Dan Quisenberry

Dan Quisenberry – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Explore the remarkable life of Dan “Quiz” Quisenberry — submarine-style relief pitcher, poet, and quotable character. From his dominating saves in MLB to his reflective voice off the field, learn his legacy and favorite lines.

Introduction

Dan Quisenberry (February 7, 1953 – September 30, 1998) was an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher best known for his time with the Kansas City Royals. He combined unusual technique (a submarine delivery), exceptional control, a sharp wit, and a habit of writing poetry to create a singular persona in baseball. Though he pitched in an era when closers were gaining prominence, Quisenberry stood out not by overpowering hitters, but by outthinking them—and by his memorable aphorisms along the way.

Early Life and Background

Daniel Raymond Quisenberry was born in Santa Monica, California on February 7, 1953.

He played baseball in high school at Costa Mesa High School and later attended Orange Coast College, where he was named team MVP. University of La Verne, a small college in California, where he also met his wife, Janie Howard.

Quisenberry credited his faith and family life with helping temper his earlier intensity: formerly known for hot temper, he later spoke of how Christianity and his wife helped calm him.

Professional Career

Breakthrough & Style

Quisenberry was signed by the Kansas City Royals as an amateur free agent in 1975.

Rather than relying on a blazing fastball, Quisenberry adopted a submarine (sub-low) delivery, throwing a sinking fastball and changeups, which kept hitters off balance.

From 1980 through 1985 (except during the strike-shortened 1981 season), he led the American League in saves five times. Cy Young Award voting, finishing in the top five multiple times.

In 1985, Quisenberry was a key contributor to the Royals’ World Series championship, earning the win in Game 6 in a famously controversial ending involving a blown call by umpire Don Denkinger.

Later Career & Decline

After his dominant years in Kansas City, Quisenberry’s performance waned. In 1988, he was released by the Royals and signed by the St. Louis Cardinals, where he pitched for parts of two seasons. San Francisco Giants in 1990, where a torn rotator cuff after just a few appearances forced him into retirement.

When he retired, Quisenberry had 244 saves, which at the time ranked among the all-time leaders. earned run average (ERA) of 2.76 and a win–loss record of 56–46.

While his candidacy for the Baseball Hall of Fame received some support (he earned 18 votes in 1996), he failed to reach the threshold and was dropped from future ballots.

Personality, Writing & Off the Field

Dan Quisenberry was more than just a pitcher. He was known for his introspective, humorous reflections and tilt toward poetry. Late in life, he published a book of poems titled On Days Like This (1998).

His public persona combined humility and wit. He rarely boasted, often deflecting attention or poking fun at expectations. As one commentator put it, he was “one of baseball’s most quotable characters.”

Privately, Quisenberry lived with his wife Janie and their two children, Alysia and David, in Kansas City. Harvesters Food Bank.

Illness and Death

In January 1998, while on a snowboarding trip, Quisenberry began suffering from headaches, dizzy spells, and blurred vision. He was diagnosed with a grade IV astrocytoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Despite treatment, his condition worsened, and he died on September 30, 1998 in Leawood, Kansas, at the age of 45. His death was widely mourned in baseball circles as the passing of a uniquely thoughtful competitor.

Legacy & Influence

• Closer evolution: Quisenberry played a key role in the shift from “firemen” (multi-inning relievers) to specialized closers. His success without overpowering velocity demonstrated that control and craft could triumph.

• Kansas City legend: He was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in 1998, shortly before his death.

• Voice beyond the mound: His reputation as a poetic, reflective athlete paved the way for others to see athletes as thinkers, not just performers.

• Quotable wisdom: His pithy, humorous, and sometimes philosophical lines continue to echo in baseball culture and beyond.

Famous Quotes by Dan Quisenberry

Here are some of his most memorable lines, capturing his wit, humility, and perspective:

“I’ve seen the future, and it’s much like the present, only longer.”

“A manager uses a relief pitcher like a six shooter; he fires until it’s empty then takes the gun and throws it at the villain.”

“The best thing about baseball is there’s no homework.”

“Most pitchers fear losing their fastball, but since I don’t have one, the only thing I have to fear is fear itself.”

“I became a better pitcher when I found a delivery in my flaw.”

“Coming into a game in the eighth or ninth inning is like parachuting behind enemy lines. And sometimes the chute doesn’t open. You have to live with that. It’s an occupational hazard.”

“It helps to be stupid if you’re a relief pitcher. Relievers had to get into a zone of their own. I just hope I’m stupid enough.”

These lines reveal his self-deprecating humor, his reflective outlook, and how he navigated the pressures of his role.

Lessons from Dan Quisenberry

Dan Quisenberry’s life and career offer a number of instructive lessons:

1. Master your weaknesses
   He lacked a power fastball but made that a strength by focusing on control, deception, and consistency.

2. Authenticity matters
   He used humor and poetry not as posture, but as genuine extensions of his character. He accepted who he was, instead of pretending to be someone else.

3. Calm under pressure
   The closer’s role is intense. Quisenberry accepted risk as part of the job, embracing uncertainty rather than fearing it.

4. Complex identity
   He was both athlete and poet, competitor and contemplative. That balance gives depth beyond stats.

5. Legacy is more than numbers
   Quisenberry’s influence persists not just in his saves, but in how he made room for voice, humility, and reflection in sports.

Conclusion

Dan “Quiz” Quisenberry combined athletic precision with poetic sensibility. On the mound, he was one of the American League’s dominant closers; off it, he was a man of thought, faith, and memorable lines. Though his life was cut short, his legacy endures in the culture of baseball, in the art of pitching by intellect rather than force, and in lines that still prompt a smile or reflection.