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Biography[]
Born on May 20, 1963 in Torrance, California, David Wells (David Lee Wells) played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox over the course of his 20 year career. Wells broke into the bigs on June 30, 1987 with the Toronto Blue Jays, and put up a 4.62 ERA in 64.1 innings pitched in 1988, his rookie year.
There is some disagreement on what was David Wells's most productive season. Some believe that it was 2000, when he posted a 4.11 ERA, won 20 games and struck out 166 batters. However, others believe that it was 1998, when he posted a 3.49 ERA, won 18 games and struck out 163 batters.
His fastball tops out at 88-89 mph, but it has some late life. He has a good curveball and great arm speed on his change up. He has outstanding control and always has a plan. He may not act it, but he's a smart pitcher. He's learned a lot in his many years in the league.
David Wells is probably best known for his years with the New York Yankees, although he was with them for only 4 seasons, and for writing a book, Perfect I'm Not:Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches, and Baseball. He has always been an outspoken man with strong views on what's going on in the game around him. He's also always had a huge gut and a liking for beer.
Despite a body like your local plumber, he has been remarkably durable over the course of his career. He has failed to start in at least 29 games just twice since 1995 and one of those times was the strike-shortened 1994 season. His 1.87 BB/9 for his career shows his excellent command. He has a 227-143 lifetime record with a 4.06 ERA in 3206.1 IP.
Scouting Report[]
Statistics[]
Pitching Stats[]
| Year | Team | G | GS | W | L | ERA | K | R | ER | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | HR | BB | IB | WP | HBP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | TOR | A | 18 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3.99 | 32 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 29.1 | 37 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1988 | TOR | A | 41 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 4.62 | 56 | 36 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 64.1 | 65 | 12 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 2 |
| 1989 | TOR | A | 54 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2.40 | 78 | 25 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 86.1 | 66 | 5 | 28 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| 1990 | TOR | A | 43 | 25 | 11 | 6 | 3.14 | 115 | 72 | 66 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 189 | 165 | 14 | 45 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| 1991 | TOR | A | 40 | 28 | 15 | 10 | 3.72 | 106 | 88 | 82 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 198.1 | 188 | 24 | 49 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| 1992 | TOR | A | 41 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 5.40 | 62 | 84 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 120 | 138 | 16 | 36 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| 1993 | DET | A | 32 | 30 | 11 | 9 | 4.19 | 139 | 93 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 187 | 183 | 26 | 42 | 6 | 13 | 7 |
| 1994 | DET | A | 16 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 3.96 | 71 | 54 | 49 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 111.1 | 113 | 13 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| 1995 | DET | A | 18 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 3.04 | 83 | 54 | 44 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 130.1 | 120 | 17 | 37 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| 1995 | CIN | N | 11 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 3.59 | 50 | 34 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 72.2 | 74 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | Total | 29 | 29 | 16 | 8 | 3.24 | 133 | 88 | 73 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 203 | 194 | 23 | 53 | 9 | 7 | 2 | |
| 1996 | BAL | A | 34 | 34 | 11 | 14 | 5.14 | 130 | 132 | 128 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 224.1 | 247 | 32 | 51 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| 1997 | NY | A | 32 | 32 | 16 | 10 | 4.21 | 156 | 109 | 102 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 218 | 239 | 24 | 45 | 0 | 8 | 6 |
| 1998 | NY | A | 30 | 30 | 18 | 4 | 3.49 | 163 | 86 | 83 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 214.1 | 195 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1999 | TOR | A | 34 | 34 | 17 | 10 | 4.82 | 169 | 132 | 124 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 231.2 | 246 | 32 | 62 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 2000 | TOR | A | 35 | 35 | 20 | 8 | 4.11 | 166 | 115 | 105 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 229.2 | 266 | 23 | 31 | 0 | 9 | 8 |
| 2001 | CHI | A | 16 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4.47 | 59 | 55 | 50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.2 | 120 | 12 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2002 | NY | A | 31 | 31 | 19 | 7 | 3.75 | 137 | 100 | 86 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 206.1 | 210 | 21 | 45 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| 2003 | NY | A | 31 | 30 | 15 | 7 | 4.14 | 101 | 101 | 98 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 213 | 242 | 24 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| 2004 | SD | N | 31 | 31 | 12 | 8 | 3.73 | 101 | 85 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 195.2 | 203 | 23 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2005 | BOS | A | 30 | 30 | 15 | 7 | 4.45 | 107 | 95 | 91 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 184 | 220 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 9 |
| 2006 | SD | N | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3.49 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28.1 | 33 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | BOS | A | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 4.98 | 24 | 30 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 64 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | Total | 13 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 4.42 | 38 | 41 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75.1 | 97 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007 | SD | N | 22 | 22 | 5 | 8 | 5.54 | 63 | 74 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 118.2 | 156 | 17 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2007 | LA | N | 7 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5.12 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38.2 | 45 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | TOT | N | 29 | 29 | 9 | 9 | 5.43 | 82 | 97 | 95 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 157.1 | 201 | 22 | 42 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Total | NL | 76 | 76 | 28 | 24 | 4.28 | 247 | 227 | 216 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 454 | 511 | 52 | 82 | 10 | 4 | 5 | |
| Total | AL | 584 | 413 | 211 | 133 | 4.11 | 1954 | 1475 | 1362 | 51 | 12 | 13 | 2985 | 3124 | 355 | 637 | 55 | 97 | 78 | |
| Total | 660 | 489 | 239 | 157 | 4.13 | 2201 | 1702 | 1578 | 54 | 12 | 13 | 3439 | 3635 | 407 | 719 | 65 | 101 | 83 |
Fielding Stats[]
| Year | Team | POS | G | GS | INN | PO | A | ERR | DP | TP | PB | SB | CS | PkO | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | TOR | A | P | 18 | 2 | 29.1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1988 | TOR | A | P | 41 | 0 | 64.1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 |
