1976 Topps #363 - Dave Collins

• Dave Collins played in the majors for 16 years. He was a first round draft pick of the California Angels in 1972. Collins was in the minors from 1972-1974 for the entire season. Dave batted .343 in A-ball and .352 in AA in 1974 and .311 in AAA for the first part of the 1975 season so he was brought up to the Angels in June 1975. Collins batted .266 in 93 games and stole 24 bases.

• In 1976 Dave started the season with the Angels but was sent down in mid-May (he was batting .212 at the time). Collins tore up the Pacific Coast League with a .360 average in 35 games and was brought back up in late June. Dave ended up batting .263 with 32 stolen bases in 99 games. After the 1976 season Collins was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the expansion draft.

• Collins played only one season with the Mariners. He batted .239 in 120 games. After the season Dave was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Shane Rawley.

• The 1978 season was a tough one for Collins. He was mostly used as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. Dave came to bat 120 times in 102 games and batted .216. Collins had a strong season in 1979. He batted .318 in 122 games and played all 3 outfield positons and some first base. Dave batted .357 in the 1979 NLCS.

• Collins followed up his good 1979 season with his best season in 1980. He stole 79 bases in 144 games and  batted .303. In 1981 Dave played in 95 games and batted .272. After the season he became a free agent and signed with the New York Yankees.

• Dave spent only one season in the Yankees' crowded outfield. He batted .253 in 111 games. After the 1982 season Collins was traded with Fred McGriff, Mike Morgan, and cash to the Toronto Blue Jays for Tom Dodd and Dale Murray.

• Collins spent two seasons in Toronto. In 1983 he batted .271 in 118 games as he spent most of his time in left field. Dave led the AL in triples (15) in 1984, stole 60 bases, and batted .308 in 128 games. The Man Who Would be King - Dave Collins is Threatening to Steal Rickey Henderson's Stolen Base Crown - September 24, 1984 Sports Illustrated. He was traded with Alfredo Griffin and cash to the Oakland A's for Bill Caudill after the 1984 season.

• Dave batted .251 in 112 games for the A's in 1985. After the 1985 season he was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Barbaro Garbey. The 1986 season was Dave's last one as a regular. Collins batted .270 in 124 games but was released by the Tigers after the season.

• Collins tried out with the Montreal Expos in 1987 but was released during spring training. He caught on with the Cincinnati Reds in June and spent a couple of weeks playing for AAA Nashville before being called up to the Reds in early July. Dave batted .294 in 57 games as a substitute outfielder and pinch hitter/runner. Collins played two more seasons as a part-timer with the Reds (.236 in 99 games in 1988 and .236 in 78 games in 1989). Collins became a free agent after the 1989 season and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. He batted .224 in 58 at bats and retired after the 1990 season.

• After his playing career Dave coached first base for the Cardinals in 1991 and 1992. From 1992 to 1998 Dave coached high school baseball. He was the first base coach for the Cincinnati Reds in 1999 and 2000. He managed in the minors in 2001 and coached first base for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002. He coached first base for the Colorado Rockies from 2003-2006, managed in the minors in 2007, and is now the first base coach for the Florida Marlins.

• Dave has said that Pete Rose was the biggest influence on his career.

• Liked to face: Charlie Hough (.465 in 43 AB); Jim Slaton (.462 in 39 AB); Dennis Leonard (.433 in 30 AB)
• Hated to face: Dick Tidrow (.000 in 12 AB); Mike Torrez (.040 in 25 AB); Don Sutton (.132 in 38 AB)