Orlando Cepeda
First Baseman · Career Stats, Hall of Fame Bio & Records (1958-1974)
Orlando Cepeda was a first baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1958 to 1974 for 6 teams, including the San Francisco Giants, a span of 17 seasons. In 2,124 career games, he hit .297 with 2,351 hits, 379 home runs, and 1,365 RBI. Orlando Cepeda was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 and was a 7-time All-Star, an MVP, and a Rookie of the Year. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 32,785.
- 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
- First Baseman
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'2" / 210 lb
- Died
- 6/28/2024 in Concord, CA, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1958-04-15
- Last Game
- 1974-09-19
- Hall of Fame
- Inducted 1999 (BBWAA)
- Awards
- 7× All-Star · MVP · Rookie of the Year
Full name: Orlando Manuel Cepeda
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,124 | 7,927 | 1,131 | 2,351 | 417 | 27 | 379 | 1,365 | 142 | 588 | 1,169 | .297 | .350 | .499 | .849 | 32,785 |
Career AVG .297 vs. league average .251 across their career seasons — +18.3% above league average.
Career OBP .350 vs. league average .317 across their career seasons — +10.2% above league average.
Career SLG .499 vs. league average .374 across their career seasons — +33.4% above league average.
Career OPS .849 vs. league average .692 across their career seasons — +22.8% above 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | SFN | NL | 148 | 603 | 88 | 188 | 38 | 4 | 25 | 96 | 15 | 29 | 84 | .312 | .257 (+21%) | .324 (+5%) | .394 (+30%) | .719 (+19%) | 1996.6 |
| 1959 | SFN | NL | 151 | 605 | 92 | 192 | 35 | 4 | 27 | 105 | 23 | 33 | 100 | .317 | .256 (+24%) | .323 (+10%) | .392 (+33%) | .715 (+23%) | 2576.6 |
| 1960 | SFN | NL | 151 | 569 | 81 | 169 | 36 | 3 | 24 | 96 | 15 | 34 | 91 | .297 | .255 (+16%) | .323 (+6%) | .387 (+28%) | .711 (+18%) | 1914.3 |
| 1961 | SFN | NL | 152 | 585 | 105 | 182 | 28 | 4 | 46 | 142 | 12 | 39 | 91 | .311 | .258 (+20%) | .328 (+10%) | .399 (+52%) | .727 (+33%) | 3765.2 |
| 1962 | SFN | NL | 162 | 625 | 105 | 191 | 26 | 1 | 35 | 114 | 10 | 37 | 97 | .306 | .257 (+19%) | .326 (+6%) | .393 (+32%) | .719 (+20%) | 2396.3 |
| 1963 | SFN | NL | 156 | 579 | 100 | 183 | 33 | 4 | 34 | 97 | 8 | 37 | 70 | .316 | .246 (+28%) | .308 (+18%) | .371 (+51%) | .680 (+36%) | 3923.3 |
| 1964 | SFN | NL | 142 | 529 | 75 | 161 | 27 | 2 | 31 | 97 | 9 | 43 | 83 | .304 | .250 (+22%) | .312 (+16%) | .377 (+43%) | .690 (+30%) | 2990.6 |
| 1965 | SFN | NL | 33 | 34 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 9 | .176 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1966 | SFN | NL | 19 | 49 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 11 | .286 | — | — | — | — | 199.7 |
| 1966 | SLN | NL | 123 | 452 | 65 | 137 | 24 | 0 | 17 | 58 | 9 | 34 | 68 | .303 | .248 (+22%) | .309 (+17%) | .376 (+25%) | .685 (+21%) | 199.7 |
| 1967 | SLN | NL | 151 | 563 | 91 | 183 | 37 | 0 | 25 | 111 | 11 | 62 | 75 | .325 | .242 (+34%) | .306 (+30%) | .357 (+47%) | .663 (+39%) | 4292.5 |
| 1968 | SLN | NL | 157 | 600 | 71 | 149 | 26 | 2 | 16 | 73 | 8 | 43 | 96 | .248 | .236 (+5%) | .298 (+3%) | .340 (+11%) | .638 (+7%) | 745.3 |
| 1969 | ATL | NL | 154 | 573 | 74 | 147 | 28 | 2 | 22 | 88 | 12 | 55 | 76 | .257 | .248 (+3%) | .320 (+2%) | .369 (+16%) | .689 (+9%) | 963.4 |
| 1970 | ATL | NL | 148 | 567 | 87 | 173 | 33 | 0 | 34 | 111 | 6 | 47 | 75 | .305 | .253 (+20%) | .325 (+12%) | .385 (+41%) | .711 (+28%) | 3031.1 |
| 1971 | ATL | NL | 71 | 250 | 31 | 69 | 10 | 1 | 14 | 44 | 3 | 22 | 29 | .276 | .249 (+11%) | .316 (+4%) | .365 (+35%) | .682 (+20%) | 783.2 |
| 1972 | ATL | NL | 28 | 84 | 6 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 17 | .298 | .243 (+22%) | .310 (+13%) | .353 (+35%) | .664 (+25%) | 312.9 |
| 1972 | OAK | AL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 312.9 |
