played for three National League teams, and his best years came with the Chicago Cubs in 1980 and 1981.

St. Louis Cardinals Years

Capilla first took the mound in the majors on September 12, 1976, against the New York Mets at Busch Stadium. In that debut, he gave up a game-tying run in the top of the 8th, but the Cardinals rallied, and he ended up with the win after Garry Templeton’s double.

He only pitched a handful of games in that September call-up, giving up 5 runs in 8⅓ innings.

In 1977, Capilla couldn’t nail down a permanent spot. After almost making the team out of spring training, he went to Triple-A New Orleans.

The Cardinals brought him up for a week in May 1977. He pitched in just 2 games, allowing 4 runs in 2⅓ innings before heading back down.

Trade to Cincinnati Reds

In June 1977, the Cardinals dealt Capilla to the Cincinnati Reds for reliever Rawly Eastwick. That trade really changed the direction of his career.

Capilla spent the rest of 1977 with Cincinnati. He started 16 games out of 22, finishing with a 7-8 record and a 4.23 ERA.

He gave up 94 hits in 106⅓ innings, which was actually the second-best hit ratio on the Reds that year.

The 1978 season didn’t go well. Capilla started 3 games in April, but never lasted more than 3 innings and posted a 9.45 ERA with an 0-1 record. The Reds sent him down to Triple-A Indianapolis after that.

Career with the Chicago Cubs

In May 1979, the Reds traded Capilla to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later. Mark Gilbert eventually completed the trade.

The Cubs sent Capilla to Triple-A Wichita at first. He pitched in 28 games, starting 9, and put up a 4.55 ERA in 83 innings.

Chicago called him up in August 1979. Capilla pitched well, with a 2.60 ERA in 13 games and held hitters to a .206 average.

1980 turned out to be his best MLB season. Through June, Capilla put up a 1.61 ERA and a 2-0 record, giving up just 16 hits in 22⅓ innings. But after moving to the starting rotation in July, he lost five straight starts.

His 1981 season started strong, with a 2.25 ERA in his first 26 games. After the midseason strike, he struggled, but he still finished with a 3.18 ERA in 42 games.

Memorable Games and Milestones

Capilla’s MLB debut stands out as his most memorable game. Getting a win in his first appearance against the New York Mets must have felt pretty great.

His best run came in 1980, when he put up a 1.61 ERA through June. That stretch really showed what he could do when things were clicking.

Career Statistics:

• Games: 136-138 (sources vary)
• Record: 12-18
• Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs
• Final Game: September 29, 1981, vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

After 1981, the Cubs traded Capilla to the San Francisco Giants for Allen Ripley. The Giants released him in spring training 1982, and that pretty much ended his MLB career.

Playing Style and Career Statistics

Doug Capilla’s six years in the majors showed off a lefty pitcher who finished with a 4.34 ERA over 136 games. His strikeout-to-walk ratio, 1.03, really points to the control problems that followed him throughout his career.

Pitching Approach and Techniques

Capilla pitched left-handed as both a starter and a reliever. He started 31 games and came out of the bullpen in 34, showing he could handle different roles.

His approach changed depending on the team and situation. With the Cubs, Capilla found the most success, putting up a 3.65 ERA over three seasons. That improvement suggests he figured some things out during his time in Chicago.

Capilla’s control issues showed up in his walk numbers. He walked 173 batters in 292.1 innings, which led to a 1.526 WHIP—so he put a lot of runners on base. His strikeout rate was 5.5 per nine innings, which was decent but not eye-popping.

Win–Loss Record and Career ERA

Capilla ended up with a 12-18 record. That shows how tough it was for him to find consistency. His 4.34 ERA was a little below the National League average for his era.

His best season statistically was 1981 with the Cubs. He finished with a 3.18 ERA in 42 relief outings, showing better command and effectiveness. That year showed what he could do when healthy and in the right role.

His time with the Cincinnati Reds was roughest. He posted a 4.95 ERA over three seasons, including a tough 1978 when he had a 9.82 ERA in limited action. With St. Louis, he only got a brief look and finished with a 7.59 ERA over two seasons.

