Geoff Zahn

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Geoff Zahn

|image=1980 Minnesota Twins Postcards Geoff Zahn.jpg

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1945|12|19}}

|birth_place=Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 2

|debutyear=1973

|debutteam=Los Angeles Dodgers

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=August 14

|finalyear=1985

|finalteam=California Angels

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=111–109

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=3.74

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=705

|teams=

Los Angeles Dodgers ({{Baseball year|1973}}–{{Baseball year|1975}})
Chicago Cubs ({{Baseball year|1975}}–{{Baseball year|1976}})
Minnesota Twins ({{Baseball year|1977}}–{{Baseball year|1980}})
California Angels ({{Baseball year|1981}}–{{Baseball year|1985}})

}}

Geoffrey Clayton Zahn (born December 19, 1945) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched thirteen seasons in Major League Baseball from 1973 to 1985. In his career, he had a Win–loss record of 111–109, an earned run average of 3.74, and 705 strikeouts.

Playing career

=Amateur and minors=

Zahn played for Toledo DeVilbiss High School and the University of Michigan. He was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth round of the January 1968 Major League Baseball draft. After signing with the Dodgers, he played in the minor leagues for six years before making his major league debut on September 2, 1973.

Zahn served in the Washington Air National Guard as a member of the 141st Air Refueling Wing. He reached the rank of staff sergeant at least.{{cite news |title=History – 141st Major Leaguers |url=https://static.dvidshub.net/media/pubs/pdf_52120.pdf |access-date=January 22, 2024 |work=The Jet Gazette |date=February 2020 |publisher=141st Air Refueling Wing}}

=Major leagues=

During his major league career, Zahn pitched with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs of the National League and the Minnesota Twins and California Angels of the American League. Geoff won ten or more games for six consecutive seasons (1977–82) with the Twins and Angels, totaling 81 wins over that span.

Zahn's best season came in 1982 when he compiled an 18–8 record, helping the Angels win the American League Western Division crown. Zahn was selected as the left-handed pitcher on the Sporting News AL All-Star Team after the 1982 season.

Coaching career

Zahn was the head of Michigan baseball from 1996 to 2001. He compiled a record 163–169–2 over six seasons, leading the Wolverines to a championship in the 1999 Big Ten Tournament. During the 1995 season, Zahn had served as an assistant coach at Pepperdine.[http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/100901aaa.html Zahn Resigns as Michigan Baseball Head Coach] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402113523/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/100901aaa.html |date=2015-04-02}} mgoblue.com