Mike Epstein
Born: 4/4/1943 in Bronx, NY, USA
MLB Debut: 1966-09-16 | Final Game: 1974-04-28
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 230 lbs
Full name: Michael Peter Epstein
Biography
Mike Epstein, born in 1943, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1966 to 1974. Primarily recognized as a position player, he played a total of 907 games in Major League Baseball, showcasing his skills with a combination of power and consistency. Over the course of his career, Epstein recorded 695 hits, including 130 home runs, and accumulated 380 runs batted in (RBIs). He finished his career with a batting average of .244 and added 7 stolen bases to his statistical resume.
Epstein's playing style was marked by his ability to hit for power, making him a valuable asset in the lineup during an era that leaned heavily on offensive production. He navigated the competitive landscape of the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time when the game was evolving with a greater emphasis on pitching and defense. His contributions to his teams, including the Washington Senators and the Oakland Athletics, were significant, as he helped to bring excitement and power to the field. Mike Epstein remains a notable figure in baseball history, remembered for his contributions to the game during a dynamic period.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 907 | 2854 | 362 | 695 | 93 | 16 | 130 | 380 | 7 | 448 | 645 | 0.244 | 0.358 | 0.424 | 0.782 | 9608.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | BAL | AL | 6 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.182 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | BAL | AL | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.154 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | WS2 | AL | 96 | 284 | 32 | 65 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 29 | 1 | 38 | 74 | 0.229 | 0.0 |
| 1968 | WS2 | AL | 123 | 385 | 40 | 90 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 33 | 1 | 48 | 91 | 0.234 | 922.2 |
| 1969 | WS2 | AL | 131 | 403 | 73 | 112 | 18 | 1 | 30 | 85 | 2 | 85 | 99 | 0.278 | 3432.4 |
| 1970 | WS2 | AL | 140 | 430 | 55 | 110 | 15 | 3 | 20 | 56 | 2 | 73 | 117 | 0.256 | 1445.5 |
| 1971 | OAK | AL | 104 | 329 | 43 | 77 | 13 | 0 | 18 | 51 | 0 | 62 | 71 | 0.234 | 1317.4 |
| 1971 | WS2 | AL | 24 | 85 | 6 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 31 | 0.247 | 1317.4 |
| 1972 | OAK | AL | 138 | 455 | 63 | 123 | 18 | 2 | 26 | 70 | 0 | 68 | 68 | 0.270 | 2775.1 |
| 1973 | LAA | AL | 91 | 312 | 30 | 67 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 32 | 0 | 34 | 54 | 0.215 | -560.7 |
| 1973 | TEX | AL | 27 | 85 | 9 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 19 | 0.188 | -560.7 |
| 1974 | LAA | AL | 18 | 62 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 0.161 | -20.9 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 37 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 0.108 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | ALCS | OAK | 5 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.188 |
| 1972 | WS | OAK | 6 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0.000 |
| 1971 | ALCS | OAK | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.200 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 823 | 805 | 6957 | 477 | 70 | 681 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | BAL | 1B | 4 | 2 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 1967 | BAL | 1B | 3 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1967 | WS2 | 1B | 80 | 77 | 718 | 54 | 10 | 72 |
| 1968 | WS2 | 1B | 110 | 107 | 947 | 70 | 13 | 83 |
| 1969 | WS2 | 1B | 118 | 115 | 1035 | 69 | 11 | 99 |
| 1970 | WS2 | 1B | 122 | 118 | 1100 | 70 | 10 | 104 |
| 1971 | OAK | 1B | 96 | 95 | 714 | 52 | 4 | 93 |
| 1971 | WS2 | 1B | 24 | 24 | 224 | 12 | 2 | 30 |
| 1972 | OAK | 1B | 137 | 137 | 1111 | 73 | 12 | 101 |
| 1973 | CAL | 1B | 86 | 85 | 710 | 50 | 5 | 61 |
| 1973 | TEX | 1B | 25 | 25 | 200 | 12 | 2 | 19 |
| 1974 | CAL | 1B | 18 | 18 | 137 | 12 | 1 | 14 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 822 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California - Berkeley | Berkeley | CA | 1963, 1964 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 16th | 11.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1969 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 25th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |