Vada pinson baseball player
Vada Pinson
American baseball player and coach (–)
Baseball player
| Vada Pinson | |
|---|---|
Pinson in | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born:()August 11, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| Died: October 21, () (aged&#;57) Oakland, California, U.S. | |
| April 15,&#;,&#;for the&#;Cincinnati Redlegs | |
| September 28,&#;,&#;for the&#;Kansas City Royals | |
| Batting average | |
| Hits | 2, |
| Home runs | |
| Runs batted in | 1, |
| Stats at Baseball Reference&#; | |
Vada Edward Pinson Jr. (August 11, – October 21, ) was an American professional baseball player and coach.
He played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball for 18 years (–), most notably for the Cincinnati Reds, for whom he played from to as a four-time National LeagueAll-Star. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in [1] The 5&#;ft 11&#;in (&#;m), &#;lb (77&#;kg) Pinson, who batted and threw left-handed, combined power, speed, and strong defensive ability.
Early life
Pinson was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and his family moved to California when he was a child.
He attended Oakland's McClymonds High School, a school attended by Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson (a Pinson teammate in the major leagues for nine years), star centerfielder Curt Flood, and Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell. Pinson had interest in the trumpet in the school's band, to the point where he considered playing trumpet as a career, but his baseball coach George Powles convinced him otherwise, developing him into a player by cultivating his athletic ability and talent.
Professional career
Right before turning 18, he was offered a $4, bonus by the Cincinnati Redlegs, which he signed. He played two seasons in the minor leagues, playing with the Wausau Lumberjacks in the Northern League for (hitting in 75 games) and the Visalia Redlegs in the California League the following year, hitting with hits in games.[2][3]
After two minor league seasons and still only 19 years old, he earned a spot on the Redlegs' man roster out of spring training, making his major league debut on April 15, , against the Philadelphia Phillies at home in Crosley Field.[4][5] Batting second and starting in centerfield, Pinson had one hit in five at-bats, his first hit a single off future Baseball Hall-of-FamerRobin Roberts.[6] Three days later, in the Redlegs' next game, he hit his first home run, a grand slam off Pittsburgh Pirates' starter Ron Kline at Forbes Field.[7] A slump in May that lowered his average to resulted in him being sent to the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League.
He played in games and hit before being called up by the Redlegs, going in 12 games in September. He finished the year with a batting average in 27 games and 96 at-bats with a OBP.
The next season, , was his first full year in the majors.
Wally post baseball In five seasons, Pinson had at least 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in the same year. Pinson ended his coaching career with another expansion team, the Florida Marlins, in and The argument for Pinson as a Hall of Famer rested primarily on his 2, career hits. Two years later, Pinson collected hits, then hits in , then hits in — the first lefty in Reds' history with more than one hit season, and he finished his career with four!He responded with big numbers: games, a batting average, a OBP, runs scored (a league high), hits, 47 doubles (also a league high), 20 home runs, and 21 stolen bases. He had an OPS. He was selected to both All-Star Games played that year (not playing in the first while pinch running in the second)[8] and finished 15th in Most Valuable Player voting.
He led the National League in putouts as an outfielder with
The following year, he played in games again while having runs on hits, 37 doubles (a league high), 20 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases on a batting average and OBP while finishing 18th in MVP voting. He had an OPS above once again, having an OPS. He led the league again in putouts with He was named to both of the All-Star Games that year, batting once in the first game and having no at-bat in the second game.[9][10] However, the Reds went and 6th in the National League.
This was the worst season in terms of record in Pinson's tenure.
was much of the same in consistent production, playing in all games for the third straight year while having hits (a career high and league high) on at-bats with runs, 34 doubles, 16 home runs and 87 RBIs on a batting average and OBP. He finished 3rd in the MVP voting while receiving a Gold Glove, his only career win.
He had a career high OPS. He finished 2nd for the batting title to Roberto Clemente, who edged him out by eight percentage points. For the third year in a row, he led the league in putouts with That year, the Reds won the league pennant, going (a game improvement) while gaining the right to play the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Pinson had two hits in 22 at-bats for a batting average as the Reds lost to the Yankees in five games.
