Chris Chambliss
First Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1971-1988)
Chris Chambliss was a first baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1971 to 1988 for the Cleveland Guardians, the New York Yankees, and the Atlanta Braves, a span of 18 seasons. In 2,175 career games, he hit .279 with 2,109 hits, 185 home runs, and 972 RBI. Chris Chambliss was an All-Star, a Rookie of the Year, and a Gold Glove. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 9,135.
- 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
- L / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'1" / 195 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1971-05-28
- Last Game
- 1988-05-08
- Awards
- All-Star · Rookie of the Year · Gold Glove
Full name: Carroll Christopher Chambliss
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,175 | 7,571 | 912 | 2,109 | 392 | 42 | 185 | 972 | 40 | 632 | 926 | .279 | .334 | .415 | .749 | 9,135 |
Career AVG .279 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — +8.1% above league average.
Career OBP .334 vs. league average .323 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .415 vs. league average .381 across their career seasons — +8.9% above league average.
Career OPS .749 vs. league average .704 across their career seasons — +6.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | CLE | AL | 111 | 415 | 49 | 114 | 20 | 4 | 9 | 48 | 2 | 40 | 83 | .275 | .249 (+10%) | .316 (+8%) | .365 (+11%) | .682 (+10%) | 748.9 |
| 1972 | CLE | AL | 121 | 466 | 51 | 136 | 27 | 2 | 6 | 44 | 3 | 26 | 63 | .292 | .243 (+20%) | .310 (+5%) | .353 (+12%) | .664 (+9%) | 614.6 |
| 1973 | CLE | AL | 155 | 572 | 70 | 156 | 30 | 2 | 11 | 53 | 4 | 58 | 76 | .273 | .256 (+6%) | .325 (+5%) | .378 (+3%) | .703 (+4%) | 509.8 |
| 1974 | CLE | AL | 17 | 67 | 8 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .328 | .256 (+28%) | .324 (+16%) | .369 (+5%) | .693 (+10%) | 114.1 |
| 1974 | NYA | AL | 110 | 400 | 38 | 97 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 43 | 0 | 23 | 43 | .242 | .256 (-6%) | .324 (-13%) | .369 (-7%) | .693 (-10%) | 114.1 |
| 1975 | NYA | AL | 150 | 562 | 66 | 171 | 38 | 4 | 9 | 72 | 0 | 29 | 50 | .304 | .257 (+18%) | .327 (+3%) | .374 (+16%) | .701 (+10%) | 855.7 |
| 1976 | NYA | AL | 156 | 641 | 79 | 188 | 32 | 6 | 17 | 96 | 1 | 27 | 80 | .293 | .255 (+15%) | .320 (+1%) | .360 (+22%) | .681 (+12%) | 1261.4 |
| 1977 | NYA | AL | 157 | 600 | 90 | 172 | 32 | 6 | 17 | 90 | 4 | 45 | 73 | .287 | .264 (+9%) | .329 (+2%) | .401 (+11%) | .730 (+7%) | 749.7 |
| 1978 | NYA | AL | 162 | 625 | 81 | 171 | 26 | 3 | 12 | 90 | 2 | 41 | 60 | .274 | .257 (+6%) | .323 (-1%) | .378 (+1%) | .702 (avg) | -23.4 |
| 1979 | NYA | AL | 149 | 554 | 61 | 155 | 27 | 3 | 18 | 63 | 3 | 34 | 53 | .280 | .265 (+5%) | .329 (-2%) | .397 (+10%) | .727 (+5%) | 412.0 |
| 1980 | ATL | NL | 158 | 602 | 83 | 170 | 37 | 2 | 18 | 72 | 7 | 49 | 73 | .282 | .264 (+7%) | .326 (+4%) | .387 (+14%) | .714 (+9%) | 1053.8 |
| 1981 | ATL | NL | 107 | 404 | 44 | 110 | 25 | 2 | 8 | 51 | 4 | 44 | 41 | .272 | .255 (+6%) | .320 (+7%) | .368 (+9%) | .688 (+8%) | 643.2 |
| 1982 | ATL | NL | 157 | 534 | 57 | 144 | 25 | 2 | 20 | 86 | 7 | 57 | 57 | .270 | .261 (+3%) | .324 (+4%) | .388 (+12%) | .712 (+8%) | 897.0 |
| 1983 | ATL | NL | 131 | 447 | 59 | 125 | 24 | 3 | 20 | 78 | 2 | 63 | 68 | .280 | .260 (+7%) | .324 (+13%) | .389 (+24%) | .714 (+19%) | 1712.0 |
| 1984 | ATL | NL | 135 | 389 | 47 | 100 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 44 | 1 | 58 | 54 | .257 | .259 (-1%) | .322 (+8%) | .384 (-6%) | .707 (+1%) | 229.1 |
| 1985 | ATL | NL | 101 | 170 | 16 | 40 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 18 | 22 | .235 | .257 (-8%) | .323 (-5%) | .390 (-16%) | .714 (-11%) | -271.8 |
| 1986 | ATL | NL | 97 | 122 | 13 | 38 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 24 | .311 | .257 (+21%) | .325 (+18%) | .395 (+8%) | .720 (+12%) | 321.6 |
| 1988 | NYA | AL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 18 seasons | 2,175 | 7,571 | 912 | 2,109 | 392 | 42 | 185 | 972 | 40 | 632 | 926 | .279 | — | — | — | — | 9,942 | ||
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
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 114 | 12 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 14 | .281 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | NLCS | ATL | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
| 1978 | ALCS | NYA | 4 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .400 |
| 1978 | WS | NYA | 3 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .182 |
| 1977 | ALCS | NYA | 5 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | .059 |
| 1977 | WS | NYA | 6 | 24 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | .292 |
| 1976 | ALCS | NYA | 5 | 21 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | .524 |
| 1976 | WS | NYA | 4 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .312 |
