Dave Wallace: 2000 N.L. Champion Mets Pitching Coach (1998-2000)
The five-foot ten right hander attended the University of New Haven getting signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1969.
MLB Career: On July 18th, 1973 Dave made his MLB debut relieving Steve Carlton in a game against the Cincinnati Red having to face three future Hall of Famers in Johnny Bench, Tony Perez & Joe Morgan.
Retirement & Coaching Career: Wallace first worked in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization at A ball Vero Beach (1981-1982) San Antonio (1983) & AAA Albuquerque (1984-1986).
Return to Pitching: In 1984 while at AAA Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League, he returned to pitch four games earning a victory for the Dukes. In 1986 at age 39, he pitched another four games for the Dukes as well.
Mets Career: In 1998 Wallace became special assistant to the New York Mets GM Steve Phillips.
The staff was led by 13 game winners, Al Leiter & Wallace's early protege' from his Dodger days Orel Hershiser, now a veteran. Masato Yoshi was a 12-game winner & Rick Reed an 11-game winner. That year the Mets went 97-66 winning the NL Wild Card title & advancing to the NLCS.
His other main starters, Rick Reed, Glendon Rusch & Bobby Jones all won 11 games each as the Mets advanced all the way to World Series.
In 2004 he needed a hip replacement, two years later he suffered an infection from the surgery & almost died. He missed half the baseball season & left the club at the end of the year. Wallace fully recovered from the infection & returned to his normal health.
Team USA: In 2020 he was named the US National Baseball team pitching coach & his team won a Silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Minor Leagues: Wallace would spend nine seasons in the Phillies minor leagues, five of them at the AA level. Overall, he spent parts of twelve seasons in the minor leagues going 48-37 with a 4.11 ERA in 360 appearances.
MLB Career: On July 18th, 1973 Dave made his MLB debut relieving Steve Carlton in a game against the Cincinnati Red having to face three future Hall of Famers in Johnny Bench, Tony Perez & Joe Morgan.Overall for the 1973 last place Phillies he made just four appearances, allowing nine earned runs in 3.2 innings posting a whopping 22.09 ERA. In May 1974 he made three more MLB appearances. On May 7th, he took a loss to the San Diego Padres as the only decision of his career. Wallace spent the next three years back in the minors.
In 1978 he was released by the Phillies & signed with the Toronto Blue Jays where he appeared in four games at the big-league level. In Wallace retired as a player in 1979.
Return to Pitching: In 1984 while at AAA Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League, he returned to pitch four games earning a victory for the Dukes. In 1986 at age 39, he pitched another four games for the Dukes as well.
Coaching Career: By 1995 he became the Dodgers big league pitching coach under Tommy Lasorda reaming there for two seasons, making the playoffs both times, although they were defeated in the first round each time.
During his Dodger career he is credited in developing the careers of pitchers Pedro Martínez, Ramón Martínez, Pedro Astacio, Darren Dreifort, Hideo Nomo, Chan Ho Park, Ismael Valdéz and John Wetland.
In 1999 he became the pitching coach under Bobby Valentine replacing Bob Apodaca. Apodaca was one of the coaches that was fired by GM Steve Phillips without the consent of Valentine, who learned about it listening to the radio.
Wallace & Valentine would never form a friendly close working relationship.
That season Wallace's staff finished third in the NL with 97 wins, ranked second saves (49) fourth
in strike outs (1172) fifth in ERA (4.27) & shut outs (3).
in strike outs (1172) fifth in ERA (4.27) & shut outs (3).
2000 Mets Pennant Season: In 2000 the Mets won their second straight Wild Card title going 94-68, getting to the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time in their history. Wallace's staff finished fourth in wins (94) second in strike outs (1164) & saves (49).
The Mets were third in ERA (4.16) shut outs (2) as well as in hits, HRs & walks. The staff was led by 16 game winner Al Leiter & newcomer 15 game winner Mike Hampton. Hampton was 2-0 in the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching 16 innings of shutout ball.
After the Post season, Wallace left the Mets & went back to the Dodgers organization.
In 2001 Wallace briefly became the Dodgers interim General Manager during a time of transition. By 2003 he took over the pitching coach role of the Boston Red Sox and won a World Series there in 2004, the tams first since 1918.
In 2001 Wallace briefly became the Dodgers interim General Manager during a time of transition. By 2003 he took over the pitching coach role of the Boston Red Sox and won a World Series there in 2004, the tams first since 1918.
He moved on the Houston Astros (2007) & then Seattle Mariners as a special assistant (2008).
Wallace moved on the Atlanta Braves in 2009 as a minor league pitching coordinator.
In 2011 he replaced Roger McDowell as an interim pitching coach of the Braves when McDowell was on administrative leave for inappropriate comments to fans in San Francisco.
Wallace then spent three seasons (2013-2016) as the Baltimore Orioles pitching coach under manager Buck Showalter. He then went back to Atlanta as a consultant.
In 2023 he was asked by Miami Marlins GM Kim Ng to work as a consultant.
Family: In 1997 while with the Mets Dave married Joyce (Shellman). During the off seasons they lived in Florida & up North during baseball season.