Rick Mahler--1982
Rick Mahler, the younger brother of
fellow Braves hurler Mickey Mahler,
looked more like a beer-league
softball player than a major league
hurler. Signed by Atlanta in 1975 as
a nondrafted free agent, his body
was anything but rock hard, and his
scruffy long hair and beard gave him
the appearance of longing more for a
shot at the keg in the dugout than
chucking pitches toward batters.
That said, Mahler was one of the few
bright spots in a Braves uniform
during the mid-1980s. He tied the
National League record with three
Opening Day shutouts,
accomplishing the feat in 1982, 1986
and 1987. He led the senior circuit in
starts in 1985 and 1986, the second
of which he also endured the most
setbacks. He was a workhorse in the
Atlanta rotation, joining the starters in
1981 and going 8-6 with a 2.81 ERA.
His best season came in 1985, when
he went 17-15, 3.48 for an Atlanta
team that finished 30 games under .
500.
Signed as a free agent by the Reds
in 1989, Mahler was a valuable
swingman for Lou Pinella during
Cincinnati's 1990 title run. He
returned to the Braves briefly in 1991
before being released in August,
concluding his career with a 96-111
record and a 3.99 ERA.
Mahler became a minor league
pitching coach after retiring as a
player. He died on March 2, 2005, in
Jupiter, Florida; he was a pitching
coach in the Mets’ farm system at the
time.
Editor's Note: Both Bill and I got to
know Rick and he was a great guy
who is missed.
(11/08/08)
fellow Braves hurler Mickey Mahler,
looked more like a beer-league
softball player than a major league
hurler. Signed by Atlanta in 1975 as
a nondrafted free agent, his body
was anything but rock hard, and his
scruffy long hair and beard gave him
the appearance of longing more for a
shot at the keg in the dugout than
chucking pitches toward batters.
That said, Mahler was one of the few
bright spots in a Braves uniform
during the mid-1980s. He tied the
National League record with three
Opening Day shutouts,
accomplishing the feat in 1982, 1986
and 1987. He led the senior circuit in
starts in 1985 and 1986, the second
of which he also endured the most
setbacks. He was a workhorse in the
Atlanta rotation, joining the starters in
1981 and going 8-6 with a 2.81 ERA.
His best season came in 1985, when
he went 17-15, 3.48 for an Atlanta
team that finished 30 games under .
500.
Signed as a free agent by the Reds
in 1989, Mahler was a valuable
swingman for Lou Pinella during
Cincinnati's 1990 title run. He
returned to the Braves briefly in 1991
before being released in August,
concluding his career with a 96-111
record and a 3.99 ERA.
Mahler became a minor league
pitching coach after retiring as a
player. He died on March 2, 2005, in
Jupiter, Florida; he was a pitching
coach in the Mets’ farm system at the
time.
Editor's Note: Both Bill and I got to
know Rick and he was a great guy
who is missed.
(11/08/08)
