Dan Schatzeder was a left-handed pitcher who played for several Major League Baseball teams during his career. He was born on December 1, 1954, in Elmhurst, Illinois, and attended the University of Denver. Schatzeder was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the third round of the 1976 MLB draft and made his debut with the team in 1977.
Schatzeder played for the Athletics for three seasons before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980. He spent one season with the Cardinals before being traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1981. Schatzeder played for the Tigers for two seasons before being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1983.
Schatzeder had a successful season with the Giants in 1983, posting a 2.55 ERA in 57 games. He was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year for his performance. Schatzeder played for the Giants for three seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1986.
Schatzeder played for the Phillies for one season before being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 1987. He was a member of the Twins team that won the World Series that year. Schatzeder played for the Twins for two seasons before being traded to the Houston Astros in 1989.
Schatzeder played for the Astros for two seasons before being released in 1991. He signed with the Kansas City Royals but was released before the start of the season. Schatzeder retired from baseball after the 1991 season.
During his career, Schatzeder had a record of 69-67 with a 3.74 ERA in 547 games. He pitched in the postseason with the Tigers in 1984 and the Twins in 1987, winning a World Series with the latter. Schatzeder was known for his ability to pitch in relief and was often used as a left-handed specialist.
After retiring from baseball, Schatzeder worked as a pitching coach for several minor league teams. He also worked as a scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants. In 2013, Schatzeder was inducted into the University of Denver Athletic Hall of Fame.
Overall, Dan Schatzeder had a successful career as a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for several teams and was known for his ability to pitch in relief. Schatzeder won a World Series with the Minnesota Twins in 1987 and was inducted into the University of Denver Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
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