Don Demeter
Born: 6/25/1935 in Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Died: 11/29/2021 in Oklahoma City, OK, USA
MLB Debut: 1956-09-18 | Final Game: 1967-08-28
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Donald Lee Demeter
Biography
Don Demeter was a professional baseball player who made significant contributions to Major League Baseball from 1956 until his retirement in 1967. Born in 1935, Demeter played primarily as an outfielder and was known for his solid hitting and power at the plate. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,109 games, accumulating 912 hits, 163 home runs, and 563 RBIs, while finishing with a batting average of .265. His ability to drive in runs made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for during an era that began to see a shift in offensive strategies, paving the way for more power hitters in the game.
Demeter's career unfolded during a dynamic period in baseball history, characterized by the emergence of new talent and evolving playing styles. He was known for his strong arm in the outfield and his ability to steal bases, finishing his career with 22 stolen bases. Playing for teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Demeter left a lasting impact on the franchises he represented. His blend of power and consistent hitting left a mark in the league, ensuring his place in the annals of baseball history as a reliable position player during a transformative time in the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1109 | 3443 | 467 | 912 | 147 | 17 | 163 | 563 | 22 | 180 | 658 | 0.265 | 0.307 | 0.459 | 0.766 | 5029.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | BRO | NL | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1958 | LAD | NL | 43 | 106 | 11 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 32 | 0.189 | -391.3 |
| 1959 | LAD | NL | 139 | 371 | 55 | 95 | 11 | 1 | 18 | 70 | 5 | 16 | 87 | 0.256 | 11.7 |
| 1960 | LAD | NL | 64 | 168 | 23 | 46 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 29 | 0 | 8 | 34 | 0.274 | 251.9 |
| 1961 | LAD | NL | 15 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0.172 | 0.0 |
| 1961 | PHI | NL | 106 | 382 | 54 | 98 | 18 | 4 | 20 | 68 | 2 | 19 | 74 | 0.257 | 0.0 |
| 1962 | PHI | NL | 153 | 550 | 85 | 169 | 24 | 3 | 29 | 107 | 2 | 41 | 93 | 0.307 | 2340.6 |
| 1963 | PHI | NL | 154 | 515 | 63 | 133 | 20 | 2 | 22 | 83 | 1 | 31 | 93 | 0.258 | 743.6 |
| 1964 | DET | AL | 134 | 441 | 57 | 113 | 22 | 1 | 22 | 80 | 4 | 17 | 85 | 0.256 | 526.5 |
| 1965 | DET | AL | 122 | 389 | 50 | 108 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 58 | 4 | 23 | 65 | 0.278 | 1006.4 |
| 1966 | BOS | AL | 73 | 226 | 31 | 66 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 29 | 1 | 5 | 42 | 0.292 | 416.6 |
| 1966 | DET | AL | 32 | 99 | 12 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 0.212 | 416.6 |
| 1967 | BOS | AL | 20 | 43 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 0.279 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | CLE | AL | 51 | 121 | 15 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 0.207 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.250 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | WS | LAN | 6 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.250 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 112 | 94 | 781 | 61 | 14 | 67 |
| 3B | 150 | 132 | 121 | 241 | 25 | 22 |
| OF | 802 | 610 | 1424 | 35 | 14 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | BRO | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | LAN | OF | 39 | 27 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | LAN | OF | 124 | 81 | 223 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 1960 | LAN | OF | 62 | 37 | 92 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1961 | LAN | OF | 14 | 6 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1961 | PHI | 1B | 22 | 18 | 148 | 15 | 2 | 22 |
| 1961 | PHI | OF | 79 | 74 | 173 | 9 | 1 | 3 |
| 1962 | PHI | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1962 | PHI | 3B | 105 | 95 | 91 | 177 | 18 | 18 |
| 1962 | PHI | OF | 63 | 50 | 107 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | PHI | 1B | 26 | 21 | 181 | 19 | 7 | 11 |
| 1963 | PHI | 3B | 43 | 36 | 28 | 61 | 7 | 3 |
| 1963 | PHI | OF | 119 | 72 | 166 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1964 | DET | 1B | 23 | 23 | 202 | 12 | 2 | 12 |
| 1964 | DET | OF | 88 | 81 | 164 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1965 | DET | 1B | 34 | 29 | 219 | 10 | 2 | 19 |
| 1965 | DET | OF | 82 | 68 | 158 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1966 | BOS | 1B | 2 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1966 | BOS | OF | 57 | 54 | 109 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1966 | DET | 1B | 4 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1966 | DET | OF | 27 | 22 | 65 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1967 | BOS | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | BOS | OF | 12 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1967 | CLE | 3B | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1967 | CLE | OF | 35 | 29 | 63 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 112 |
| Third Base | 151 |
| Left Field | 142 |
| Center Field | 591 |
| Right Field | 97 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 3.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 12th | 12.0 | 280 | 0 |