Jose Cruz, baseball player, 165 home runs, 1970-1988

Jose Cruz

Born: 8/8/1947 in Arroyo, P.R.

MLB Debut: 1970-09-19 | Final Game: 1988-07-19

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs

Biography

José Cruz was a prominent professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1970 until 1988. Born in 1947, Cruz established himself as a key position player in Major League Baseball, showcasing his talents primarily as an outfielder. Over his 18-year career, he played in 2,353 games and recorded a notable 2,251 hits. His offensive prowess was highlighted by a career batting average of .284, along with 165 home runs and 1,077 RBIs. Cruz also demonstrated remarkable speed on the bases, stealing 317 bases throughout his career, which added another dimension to his playing style. Cruz was selected as an All-Star twice, underscoring his impact during an era characterized by fierce competition and evolving playing styles. His ability to consistently perform at a high level helped him to become a respected figure in the game. Beyond his individual achievements, Cruz's contributions to his teams were significant, as he played a vital role in both offensive and defensive strategies. His legacy in baseball is marked not only by his impressive statistics but also by his influence on future generations of players.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
2353 7917 1036 2251 391 94 165 1077 317 898 1031 0.284 0.354 0.420 0.774 15030.6

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
16 61 3 17 2 1 0 6 10 12 0.279

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1986 NLCS HOU 6 26 0 5 0 0 0 2 1 8 0.192
1981 NWDIV HOU 5 20 0 6 1 0 0 0 1 3 0.300
1980 NLCS HOU 5 15 3 6 1 1 0 4 8 1 0.400

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 3 3 22 1 0 3
OF 2156 2054 4391 125 120 28

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 3
Left Field 1407
Center Field 277
Right Field 495
Designated Hitter 12

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1987 Player of the Week Week of 1987-04-10
1984 Player of the Month July
1984 Player of the Week Week of 1984-06-29
1984 Silver Slugger OF
1984 TSN All-Star OF
1983 Silver Slugger OF
1978 Player of the Week Week of 1978-09-09

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1988 NYA AL $350,000
1987 HOU NL $755,000
1986 HOU NL $755,000
1985 HOU NL $796,383
Total Career Earnings $2,656,383

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1985 Most Valuable Player NL 21th 2.0 336 0
1984 Most Valuable Player NL 8th 53.0 336 0
1983 Most Valuable Player NL 6th 76.0 336 0
1981 Most Valuable Player NL 14th 25.0 336 0
1980 Most Valuable Player NL 3rd 166.0 336 0