Campaneris led the AL in stolen bases six times between 1965 and 1972 and retired with the seventh-most steals in MLB history (649). Defensively,he led the league in putouts three times;his career totals at shortstop place him among the all-time MLB leaders in games played (5th,2097) and double plays (7th,1186),at that position. Campaneris is the cousin of former MLB playerJose Cardenal.
Professional career
A small player at 5ft 10in (1.78m) and 160 pounds (73kg),Cuban-born Campaneris was a key figure on the A's of the 1960s and 1970s. In his debut with Kansas City on July 23,1964,Campaneris hit two home runs,the first coming on the first pitch thrown to him by Jim Kaat of the Minnesota Twins.[1][2][3][4] He is one of only five players in major league history to hit two home runs in his first game;Bob Nieman (1951),Mark Quinn (1999),J. P. Arencibia (2010),and Trevor Story (2016) are the others to accomplish this feat. Just called up that day from Double-ABirmingham,he also singled,walked,and stole a base.[1][2][3]
On July 23,1964,Campy Campaneris was introduced on air by Monte Moore,announcer,by explaining a promotional gimmick by Charlie O. Finley,of Campy riding a donkey in from the bullpen.[citation needed]
In 1965,Campaneris led Kansas City in batting average (.270),and led the league in triples (twelve) and stolen bases (51),the latter mark being the highest total by an Athletics player since Eddie Collins stole 58 in 1914 (when the team was based in Philadelphia) and also breaking Luis Aparicio's nine-year run of the American League stolen base title. In 1966 he finished tenth in the voting for the AL's Most Valuable Player award after having a similar season at the plate but playing more regularly at shortstop.
When the Athletics moved to Oakland in 1968,Campaneris had perhaps his finest year,leading the league in hits (177),steals (62),and at bats (642);the last mark was an Oakland record until Johnny Damon broke it in 2001.
Between June 10 and June 21,1969,Campaneris set a major league record by stealing a base in twelve consecutive games,a record which still stands as of 2021.[5]
Campaneris enjoyed another fine year in 1970,batting .279 with career highs of 22 home runs and 64 runs batted in while leading the league in steals for the fifth time (42) and scoring 97 runs. He improved consistently on defense;his six double plays in an extra-inning game on September 13 of that year set an AL record,and in 1972 he led AL shortstops with 795 total chances while also breaking Collins' franchise record of 376 steals. An avid bunter,he led the league in sacrifice hits in 1972 (twenty),1977 (forty) and 1978 (25).
In his postseason career of 37 games,he had eleven runs batted in (RBI) with three home runs,four doubles and a triple while also scoring fifteen runs and stealing six bases.
In Game 2 of the 1972 American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers,Campaneris already had three hits,two steals,and two runs when he faced pitcher Lerrin LaGrow in the seventh inning. After a pitch hit him in the ankle,Campaneris threw his bat at LaGrow. The benches cleared,with Detroit manager Billy Martin going after Campaneris;both Campaneris and LaGrow were ejected.[6][7][8] Campaneris was fined $500 and suspended for the rest of the ALCS by American League President Joe Cronin.[6][7][9] MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn added a seven-day suspension to the start of the next season but permitted Campaneris to play in the World Series victory over the Cincinnati Reds.[10]
In the 1973 American League Championship Series,in which the A's defeated the Baltimore Orioles,he led off Game 2 with a home run,and won Game 3 with a leadoff home run in the eleventh inning;in Game 7 of the World Series against the New York Mets,both he and Reggie Jackson hit two-run home runs in the third inning off Jon Matlack—the only two home runs Oakland hit the entire series. The A's took a 4–0 lead and went on to win to repeat as world champions;Campaneris caught Wayne Garrett's pop-up for the final out of the Series. In 1974,he broke Jimmy Dykes' franchise mark for career at bats (6 023),and in 1976,he broke Dykes' mark for games played (1,702),as well as Al Simmons' Athletics record of 1,827 career hits.
After spending 1982 in the Mexican League,Campaneris returned to the majors for a last hurrah in 1983 with Billy Martin's New York Yankees,where he batted a career-high .322 in sixty games at second and third base before retiring.
In his 19-year career,Campaneris batted .259 with 79 home runs,646 RBI,1,181 runs,2,249 hits,313 doubles,and 86 triples in 2,328 games. His 649 stolen bases place him fourteenth in major league history,behind only Ty Cobb and Eddie Collins in the AL. His Athletics record of 566 steals was broken by Rickey Henderson in 1990;Henderson also surpassed his Oakland records for career triples and at bats. Campaneris still retains the Athletics franchise records for career games (1,702),putouts (2,932),assists (5,021) and double plays (934) at shortstop.
