Kevin Elster
Born: 8/3/1964 in San Pedro, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1986-09-02 | Final Game: 2000-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Kevin Daniel Elster
Biography
Kevin Elster, born in 1964, was a professional baseball player who made significant contributions to Major League Baseball from 1986 until his retirement in 2000. Primarily known for his role as a position player, Elster played in 940 games throughout his career. He garnered a reputation as a reliable shortstop, known for his defensive skills, although his offensive output was modest, finishing with a batting average of .228. Over his career, he accumulated 648 hits, 88 home runs, and 376 RBIs, showcasing moments of power alongside his defensive prowess.
Elster's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, characterized by the rise of power hitting and increasing offensive production across the league. He was part of several teams, including the New York Mets and Texas Rangers, and he was particularly noted for his contributions during the late 1980s and into the 1990s. With a total of 14 stolen bases, Elster displayed versatility on the base paths, contributing to his teams in various ways. Although he may not be remembered as a superstar, Kevin Elster's role as a dependable player and solid defender has earned him a place in the annals of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 940 | 2844 | 332 | 648 | 136 | 12 | 88 | 376 | 14 | 295 | 562 | 0.228 | 0.300 | 0.377 | 0.677 | -3622.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | NYN | NL | 19 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1987 | NYN | NL | 5 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.400 | 0.0 |
| 1988 | NYN | NL | 149 | 406 | 41 | 87 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 37 | 2 | 35 | 47 | 0.214 | -1108.0 |
| 1989 | NYN | NL | 151 | 458 | 52 | 106 | 25 | 2 | 10 | 55 | 4 | 34 | 77 | 0.231 | -824.6 |
| 1990 | NYN | NL | 92 | 314 | 36 | 65 | 20 | 1 | 9 | 45 | 2 | 30 | 54 | 0.207 | -710.4 |
| 1991 | NYN | NL | 115 | 348 | 33 | 84 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 36 | 2 | 40 | 53 | 0.241 | -343.0 |
| 1992 | NYN | NL | 6 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
| 1994 | NYY | AL | 7 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | NYY | AL | 10 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.118 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | PHI | NL | 26 | 53 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0.208 | 0.0 |
| 1996 | TEX | AL | 157 | 515 | 79 | 130 | 32 | 2 | 24 | 99 | 4 | 52 | 138 | 0.252 | -38.7 |
| 1997 | PIT | NL | 39 | 138 | 14 | 31 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 0 | 21 | 39 | 0.225 | 51.0 |
| 1998 | TEX | AL | 84 | 297 | 33 | 69 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 37 | 0 | 33 | 66 | 0.232 | -650.4 |
| 2000 | LAD | NL | 80 | 220 | 29 | 50 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 32 | 0 | 38 | 52 | 0.227 | 118.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0.250 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | ALDS2 | TEX | 4 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0.333 |
| 1988 | NLCS | NYN | 5 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.250 |
| 1986 | WS | NYN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1986 | NLCS | NYN | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 5 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 10 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| SS | 895 | 818 | 1306 | 2351 | 98 | 433 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | NYN | SS | 19 | 9 | 16 | 35 | 2 | 6 |
| 1987 | NYN | SS | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | NYN | SS | 148 | 123 | 196 | 345 | 13 | 61 |
| 1989 | NYN | SS | 150 | 134 | 235 | 374 | 15 | 63 |
| 1990 | NYN | SS | 92 | 91 | 159 | 251 | 17 | 42 |
| 1991 | NYN | SS | 107 | 98 | 149 | 299 | 14 | 39 |
| 1992 | NYN | SS | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| 1994 | NYA | SS | 7 | 7 | 5 | 27 | 0 | 7 |
| 1995 | NYA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | NYA | SS | 10 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 1995 | PHI | 1B | 4 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | PHI | 3B | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | PHI | SS | 19 | 14 | 18 | 36 | 1 | 11 |
| 1996 | TEX | SS | 157 | 155 | 285 | 441 | 14 | 103 |
| 1997 | PIT | SS | 39 | 39 | 54 | 123 | 1 | 22 |
| 1998 | TEX | SS | 84 | 84 | 107 | 257 | 9 | 49 |
| 2000 | LAN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | LAN | 3B | 8 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | LAN | SS | 55 | 52 | 60 | 133 | 11 | 25 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 5 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 10 |
| Shortstop | 895 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | LAN | NL | $300,000 |
| 1998 | TEX | AL | $1,500,000 |
| 1997 | PIT | NL | $1,650,000 |
| 1996 | TEX | AL | $270,000 |
| 1995 | NYA | AL | $300,000 |
| 1995 | PHI | NL | $109,000 |
| 1994 | NYA | AL | $200,000 |
| 1992 | NYN | NL | $760,000 |
| 1991 | NYN | NL | $625,000 |
| 1990 | NYN | NL | $260,000 |
| 1989 | NYN | NL | $140,000 |
| 1988 | NYN | NL | $69,000 |
| 1986 | NYN | NL | $60,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $6,243,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach | CA | 1984 |