The following year, he played games (with this being the first season of the National League having games), having hits with runs, 31 doubles, 23 home runs, RBIs, 26 stolen bases on a batting average and a OBP.
He had a OPS, his fourth straight year with an OPS above He had putouts as an outfielder, 5th best in the league. However, his season was marred by an embarrassing incident in which he took a swing at club reporter Earl Lawson, who suggested that Pinson would be able to hit for if he went for bunts every so often instead of going for home runs along with questionable fielding.[11] The charges were dropped, but Pinson stated that this was the most embarrassing moment of his career.
For , he played in all games, the only time he would do so in his career. Accordingly, he had hits (a league high), 37 doubles, 14 triples (a league high), 23 home runs, RBIs and 27 stolen bases on a batting average and a OBP. For the fifth (and final) straight year, he had an OPS above , slugging a percentage of He had putouts an outfielder, 3rd most in the league.
On September 11, , Pinson recorded his 1,th career hit, doing so on a home run against Claud Raymond of the Milwaukee Braves.[12] He finished 10th in MVP voting.
Robinson noted in his autobiography Extra Innings a story of him and Pinson inviting then rookie Pete Rose to dinner during the season while helping to show him the ropes around the team and league.
Vada pinson obituary Did you know that when Vada retired in , he was only the second player — the first was Willie Mays — in Major League Baseball history with or-more career home runs and or-more career stolen bases? He moved onto the Cleveland Indians for the season. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Vada Pinson never won another Gold Glove , but defensively led the senior circuit in games played by an outfielder six times, putouts three times, assists three times, fielding percentage twice, and double plays twice!Pinson allegedly grabbed Lawson by the neck and pushed him against a wall in September , with Lawson filling assault and battery charges, although the trial ended in a hung jury three months later.[13][14] Lawson also described Pinson as a rare talent like Mickey Mantle that "combined speed with powerPinson, one of the most graceful runners ever to put on a baseball uniform, gave the appearance of gliding across the ground, his feet barely touching the surface."[15]
Pinson played in games the following year, having hits (his lowest at this point in his career) while having 23 doubles and home runs, 84 RBIs, eight stolen bases and 99 strikeouts (a career high) with a batting average and a OBP.
He had putouts as an outfielder, 5th most in the league. He finished 18th in MVP voting. The Reds finished that year, one game behind the St. Louis Cardinals and tied with the Philadelphia Phillies, who took both games in the final series of the season. Before his 26th birthday, Pinson had accumulated 1, hits, the 5th highest total for a year-old player in MLB history, behind only Ty Cobb (1,), Mel Ott (1,), Al Kaline (1,) and Freddie Lindstrom (1,), all of whom were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[16] Additionally, he had accumulated more hits than other year-old players such as Baseball Hall of Fame members; Alex Rodriguez, Robin Yount, Hank Aaron, Jimmie Foxx and Orlando Cepeda.[16][17]
was a fair improvement for Pinson, as he played in games while having plate appearances and at-bats, both career highs.
He had hits (2nd in the league) and 97 runs with 34 doubles and 22 home runs with 94 RBIs with a batting average, OBP and a OPS. This was the final year with his teammate Frank Robinson, as Bill DeWitt traded him to the Baltimore Orioles on December 9,
The following year, he played in games while having hits, 35 doubles, 16 home runs, 76 RBIs, with a batting average, OBP and OPS.
Although he was 4th in putouts as an outfielder with , he committed 13 errors, 2nd most in the League.
For , he played in games, having hits, 90 runs, 28 doubles, 13 triples (a league high), 18 home runs, 66 RBIs, 26 stolen bases (4th in the League), with a batting average, OBP and a OPS. He had putouts as an outfielder (with as a centerfielder), 2nd most in the League, with a decrease in errors to five.
The following year (described by some as "The Year of the Pitcher") was his final season with the Reds. He played games, his least with the team in a full season, having 60 runs, hits, 29 doubles, six triples, five home runs, 48 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, with a batting average, OBP, and a OPS (his lowest as a Red). His putout total of was also a career low for him in a full season, although he did have a fielding percentage.