Strikeouts and Batting Average

Capilla struck out 178 batters in his career, averaging about 5.5 strikeouts per nine innings. In 1977 with Cincinnati, he hit his high point, fanning 74 hitters over 106.1 innings while working mostly as a starter.

He struggled with control, holding a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.03. For every strikeout, he almost walked a batter, which led to tough jams and higher pitch counts. When he played for the Cubs, that ratio nudged down to 0.97.

Opposing hitters batted .247 against Capilla, based on his hits allowed per innings pitched. His knack for limiting hard contact changed a lot from year to year.

In 1981, he showed his best stuff at missing bats. He found better command, walked fewer hitters, and racked up more important strikeouts when it really mattered.

Post-MLB Career and Life After Baseball

Doug Capilla’s professional baseball career wrapped up in 1982 after a string of trades and releases. That ended his six-year run in the Majors.

He bounced between teams during his final years before the San Francisco Giants let him go.

Retirement in 1981

Capilla’s career started winding down in 1981. He spent part of that season pitching in relief for the Cincinnati Reds, getting into 33 games.

He faced the same struggles a lot of veterans do late in their careers. Years of high-level competition had worn him down.

That season turned out to be Capilla’s last full year in the big leagues. He was 29 and had played for several teams over six seasons.

Trades and Releases

On May 3, 1981, the Cincinnati Reds traded Capilla to the Chicago Cubs. That move came right after his stint with the Reds.

The Cubs didn’t keep him long. In December 1981, they shipped him back to the San Francisco Giants for Allen Ripley.

The Giants had drafted Capilla back in 1970. His return to San Francisco was short and, honestly, didn’t pan out.

On March 29, 1982, the San Francisco Giants released Capilla. He was 30, and that was the end of his pro baseball journey.

Later Endeavors

There’s not much public info about what Capilla did after baseball. Like a lot of players from his era, he probably moved on to something outside the game.

He played 136 Major League games over six seasons. During that time, he suited up for three different National League teams.

Capilla’s baseball story started at Westmont High in Campbell, California, then wound through the minors, and finally to the big leagues. Fittingly, his career ended with the San Francisco Giants, the team that first drafted him.

Legacy and Impact

Doug Capilla’s six years in MLB might look modest on paper, but he left his mark on every team he joined and the wider baseball world. He built a reputation as a solid lefty who came through in big moments, carving out his own spot in baseball history.

Reputation Among Peers

People around the league respected Capilla as a steady relief pitcher, especially when the pressure was on. Being a lefty, he gave managers a real weapon against tough left-handed hitters.

When he played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1977 to 1979, Capilla earned a name for his work ethic and professionalism. He even threw a complete game for the Reds in ’77, showing he could do more than just come out of the bullpen.

His 1980 season with the Chicago Cubs was probably his best. By June, he had a sparkling 1.61 ERA and gave up just 16 hits in 22⅓ innings.

Other players noticed his consistency in 136 career games. He switched between starting and relieving, making himself useful for every club that picked him up.

Contributions to Baseball

Douglas Edmund Capilla’s MLB stats tell the story of a steady contributor:

Capilla’s move through the rule 5 draft from San Francisco to St. Louis showed how minor leaguers could find a path to the big leagues. That kind of transition gave hope to other players looking for their shot.

His trades between the Cardinals, Reds, and Cubs showed just how much MLB rosters could change in the late ’70s. He adjusted to new teams and systems, setting an example for other pitchers who moved around a lot.

Recognition and Influence

Capilla never made it to All-Star status, but sticking around for six years in MLB is nothing to shrug off. He debuted on September 12, 1976 with St. Louis, kicking off what turned out to be a solid major league run.

The 1980 season really stands out for him. Early in that year, he put together some impressive outings and started to earn a reputation as a reliable relief pitcher.

The San Francisco Giants let him go on March 29, 1982, which brought his career to a close. He played his last MLB game on September 29, 1981, for the Cubs against Pittsburgh.

Younger players in every organization he joined watched his left-handed delivery and picked up on his professional attitude. Racking up 178 career strikeouts, he showed he could handle big league hitters more than a few times.