Gene Alley
Shortstop · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1963-1973)
Gene Alley was a shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1973 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, a span of 11 seasons. In 1,195 career games, he hit .254 with 999 hits, 55 home runs, and 342 RBI. Gene Alley was a 2-time All-Star and a 2-time Gold Glove.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Shortstop
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'10" / 160 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1963-09-04
- Last Game
- 1973-09-27
- Awards
- 2× All-Star · 2× Gold Glove
Full name: Leonard Eugene Alley
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,195 | 3,927 | 442 | 999 | 140 | 44 | 55 | 342 | 63 | 300 | 622 | .254 | .310 | .354 | .665 | -937 |
Career AVG .254 vs. league average .248 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .310 vs. league average .314 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .354 vs. league average .368 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OPS .665 vs. league average .682 across their career seasons — near league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | PIT | NL | 17 | 51 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .216 | .246 (-12%) | .308 (-21%) | .371 (-37%) | .680 (-29%) | -222.3 |
| 1964 | PIT | NL | 81 | 209 | 30 | 44 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 21 | 56 | .211 | .250 (-16%) | .312 (-8%) | .377 (-15%) | .690 (-12%) | -368.0 |
| 1965 | PIT | NL | 153 | 500 | 47 | 126 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 47 | 7 | 32 | 82 | .252 | .245 (+3%) | .310 (-3%) | .371 (-6%) | .682 (-5%) | -393.2 |
| 1966 | PIT | NL | 147 | 579 | 88 | 173 | 28 | 10 | 7 | 43 | 8 | 27 | 83 | .299 | .248 (+20%) | .309 (+8%) | .376 (+11%) | .685 (+10%) | 944.5 |
| 1967 | PIT | NL | 152 | 550 | 59 | 158 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 55 | 10 | 36 | 70 | .287 | .242 (+19%) | .306 (+10%) | .357 (+9%) | .663 (+10%) | 958.6 |
| 1968 | PIT | NL | 133 | 474 | 48 | 116 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 39 | 13 | 39 | 78 | .245 | .236 (+3%) | .298 (+3%) | .340 (-6%) | .638 (-2%) | -74.4 |
| 1969 | PIT | NL | 82 | 285 | 28 | 70 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 32 | 4 | 19 | 48 | .246 | .248 (-1%) | .320 (-8%) | .369 (-4%) | .689 (-6%) | -302.9 |
| 1970 | PIT | NL | 121 | 426 | 46 | 104 | 16 | 5 | 8 | 41 | 7 | 31 | 70 | .244 | .253 (-4%) | .325 (-9%) | .385 (-6%) | .711 (-7%) | -570.0 |
| 1971 | PIT | NL | 114 | 348 | 38 | 79 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 28 | 9 | 35 | 43 | .227 | .249 (-9%) | .316 (-7%) | .365 (-6%) | .682 (-6%) | -372.9 |
| 1972 | PIT | NL | 119 | 347 | 30 | 86 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 36 | 4 | 38 | 52 | .248 | .243 (+2%) | .310 (+3%) | .353 (-10%) | .664 (-4%) | -116.5 |
| 1973 | PIT | NL | 76 | 158 | 25 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 20 | 28 | .203 | .256 (-21%) | .325 (-10%) | .378 (-25%) | .703 (-18%) | -419.7 |
| Career · 11 seasons | 1,195 | 3,927 | 442 | 999 | 140 | 44 | 55 | 342 | 63 | 300 | 622 | .254 | — | — | — | — | -937 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1195 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 610 | 1941 | 222 | 499 | 17 | 163 | .257 |
| Away | 585 | 1986 | 220 | 500 | 38 | 179 | .252 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973-09-27 | PIT | PHI | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1973-09-19 | PIT | NYN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973-09-16 | PIT | STL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1973-09-02 | PIT | CHC | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973-09-01 | PIT | CHC | W | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973-08-29 | PIT | CIN | L | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973-08-26 | PIT | ATL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1973-08-17 | PIT | SFG | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973-08-15 | PIT | CIN | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973-08-14 | PIT | CIN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 130 | 115 | 255 | 406 | 15 | 89 |
| 3B | 31 | 15 | 15 | 37 | 2 | 7 |
| SS | 977 | 908 | 1609 | 3198 | 149 | 709 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | PIT | 2B | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 1963 | PIT | 3B | 7 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| 1963 | PIT | SS | 4 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 4 |