Playing all nine positions
Campaneris playing in a charity baseball game,2010
In 1965,Campaneris became the first player to play every position in a major league game in a thirteen-inning 5–3 loss to the California Angels at Municipal Stadium on September8.[11][12][13] Itwas an attempt by owner Charlie Finley to sell more tickets,which succeeded as the attendance that Wednesday night was 21,576. Playing a different position in each of the first nine innings,Campaneris started at shortstop,then shifted to second base,third base,left field,center field,right field,first base,pitcher,and catcher.[11][12][14] On the mound,he pitchedambidextrously,throwing lefty to left-handers,and switched against right-handers. His night ended when he sustained a minor left shoulder injury while tagging out Ed Kirkpatrick in a collision at home plate to end the top of the ninth.[14]
Following his retirement,Campaneris wanted to coach in the Major Leagues,but no one gave him a chance. He then landed a few minor league opportunities,until the Seibu Lions offered him a job to coach defense and base running with them in 1987. Campaneris added a new highlight to his résumé,as the Lions won the Japan Series in both 1987 and 1988.[16] Afterwards,Campaneris played for the Gold Coast Suns of the Senior Professional Baseball Association in its inaugural season of 1989. As the oldest everyday player in the league at 47,he hit .291 and stole 16 bases in 60 games.
Campaneris currently lives in Scottsdale,Arizona,and often participates in Old-Timers' games around the country. He also conducts baseball camps and is an active participant in the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association,often playing in charity golf tournaments.
Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 25 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four separate tenures with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed "the Man of Steal", he is widely regarded as baseball's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner. He holds MLB records for career stolen bases, runs, unintentional walks and leadoff home runs. At the time of his last major league game in 2003, the ten-time American League (AL) All-Star ranked among the sport's top 100 all-time home run hitters and was its all-time leader in walks. In 2009, he was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot appearance.
Luis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel, nicknamed "Little Louie", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop from 1956 to 1973 for three American League (AL) teams, most prominently the Chicago White Sox. During his ten seasons with the team, he became known for his exceptional defensive and base stealing skills. A 13-time All-Star,, he made an immediate impact with the team, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1956 after leading the league in stolen bases and leading AL shortstops in putouts and assists; he was the first Latin American player to win the award.
César Leonardo Tovar, nicknamed "Pepito" and "Mr. Versatility", was a Venezuelan professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1965 to 1976, most notably as the leadoff hitter for the Minnesota Twins teams that won two consecutive American League Western Division titles in 1969 and 1970. He later played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and New York Yankees.
Omar Enrique Vizquel González, nicknamed "Little O", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball shortstop. During his 24-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Vizquel played for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays. In Venezuela he played for Leones del Caracas. From 2014 to 2017, he was the Detroit Tigers' first-base, infield and baserunning coach. He was manager for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.
The 1974 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1974 season. The 71st edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Oakland Athletics and the National League (NL) champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Athletics won the series, four games to one; after splitting the first two in Los Angeles, Oakland swept their three home games to close it out.
The 1973 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1973 season. The 70th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Oakland Athletics and the National League (NL) champion New York Mets. The Athletics won the series in seven games for their second of three consecutive World Series titles and their seventh championship overall.
The 1972 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1972 season. The 69th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League champion Oakland Athletics and the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. The Athletics won in seven games for their sixth World Series championship. It was the first World Series championship for the Athletics since 1930.
The 1972 American League Championship Series was held October 7–12, and matched the Oakland Athletics and Detroit Tigers for the right to go to the 1972 World Series.
David Earl Lopes is an American former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He batted and threw right-handed. He played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros; he managed the Milwaukee Brewers.
Amos Joseph Otis is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from 1967 to 1984, most prominently as an integral member of the Kansas City Royals team that won the franchise's first American League Western Division championship in 1976, and their first American League pennant in 1980. Although the Royals lost the 1980 World Series in six games to the Philadelphia Phillies, Otis produced a .478 batting average with three home runs in what would be his only World Series appearance.
Elvis Augusto Andrus Torres is a Venezuelan-American professional baseball shortstop in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox. He is a two-time All-Star.
William Alex North is an American former center fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1971 to 1981, he played for the Chicago Cubs (1971–72), Oakland Athletics (1973–78), Los Angeles Dodgers (1978) and San Francisco Giants (1979–81). He was a switch hitter and threw right-handed.
Leon Joseph "Bip" Roberts is an American former Major League Baseball second baseman and outfielder who played from 1986 to 1998 for the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Oakland Athletics.
David Lee Chalk is an American former professional baseball player, whose primary positions were third base and shortstop. Chalk appeared in 903 games over nine seasons (1973–1981) in Major League Baseball for four teams, and was a two-time American League All-Star. Born in Del Rio, Texas, he batted and threw right-handed, and was listed as 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and 175 pounds (79 kg).
The 1968 Minnesota Twins season was a season in American baseball. The team finished 79–83, seventh in the American League.
Lerrin Harris LaGrow is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played 10 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Detroit Tigers (1970), (1972–1975), St. Louis Cardinals (1976), Chicago White Sox (1977–1979), Los Angeles Dodgers (1979), and Philadelphia Phillies (1980).
The 1973 Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their third consecutive American League West title with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses. The A's went on to defeat the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS for their second straight AL Championship, and won the World Series in seven games over the New York Mets to take their second consecutive World Championship.
Jonathon David Berti is an American professional baseball utility player for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Toronto Blue Jays selected Berti in the 18th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He played college baseball at Bowling Green State University. He has previously played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays. Berti made his MLB debut in 2018, and led MLB in stolen bases in the 2022 season.
Zachary Dunn Gelof is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers. He was selected by the Athletics in the second round of the 2021 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut for them in 2023. Gelof played for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
↑ Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.79, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN978-0-8027-1745-0
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
