Rick Mahler was born on Wednesday, August 5, 1953, in Austin, Texas. Mahler was 25 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 20, 1979, with the Atlanta Braves. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Rick Mahler baseball stats page.
"He (Rick Mahler) was a great guy, a great teammate. I talked to him a lot about pitching when I first came up. He was a big help, especially for a young guy who was struggling... My first year in the big leagues I lost 17 games. He was always there to kind of lift you up. Always upbeat.'' - Hall of Famer / Teammate Tom Glavine (The Associated Press. Rick Mahler dies at 51. 2005 March 3.)
Rick Mahler![]() Rick Mahler Autograph on a 1986 Topps Baseball Card (#437 | Checklist) |
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Rick MahlerRick Mahler Pitching Stats |
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| Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
| 1979 | 26 | Braves | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 6.14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22.0 | 101 | 28 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | - |
| 1980 | 27 | Braves | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 2.45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.2 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| 1981 | 28 | Braves | 34 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 6 | .571 | 2.80 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 112.1 | 478 | 109 | 35 | 41 | 5 | 43 | 5 | 54 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 1982 | 29 | Braves | 39 | 33 | 0 | 9 | 10 | .474 | 4.21 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 205.1 | 857 | 213 | 96 | 105 | 18 | 62 | 5 | 105 | 8 | 1 | 2 | - |
| 1983 | 30 | Braves | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 5.02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.1 | 66 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| 1984 | 31 | Braves | 38 | 29 | 1 | 13 | 10 | .565 | 3.12 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 222.0 | 918 | 209 | 77 | 86 | 13 | 62 | 7 | 106 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - |
| 1985 | 32 | Braves | 39 | 39 | 0 | 17 | 15 | .531 | 3.48 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 266.2 | 1,110 | 272 | 103 | 116 | 24 | 79 | 8 | 107 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 33 | Braves | 39 | 39 | 0 | 14 | 18 | .438 | 4.88 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 237.2 | 1,056 | 283 | 129 | 139 | 25 | 95 | 10 | 137 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 34 | Braves | 39 | 28 | 1 | 8 | 13 | .381 | 4.98 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 197.0 | 849 | 212 | 109 | 118 | 24 | 85 | 8 | 95 | 5 | 2 | 2 | - |
| 1988 | 35 | Braves | 39 | 34 | 2 | 9 | 16 | .360 | 3.69 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 249.0 | 1,063 | 279 | 102 | 125 | 17 | 42 | 6 | 131 | 5 | 8 | 8 | - |
| 1989 | 36 | Reds | 40 | 31 | 1 | 9 | 13 | .409 | 3.83 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 220.2 | 940 | 242 | 94 | 113 | 15 | 51 | 13 | 102 | 4 | 10 | 4 | - |
| 1990 | 37 | Reds | 35 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 6 | .538 | 4.28 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 134.2 | 564 | 134 | 64 | 67 | 16 | 39 | 4 | 68 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - |
| 1991 | 38 | Expos | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .250 | 3.62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37.1 | 158 | 37 | 15 | 17 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| 1991 | 38 | Braves | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .500 | 5.65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28.2 | 133 | 33 | 18 | 20 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - |
| Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD | ||
| 13 Years | 392 | 271 | 32 | 96 | 111 | .464 | 3.99 | 43 | 9 | 6 | 1,951.1 | 8,306 | 2,069 | 866 | 972 | 165 | 606 | 70 | 952 | 41 | 35 | 23 | 0 | ||
Rick MahlerRick Mahler Hitting Stats |
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| Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 1979 | 26 | Braves | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .500 |
| 1980 | 27 | Braves | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1981 | 28 | Braves | 34 | 27 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .148 | .148 | .185 |
| 1982 | 29 | Braves | 39 | 58 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .190 | .242 | .241 |
| 1983 | 30 | Braves | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1984 | 31 | Braves | 38 | 71 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .296 | .315 | .338 |
| 1985 | 32 | Braves | 39 | 90 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .156 | .181 | .167 |
| 1986 | 33 | Braves | 40 | 83 | 8 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .193 | .230 | .229 |
| 1987 | 34 | Braves | 40 | 65 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .169 | .194 | .231 |
| 1988 | 35 | Braves | 39 | 72 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .125 | .137 | .139 |
| 1989 | 36 | Reds | 40 | 62 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .177 | .239 | .210 |
| 1990 | 37 | Reds | 35 | 35 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .114 | .135 | .143 |
| 1991 | 38 | Expos | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .111 | .111 | .111 |
| 1991 | 38 | Braves | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .400 |
| Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
| 13 Years | 394 | 581 | 40 | 104 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 20 | 0 | 117 | 66 | 2 | 2 | 10 | .179 | .208 | .213 | ||
Rick MahlerRick Mahler Fielding Stats |
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| Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
| 1979 Braves | P | 15 | 0 | 66 | 5 | 0.3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .800 | 1.64 |
| 1980 Braves | P | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 2.45 |
| 1981 Braves | P | 34 | 14 | 337 | 35 | 1.0 | 33 | 14 | 19 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .943 | 2.64 |
| 1982 Braves | P | 39 | 33 | 616 | 56 | 1.4 | 55 | 19 | 36 | 1 | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .982 | 2.41 |
| 1983 Braves | P | 10 | 0 | 43 | 3 | 0.3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .667 | 1.26 |
| 1984 Braves | P | 38 | 29 | 666 | 64 | 1.7 | 62 | 20 | 42 | 2 | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .969 | 2.51 |
| 1985 Braves | P | 39 | 39 | 800 | 70 | 1.8 | 66 | 21 | 45 | 4 | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .943 | 2.23 |
| 1986 Braves | P | 39 | 39 | 713 | 67 | 1.7 | 64 | 23 | 41 | 3 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .955 | 2.42 |
| 1987 Braves | P | 39 | 28 | 591 | 56 | 1.4 | 55 | 13 | 42 | 1 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .982 | 2.51 |
| 1988 Braves | P | 39 | 34 | 747 | 68 | 1.7 | 65 | 22 | 43 | 3 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .956 | 2.35 |
| 1989 Reds | P | 40 | 31 | 662 | 44 | 1.1 | 43 | 8 | 35 | 1 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .977 | 1.75 |
| 1990 Reds | P | 35 | 16 | 404 | 29 | 0.8 | 28 | 11 | 17 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .966 | 1.87 |
| 1991 Expos | P | 10 | 6 | 112 | 12 | 1.2 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 2.89 |
| 1991 Braves | P | 13 | 2 | 86 | 9 | 0.7 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .889 | 2.51 |
| Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
| P Totals | 392 | 271 | 5,854 | 519 | 1.3 | 498 | 160 | 338 | 21 | 31 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .960 | 2.30 | |
| 13 Years | 392 | 271 | 5,854 | 519 | 1.3 | 498 | 160 | 338 | 21 | 31 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .960 | 2.30 | |
Rick MahlerRick Mahler Miscellaneous Stats |
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| Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
| Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
| 1979 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.09 | 4.91 | 4.50 |
| 1980 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 2.45 | 0.00 |
| 1981 Braves | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 6.8 | 13.5 | 1.26 | 4.33 | 3.45 |
| 1982 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 58.0 | 3.4 | 14.5 | 1.69 | 4.60 | 2.72 |
| 1983 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.78 | 4.40 | 5.65 |
| 1984 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 8.9 | 23.7 | 1.71 | 4.30 | 2.51 |
| 1985 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 5.0 | 11.3 | 1.35 | 3.61 | 2.67 |
| 1986 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 5.9 | 11.9 | 1.44 | 5.19 | 3.60 |
| 1987 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.4 | 13.0 | 1.12 | 4.34 | 3.88 |
| 1988 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 3.6 | 14.4 | 3.12 | 4.73 | 1.52 |
| 1989 Reds | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 7.8 | 62.0 | 2.00 | 4.16 | 2.08 |
| 1990 Reds | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 8.8 | 17.5 | 1.74 | 4.54 | 2.61 |
| 1991 Expos | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 1.13 | 4.10 | 3.62 |
| 1991 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.77 | 3.14 | 4.08 |
| Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
| 13 Years | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2 | 0 | n/a | 581.0 | 5.0 | 15.7 | 1.57 | 4.39 | 2.80 |
Rick MahlerRick Mahler Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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| Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
| 1979 Atlanta Braves | 39 | $21,000.00 | - | - |
| 1980 Atlanta Braves | 42 | $30,000.00 | - | - |
| 1981 Atlanta Braves | 42 | $32,500.00 | - | - |
| 1982 Atlanta Braves | 42 | $125,000.00 | - | - |
| 1983 Atlanta Braves | 42 | $250,000.00 | - | - |
| 1984 Atlanta Braves | 42 | $334,000.00 | - | - |
| 1985 Atlanta Braves | 42 | $407,500.00 | - | - |
| 1986 Atlanta Braves | 42 | $687,500.00 | - | - |
| 1987 Atlanta Braves | 42 | $695,000.00 | - | - |
| 1988 Atlanta Braves | 26 | $737,500.00 | - | - |
| 1989 Cincinnati Reds | 42 | $790,000.00 | - | - |
| 1990 Cincinnati Reds | 42 | $790,000.00 | - | - |
| 1991 Montreal Expos | 42 | $750,000.00 | - | - |
| 1991 Atlanta Braves | 42 | " " | - | - |
| Rick Mahler Stats by Baseball Almanac | ||||

Rick Mahler threw nine shutouts during his 13-year career. Three of them took place in Opening Day contests! The first, April 6, 1982, was a 2-hitter versus the San Diego Padres. The second, April 8, 1986, was against the Montreal Expos, who had Tim Raines hitting leadoff and Andre Dawson batting clean-up. When he notched his third Opening Day shutout, on April 7, 1987, Mahler tied the National League record for Most Shutouts Won on Opening Day! Do you know either of the other two pitchers (initials & answers at end) who held the mark before Mahler? [C.S. | R.S.]

Rick Mahler | 1989 Donruss Baseball Card (#222 | Checklist) | Baseball Almanac Collection
In 1986, Rick Mahler started a National League leading thirty-nine games for the Atlanta Braves. In 1985, he also started a National League leading thirty nine games, for the Atlanta Braves. No Braves pitcher since Mahler has ever started more than thirty-six games, neither has any pitcher from ANY National League team! [Year by Year Leaders for Games Started]
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