| 1973 | BOS | AL | 142 | 550 | 51 | 159 | 25 | 0 | 20 | 86 | 0 | 50 | 81 | .289 | .256 (+13%) | .325 (+8%) | .378 (+17%) | .703 (+13%) | 1368.7 |
| 1974 | KCA | AL | 33 | 107 | 3 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 9 | 16 | .215 | .256 (-16%) | .324 (-13%) | .369 (-22%) | .693 (-18%) | -282.1 |
| Career · 19 seasons | 2,124 | 7,927 | 1,131 | 2,351 | 417 | 27 | 379 | 1,365 | 142 | 588 | 1,169 | .297 | — | — | — | — | 31,490 | ||
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.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (2121 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 1042 | 3765 | 546 | 1102 | 181 | 654 | .293 |
| Away | 1079 | 4149 | 583 | 1246 | 197 | 709 | .300 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-09-19 | KCR | OAK | W | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974-09-18 | KCR | OAK | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974-09-14 | KCR | MIN | W | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974-09-14 | KCR | MIN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974-09-10 | KCR | LAA | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974-09-09 | KCR | OAK | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974-09-08 | KCR | MIN | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974-09-03 | KCR | CHW | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974-09-02 | KCR | CHW | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974-08-31 | KCR | BAL | L | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1683 | 1640 | 14459 | 1012 | 162 | 1192 |
| 3B | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| OF | 231 | 217 | 368 | 15 | 12 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | SFN | 1B | 147 | 147 | 1322 | 97 | 16 | 131 |
| 1959 | SFN | 1B | 122 | 102 | 929 | 70 | 16 | 74 |
| 1959 | SFN | 3B | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 1959 | SFN | OF | 44 | 43 | 64 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1960 | SFN | 1B | 63 | 61 | 518 | 27 | 10 | 37 |
| 1960 | SFN | OF | 91 | 86 | 163 | 10 | 3 | 3 |
| 1961 | SFN | 1B | 81 | 75 | 644 | 47 | 2 | 50 |
| 1961 | SFN | OF | 80 | 76 | 130 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1962 | SFN | 1B | 160 | 154 | 1353 | 88 | 13 | 125 |
| 1962 | SFN | OF | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | SFN | 1B | 150 | 147 | 1262 | 83 | 21 | 91 |
| 1963 | SFN | OF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | SFN | 1B | 139 | 139 | 1211 | 80 | 18 | 89 |
| 1964 | SFN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | SFN | 1B | 4 | 3 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1965 | SFN | OF | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | SFN | 1B | 6 | 5 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 1966 | SFN | OF | 8 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1966 | SLN | 1B | 120 | 120 | 1109 | 62 | 13 | 111 |
| 1967 | SLN | 1B | 151 | 150 | 1304 | 90 | 10 | 103 |
| 1968 | SLN | 1B | 154 | 154 | 1362 | 90 | 17 | 109 |
| 1969 | ATL | 1B | 153 | 152 | 1318 | 101 | 9 | 91 |
| 1970 | ATL | 1B | 148 | 147 | 1288 | 112 | 12 | 100 |
| 1971 | ATL | 1B | 63 | 63 | 586 | 49 | 5 | 60 |
| 1972 | ATL | 1B | 22 | 21 | 171 | 13 | 0 | 15 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1683 |
| Third Base | 4 |
| Left Field | 213 |
| Right Field | 19 |
| Designated Hitter | 168 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Outstanding DH Award | |
| 1967 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1967 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1967 | TSN Player of the Year | |
| 1962 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1961 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1959 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1958 | Rookie of the Year | |
