Collins is one of three players to have made it to the major leagues who played for the Rapid City Post 22 American Legion baseball program in Rapid City,South Dakota. The other two are Kelvin Torve and Mark Ellis. All three were graduates of Stevens High School in Rapid City.[2] Collins currently holds the Toronto Blue Jays single season stolen base record with 60 steals in 1984.
Collins made his major league debut for the Angels on June 7,1975,playing left field and batting leadoff,against the Milwaukee Brewers.[6] Collins recorded his first career hit the following day against Brewers pitcher Tom Murphy.[7]
Seattle Mariners
After two seasons as a utility player and reserve outfielder with the Angels,Collins was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the 14th pick in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft.[8] Collins was the first batter for the Mariners in their first game,and he scored the franchise's first run two days later.[9] He hit .239 for the season,leading the Mariners with 25 stolen bases and 10 times caught stealing.[10]
Cincinnati Reds
After that 1977 season,the Mariners traded Collins to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Shane Rawley. Collins spent the next four seasons with the Reds. Collins hit .318 in 1979 and .303 in 1980 (8th in National League) and also scored 94 runs (7th in National League) and stole 79 bases (3rd in National League).
New York Yankees
Collins was signed by the New York Yankees as a free agent prior to the 1982 season.
Collins was traded in December 1984 by the Blue Jays,along with Alfredo Griffin and cash,to the Oakland Athletics,in exchange for Bill Caudill. Collins hit .251 in 112 games for Oakland during the 1985 season.
Detroit Tigers
Collins was then traded to the Detroit Tigers for Bárbaro Garbey in November 1985. As a part-time outfielder with Detroit,Collins hit .270 and stole 27 bases.
Montreal Expos
Picked up by the Montreal Expos as a free agent after the season,Collins was cut during spring training.
Cincinnati Reds
Collins was signed by the Cincinnati Reds,with whom he had previously had the most success. Used as a fourth outfielder/pinch hitter by the Reds,Collins found some success,hitting .294 in 1987,but his average dropped to .236 in 1988. In 1989,he was released.
St. Louis Cardinals
Collins' last season was in 1990,with the St. Louis Cardinals,batting .224 in 99 games as a first baseman.[11]
He was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.[5]
Collins has volunteered at the Lighthouse Correctional Facility,conducting one-hour motivational and life skills sessions to young offenders,with the hope of enhancing and changing their lives.[citation needed]
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