Dave Rohde
Dave Rohde (born May 8, 1964 in Los Altos, California) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman in the early 1990s with the Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians. He grew up in Newport Beach, California. As a member of the University of Arizona baseball team he helped them to win the 1986 College World Series and was the first player drafted from that team in the 5th round of the Major League Baseball draft.
Rohde made his big league debut with the Houston Astros on opening night 1990 as a pinch-hitter against Rob Dibble. He got his first hit, a double, the next night off Cincinnati Reds hurler Tim Layana. For the season he hit .184 with 5 rbis in just 98 games. During his career, Rohde was a utility player with most of his at bats coming as a pinch hitter. The best game of his career came on July 18, 1990 when he was 3 for 3 against Frank Viola and Alejandro Peña of the New York Mets. His play helped Mike Scott to a 1-0 complete game shutout win as he scored the sole run. [1]
Rohde appeared in just 29 games for the 1991 Astros and hit .122 (5 hits in 43 at-bats.) He did not record a home run nor drive in a run. He scored three times. Before the start of the 1992 season he was traded to the Cleveland Indians along with Kenny Lofton in exchange for Eddie Taubensee and Willie Blair. He played in just five games with the Tribe to end his big league career. His final appearance was in the Kingdome against Randy Johnson when he filled in at third base for then rookie Jim Thome. During his career the slick fielding infielder committed just one error in 144 chances to post a sparkling .993 fielding percentage.
Sources
- 1991 Houston Astros media guide
- 1992 Houston Astros media guide
- Retrosheet
