Matt Alexander
Born: 1/30/1947 in Shreveport, LA, USA
MLB Debut: 1973-08-23 | Final Game: 1981-10-03
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 168 lbs
Full name: Matthew Alexander
Biography
Matt Alexander, born in 1947, was a professional baseball player who played primarily as a position player from 1973 to 1981. Over the course of his career, he participated in 374 games, showcasing his skills primarily as a utility player. While his batting average stood at .214, with a total of 36 hits and 4 RBIs, Alexander made a significant impact in the area of base running. He amassed an impressive 103 stolen bases, highlighting his speed and agility on the base paths during an era when such skills were highly valued.
Alexander's career unfolded during a transformative period in Major League Baseball, marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensively driven style of play. Although he did not achieve power numbers—finishing his career with 0 home runs—his contributions as a base stealer and his defensive versatility allowed him to carve out a role in the league. After retiring on October 3, 1981, Alexander's legacy as a player who excelled in the nuances of the game continued to be remembered, particularly for his ability to change the dynamics of a game with his speed.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 374 | 168 | 111 | 36 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 103 | 18 | 26 | 0.214 | 0.294 | 0.262 | 0.556 | -23.1 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | CHC | NL | 12 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1974 | CHC | NL | 45 | 54 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 0.204 | -23.1 |
| 1975 | OAK | AL | 63 | 10 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0.100 | 0.0 |
| 1976 | OAK | AL | 61 | 30 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 0.033 | 0.0 |
| 1977 | OAK | AL | 90 | 42 | 24 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 0.238 | 0.0 |
| 1978 | PIT | NL | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1979 | PIT | NL | 44 | 13 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0.538 | 0.0 |
| 1980 | PIT | NL | 37 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1981 | PIT | NL | 15 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.364 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | NLCS | PIT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1979 | WS | PIT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 10 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 3B | 22 | 13 | 12 | 23 | 3 | 3 |
| OF | 93 | 12 | 75 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 13 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | CHN | OF | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | CHN | 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | CHN | 3B | 19 | 13 | 12 | 23 | 3 | 3 |
| 1974 | CHN | OF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1975 | OAK | 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | OAK | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1975 | OAK | OF | 11 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | OAK | OF | 23 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | OAK | 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | OAK | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | OAK | SS | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | OAK | OF | 31 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | PIT | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979 | PIT | OF | 11 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | PIT | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | PIT | OF | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | PIT | OF | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 10 |
| Third Base | 22 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
| Left Field | 26 |
| Center Field | 41 |
| Right Field | 32 |
| Designated Hitter | 49 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grambling State University | Grambling | LA | 1966, 1967, 1968 |