| 1958 | TSN Rookie of the Year | non-Pitcher |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 21.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1969 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 36th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1967 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 1st | 280.0 | 280 | 20 |
| 1966 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 22.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 15th | 9.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1961 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 2nd | 117.0 | 224 | 0 |
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 19th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1958 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 9th | 57.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1958 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 1st | 21.0 | 24 | 21 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Orlando Cepeda (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Orlando Cepeda
Orlando Cepeda: the record in brief
According to the bio, Orlando Cepeda debuted on April 15, 1958 and played a final game on September 19, 1974. Cepeda played for the San Francisco Giants (1958 to 1966), the St. Louis Cardinals (1966 through 1968), the Atlanta Braves (1969 through 1972), the Oakland Athletics (1972), the Boston Red Sox (1973), and the Kansas City Royals (1974). Born on September 17, 1937, in Ponce, P.R., Cepeda is listed as a first baseman and batted and threw right-handed. The bio gives 210 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame. The bio records the death on June 28, 2024, in Concord, CA, USA. On the record, Orlando Cepeda was born Orlando Manuel Cepeda.
In 2,124 games and 7,927 at bats, Cepeda batted .297 with 2,351 hits, along with 379 home runs, 1,365 RBI, and 142 stolen bases. On-base and slugging figures of .350 and .499 give Cepeda a career OPS of .849.
Frequently Asked Questions about Orlando Cepeda
- What years did Orlando Cepeda play?
- Orlando Cepeda played in Major League Baseball from 1958 to 1974.
- Was Orlando Cepeda a pitcher?
- No. Orlando Cepeda was a position player (First Baseman).
- How many home runs did Orlando Cepeda hit?
- Orlando Cepeda hit 379 career home runs with 2,351 hits.
- Is Orlando Cepeda in the Hall of Fame?
- Yes. Orlando Cepeda was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
- What teams did Orlando Cepeda play for?
- Orlando Cepeda played for 6 teams: the San Francisco Giants (1958–1966), the St. Louis Cardinals (1966–1968), the Atlanta Braves (1969–1972), the Oakland Athletics (1972), the Boston Red Sox (1973), and the Kansas City Royals (1974).
- How many MVP awards did Orlando Cepeda win?
- Orlando Cepeda won 1 MVP award, in 1967.
- What awards did Orlando Cepeda win?
- Orlando Cepeda won the MVP award (1967) and the Rookie of the Year award (1958). He was selected to 7 All-Star Games.
- What were Orlando Cepeda's career stats?
- In 2,124 games, Orlando Cepeda had 2,351 hits, 379 home runs, 1,365 RBI, 1,131 runs, and 142 stolen bases, with a .297 batting average.
- What position did Orlando Cepeda play?
- Orlando Cepeda played primarily as a first baseman, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Orlando Cepeda and how much did he weigh?
- Orlando Cepeda was listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 210 pounds.
- How many home runs did Orlando Cepeda hit each season?
- Orlando Cepeda's home runs by season: 25 in 1958, 27 in 1959, 24 in 1960, 46 in 1961, 35 in 1962, 34 in 1963, 31 in 1964, 1 in 1965, 20 in 1966, 25 in 1967, 16 in 1968, 22 in 1969, 34 in 1970, 14 in 1971, 4 in 1972, 20 in 1973, and 1 in 1974. His most in one season was 46, in 1961.
- What was Orlando Cepeda's career batting average?
- Orlando Cepeda batted .297 over his career, with 2,351 hits in 7,927 at bats.
- How many RBI did Orlando Cepeda have?
- Orlando Cepeda drove in 1,365 runs in his career.
- How many All-Star Games did Orlando Cepeda make?
- Orlando Cepeda was selected to 7 All-Star Games.