Mike Dunne (baseball)

Mike Dunne
Pitcher
Born: (1962-10-27) October 27, 1962
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 5, 1987, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 1992, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record25–30
Earned run average4.08
Strikeouts205
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
1984 Los Angeles Team

Michael Dennis Dunne (born October 27, 1962) is an American former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major League Baseball (MLB) from 19871990 and in 1992. He was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team.

Career

Dunne played baseball at Limestone Community High School and Bradley University.[1] He was named 1984 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and graduated from Bradley with a Bachelor in Science in 1985.[2]

As part of the U.S. team in baseball at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, he pitched two innings against Italy; the U.S. won the game, 16–1.[1]

On June 4, 1984, he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round with the seventh overall pick of the 1984 Major League Baseball draft and signed with them. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with outfielder Andy Van Slyke and catcher Mike LaValliere for catcher Tony Peña on April 1, 1987, before he pitched in a big league game for the Redbirds.[3] He made his major league debut on June 5, 1987, starting against Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets .[4]

Dunne had a fine rookie season with the Pirates, going 13–6 with a 3.03 ERA and allowing just 143 hits in 164 innings.[3] He finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting to Benito Santiago.[5] On April 21, 1989, he was traded by Pittsburgh with minor leaguer Mark Merchant and Mike Walker to the Seattle Mariners for Rey Quiñones and Bill Wilkinson.[3]

Injuries hampered much of the rest of his career. He pitched for the San Diego Padres and the Chicago White Sox. His last big league game was in 1992 for the White Sox.[6]

Dunne's big league career covered five years and he finished with a 25–30 record and a 4.08 ERA. He pitched in 85 games, 76 of them as a starter, allowed 471 hits in 474 innings, fanned 205 and walked 225.[3]

Post-playing career

Dunne became a coach at Bradley University in 2000 and has also coached youth baseball and basketball.[2] He has also coached at Richwoods High School in Peoria.[7]

Dunne's son played college baseball for the Missouri State Bears.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Duvall, Adam (July 29, 2016). "1984 Olympian Mike Dunne hopes baseball will return permanently to the Games". PJStar.com. GateHouse Media. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Mike Dunne". Bradley Braves. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Mike Dunne Stats". Baseball Reference.
  4. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets Box Score, June 5, 1987". Baseball Reference.
  5. ^ "1987 Awards Voting". Baseball Reference.
  6. ^ "WATN: Mike Dunne, Olympian, MLB Pitcher". Peoria Journal Star. October 21, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  7. ^ Duvall, Adam (April 21, 2023). "'It's difficult': Inside the struggles of Peoria's high school baseball programs". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  8. ^ "Missouri State Announces Fall Baseball Schedule, Roster Additions". Missouri State. September 10, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2025.