Early 2000's Mets Relief Pitcher: Donnie Wall (2001)

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Donnell Lee Wall was born on July 11, 1967 in Potosi, Missouri. The six foot right hander, went to the University of Louisiana, getting drafted by the Houston Astros, in the 18th round of the 1989 amateur draft. 

He spent six seasons in the minors posting double wins three times, with a mostly impressive 17 win season in 1995. He got a September call up debuting against the Florida Marlins.


His first start was a rough one, allowing six runs on six hits getting knocked out out of the game by the third inning. But from there he won his next three starts & finished the month 3-1 in six games with a 5.55 ERA. In 1996 he was placed into the Astros rotation, going 9-8 with one shut out & a 4.56 ERA pitching in 150 innings (26 games) .

In 1997 he won his first start then lost five of the next six & was sent back to AAA in late June. . He was put on waivers after the season, getting picked up by the Cincinnati Reds. He was traded to the Detroit Tigers & then to the San Diego Padres, all in that off season.

He would spend three seasons in San Diego, going 5-4 with a 2.34 ERA out of the Padre bullpen in their 1998 N.L. Championship year.

Post Season: In the NLDS he allowed a HR to Houston’s Derek Bell in his only series appearance. In the NLCS against Atlanta he got the save in Game #1 pitching the 10th inning after closer Trevor Hoffman pitched the 9th earning the win. In the World Series he took a loss in Game #1 allowing two runs in New York. He put up winning records the next two years, often being used as Trevor Hoffman’s set up man.

He was 7-4 in 1999 & then 5-2 in 2000 posting good ERA’s under 3.35 both years. Prior to the 2001 season he was traded to the New York Mets for Bubba Trammell.

His stay in New York was brief & not that memorable. It began on the second game of the season as he took a bottom of the 9th inning loss to the Braves at Turner Field. He allowed a lead off walk & was replaced by Turk Wendell who allowed a walk off HR to Keith Lockhart. Wall appeared in 32 games for the ’01 Mets going 0-4 with a 4.85 ERA, striking out 31 batters in 42 innings.

The Mets granted him free agency after the season & he signed with the Anaheim Angels finishing his career in 2002. 

In an eight year career he was 21-28 with two saves & a 4.20 ERA in 234 appearances.

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