1976 Topps #217 - Dave Freisleben

• Dave Freisleben pitched for three teams from 1974-1979. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1971 and put up some nice stats in the minors (7-3, 2.97 in 1971; 17-9, 2.32 in 1972; 16-8, 2.82 in 1973). Dave started the 1974 season at AAA Hawaii and was brought up to the Padres after three starts. He stuck with San Diego for the rest of the season and went 9-14 with a 3.66 ERA in 33 games (31 starts). He pitched 13 shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds on August 4, 1974. The Padres finally scored a run in the 14th inning, but Dave didn't get the win.

• In 1975 Dave was 5-14 with a 4.28 ERA. Dave spent the first six weeks of 1976 in Hawaii, but he had his best season after being called up. He was 10-13 with an ERA of 3.51.

• Dave was in Hawaii again during May and most of June of 1977. For the Padres Dave was 7-9 with a 4.61 ERA. In 1978 he started the year with the Padres. After starting the season 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA Dave was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Bill Laxton on June 8. He started ten games for the Indians and was 1-4 with a 7.11 ERA.

• Before the 1979 season Dave was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. He was used mostly as a reliever (42 games, 2 starts) and was 2-3 with a 4.95 ERA. The Blue Jays released him after the season and he tried to hook on with the California Angels. He was released during spring training in 1980 and that was it for Dave's career.

• Dave is now a police officer in Texas and coaches his son's ball teams. He also became a professional golfer in 2001.