Howard Bailey

From BR Bullpen

Howard L Bailey

Bats Right, Throws Left
Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
School Grand Valley State University
Debut April 12, 1981
Final Game October 1, 1983
Born July 31, 1957 in Grand Haven, MI USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Left-handed pitcher Howard Bailey signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers of the American League on August 26, 1978. He reported to the Lakeland Tigers of the class A Florida State League, the next spring for the 1979 season.

1979, being his first year as a pro, was a bit of a rough go, winning 8 games and losing 12 for the Lakeland Tigers. He got in 142 innings, gave up 147 hits and wound up with a 4.56 ERA for his first year. He led the pitcher-friendly Florida State League in earned runs allowed (72), hit batsmen (12) and homers allowed (11) and tied Luis DeLeon for the most intentional walks (11). He was one shy of the league lead in losses.

He was to be found with the class AA Montgomery Rebels of the Southern League in 1980 where he went 12-12, pitched 186 innings and had a good 3.44 ERA. He led the SL with 22 batters hit by pitch.

The Detroit Tigers came calling in 1981 and he got his first shot at the Major Leagues. He appeared in nine games, pitching 37 innings giving up 45 hits and 30 earned runs. Bailey won one while losing 4 and had a not-so-hot 7.36 ERA. In the middle of the season the Detroit Club sent him to the AAA American Association Evansville Triplets, where he got into 17 games, winning 2 and losing 7 and had a 5.02 ERA.

Bailey was back with the Evansville Triplets in 1982 and rose above a .500 record with a 11 won, 10 loss mark. He stayed in for 153 innings and did have a 4.16 ERA. He was with the Detroit Tigers for the tail end of the year, getting into eight games but had no decisions, pitching only 10 innings.

The next season, the 1983 Detroit Tigers kept him in the Major Leagues for the entire season. He appeared in 33 games and had a 5 win, 5 loss record in 72 innings. He gave up 69 hits, 11 which were for the circuit and ended with a 4.88 ERA. This year would be his last to wear a Major League uniform.

The Evansville Triplets got him again in 1984 and he went to an 0 and 8 record in 55 innings along with a 6.47 ERA. This got him shipped to the Birmingham Barons Southern League team where he produced 2 wins and 2 losses in 39 innings, allowing 48 hits and 34 earned runs for a 5.90 ERA. This would be his last time to wear a Minor League Suit.

Bailey's combined Major and Minor league stats show in his six year career he pitched 779 innings in 176 appearences, had a won-lost record of 41-60 and a 5.07 ERA.