Ken Dayley was a left-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 11 seasons. He was born on February 25, 1959, in Jerome, Idaho. Dayley was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 1980 MLB draft, and he made his debut with the team in 1982.
Dayley spent the first four seasons of his career with the Braves, primarily as a relief pitcher. He had a solid rookie season, posting a 2.76 ERA in 45 appearances. In 1983, he had a 3.03 ERA in 67 games, and he recorded his first save. Dayley continued to be a reliable reliever for the Braves in 1984 and 1985, but he struggled in 1986, posting a 5.40 ERA in 44 games.
In 1987, Dayley was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he became a key member of the team's bullpen. He had a 2.76 ERA in 54 games in his first season with the Cardinals, and he recorded 13 saves. Dayley had an even better season in 1988, posting a 1.93 ERA in 62 games and recording 18 saves. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career.
Dayley continued to pitch well for the Cardinals in 1989 and 1990, but he missed most of the 1991 season due to injury. He returned in 1992 and had a 2.76 ERA in 47 games. Dayley played his final season in 1993, splitting time between the Cardinals and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Overall, Dayley had a solid career as a relief pitcher. He finished with a 3.13 ERA and 57 saves in 594 games. He was known for his ability to get left-handed batters out, as they hit just .214 against him in his career. Dayley was also a good fielder, winning a Gold Glove award in 1987.
After retiring from baseball, Dayley became a high school baseball coach in Georgia. He also worked as a scout for the Cardinals and the Houston Astros. In 2019, he was inducted into the Idaho Sports Hall of Fame.
In conclusion, Ken Dayley was a left-handed relief pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 11 seasons. He was a reliable reliever for the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals, and he was known for his ability to get left-handed batters out. Dayley finished his career with a 3.13 ERA and 57 saves in 594 games.
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