Damon Buford
Born: 6/12/1970 in Baltimore, MD, USA
MLB Debut: 1993-05-04 | Final Game: 2001-05-15
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Damon Jackson Buford
Biography
Damon Buford was a professional baseball player born in 1970, who played as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1993 to 2001. Over the course of his career, Buford participated in 699 games, showcasing his skills primarily as an outfielder. Known for his speed and versatility, he accumulated a total of 448 hits, including 54 home runs and 218 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .242. His ability to steal bases was evident, as he successfully swiped 56 bases throughout his time in the league.
Buford's career spanned a transformative era in baseball, marked by significant changes in player dynamics and athletic performance. He made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs and later played for several teams, including the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox. His contributions to the game extended beyond just statistics; Buford's work ethic and approach to the game served as an example for younger players navigating the complexities of professional baseball. After retiring in 2001, he left behind a legacy of determination and athleticism that resonated with fans and players alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 699 | 1853 | 280 | 448 | 86 | 9 | 54 | 218 | 56 | 173 | 430 | 0.242 | 0.311 | 0.385 | 0.697 | -3087.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | BAL | AL | 53 | 79 | 18 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 19 | 0.228 | -92.2 |
| 1994 | BAL | AL | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | BAL | AL | 24 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0.062 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | NYN | NL | 44 | 136 | 24 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 28 | 0.235 | 0.0 |
| 1996 | TEX | AL | 90 | 145 | 30 | 41 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 20 | 8 | 15 | 34 | 0.283 | 176.1 |
| 1997 | TEX | AL | 122 | 366 | 49 | 82 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 39 | 18 | 30 | 83 | 0.224 | -1301.1 |
| 1998 | BOS | AL | 86 | 216 | 37 | 61 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 42 | 5 | 22 | 43 | 0.282 | 575.0 |
| 1999 | BOS | AL | 91 | 297 | 39 | 72 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 38 | 9 | 21 | 74 | 0.242 | -951.9 |
| 2000 | CHC | NL | 150 | 495 | 64 | 124 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 48 | 4 | 47 | 118 | 0.251 | -901.1 |
| 2001 | CHC | NL | 35 | 85 | 11 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 0.176 | -485.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.222 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | ALCS | BOS | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.400 |
| 1999 | ALDS1 | BOS | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 1998 | ALDS1 | BOS | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1996 | ALDS2 | TEX | 2 | 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 624 | 485 | 1255 | 28 | 14 | 9 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | BAL | OF | 30 | 22 | 61 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | BAL | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | BAL | OF | 24 | 11 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | NYN | OF | 39 | 35 | 67 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 | TEX | OF | 80 | 34 | 93 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | TEX | OF | 117 | 102 | 282 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 1998 | BOS | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | BOS | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | BOS | OF | 67 | 52 | 134 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 | BOS | OF | 84 | 76 | 189 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 2000 | CHN | OF | 148 | 130 | 336 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 2001 | CHN | OF | 34 | 23 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Left Field | 52 |
| Center Field | 519 |
| Right Field | 62 |
| Designated Hitter | 44 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | CHN | NL | $1,100,000 |
| 2000 | CHN | NL | $1,100,000 |
| 1999 | BOS | AL | $1,100,000 |
| 1998 | BOS | AL | $460,000 |
| 1997 | TEX | AL | $225,000 |
| 1996 | TEX | AL | $165,000 |
| 1995 | NYN | NL | $140,000 |
| 1994 | BAL | AL | $130,000 |
| 1993 | BAL | AL | $109,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $4,529,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | CA | 1988, 1989, 1990 |