Ruben Amaro
Born: 1/6/1936 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Died: 3/31/2017 in Weston, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1958-07-15 | Final Game: 1969-09-28
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 170 lbs
Biography
Ruben Amaro was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1958 until 1969. Born in 1936, Amaro played primarily as a position player, appearing in a total of 940 games throughout his career. He recorded 505 hits, 8 home runs, and 156 RBIs, finishing with a batting average of .234. Known for his versatility on the field, Amaro was also a threat on the bases, accumulating 11 stolen bases during his time in the league.
Amaro's career unfolded during a transitional period in baseball, as the sport began to see increased integration and a shift in playing styles. While he may not have been among the most prolific hitters of his era, his contributions to the teams he played for were significant, particularly in the context of roster depth and defensive reliability. After retiring from professional play on September 28, 1969, Amaro left behind a legacy that would pave the way for future generations, including his son, who would also make an impact in Major League Baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 940 | 2155 | 211 | 505 | 75 | 13 | 8 | 156 | 11 | 227 | 280 | 0.234 | 0.309 | 0.292 | 0.601 | -4640.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | STL | NL | 40 | 76 | 8 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0.224 | -308.5 |
| 1960 | PHI | NL | 92 | 264 | 25 | 61 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 21 | 32 | 0.231 | -970.2 |
| 1961 | PHI | NL | 135 | 381 | 34 | 98 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 53 | 59 | 0.257 | -150.4 |
| 1962 | PHI | NL | 79 | 226 | 24 | 55 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 5 | 30 | 28 | 0.243 | -514.7 |
| 1963 | PHI | NL | 115 | 217 | 25 | 47 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 31 | 0.217 | -611.0 |
| 1964 | PHI | NL | 129 | 299 | 31 | 79 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 34 | 1 | 16 | 37 | 0.264 | -326.4 |
| 1965 | PHI | NL | 118 | 184 | 26 | 39 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 27 | 22 | 0.212 | -512.2 |
| 1966 | NYY | AL | 14 | 23 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.217 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | NYY | AL | 130 | 417 | 31 | 93 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 43 | 49 | 0.223 | -1074.6 |
| 1968 | NYY | AL | 47 | 41 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0.122 | -172.8 |
| 1969 | LAA | AL | 41 | 27 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 169 | 8 | 339 | 26 | 1 | 28 |
| 2B | 20 | 10 | 28 | 24 | 3 | 2 |
| 3B | 53 | 18 | 19 | 52 | 4 | 4 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 705 | 595 | 1146 | 1762 | 100 | 387 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | SLN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | SLN | SS | 36 | 21 | 44 | 65 | 6 | 18 |
| 1960 | PHI | SS | 92 | 90 | 153 | 230 | 14 | 47 |
| 1961 | PHI | 1B | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1961 | PHI | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | PHI | SS | 132 | 127 | 243 | 379 | 19 | 91 |
| 1962 | PHI | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | PHI | SS | 78 | 71 | 143 | 224 | 12 | 50 |
| 1963 | PHI | 1B | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1963 | PHI | 3B | 45 | 16 | 15 | 48 | 2 | 4 |
| 1963 | PHI | SS | 63 | 42 | 90 | 121 | 11 | 24 |
| 1964 | PHI | 1B | 58 | 7 | 154 | 9 | 0 | 11 |
| 1964 | PHI | 2B | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | PHI | 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | PHI | SS | 79 | 69 | 141 | 191 | 10 | 44 |
| 1964 | PHI | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | PHI | 1B | 60 | 0 | 86 | 12 | 1 | 9 |
| 1965 | PHI | 2B | 6 | 6 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| 1965 | PHI | SS | 60 | 42 | 86 | 114 | 9 | 23 |
| 1966 | NYA | SS | 14 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 1 | 8 |
| 1967 | NYA | 1B | 2 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1967 | NYA | 3B | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | NYA | SS | 123 | 115 | 212 | 374 | 16 | 73 |
| 1968 | NYA | 1B | 22 | 0 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1968 | NYA | SS | 23 | 10 | 16 | 34 | 2 | 8 |
| 1969 | CAL | 1B | 18 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1969 | CAL | 2B | 9 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | CAL | 3B | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | CAL | SS | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 168 |
| Second Base | 19 |
| Third Base | 53 |
| Shortstop | 705 |
| Left Field | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Gold Glove | SS |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 5.0 | 280 | 0 |