Danny Coombs
Danny Coombs is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1963 to 1971 for the Houston Colt .45s / Astros and the San Diego Padres. Born March 23, 1942, in Lincoln, Maine, he batted right-handed and threw left-handed, stood 6 feet 5 inches tall, and weighed 210 pounds. He attended Seton Hall University, where he also played basketball, and signed as an amateur free agent before the 1963 season.
Coombs made his major league debut on September 27, 1963, against the New York Mets, pitching 1/3 of an inning and allowing three hits and one earned run. Over the years, he split his time between relief duties and starting roles. Notable moments include earning his first win on October 2, 1964, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and seasons like 1968 when he appeared in 40 games with a 3.28 ERA.
On October 22, 1969, Coombs was purchased by the San Diego Padres. In 1970 he was used mostly as a starter, appearing in 35 games (27 starts) and going 10–14 with a 3.30 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 181 1/3 innings. His 3.30 ERA was the Padres’ best among pitchers with at least five appearances and was the ninth-best ERA in the league that year. He played one more season in 1971, posting a 1–6 record with a 6.24 ERA in 19 games (six starts). He played his final game on July 23, 1971.
Over nine seasons, Coombs appeared in 144 games, started 42, completed five of his starts, had one shutout and two saves. His career totals include a 19–27 record, 393 innings pitched, 433 hits allowed, 178 earned runs, 26 home runs, 162 walks, and 249 strikeouts, with an earned run average of 4.08. As a batter, he hit .140 with 14 hits in 100 at-bats.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:46 (CET).