On May 22, , Pinson collected a double off Dave Giusti of the Houston Astros to pass Edd Roush (who had 1, hits with Cincinnati) for most hits as a Red. He retained the record for four seasons until Pete Rose passed him on September 1, [18] The Reds finished that year, with Pinson finishing his Reds career on the final game on September 29, where he went 1-for-2 with a walk.[19] On October 11, he was traded by the Reds to the St.
Louis Cardinals for Wayne Granger and Bobby Tolan. Since the trade in , numerous players have worn his jersey number of 28, from Tolan (who Pinson was traded for) to Anthony DeSclafani.[20] In 11 years with the Reds, he had played in 1, games, garnering 1, hits on 6, at-bats while having doubles, home runs, RBIs with stolen bases for a batting average.
His numbers for the remaining seven-year career were not as consistent, although he maintained fair production.
Later career ()
In his only year with the Cardinals, he played in games while having hits, 58 runs, 22 doubles, 10 home runs, 70 RBIs on a batting average (his 2nd lowest for his entire career) while having a OBP and OPS.
Although he played in just 1, innings, he had a fielding percentage as an outfielder (with just one error all season), 1st in the league. Pinson recorded his 2,th hit off Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Joe Gibbon in the bottom of the 7th inning on September 18, [21]
He moved onto the Cleveland Indians for the season.
He played in games while having hits, 74 runs, 28 doubles, a career-high 24 home runs, 82 RBIs on a batting average, OBP and OPS (his highest since ). The following year, he played in games, having hits, 60 runs, 23 doubles, 11 home runs and 35 RBIs while stealing 25 bases (5th most in the American League) with a batting average, OBP, and a OPS.
He was third in both assists as a center fielder and errors committed, with nine and five respectively. On October 5, he was traded by the Indians (along with Frank Baker and Alan Foster) to the California Angels for Alex Johnson and Jerry Moses.
For , he played in games while having hits and 56 runs with 24 doubles, seven home runs, 49 RBIs, 17 stolen bases on a batting average, a OBP, and OPS.
In left field, he had 10 assists in his games played at the position, with the former category being 2nd in the League, while turning three double plays, a league high. He regressed slightly the following year, playing in just games while having hits, 56 runs, 14 doubles, eight home runs, 57 RBIs with five stolen bases on a batting average, OBP and a OPS.
He appeared in under 1, innings on the field (having ), the first time this occurred since his rookie year in His totals would go down the following two seasons. He was traded by the Angels on February 23, , for Barry Raziano and cash.
In games with the Royals the ensuing season, he had hits, 46 runs, 18 doubles, 41 RBIs, 21 stolen bases for a batting average, OBP, and a OPS.
He played most of his games at right field (with occasional games at left or center), logging in combined innings while having a fielding percentage. In his final season in , Pinson played in just games, having 71 hits, 37 runs, 14 doubles, four home runs with 21 RBIs, five stolen bases with a batting average, OBP, and a OPS.
He played total innings in the field, a good chunk in right field, while having a fielding percentage, with five games played at DH. In his final game on September 28, , against the Texas Rangers, he replaced Amos Otis in center field and played the position for three innings, having one at-bat against Stan Perzanowski in the 6th, grounding out.[22] On December 15, he was released by the team.
He was signed as a free agent by the Milwaukee Brewers, but he was released by the team on April 4, four days before the season started.
Career statistics
In an year career, playing for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, California Angels, and Kansas City Royals, Pinson appeared in games, compiling a batting average, with hits, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, walks, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
He had four + hit seasons in , '61, '63 and '65, batting over in each season. He recorded a career fielding percentage and was a gold glove winner in [23][24]
Coaching career
Highly respected throughout the game, he was later a coach for the Seattle Mariners (–80; –83), Chicago White Sox (), Detroit Tigers (–91), and Florida Marlins (–94) after his playing days ended.
He coached on the inaugural editions of two expansion teams, the Mariners () and the Marlins ().[25][26]
Personal life
He became eligible for the Hall of Fame in In his 15 years on the ballot, his highest ballot total was % in He fell off the ballot in , receiving just % of votes.
