Richard Keith Mahler (August 5, 1953 – March 2, 2005) was a

starting pitcher In baseball (hardball or softball), a starting pitcher or starter is the first pitcher in the game for each team. A pitcher is credited with a game started if they throw the first pitch to the opponent's first batter of a game. Starting pitc ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...

who played for the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in B ...

(1979–1988, 1991),

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

(1989–1990) and

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They p ...

(1991). His brother

Mickey Mickey is a given name and nickname, almost always masculine and often a short form (hypocorism) of Michael, and occasionally a surname. Notable people and characters with the name include: People Given name or nickname Men * Mickey Andrews (bor ...

was a major league pitcher as well; the two were Braves teammates in 1979. The brothers had also played together for the Triple-A

Richmond Braves The Richmond Braves were an American minor league baseball club based in Richmond, Virginia, the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves from 1966 to 2008. Owned by the parent Atlanta club and colloquially referred to as the ...

. In his 13-year career, Mahler posted a 96–111 record with 952 strikeouts and a 3.99 ERA in 1951.1

innings An innings is one of the divisions of a cricket match during which one team takes its turn to bat. Innings also means the period in which an individual player bats (acts as either striker or nonstriker). Innings, in cricket, and rounders, is ...

. Born in

Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...

, Mahler graduated from John Jay High School and then attended Trinity University, both in

San Antonio, Texas ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...

. After being signed by the Braves as an amateur free agent in 1975, he made his debut in the 1979 season. Mahler started on opening day for the Braves in 1982, when Atlanta won the

National League West The National League West is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was formed for the 1969 season when the National League expanded to 12 teams by adding the San Diego Padres and the Montreal Expos. For purpose of keeping a re ...

title. He made four straight opening day starts beginning in 1985. In 1987, he tied an NL record with his third opening day

shutout In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball. Shutouts are usuall ...

. His best season came in 1984, when he went 13-10 with a 3.12 ERA while hitting .296 at the plate. In 1985, he won his first 7 straight starts and ended up 17-15 with a 3.48 ERA. He pitched twice in the postseason, with the Braves in 1982, and with the 1990 World Series champion

. In postseason play, Mahler pitched scoreless innings. Mahler was a key member of the 1990 Reds' pitching staff as a spot starter and reliever, going 7–6 and contributing four saves. He also appeared in ten games with the

in 1991 before returning to Atlanta in mid-season. After retiring, Mahler served as a

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in N ...

pitching coach In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, who determines the starting lineup and batting order, decides how to substitute players during the game, and makes strategy decisio ...

for the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...

and the

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The fra ...

, and he was a roving instructor for the St. Louis Cardinals. He also managed St. Louis' Double-A affiliate in the

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

from 1996 to 1997. Mahler died at age 51 of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...

at home in

Jupiter, Florida Jupiter is the northernmost town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. According to the 2020 Census, the town had a population of 61,047 as of April 1, 2020. It is 84 miles north of Miami, and the northernmost community in the Miami met ...

, where he was preparing for his second season as a minor league pitching coach for the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major leagu ...

.Obituary
''The Deadball Era''. Retrieved on April 21, 2016.

References

External links

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Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Winter League
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahler, Rick 1953 births 2005 deaths American expatriate baseball players in Canada Atlanta Braves players Baseball coaches from Texas Baseball players from Austin, Texas Cardenales de Lara players American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Cincinnati Reds players Greenwood Braves players Kingsport Braves players Major League Baseball pitchers Minor league baseball coaches Minor league baseball managers Montreal Expos players Nashville Sounds players Richmond Braves players Savannah Braves players Tiburones de La Guaira players Trinity Tigers baseball players Trinity University (Texas) alumni