214@100: Dave Otto, the lanky lefty from EGHS
Hundreds of pitchers have toed the rubber for Elk Grove High School, but only one has played major league baseball.
At 6'7", Dave Otto (Class of '82) is also the tallest player to ever pitch for Elk Grove, which the lanky lefty used to his advantage when he led the Grenadiers to the 1982 state tournament. The Grens lost in the opening round, but Otto was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round of the 1982 draft. He went to Mizzou instead, and after three years there was drafted by the Oakland Athletics where he made his major league debut in 1987.
In his eight MLB seasons, Otto compiled a 10-22 record while playing for the Athletics, Indians, Pirates and Cubs. Post-MLB, he got into broadcasting, including filling in for Ron Santo as a Chicago Cubs broadcaster. EGHS retired his number, and in 2000, he was elected to the University of Missouri's Sports Hall of Fame.
A century of education: District 214 at 100
Northwest Suburban High School District 214 has had thousands of special moments, people and places over its 100-year-old history. In the next few months we're highlighting 100 of them - one for each year of this remarkable school district. We welcome your ideas at district214@dailyherald.com. Otherwise keep checking this page as we add more vignettes.