Joe Christopher
Born: 12/13/1935 in Frederiksted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands
Died: 10/3/2023 in Edgewood, MD, USA
MLB Debut: 1959-05-26 | Final Game: 1966-06-09
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Joseph O'Neal Christopher
Biography
Joe Christopher was a notable position player in Major League Baseball, with a career that spanned from 1959 to 1966. Born in 1935, Christopher made his mark in an era characterized by the transition from the deadball era to the more offensive-minded gameplay of the 1960s. He played a total of 638 games, showcasing his skills primarily as an outfielder. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 434 hits, which included 29 home runs and 173 RBIs, demonstrating his ability to contribute both in terms of average and power. He finished his playing days with a batting average of .260, reflecting his consistent hitting ability.
In addition to his offensive contributions, Christopher was known for his speed on the base paths, evidenced by his 29 stolen bases throughout his career. His contributions were particularly significant during a time when the game was evolving, and players like Christopher helped to bridge the gap between different styles of play. Although his career was relatively short, his impact on the game and his role in the outfield remain a part of baseball history, marking him as a respected figure of his time.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 638 | 1667 | 224 | 434 | 68 | 17 | 29 | 173 | 29 | 157 | 277 | 0.260 | 0.329 | 0.374 | 0.702 | 873.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | PIT | NL | 15 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1960 | PIT | NL | 50 | 56 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 0.232 | -123.4 |
| 1961 | PIT | NL | 76 | 186 | 25 | 49 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 0.263 | -300.2 |
| 1962 | NYN | NL | 119 | 271 | 36 | 66 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 32 | 11 | 35 | 42 | 0.244 | -55.9 |
| 1963 | NYN | NL | 64 | 149 | 19 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 21 | 0.221 | -326.7 |
| 1964 | NYN | NL | 154 | 543 | 78 | 163 | 26 | 8 | 16 | 76 | 6 | 48 | 92 | 0.300 | 2056.0 |
| 1965 | NYN | NL | 148 | 437 | 38 | 109 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 40 | 4 | 35 | 82 | 0.249 | -376.4 |
| 1966 | BOS | AL | 12 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0.077 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | WS | PIT | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 479 | 411 | 738 | 21 | 16 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | PIT | OF | 9 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | PIT | OF | 17 | 10 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | PIT | OF | 55 | 44 | 86 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1962 | NYN | OF | 94 | 69 | 133 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 1963 | NYN | OF | 45 | 33 | 58 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | NYN | OF | 145 | 141 | 251 | 10 | 7 | 2 |
| 1965 | NYN | OF | 112 | 110 | 180 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1966 | BOS | OF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 154 |
| Center Field | 52 |
| Right Field | 278 |