| 1989 | TOR | A | P | 54 | 0 | 86.1 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 2 | .952 |
| 1990 | TOR | A | P | 43 | 25 | 189 | 7 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 1.000 |
| 1991 | TOR | A | P | 40 | 28 | 198.1 | 5 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 3 | .952 |
| 1992 | TOR | A | P | 41 | 14 | 120 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 6 | 2 | .958 |
| 1993 | DET | A | P | 32 | 30 | 187 | 10 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 3 | .970 |
| 1994 | DET | A | P | 16 | 16 | 111.1 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1.000 |
| 1995 | DET | A | P | 18 | 18 | 130.1 | 11 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | .931 |
| 1995 | CIN | N | P | 11 | 11 | 72.2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1.000 |
| 1995 | Total | P | 29 | 29 | 203 | 15 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 3 | .949 | |
| 1996 | BAL | A | P | 34 | 34 | 224.1 | 15 | 39 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 4 | 2 | .982 |
| 1997 | NY | A | P | 32 | 32 | 218 | 8 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 8 | 4 | .902 |
| 1998 | NY | A | P | 30 | 30 | 214.1 | 8 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .921 |
| 1999 | TOR | A | P | 34 | 34 | 231.2 | 7 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 9 | 3 | 1.000 |
| 2000 | TOR | A | P | 35 | 35 | 229.2 | 8 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 1 | .897 |
| 2001 | CHI | A | P | 16 | 16 | 100.2 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 2 | .778 |
| 2002 | NY | A | P | 31 | 31 | 206.1 | 6 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 1 | .968 |
| 2003 | NY | A | P | 31 | 30 | 213 | 7 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 1.000 |
| 2004 | SD | N | P | 31 | 31 | 195.2 | 7 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 | .978 |
| 2005 | BOS | A | P | 30 | 30 | 184 | 3 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 4 | .880 |
| 2006 | SD | N | P | 5 | 5 | 28.1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2006 | BOS | A | P | 8 | 8 | 47 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 |
| 2006 | Total | P | 13 | 13 | 75.1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | |
| 2007 | SD | N | P | 22 | 22 | 118.2 | 5 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 2 | .960 |
| 2007 | LA | N | P | 7 | 7 | 38.2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | .714 |
| 2007 | Total | N | P | 29 | 29 | 157.1 | 7 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 3 | .906 |
| Total | P | 660 | 489 | 3439 | 149 | 451 | 30 | 25 | 0 | 13 | 268 | 120 | 50 | .952 |
Batting Stats[]
| Year | Team | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLG | 2B | 3B | BB | SO | HBP | SH | SB | IBB | GDP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | TOR | A | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | TOR | A | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | TOR | A | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | TOR | A | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | TOR | A | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | TOR | A | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | DET | A | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | DET | A | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | DET | A | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | CIN | N | 11 | 28 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .143 | .143 | .143 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | Total | 29 | 28 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .143 | .143 | .143 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1996 | BAL | A | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | NY | A | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | NY | A | 30 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .250 | .250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | TOR | A | 34 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | TOR | A | 35 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .167 | .167 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | CHI | A | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | NY | A | 31 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | NY | A | 31 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .167 | .167 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | SD | N | 31 | 57 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | .105 | .164 | .105 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | BOS | A | 30 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .143 | .143 | .143 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | SD | N | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | BOS | A | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | Total | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007 | SD | N | 22 | 38 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .105 | .105 | .105 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | LA | N | 7 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | .267 | .267 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | TOT | N | 29 | 53 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | .151 | .151 | .170 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | NL | 76 | 143 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 4 | .133 | .156 | .140 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 49 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | AL | 584 | 35 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | .114 | .114 | .143 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 660 | 178 | 8 | 23 | 0 | 5 | .129 | .148 | .140 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 59 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Transactions[]
- Selected by Toronto Blue Jays in the 2nd round of the free-agent draft (June 7, 1982 - signed June 18, 1982).
- Released by Toronto Blue Jays (March 30, 1993).
- Signed by Detroit Tigers (April 3, 1993).
- Granted free agency (October 28, 1993).
- Signed by Detroit Tigers (December 13, 1993).
- Traded by Detroit Tigers to Cincinnati Reds in exchange for C.J. Nitkowski, Dave Tuttle and a player to be named later (July 31, 1995); Detroit Tigers received Mark Lewis (November 16, 1995).
- Traded by Cincinnati Reds to Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Curtis Goodwin and Trovin Valdez (December 26, 1995).
- Granted free agency (October 29, 1996).
- Signed by New York Yankees (December 24, 1996).
- Traded by New York Yankees with Homer Bush and Graeme Lloyd to Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Roger Clemens (February 18, 1999).
- Traded by Toronto Blue Jays with Matt DeWitt to Chicago White Sox in exchange for Kevin Beirne, Brian Simmons, Mike Sirotka and Mike Williams (January 14, 2001).
- Granted free agency (November 5, 2001).
- Signed by New York Yankees (January 17, 2002).
- Granted free agency (November 2, 2003).
- Signed by San Diego Padres (January 6, 2004).
- Granted free agency (November 2, 2004).
- Signed by Boston Red Sox (December 17, 2004).
- Traded by Boston Red Sox to San Diego Padres in exchange for a player to be named later (August 31, 2006); Boston Red Sox received George Kotteras (September 5, 2006).
- Granted free agency (October 30, 2006).