| 1964 | PIT | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | PIT | 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1964 | PIT | SS | 61 | 58 | 100 | 211 | 11 | 43 |
| 1965 | PIT | 2B | 40 | 36 | 80 | 140 | 8 | 34 |
| 1965 | PIT | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | PIT | SS | 110 | 102 | 163 | 376 | 18 | 79 |
| 1966 | PIT | SS | 143 | 141 | 235 | 472 | 15 | 128 |
| 1967 | PIT | SS | 146 | 144 | 257 | 500 | 26 | 105 |
| 1968 | PIT | 2B | 24 | 23 | 47 | 81 | 1 | 11 |
| 1968 | PIT | SS | 109 | 101 | 162 | 394 | 15 | 86 |
| 1969 | PIT | 2B | 53 | 47 | 109 | 147 | 6 | 39 |
| 1969 | PIT | 3B | 5 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | PIT | SS | 25 | 20 | 36 | 66 | 5 | 17 |
| 1970 | PIT | 2B | 8 | 6 | 13 | 30 | 0 | 4 |
| 1970 | PIT | 3B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | PIT | SS | 108 | 105 | 202 | 381 | 15 | 84 |
| 1971 | PIT | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | PIT | SS | 108 | 97 | 187 | 316 | 22 | 55 |
| 1972 | PIT | 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | PIT | SS | 114 | 98 | 181 | 339 | 16 | 88 |
| 1973 | PIT | 3B | 8 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| 1973 | PIT | SS | 49 | 38 | 76 | 129 | 4 | 20 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 131 |
| Third Base | 33 |
| Shortstop | 974 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Gold Glove | SS |
| 1967 | TSN All-Star | SS |
| 1966 | Gold Glove | SS |
| 1966 | TSN All-Star | SS |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 26th | 3.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1966 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 11th | 24.0 | 280 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Gene Alley (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Gene Alley: the record in brief
Between the debut on September 4, 1963 and the final game on September 27, 1973, Gene Alley built the record summarized on this page. All of the seasons listed were played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Listed as a shortstop, Alley threw and hit right-handed. The recorded size is 5'10" and 160 pounds. The birth record reads July 10, 1940, in Richmond, VA, USA. The given name on file is Leonard Eugene Alley.
In 1,195 games and 3,927 at bats, Alley batted .254 with 999 hits, plus 55 homers, 342 RBI, and 63 stolen bases. The on-base percentage is .310 and the slugging percentage .354, for an OPS of .665. Against a .248 league average for those years, Alley's .254 average was near the norm. Alley collected a career-high 173 hits in 1966. Alley drove in a season-high 55 runs in 1967. 1966 was the strongest of the full seasons by average: .299 against a league .248, a 20% edge.
Alley's honors include the Gold Glove in 1966 and 1967. The bio's awards line reads 2× All-Star.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gene Alley
- What years did Gene Alley play?
- Gene Alley played in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1973.
- Was Gene Alley a pitcher?
- No. Gene Alley was a position player (Shortstop).
- How many home runs did Gene Alley hit?
- Gene Alley hit 55 career home runs with 999 hits.
- What teams did Gene Alley play for?
- Gene Alley played for one team, the Pittsburgh Pirates (1963–1973).
- Did Gene Alley win an MVP award?
- No. Gene Alley did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Gene Alley win?
- Gene Alley won 2 Gold Gloves (1966 and 1967). He was selected to 2 All-Star Games.
- What were Gene Alley's career stats?
- In 1,195 games, Gene Alley had 999 hits, 55 home runs, 342 RBI, 442 runs, and 63 stolen bases, with a .254 batting average.
- What position did Gene Alley play?
- Gene Alley played primarily as a shortstop, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Gene Alley and how much did he weigh?
- Gene Alley was listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 160 pounds.
- How many home runs did Gene Alley hit each season?
- Gene Alley's home runs by season: 0 in 1963, 6 in 1964, 5 in 1965, 7 in 1966, 6 in 1967, 4 in 1968, 8 in 1969, 8 in 1970, 6 in 1971, 3 in 1972, and 2 in 1973. His most in one season was 8, in 1969 and 1970.
- What was Gene Alley's career batting average?
- Gene Alley batted .254 over his career, with 999 hits in 3,927 at bats.
- How many RBI did Gene Alley have?
- Gene Alley drove in 342 runs in his career.
- Is Gene Alley in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Gene Alley has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- How many All-Star Games did Gene Alley make?
- Gene Alley was selected to 2 All-Star Games.