He had three daughters, Valerie, Kimberly and Renee, and one son, Vada Pinson III.[27]
Pinson retired from baseball entirely after the season. On October 5, , he was admitted to an Oakland hospital after suffering a stroke. He died on October 21, [28] He was interred at Rolling Hills Memorial Park, Richmond, California.[29]
See also
References
- ^"Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame at ".
. Retrieved February 24,
- ^"Vada Pinson | Society for American Baseball Research". . Retrieved January 2,
- ^"Vada Pinson Minor Leagues Statistics & History". .Frank robinson stats In his career he fielded. Instead, Clemente runs into the fence, the ball is jarred loose, and Edwards has a leadoff triple which will lead to a crucial insurance run for Cincy. And Pinson retired in with the Royals, a year before Kansas City began a stretch of post-season appearances in six years. Although he was 4th in putouts as an outfielder with , he committed 13 errors, 2nd most in the League.
Retrieved January 2,
- ^"Vada Pinson Stats". . Retrieved January 2,
- ^"Philadelphia Phillies at Cincinnati Redlegs Box Score, April 15, ". .
Vada Pinson - Baseball-Reference.com: Vada Pinson has two homers, good for four runs, to lead the Reds over the 1st-place Quakers. Tools Tools. Following his playing career, Pinson became a coach and hitting instructor for Seattle, the Chicago White Sox, Detroit, and Florida from until Baseball's Greatest Quotations.
Retrieved January 2,
- ^"Philadelphia Phillies at Cincinnati Redlegs Box Score, April 15, ". . Retrieved January 2,
- ^"Cincinnati Redlegs at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score, April 18, ". . Retrieved January 2,
- ^" All-Star Game Box Score by Baseball Almanac".
- Vada Pinson - Baseball-Reference.com
- Images
. Retrieved January 2,
- ^" All-Star Game Box Score by Baseball Almanac". . Retrieved January 2,
- ^" All-Star Game Box Score by Baseball Almanac". . Retrieved January 2,
- ^"Pinson Clips Writer at Forbes Field: Reds Star Angry About Article on Sluggish Play".
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (AP story). June 21,
- ^"Milwaukee Braves at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, September 11, ". . Retrieved January 2,
- ^"Pinson Facing Assault Charge". The News-Dispatch. September 5,
- ^"New Trial Is Slated for Pinson".
Beaver County Times (UPI story). December 13,
- ^?hof_id=
- ^ ab"Mike Trout isn't the fastest to 1, hits, but it's still a historic feat". Retrieved May 28,
- ^"Batting Season & Career Finder".
. Retrieved January 2,
- ^?hof_id=
- ^"San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, September 29, ". . Retrieved January 2,
- ^"Cincinnati Reds Uniform Numbers". . Retrieved January 3,
- ^"Pittsburgh Pirates at St.
Louis Cardinals Box Score, September 18, ". . Retrieved January 3,
- ^"Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers Box Score, September 28, ". . Retrieved January 3,
- ^Edes, Gordon (October 23, ).Vada pinson baseball player The following year, he played in games again while having runs on hits, 37 doubles a league high , 20 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases on a. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Vada Pinson. Back in the minors, he rebounded with a robust. Pinson was 19 years old when he broke into the major leagues on April 15, , with the Cincinnati Redlegs.
"Pinson, Former Reds Star And Marlins Coach, Dies". . The (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 3,
- ^"Vada Pinson Stats". . Retrieved January 3,
- ^Eastham, Cliff. "Vada Pinson, the Most Underrated Baseball Player Ever". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 14,
- ^"Vada Pinson Stats".
. Retrieved January 3,
- ^Ap (October 24, ). "Vada Pinson, 57, Cincinnati Outfielder in 60's". The New York Times. ISSN&#; Retrieved January 3,
- ^Ap (October 24, ). "Vada Pinson, 57, Cincinnati Outfielder in 60's". The New York Times. ISSN&#; Retrieved January 3,
- ^The Baseball Necrology
External links
National League Outfielder Gold Glove Award | |
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