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (2174 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 1090 | 3687 | 470 | 1050 | 104 | 496 | .285 |
| Away | 1084 | 3879 | 441 | 1058 | 81 | 476 | .273 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-05-08 | NYY | TEX | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986-10-05 | ATL | HOU | L | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986-10-04 | ATL | HOU | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986-10-03 | ATL | HOU | L | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986-10-02 | ATL | CIN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986-10-01 | ATL | CIN | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986-09-30 | ATL | CIN | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986-09-28 | ATL | HOU | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986-09-27 | ATL | HOU | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986-09-25 | ATL | CIN | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1962 | 1898 | 17771 | 1351 | 130 | 1687 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | CLE | 1B | 108 | 108 | 943 | 55 | 8 | 85 |
| 1972 | CLE | 1B | 119 | 117 | 1109 | 56 | 8 | 109 |
| 1973 | CLE | 1B | 154 | 151 | 1437 | 114 | 14 | 153 |
| 1974 | CLE | 1B | 17 | 17 | 162 | 6 | 3 | 14 |
| 1974 | NYA | 1B | 106 | 103 | 873 | 78 | 8 | 93 |
| 1975 | NYA | 1B | 147 | 146 | 1222 | 106 | 12 | 113 |
| 1976 | NYA | 1B | 155 | 154 | 1440 | 109 | 9 | 123 |
| 1977 | NYA | 1B | 157 | 150 | 1368 | 98 | 16 | 129 |
| 1978 | NYA | 1B | 155 | 154 | 1366 | 111 | 4 | 119 |
| 1979 | NYA | 1B | 134 | 132 | 1299 | 95 | 7 | 135 |
| 1980 | ATL | 1B | 158 | 158 | 1626 | 101 | 12 | 140 |
| 1981 | ATL | 1B | 107 | 107 | 1046 | 94 | 4 | 83 |
| 1982 | ATL | 1B | 151 | 137 | 1352 | 138 | 10 | 144 |
| 1983 | ATL | 1B | 126 | 122 | 1092 | 89 | 5 | 117 |
| 1984 | ATL | 1B | 109 | 103 | 996 | 70 | 8 | 84 |
| 1985 | ATL | 1B | 39 | 27 | 299 | 25 | 1 | 31 |
| 1986 | ATL | 1B | 20 | 12 | 141 | 6 | 1 | 15 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1962 |
| Designated Hitter | 25 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Player of the Week | Week of 1983-07-08 |
| 1978 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1977 | Player of the Week | Week of 1977-08-12 |
| 1976 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1971 | Rookie of the Year | |
| 1971 | TSN Rookie Player of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | ATL | NL | $769,452 |
| 1985 | ATL | NL | $800,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $1,569,452 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | CA | 1967, 1968 |
| University of California - Los Angeles | Los Angeles | CA | 1969 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 23th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1977 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 29th | 1.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1976 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 71.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1971 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 1st | 11.0 | 24 | 11 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Chris Chambliss (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Chris Chambliss
Chris Chambliss: the record in brief
According to the bio, Chris Chambliss debuted on May 28, 1971 and played a final game on May 8, 1988. The team column moves through the Cleveland Indians (1971 through 1974), the New York Yankees (1974 through 1988), and the Atlanta Braves (1980 to 1986). At 195 pounds on a 6-foot-1 frame, Chambliss is listed as a first baseman. Chambliss threw right-handed and batted left-handed, per the bio block. Chambliss was born on December 26, 1948, in Dayton, OH, USA. On the record, Chris Chambliss was born Carroll Christopher Chambliss.
Chambliss finished with 2,109 hits from 7,571 at bats in 2,175 games, which works out to .279, plus 185 homers, 972 RBI, and 40 stolen bases. Chambliss's career OPS of .749 combines a .334 on-base mark with .415 slugging. Measured against the leagues Chambliss played in, the .279 career average compares with a .258 league average over the same seasons, 8.1% above the league. 1982 was Chambliss's biggest home run year, with 20.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chris Chambliss
- What years did Chris Chambliss play?
- Chris Chambliss played in Major League Baseball from 1971 to 1988.
- Was Chris Chambliss a pitcher?
- No. Chris Chambliss was a position player (First Baseman).
- How many home runs did Chris Chambliss hit?
- Chris Chambliss hit 185 career home runs with 2109 hits.
- What was Chris Chambliss's career batting average?
- Chris Chambliss batted .279 over his career, with 2,109 hits in 7,571 at bats.
- How many RBI did Chris Chambliss have?
- Chris Chambliss drove in 972 runs in his career.
- Is Chris Chambliss in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Chris Chambliss has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.