Brett Butler
Born: 6/15/1957 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1981-08-20 | Final Game: 1997-09-28
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: Brett Morgan Butler
Biography
Brett Butler was a prominent figure in Major League Baseball, known for his exceptional speed and versatility as a position player during his career from 1981 to 1997. Born in 1957, Butler played a total of 2,213 games, where he demonstrated his ability to hit for average and generate offense. He compiled 2,375 hits over his career, finishing with a batting average of .29, and contributed 54 home runs and 578 RBIs. Notably, he was a prolific base-stealer, amassing 558 stolen bases, which underscored his status as one of the premier leadoff hitters of his time.
Butler was recognized for his talent with an All-Star selection, highlighting his impact during an era that valued speed and contact hitting. His playing style was characterized by a patient approach at the plate and an ability to get on base, making him a crucial component of the lineup for the teams he played for, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. Throughout his career, Butler not only left a lasting mark with his offensive contributions but also helped redefine the role of the leadoff hitter in the game, paving the way for future generations of players who prioritized speed and on-base skills.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2213 | 8180 | 1359 | 2375 | 277 | 131 | 54 | 578 | 558 | 1129 | 907 | 0.290 | 0.377 | 0.376 | 0.753 | 11865.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | ATL | NL | 40 | 126 | 17 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 19 | 17 | 0.254 | 2.6 |
| 1982 | ATL | NL | 89 | 240 | 35 | 52 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 25 | 35 | 0.217 | -1110.0 |
| 1983 | ATL | NL | 151 | 549 | 84 | 154 | 21 | 13 | 5 | 37 | 39 | 54 | 56 | 0.281 | 362.1 |
| 1984 | CLE | AL | 159 | 602 | 108 | 162 | 25 | 9 | 3 | 49 | 52 | 86 | 62 | 0.269 | 443.4 |
| 1985 | CLE | AL | 152 | 591 | 106 | 184 | 28 | 14 | 5 | 50 | 47 | 63 | 42 | 0.311 | 1645.9 |
| 1986 | CLE | AL | 161 | 587 | 92 | 163 | 17 | 14 | 4 | 51 | 32 | 70 | 65 | 0.278 | 295.7 |
| 1987 | CLE | AL | 137 | 522 | 91 | 154 | 25 | 8 | 9 | 41 | 33 | 91 | 55 | 0.295 | 1474.0 |
| 1988 | SFG | NL | 157 | 568 | 109 | 163 | 27 | 9 | 6 | 43 | 43 | 97 | 64 | 0.287 | 2016.5 |
| 1989 | SFG | NL | 154 | 594 | 100 | 168 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 31 | 59 | 69 | 0.283 | 304.4 |
| 1990 | SFG | NL | 160 | 622 | 108 | 192 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 44 | 51 | 90 | 62 | 0.309 | 1701.4 |
| 1991 | LAD | NL | 161 | 615 | 112 | 182 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 38 | 38 | 108 | 79 | 0.296 | 1305.2 |
| 1992 | LAD | NL | 157 | 553 | 86 | 171 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 39 | 41 | 95 | 67 | 0.309 | 2171.8 |
| 1993 | LAD | NL | 156 | 607 | 80 | 181 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 42 | 39 | 86 | 69 | 0.298 | 760.6 |
| 1994 | LAD | NL | 111 | 417 | 79 | 131 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 33 | 27 | 68 | 52 | 0.314 | 1291.8 |
| 1995 | LAD | NL | 39 | 146 | 24 | 40 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 9 | 0.274 | -133.2 |
| 1995 | NYN | NL | 90 | 367 | 54 | 114 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 25 | 21 | 43 | 42 | 0.311 | -133.2 |
| 1996 | LAD | NL | 34 | 131 | 22 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 22 | 0.267 | -499.4 |
| 1997 | LAD | NL | 105 | 343 | 52 | 97 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 15 | 42 | 40 | 0.283 | -441.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 49 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0.245 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | NLDS2 | LAN | 3 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.267 |
| 1989 | WS | SFN | 4 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.286 |
| 1989 | NLCS | SFN | 5 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.211 |
| 1982 | NLCS | ATL | 2 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 2159 | 2080 | 5296 | 122 | 41 | 32 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | ATL | OF | 37 | 33 | 76 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | ATL | OF | 77 | 55 | 129 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | ATL | OF | 143 | 130 | 284 | 13 | 4 | 4 |
| 1984 | CLE | OF | 156 | 149 | 448 | 13 | 4 | 3 |
| 1985 | CLE | OF | 150 | 148 | 437 | 19 | 1 | 5 |
| 1986 | CLE | OF | 159 | 151 | 434 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| 1987 | CLE | OF | 136 | 135 | 393 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 1988 | SFN | OF | 155 | 150 | 395 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 1989 | SFN | OF | 152 | 149 | 407 | 11 | 6 | 3 |
| 1990 | SFN | OF | 159 | 158 | 420 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 1991 | LAN | OF | 161 | 160 | 372 | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| 1992 | LAN | OF | 155 | 152 | 353 | 9 | 2 | 3 |
| 1993 | LAN | OF | 155 | 154 | 369 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | LAN | OF | 111 | 108 | 260 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 1995 | LAN | OF | 38 | 39 | 75 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | NYN | OF | 90 | 88 | 207 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | LAN | OF | 34 | 34 | 74 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | LAN | OF | 91 | 87 | 163 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 182 |
| Center Field | 1987 |
| Right Field | 10 |
| Designated Hitter | 2 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Branch Rickey Award | |
| 1996 | Lou Gehrig Memorial Award | |
| 1995 | Player of the Week | Week of 1995-07-22 |
| 1992 | Player of the Month | July |
| 1992 | Player of the Week | Week of 1992-07-25 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | LAN | NL | $1,733,304 |
| 1996 | LAN | NL | $2,000,000 |
| 1995 | NYN | NL | $2,000,000 |
| 1994 | LAN | NL | $3,500,000 |
| 1993 | LAN | NL | $3,333,333 |
| 1992 | LAN | NL | $3,333,333 |
| 1991 | LAN | NL | $2,833,333 |
| 1990 | SFN | NL | $1,100,000 |
| 1989 | SFN | NL | $900,000 |
| 1988 | SFN | NL | $900,000 |
| 1987 | CLE | AL | $765,000 |
| 1986 | CLE | AL | $850,000 |
| 1985 | CLE | AL | $425,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $23,673,303 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University | Durant | OK | 1977, 1978, 1979 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 22th | 1.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1992 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1991 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 7th | 103.0 | 336 | 1 |
| 1990 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 24th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1989 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 17th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1988 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 17th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |