1976 Topps #398 - Dave Tomlin

• Dave Tomlin pitched in the majors from 1972-1986. Dave was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1967. He pitched in the minors for several years and usually posted ERAs below 3.00. Dave was called up to the Reds for the first time in September 1972. He pitched in three games and had a 9.00 ERA in 4 innings.

• In 1973 Dave was up and down between AAA Indianapolis and the Reds. He was 1-2 with 1 save and a 4.88 ERA in 16 games for the Reds. Tomlin pitched in one game in the 1973 NLCS and had a 16.20 ERA in 1.2 innings. After the 1973 season Tomlin and Bob Tolan were traded to the San Diego Padres for Clay Kirby.

• The Padres used Tomlin mostly as a middle reliever in 1974. Dave went 2-0 with 2 saves and a 4.34 ERA in 47 games in 1974. Dave got more work in 1975. He pitched in 67 games and was 4-2 with 1 save and a 3.25 ERA in 67 games. Tomlin had similar years in 1976 (0-1, 2.84 ERA in 49 games) and 1977 (4-4, 3 saves, 3.01 ERA in 76 games. After the 1977 season Dave was traded (along with $125,000) to the Texas Rangers for Gaylord Perry. Tomlin didn't pitch for the Rangers during the season -- he was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds during spring training in 1978.

• Tomlin went 9-1 with 4 saves and a 5.78 ERA in 57 games in 1978. Dave probably had his best year in 1979. He went 2-2 with a 2.62 ERA in 53 games in '79. He pitched in three games in the NLCS and didn't allow a run in three innings. In 1980 Dave went 3-0 with a 5.54 ERA in 27 games. He didn't pitch after August 9 and was released on September 2.

• Dave signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981 and spent the season in AAA Syracuse. Dave didn't make the Toronto ballclub in 1982 and was released at the end of spring training. He signed with the Reds and was sent to AAA Indianapolis. Tomlin was purchased by the Montreal Expos in early September and he pitched in one game for the Expos, allowing one run in two innings.

• Tomlin was with Montreal's AAA Wichita club for most of the 1983 season and was purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 2. Dave appeared in five games for the Pirates in 1983 and had a 6.75 ERA in four innings. Tomlin was in AAA Hawaii for all of the 1984 season and most of 1985. He pitched one scoreless inning in a game for the Pirates at the end of the '85 season.

• Dave became a free agent after the 1985 season and signed with the Expos. He pitched in 7 games for the Expos in July and August 1986 (5.23 ERA in 10.1 innings) and spent the rest of the season in AAA Indianapolis. Tomlin spent the 1987 season in Indianapolis and then retired.

• After his playing career Dave became a pitching coach. He made various stops in the minors and was the pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox from 1998-2005. Dave became the manager of the Gulf Coast Red Sox in the Gulf Coast League in 2006 and is still there.

• Liked to face: Terry Puhl (.000 in 17 AB); Dave Cash (.000 in 12 AB); Darrell Evans (.126 in 22 AB)
• Hated to face: Rod Gilbreath (.600 in 15 AB); Joe Morgan (.526 in 19 AB); Dave Parker (.423 in 26 AB)